Did you know that you can purchase some of the best pens for writing without breaking the bank? Yes, pens can definitely be a costly purchase, but if you’re looking for both a comfortable and affordable writing tool, we have you covered.
In addition to the aesthetic pens bring to writing, there are also many benefits that come with writing by hand. In this article, we discuss both the benefits of handwriting your manuscript, as well as provide you with a list of seven of the best pens for writing.
Why Write With A Pen? 2 Key Benefits
If you’re anything like me, you may wonder if there are any benefits to writing with a pen. The process of handwriting seems archaic with laptops, smart phones, desktop computers, iPads, and numerous other gadgets speeding up our lives.
Why sit down to write with a pen and paper when you could simply open up your laptop and crank out your word count for the day? Well, before you skip this post, consider reading through the benefits of writing with a pen.
Writing By Hand Slows Your Process (in a good way!)
When you choose a few of the best pens for writing, your investment is more than just monetary. Writing by hand forces you to slow down, as you cannot write as fast as you type. When you choose to slow your brain, you can focus on the sentence you write, one word at a time.
Rather than forging ahead without much thought, writing with a pen and paper helps you pay attention to the word you are on, consider what to write next, and hopefully, make less mistakes that you will need to edit later.
Upgrade Your Learning Capacity
Teachers often encourage students to involve their senses in learning. Rather than simply repeating facts, it’s helpful to write the word down (sense of touch), repeat the lesson aloud (sense of hearing), etc.
Writing is also said to help you remember facts better. While your handwritten notes may not be as extensive as your peer frantically typing on their computer, you will likely remember the notes better. When it comes to writing, it’s crucial to remember your plot points!
Best Pens For Writing: Options To Choose From
Below is a variety of the best pens for writing to help make your writing life easier. Ballpoint, gel, ergonomic, or fountain pen, choose from the list below!
#1 – Pilot 6 Pack + 4 Bonus Refills
This set of pens is for the writer who doesn’t want to commit to ink but still wants to write with a pen. This fine point 0.7mm gel pen comes with the option to erase that line of dialogue and start over.
#2 – Pilot 3 Count G2 Gel Pens
Another gel pen, but this time with a 0.38mm point, you can write with an extra fine script in black ink. This time, however, you cannot erase your work. A go-to pen for many writers, the fine point and dark ink will keep you wanting to write long after your hand cramps.
#3 – Sharpie 5pk Felt Marker Pens
Do you wish you had better handwriting but just can’t seem to master it? When writing a manuscript by hand, it’s crucial to be able to read your own writing.
While a pen can’t change your natural script, these sharpie pens not only seem to make handwriting neater, but they also seem to lessen any ink bleed (I’m looking at my fellow lefties!). While these are markers, their 0.4mm tip makes your writing look like a pen and is therefore one of the best pens for writing
#4 – BIC Xtra Life
These ballpoint pens are a classic. With a medium tip, blue ink, and ten per package, these pens will help you write that series you’ve dreamed of writing.
One of the perks of writing in a different color ink is the differentiation between edits. If you write in one color and jot down edits in another, you will keep yourself more organized.
#5 – Penagain Ergosof
You’ve likely seen these pens before. Maybe their shape scared you away from trying them out. However, specifically designed to ensure comfort for writers, they’re worth trying. At a reasonable price and a count of four, including four colors plus refills, this purchase is not likely to be one you regret.
#6 – Pelikan Pelikano Fountain Pen, Left-Handed Nib
There is something to be said about feeling classy while you write. This black ink, boxed fountain pen is not just classy but created for left-handed creatives. Writing with a fountain pen can easily feel out of the question for lefties.
Often, left-handed writers walk away with a streak of ink down their hand due to dragging it across the ink before it dries. While this can’t always be avoided, purchasing a fountain pen specifically produced for lefties is a huge bonus.
#7 – Dryden Designs Fountain Pen
Don’t worry right handed novelists—we didn’t forget you. This fountain pen has a medium nib of 0.5mm and comes with twenty-four ink cartridges (half black ink, half blue ink).
This type of pen can be especially fun if you want to use calligraphy for your chapter titles. Who said we can’t get creative with fonts when using pens for writing?
Capitalize On The Benefits Of Pens For Writing
Not only is it an enjoyable process to use a pen to write a draft, but the benefits are much more than simply aesthetic. Writing by hand can help with:
- Increased focus
- Learning
- Keeping you on your toes with spelling
- No autocorrect or Grammarly!
Additionally, a psychologist conducted a study that showed that “The sequential finger movements activate multiple regions of the brain associated with processing and remembering information.”
Writing a manuscript, whether fiction or nonfiction, requires a substantial amount of processing. For fiction, a few of the topics writers must remember are:
- Character names
- Passing of time
- Events chronologically
- Back stories
- Subplots
For nonfiction, writers need to keep details straight as well:
- Times and locations of real events
- Important dates
- Dialogue
- To the best of their ability. There is some leeway in nonfiction.
- Order in which events happened
The power of writing these details by hand can help writers better recollect what needs to be remembered, and in the end, hopefully create less plot holes.
Which Pen Is For You?
Now that you know some of the benefits of writing by hand and have a list of the best pens for writing to choose from, which one is the right one for you?
If you write with your left hand, you may want to consider the left handed nib fountain pen. If you struggle holding a pen for long periods, you may want to try the ergonomic pen. It’s also helpful to remember that as you try using pens for writing, give yourself some time to adjust.
In today’s world, we are so accustomed to typing on keyboards or with our thumbs on our phones, that writing by hand is often the last resort.
As you transition into adding handwriting back into your writing routine, don’t get discouraged if you can’t write for long periods. Like everything, it takes practice to build up stamina. Enjoy the aesthetics, and the benefits, of using some of the best pens for writing!
GET IN TOUCH
