Post of the Week:
This article, while the title is very much an attempt to be click-bait, takes an interesting perspective on the decline of cursive writing. While I may not agree entirely with the author’s point and the comments are grumbly and sometimes downright mean, I found the perspective interesting, particularly about how modern ballpoint pens require being held at a more upright angle than fountain pens which change the pressure and may be more or less comfortable for writers.
I found the whole discussion interesting and was surprised how many of the commenters were lefties. Handwriting or any kind is a challenge for a lot of lefties and often the tools we choose (paper and pen) can make it easier for us or more difficult so I was interested to read what folks wrote about their own writing challenges.
How The Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive (via The Atlantic)
For a different perspective on this article, listen to this week’s Pen Addict podcast.
Pens:
- Top 5 Fountain Pens for Less Than $75 (via Gentleman Stationer)
- How to buy a Nakaya in 4 simple steps (via Alt. Haven)
- Retro 51 Tornado Popper Flying Tiger LE (via Inktronics)
- TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
- Franklin-Christoph Model 02 Amber-Orange & Cinnamaroon with a Needlepoint Nib (via Fountain Pen Quest)
- Pelikan M605 (via Purl Bug)
- Montblanc Meisterstück 136 (via Unroyal Warrant)
- Sailor Professional Gear Slim “Sapporo” (via Calligraphy Nut)
Ink:
- Noodler’s Ink is Switching to Plastic Bottles (via Pen Chalet)
- Emerald 357 by Franklin-Christoph (via Gorgeous.Ink)
- Diamine Quartz Black (via S. Jane Mills)
- Akkerman #23 “Bekakt Haags” (via Purl Bug)
- Sailor Kobe Kaigen Grey (via Alt. Haven)
- J. Herbin Blue Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not Blue) (via Gourmet Pens)
- J. Herbin 1670 Emerald of Chivor (via The Desk of Lori)
Pencils:
- Palomino Prospector (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
- Tombow Mono KM-KKS 4B (via Clicky Post)
- Andy Warhol Philosophy Pencils (via Pen Addict)
- Video: Noteworthy Erasers (via Rhodia Drive)
Notebooks & Paper:
- Field Coates by RichWorks Gear (via Inktronics)
- Doane Small Idea Journal (via Ed Jelley)
- Tomoe River Paper (via Super Fun Time)
- Holly Hubbard: Commonplace Book // Motivational Speech (via The Cramped)
Planning & Organizers:
- Using your planner while juggling multiple roles (via Quo Vadis Blog)
- Categorized lists (via Quo Vadis)
- Take Control of Your Planner Pages (via Giftie Etcetera)
- My wandering, wayward heart (my version of planner peace) by Anita (via Philofaxy)
- Traveller’s Journal – update (via Paper Pens Ink)
- My Mini Filofax Wallet Setup (via Seaweed Kisses)
Art & Calligraphy Supplies:
- Guide to Water Brushes (via JetPens Blog)
- Video: Art Supplies When I Travel (via Planner Bug)
- Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen (via Pen Addict)
Other Interesting Things:
- Buyer’s Remorse, Impulse Buys, and Shady Sellers: The Vagaries of Buying Fountain Pens Online (via Pen Addict)
- What to do during your least productive hours (via Quo Vadis Blog)
- Want to Be Happy at Work? Care Less About It (via Quiet Rev)
- Book: Mary & Me: A Lasting Link Through Ink (via Letter Writers Alliance)
- Why grown women really fetishise stunning stationery (via The Telegraph)
- The psychology of stationery (via The Pool)
- Stationery Souvenirs (via From The Pen Cup)
- Building Routines (or, How I Became A Daily Journal Writer) (via Patrick Rhone)
(Shout out to Tessa at All Things Stationery for the “stationery love” links!)
Submit your Link love art: To be the featured artist on an upcoming Link Love, write, draw, photograph, or doodle an original “Link Love” image. It can be lettering, calligraphy, your own interpretation of Link or anything else you think might relate to the weekly list of pen/pencil-centric blog links. Email your submission to me at chair @ wellappointeddesk.com. Please include any link information you’d like in the image credit (your name, Twitter handle, Instagram, blog, etc). Also include any information about inks, tools, paper, etc used in your creation. Please let me know that I have permission to publish your work in Link Love and that the image is your original piece.
First off, I admit I did not read the article yet about ballpoint killing cursive writing. I simply will note I learned cursive writing with pencil then ballpoint.
I took notes on paper all through college using cursive except when abbreviating say GOV or ECON.
No computer laptops when I was in school. And I’m right-handed.
Cursive is still my writing choice over printing.
Great. I see an awesome Retro 51 pen (Flying Tiger) and it’s all sold out. How do you find out about these limited edition pens before everyone buys them all?!
If the news I’ve heard is true, the Flying Tiger was the last super limited edition Retro 51 that would be released this year. And it was limited to just 500 pieces so it sold out within a day. I would recommend signing up for the newsletters from your favorite pen shops as a way to catch future LE releases. You can also follow them on Instagram or Twitter and some may have Facebook pages as well.
Thanks for featuring my blog post! I love The Well-Appointed Desk!
That Telegraph article is really interesting reading. Thanks Ana.
My son is a millennial – completely plugged in and tech savvy. However, he has also discovered the pleasure of pen and ink (thanks to mom). I plan to do a post on his daily carry. He’s less into fountain pens but is exploring calligraphy as a hobby. Carries a Midori passport notebook with a combo of Field Notes or other appropriately sized inserts. He’s a notebook addict now too. I will admit he does not write cursive, but finds printing easier and has an amazing (and tiny) printing style. I don’t mind that he never got comfortable with cursive. I’m happy he knows how to unplug and experience the brain process that writing by hand activates.
I love that younger folks are getting into pen and paper. And honestly, I don’t mind if people choose printing over script/cursive. But I think learning to read and write in cursive is still valuable. I file cursive under “James Bond Skills” — you never know when you might need to read cursive (found an old letter in an attic that leads to treasure?) or might need to be able to ride a motorcycle (escaping from SPECTRE!) or mix the perfect martini (do you really need a spy-worthy reason to learn this skill?).