I don’t remember where I read Stephen King call a Waterman “the finest word processor ever,” but I think it was in On Writing, his memoir of the craft. I’ve been a fan of the author since I read Needful Things when I was young and realized I wanted to be a writer, myself.

Years later, a colleague gifted me a lovely Shaeffer fountain pen for Christmas, and my love for writing instruments began; not long after I started using it, I remembered King’s recommendation and purchased a Waterman Expert. Since then, I’ve acquired lots more pens, but when people come into our fabulous boutique, I know many of them have never encountered — much less used — a fountain pen before.

It's a great part of my job to offer them the chance to try one for the first time, and when they ask about starter pens, there are lots of options.

LAMY Al-Star & Safari (& Studio)

This is the one many try for the first time; we have one tethered to our counter, ready to be given a whirl. The most common reaction people have the first time they feel the experience of setting a nib to paper is simple:

“Wow.”

They comment on its smoothness, on how it glides across the page, as they write their name or “hello.” The Al-Star and its resin sibling Safari are two of the most popular items in our store. Their German engineering means that both have grooves that essentially make gripping the pen seem natural. The fact that it comes in a variety of colors and nib options mean that everyone can find their favorite — and usually more than one!

For those who want a slightly more premium writing instrument but without too big a jump, we also recommend the Studio. With its rollerball and fountain pen options, its metal body feels super premium and our customers are always satisfied.

Pilot Metropolitan & Vanishing Point

Yes, there is a huge leap from the vibrant but humble Pilot Metropolitan to the Vanishing Point. But the Vanishing Point has so many nib options that we feature it as one of the other writing instruments customers can try — and once they try the smooth, soft gold nib, sometimes they simply don’t want to go back to stainless steel. We can’t say we blame them.

But it is a big jump in price, and the Metropolitan’s stainless steel nib is smooth and consistent. Its line width runs just a bit narrower than Western counterparts, a commonality among writing instruments produced by Japanese companies.

Faber-Castell

Most famous for the No. 2 pencil, Graf von Faber-Castell has been making wonderful writing instruments for more than 100 years. The company’s Faber-Castell line has always been eye-catching in our shop, as well as that almost all the models we feature are available as fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, and even mechanical pencils.

With so many options, there’s something for everyone, in a variety of widths and forms, from the super-slim Neo to the more bulbous E-motion. The company’s Poly gift set, featuring a ballpoint and fountain pen, is a stellar deal, too.

Conclusion

While we feature many luxury, rare, and exclusive writing instruments that costs tens of thousands of dollars, we know that many of our clients want something more accessible for everyday use. We’re always happy to make recommendations based on a variety of factors, and budget is often the most important one to start. The important thing we reiterate is that when it comes to our writing instruments, from the modest Safari to the hand-painted Pilots, there is no such thing as a “cheap pen.” They are all fine (and medium, and broad), and we’re happy to help everyone find the right pen for them, the one they will love and that will help them explore The Pleasure of Writing.