A new start screams for a starter currently inked
My partner and I moved to a new city. We are both beginning new jobs this fall. Three weeks away from my journal leaves me with fresh sentiment today. And I’m eager to dig back into my writing anew.
A new city. A new home. New writing tasks for my new job. A desk full of novelty. The theme of “new start” fell right onto my desk.
New start, for me, calls for a celebration of excellent starter fountain pens. I inked six fresh pens, each with an ink that has sat unused for quite some time. New start and novelty make for a smile-inducing pair.
I expect writing to be rare as I unpack this week. So I can play with a variety of nib choices and with persnickety shimmer inks. Wahoo.
An EF for my task planning and tracking. A F in whispy lime green (Brane) for diminutive accents in my Hobonichi. Three M nibs in dark, readable ink colors for no-nonsense scratch notes — of which there will be plenty, given my need to track utility account numbers, movers’ details, and contracts galore. I rounded out this week’s nib selection with a BB Kaweco nib for writing letters once I am rehomed.
Grey/Black
TWSBI Eco-T Mint (EF). Birmingham Midnight Twinkle. I dug my Eco out of the “to sell” pile for this week. The EF nib is wet and behaved. A combination of features that will accommodate Midnight’s heavy-shimmer. Midnight is a black ink that packs a silver-grey punch. Excellent for celebrating the multitude of tasks comprising a multi-state move. And the Eco’s large ink capacity will ensure I have black ink to hand throughout the week. Task management and scratch notes.
Blue/Teal
Pilot Kaküno Grey (M). Akkerman Koninginne Nach-Blauw, #7. Simple appreciations matter. The smiley face on my M nib eases the anxiety of my move. KNB’s gloomy blue-black hue ensures this pair can sign legal forms and record lists just for myself. This pairing is destined for no-nonsense meeting notes through the parade of phone calls in my near future.
Kaweco Sport Iridescent Pearl (BB). Kuretake Meiji No Iro Kujakuryoku. My pocket carry for the week. Kuretake’s inks are new to me and are fabulous performers. Kujakuryoku offers beastly shading and middling ink flow. Excellent for fast scribbling on the reverse of the nib and for more thoughtful longform writing in BB style. Multi-tasking all around. Also: letter writing.
Earth Tones
Platinum Preppy Wa Ichimatsu (F). Colorverse Brane. An intentionally dry pen-and-ink combination. Brane shades briefly at the beginnings and ends of letters — more punctuation than noticeable shading. Brane’s sour green notes contrast sharply against Midnight and Koninginne. My accent notetaker for the week: highlighting tasks for migration and reading notes (to the extent those happen).
Lamy Safari Terra Red (Cv). Monteverde Gemstone Fireopal. My positive disposition towards Lamy’s most-excellent Cursive nib accentuates Fireopal’s prominent shading. Fireopal’s smooth, generous ink flow in this nib lends the pairing to reflective, thoughtful writing sessions and to emphasizing important aspects of meeting notes. And letter writing.
Wild Cards
Hongdian N23 White Rabbit (M Long Blade). Diamine Solar Storm. Solar Storm is a lightly shimmered purple. Hongdian’s Long Blade grind lends levity to my writing. This pairing is set to drive my letter writing. Notes to friends on my new address. Letters to my partner who is away for work until the end of September. Joy is welcome, especially during long bouts of writing. Who-ahh.
