12 Pen Person Questions, Part II

Many thanks to everyone who read and commented on Part I of my responses to the 12 Pen Person Questions! For those who are unfamiliar with this exercise, it was developed by my friend Lisa over at Olive Octopus Ink as a set of journaling prompts for those who might be looking to delve deeper into why they engage with this hobby. I’ve been working on my responses for the past few months with the idea that I would do a multi-post series. Here goes Part II!

Question 7: What is something you are proud of doing, achieving, or overcoming?

In recent years, I’ve struggled with a fear of “putting myself out there” on the internet in a way that’s more personally identifiable. I’m an intensely private person in many ways, and for years I kept T.G.S. fairly anonymous because I enjoyed traveling to stationery stores and pen shows and browsing without anyone recognizing me, making for a quiet weekend that I often needed to recover from a stressful day job. Of course, as T.G.S. has grown, that’s become far more difficult to do, and there’s an inevitable realization that there is so much of myself in this business - on both the content and retail sides - that it would actually hold the business back for me NOT to be out front and center. I realize from my own experience as a customer that people tend to identify more with brands that have a recognizable face behind them, and to that end I’ve been proud of my effort to overcome my shyness, appear in more “people pictures” at pen shows, use my full name, and even start a new project where it won’t be possible to hide at all. (iykyk, Patreon members.) Stay tuned, as everyone will be seeing much more of me in 2026, whether you like it or not!

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Question 8: You're going on a writing retreat anywhere in the world—where would you go, what would you write, and what would you write with?

I actually used to take at least one writing retreat every year, where I would spend some time not only writing but using the time to regroup and plan all of my various projects across the coming year. Given how busy everything has become, it’s not something I’ve had the opportunity to do since I opened the physical shop in Nashville. That said, if I restarted the practice, I would go to the same Atlantic-coast beach I’ve visited for most of my life, which has wide expanses of sand and plenty of time to walk and think. (I would also go when it’s relatively cold because … no people.) Most of the “writing time” involves walking and/or pacing while thinking through ideas, so I would definitely bring some sort of small pocket notebook to jot down notes, as well as a spiral notebook with perforated pages to use for drafting out ideas longhand. When I’m in “working mode,” I usually opt for low-distraction, straightforward writing tools like wood pencils or a workhorse fountain pen like the Lamy 2000 or the Pilot Custom 74, and maybe even a TWSBI ECO if I’m traveling to a place where I’ll be working in public spaces like a coffee shop and don’t want to worry about losing the pen.

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Question 9: What's a current or favorite creative outlet?

While part of me wishes that I were more creative with stationery and analog tools, the reality is that I spend so much time writing and immersed in the stationery world, I need a non-stationery outlet for creativity. I play music (guitar), and have had a standing weekly lesson with the same instructor since I was 12 years old, more than 30 years ago. That said, I do score music/tablature with a dark pencil, so if the answer must have a stationery angle to it, there is that.

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Question 10: What's something that causes you benign envy—the kind of admiration and desire that leads to inspiration or motivation?

Probably someone’s ability to conceptualize a product, design it, and bring it into existence, either by making it directly or finding someone to manufacture. I have many different ideas for unique stationery, and seeing so many friends and colleagues launch their own exclusive products they’ve created from scratch inspires me to make some of these ideas a reality. We’ve already done several different collaborations on existing products with existing brands, including Good Made Better, Sunderland Machine Works, Roterfaden, Newton Pens, and Hinze Pens, which has been a great first step, but I would love to release something truly original.

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I currently have two Lamy 2000 Fountain Pens inked up. Both in original Makrolon.

Question 11: What's a comfort item, material, or color?

My Lamy 2000 fountain pen. It was my first highly coveted stationery item, and remains my favorite. There’s something about the feel of the Makrolon finish in hand that brings comfort and reminds me of the excitement I felt when I first became deeply engaged in this hobby, because it was one of the first really nice fountain pens that I saved up and purchased early on in my career. Whenever I feel out-of-sorts, and need to journal or just write out my thoughts in a coherent manner, picking up the Lamy 2000 puts me in the right mindset.

Question 12: What would be a dream collaboration, project, or partnership?

A dark burgundy Lamy 2000 with black plated trim. I mean, what else? We’ll see how closely Lamy reads this blog.

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting us through the T.G.S. Curated Shop or by visiting our Patreon, which features extra content and more hangout opportunities. And, of course, you can also come visit us in person at our Nashville Shop!

12 Pen Person Questions, Part I

My friend Lisa over at Olive Octopus Ink came up with this exercise, which I love because the responses give readers and other community members insight into what we do and why we do it. They’re also great journaling prompts if you’re looking to delve deeper into why you engage with this hobby, and I’ve been working on these for the past few months with the idea that I would do a multi-post series. Here goes Part I!

Question 1: If you consider the different ways you can engage with pens and stationery—as a user, a collector, a hobbyist, a creator, a maker, a vendor—which roles fit best and what percentage of 100% would you assign to each? Are you happy with the balance?

I have engaged with pens and stationery in pretty much every way possible during the course of my 10+ years in this hobby, and as you might imagine my engagement has changed over time. Right now, I am probably 60% Vendor, 20% Creator, 15% hobbyist, and 5% Collector. I’m not sure that “user” works as a stand-alone category for me because it overlaps with all of the others - at the moment, I have a dual career, and both jobs involve engaging with stationery and analog tools extensively but in different ways. Not a day passes where I’m not writing something out longhand, so I’m pretty much a user all-day everyday.

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This year’s San Francisco Pen Show panels brought together vendors and enthusiasts from around the world.

Question 2: What is something you want to understand better or develop more informed opinions about?

The role of stationery and analog tools in different cultures and/or different parts of the world. I’m constantly fascinated at how much certain places value the actual use of stationery - making it an integral part of everyday life - compared to the collector and accumulator focus you often see in the U.S. At this year’s San Francisco Pen Show, I enjoyed hearing from other stationery vendors about different paper preferences around the world, and how in other markets there is more of a focus on how the paper feels to use as opposed to technical performance and specifications. For me stationery has always been more of a lifestyle choice than a “hobby”, so I guess I’m naturally drawn to places and people who share this worldview and I want to learn more about them.

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We’ve come a long way in two years.

Question 3: In the pen community, what's something someone has said or done that stuck with you?

“For some reason you really look like you’re at peace.”

Someone made this comment to me after-hours at the 2023 D.C. Pen Show, about a week after I had decided to reduce my role at my day job to focus on growing T.G.S., developing the retail side of the business, and preparing to open the Nashville store. Though I hadn’t told anyone yet, and wouldn’t until late October, I’d made the decision in late July. This wasn’t a popular decision in many of my circles, both personal and professional. Some people couldn’t understand why I would trade a certain level of security and comfort for the risk inherent in any business venture - particularly one focused on a sector that was supposed to be “declining”. But I was miserable. I was working too much on projects that didn’t interest me, that sucked up all of my time, and which - in my opinion - didn’t really accomplish much or benefit anyone in the grand scheme of things. Ironically, I’d come to this place because I had actually tried to scale back T.G.S. to focus on what was supposed to be the more lucrative career. I couldn’t do it. After I’d made the decision, I immediately knew it was the right call even though there was - and still is - zero assurance that this will all work out long-term. (There never is.) But whenever things get hard and scary I think back to this comment to keep myself centered. Two years in, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt a greater sense of purpose and community than I have in this gig. And yes, that brings a certain degree of peace with the decision even if a lot of people close to me think I’m crazy.

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Question 4: There are now 25 hours in a day, a bonus hour is available to use however you like as long as pens or stationery are involved—how do you spend your hour?

Daily creative work. If there’s anything lacking in my engagement with stationery, it’s the lack of a real opportunity to do non-T.G.S. creative writing. I’ve written half a novel, countless short stories, and ideas for more, and back in the day I used to be a halfway decent artist and even won a couple of awards. Then life happened…. The entire hour would go to finishing up the still-incomplete projects that I love and developing or relearning the other creative skills I’ve been neglecting.

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Question 5: In the pen community yearbook, what would your superlative be? (i.e. "Best ______", "Most _______" "Most likely to _______")

“Most likely to fly to another city specifically to purchase books/pens/paper in person because he dislikes buying anything over the internet.” I have done this more times than I can count, because even though I run a business that sells online and recognize that online shopping can be the most practical and cost effective option for many different reasons, I still feel that being able to see pens and paper in person and try them is an invaluable part of the experience. And who doesn’t get a rush from spending hours browsing through a stationery store or bookshop (or even three days wandering through a large pen show)? Whenever I’ve had the time and means, I’ve tried to take the opportunity to travel specifically to support those who sell the things I love, and take the time to appreciate all the things in person even if I don’t end up buying them. The irony is that even though travel costs money, shopping in person and avoiding internet impulse purchases has probably saved me more. (BTW, I greatly appreciate those of you who have traveled specifically to visit our shop in Nashville!)

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Question 6: How do you feel about your handwriting?

Frustrated. Through college I had fairly good handwriting, even though I received bad grades in penmanship in elementary school because I didn’t hold my pencil the “correct” way. However, 20+ years of taking notes as an attorney has turned my handwriting into scrawling mix of cursive and italic-style script, though lately I’ve been trying to practice and develop a more consistent style. Part of the issue is that I need to slow down and break the lawyer habit of writing fast to transcribe everything.

Stay tuned for Part II later this week!

If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting us through the T.G.S. Curated Shop or by visiting our Patreon, which features extra content and more hangout opportunities. And, of course, you can also come visit us in person at our Nashville Shop!

Fountain Pen Day Prep, Part II: An Overview of Fountain Pen Inks

Many new users find fountain pen inks just as, if not more, confusing than the pens themselves, and with the rapidly expanding ink market things haven’t really gotten much easier to navigate. Following up on Saturday’s initial post on How to Get Started with Fountain Pens, I thought it might be helpful to offer a general discussion/overview of fountain pen inks, as well as my brief thoughts on the different types of inks, refill styles, and what I personally enjoy most and recommend to those just starting out in the hobby.

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Most pen brands make their own cartridges, but some (Pilot, Platinum, Lamy) use a proprietary format. Always be sure the cartridges you use are compatible with your pen brand.

Cartridges vs. Bottled Ink

You can fill fountain pens from a traditional ink bottle or use cartridges, and with a few limited exceptions, I almost always recommend that new users start out with cartridges. It’s an easy recommendation, not least because most beginner and budget-friendly fountain pens use cartridges and include one with the purchase of the pen. You refill the fountain pen simply by popping out the old/empty cartridge and inserting a new one. When you’re just starting out, this lets you learn how the pen works and focus on the writing itself, and to be honest I still like to use cartridges when I travel because it’s a lower-friction solution to refilling fountain pens. Most basic cartridge inks (blues, blacks, and blue-blacks) perform quite well on most paper types, and when in doubt I will select the blue-black option as it’s usually, but not always, the best-performing “cheap paper ink”.

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An example of inks that shimmer (the grey ink) and shade (the yellow ink at the bottom). All shown here are from last year’s Colorverse Colorvent advent calendar. Colorverse is an example of a boutique ink brand that focuses on special properties like shimmer, sheen, and shading, as well as saturated standard colors like the dark red shown above.

Standard Inks vs. Inks with “Special Properties”

I’m regularly confronted with readers and customers confused and overwhelmed by (1) the sheer number of inks on the market; and (2) all of the different types of inks available, mainly those with special properties. Between standard inks (solid color), shimmer inks (contains sparkle/glitter), super-sheeners (dries with a multicolor shine/sheen on top), super-shaders (shows varying depths of color), multi-shaders (shows different color tones), pigmented inks (permanent), and more, the universe of fountain pen ink can quickly confound those new to the hobby. My standard advice is that “simple is better” at first, and to slowly add additional inks to your collection once you feel comfortable with how fountain pens generally work - especially cleaning them - because usually the worst that an ink can do to a pen is clog the nib and feed, which a thorough cleaning will fix. Personally, while I have some shading inks that I really love and use often, I tend to stick with standard fountain pen inks that dry quickly and work on a wide range of papers. I typically refer to these as my “workhorse inks”, sort of similar to my “workhorse pens” category.

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Taccia inks are an example of a brand that makes excellent low-maintenance ink that doesn’t over-invest in “special properties” like shimmer and sheen. These inks work great in most pens and are a staple of my own rotation.

How Many Ink Colors Does one Need?

Trust me, even if you’re deliberate in selecting inks and only purchase a few bottles per year, if you are in this hobby long enough you will end up with more ink than you can ever use in a lifetime. I spent my first year in the hobby with five or six inks, and probably only three or four that I used regularly. To start out, and to get a sense of what colors you enjoy writing with, pick up a standard blue, a black or blue-black, and one or two brighter colors like red, green, orange, or purple. I found that I really enjoyed writing with different shades of red and green, and those colors are now heavily represented in my personal collection.

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Remember that a good writing experience is about the combination of pen, ink, and paper

At the end of the day, you can use any ink you want as long as you have the right pen and paper to pair with it. You’ll learn that some inks are dry, and require a wetter nib, and that some inks are wet, which may require a narrower, drier nib and/or more absorbent or heavily coated paper. An important aspect of enjoying fountain pens - especially if you get deep into the hobby, is learning how these three factors (pen, ink, and paper) interact with each other and how to adjust one to accommodate the others. The customization is the fun part!

Further Reading

Because I started out as a pen enthusiast and over the years have become more a paper and notebook obsessive than anything, I’ve not fallen as deeply down the ink rabbit hole as many people. I have, however, written a fair bit on my favorite inks for everyday use. I’ve collected these posts in the “Resources” Section and many users have found them helpful over the years, especially if they’re looking for work-friendly inks appropriate for a wide range of papers. You can also view our Pen Review Archive, and our recently updated “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” resource in which I make a rough attempt to categorize different paper brands in terms of their compatibility with fountain pens.

Interested in fountain pens but don’t know where to start? Come see us in person! Our Nashville shop will be open this Thursday and Friday (Fountain Pen Day) from 1pm-6pm, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. Stay tuned for special announcements, as we may open the back room for pen and ink testing, lessons, etc.

Fountain Pen Day Prep, Part I: How to Get Started with Fountain Pens

This coming Friday (November 7) is Fountain Pen Day, which started in 2012 as day to “embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens” worldwide! This year I’m more excited about Fountain Pen Day than usual, mainly because the celebration coincides with our one-year anniversary as a brick-and-mortar store, and we just finished expanding to a new showroom/retail space and will hopefully have our back space somewhat cleaned up for “Fountain Pens 101” style demonstrations next weekend. If you’re in the Nashville area, we would love to host you Thursday-Saturday to celebrate Fountain Pen Day weekend!

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Where Do I Start with Fountain Pens? What if I Know Absolutely Nothing?

One thing I love about maintaining this website, attending pen shows, and running a physical shop is that it gives me a platform to demystify fountain pens and stationery in general. Many people think that in order to be a fountain pen enthusiast, you need to embrace overly complex filling systems, use only bottled ink, and spend a lot of money. All of those things can be true - and fun - but in truth all you really need is a love for the physical act of writing and a pen that’s good enough to meet your needs, whether that’s a $4 cartridge pen or a $1500 work of art. Here are five things I generally tell people when they ask me how to get started.

1. Figure Out Why You Want to Write with a Fountain Pen. Do you want to improve your handwriting? Learn calligraphy? Use different inks? Or do you want a more expressive, comfortable way to journal? All of these questions will impact what type of pen you’re looking for, and even determine whether a fountain pen is the right fit for your needs.

2. Try a Fountain Pen in Person (if You Can). I spent way too much money early on because I didn’t have access to a physical pen shop in my town (Nashville, Tennessee), and I started during a time when pen shows were still heavily vintage-focused. I had to order pens blind off the internet and learn by trial and error, and this experience is really what prompted me to open The Gentleman Stationer as a retail store in Nashville. In the past two days alone, I’ve been able to put fountain pens in the hands of multiple people who had wanted to try them but never had the opportunity, and 2/3 of those customers ended up choosing a pen different from the one they had almost ordered off the internet sight unseen. If you don’t have access to a pen store, pen clubs and traveling to regional pen shows can be excellent opportunities to try things out in person.

3. Spend $50 or Less. Don’t over-invest in something you are trying for the first time. For $50, you can easily get a pen, ink, and some decent paper, which will allow you to get set up and start learning your preferences. I maintain a “Best Pens” guide which has recommendations across a wide range of price points, including beginner fountain pens. We also regularly update our “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” post, which walks through different paper brands and how they handle fountain pen ink. Don’t spend too much money up front, because regardless of how much testing/research you do, you’ll learn at least a few things by trial and error.

4. Enjoy the Actual Act of Writing. Enjoy using your pens however you want/need to use them, and write with them as much as you can. As you gain more experience, you learn your preferences, and this will guide future purchases. If I had one piece of advice to new users, it would be to tune out forums and influencers that try to tell you what you “should” like, and focus more on what you personally use everyday.

5. It’s Ok If You Decide that Fountain Pens Aren’t for You. Everyone has different needs for their everyday writing, and there are many circumstances where a fountain pen isn’t the best choice. Even I write much less with my fountain pens these days than I used to. This isn’t because I like them any less - rather, it’s because I’ve grown to appreciate other writing instruments like pencils, rollerballs, fineliners, multi pens, and yes, even ballpoints. (There are some exceptionally good ballpoints out there, especially the Japanese low-viscosity types.) While fountain pens get the most eyeballs on social media, I tend to view Fountain Pen Day as a celebration of handwriting and analog tools in general. We appreciate them all!

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The Pilot Kakuno is an excellent option for those just learning about Fountain Pens. Shown here is the new Madoromi (“Drowsy”) series, which features five new muted pastel colors.

Stay tuned for more announcements regarding Fountain Pen Day events later this week! As I mentioned, we will be open Thursday through Saturday, and on Friday and Saturday we will likely open up the event space for people to gather and test pens, inks, and paper. If you’re curious about fountain pens, it’s a great opportunity to get all your questions answered.

Note that our physical shop has moved. We are now located in Suite 107 on the front of the building, which should make it easier for everyone to find. Our hours are 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturdays. Be sure and check the main shop page for up-to-date hours and information on events.

Fall Refresh: My Pre-Fountain Pen Day Currently Inked Lineup

With Fountain Pen Day rapidly approaching and several of my currently inked pens running dry (or just feeling a bit stale), I figured it was time for a refresh! I plan to do a fair bit of writing during the late fall/winter, since this is the time of year that (1) I tend to need more down time due to all of the holiday season craziness; and (2) I have a lot more projects that I’m currently working on, many of which will be announced in the coming weeks and months. The general theme of this set is “good comfortable writers” that I can use for extended sessions without having to take a break. I really like this current set of pens and inks, even if I inadvertently ended up with multiple burgundies and dark reds. (I guess that’s not really too much of a surprise given my preferences.)

1. Lamy 2000 Black Makrolon (Matthew Chen Kodachi). It’s been far too long since I’ve had a Lamy 2000 inked up, and since I’ve had customers in-store asking to try the pen I figured I would break out not one but two. (I dropped a hint in last week’s post on long-form writing.) This particular pen was ground by Matthew into a medium Kodachi nib several years back, and it’s a reliable writer with just a touch of line variation to keep things interesting. The ink I chose is Sailor x Tinterías Cilantro, one of my favorite mid-toned greens.

2. Lamy 2000 Black Makrolon (Fine Nib). I’ve always enjoyed the standard Lamy 2000 fine and extra-fine nibs because the tipping has a subtle architect shape to it that fits my handwriting style. For this one I used some of my last remaining bottle of Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition Ink. No I won’t sell it.

3. Pilot Custom 74 in Lavender Fog (Soft Medium Nib). Pilot’s most recent U.S. exclusive release comes with some of my favorite nibs: the “Soft” series. No, these aren’t flex nibs - they just add a subtle softness to your handwriting with a bit of additional spring. Pilot’s Fine-Medium nib is a great width for my handwriting, and I now own two. The ink in this one is Pilot Iroshizuku Syun-Gyo. (Note: I know these pens are sold out pretty much everywhere now but I understand that’s a temporary supply constraint and more will be coming.)

4. TWSBI ECO in Carrara + Onyx (Medium). I’ve been saying that I would pick up one of the Serpentine ECO fountain pens, but the Carrara + Onyx version drew me in first. I paired this one with a favorite classic red ink: vintage Montblanc Bordeaux, of which I have a lifetime supply.

5. Diplomat Viper Fountain Pen in Blue (F/M Nib). Diplomat’s hooded-nib fountain pen has been inked nonstop, and this one is filled with yet another burgundy ink, but one which I can’t identify as I forgot to write it down when I last inked the pen. (I think it might be Teranishi Classy Burgundy). The thing I love best about the Diplomat is the single available nib size: a fine-medium. You might be noticing a trend here.

6. Red Dragon Pen Co. Custom Eyedropper (Franklin-Christoph Medium S.I.G.). This year I’ve been trying to keep at least one pen inked from my relatively extensive collection of custom/bespoke pens, and this eyedropper from Red Dragon Pen Co. is a favorite that pairs dark blue cellulose acetate with a transparent smoke cap and a sculpted black section. The ink is Akkerman No. 7 Koninginne Nach-blauw (“Queen’s Night Blue”).

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From left: Red Dragon Pen Co. Eyedropper; Diplomat Viper in Blue; TWSBI Carrara + Onxy; Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog; and 2 Lamy 2000s.

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If you come by the shop I always have my currently inked pens on me (in addition to the regular shop testers) so that you can ask questions and try them out. We’re open this week normal hours (1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm Saturday.