Like a Snuggie or Airpods, fountain pens are one of those items that you didn’t know you needed until you had one. While many of us have the idea that they’re a geriatric substitute for the more convenient rollerball, I’m here to convince you otherwise.

For the last few years, I have been happy to scribble my to-do lists, sign my checks, and write out my thank-you notes using a fountain pen. While there is definitely a learning curve when first picking one up, it doesn’t take long to find ways (or rather, excuses) to use one.

I began my fountain pen obsession with a tiny $25 dollar pen that I got as a stocking stuffer one year. From there, I graduated to various brands before settling on Esterbrook. These pens weren’t just great all-around pens, but they were pretty, too.

I admit that vanity plays a big part in most of my purchases, I’m sorry to say.

But fountain pens offer a writing experience that’s totally different than a ballpoint or pencil. With a fountain pen, one has more control. I’m able to make scribbles and broad brushes with the same nib, just depending on angle and pressure when I write. I like that I can change the inks out when I get bored. And, really, I like the old-world charm of using a pen that’s similar to something my grandfather would have used.

In the everyday sense, I use a broad nib for my pen. This allows for bold lines which causes me to slow down to work on my penmanship. Since using a fountain pen, I have graduated from chicken scratch to chicken scribbles. It’s only a matter of time that I can stop comparing my handwriting to barnyard animals.

A fountain pen can seem daunting at first, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s pretty simple. Like learning how to drive a stick shift, it’s the first few times that seem bumpy until you get to appreciate the mechanics for what they are. Our line of Esterbrooks are a great entry-level pen for anyone curious about converting. But be warned: you’re going to fall in love.