After Two Weeks of Writing with The Exorcist…

Since I’m bored with calling my Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen The Fountain Pen, The Fountain Pen will henceforth be known as The Exorcist, that vessel by which my brain is unburdened of its legion of fuckeries as they move, bit by bit, in illegible scrawl (though I’m working on that – indeed, The Exorcist encourages it) to the page for all methods of poking, prodding, and/or discarding.

Findings:

Any worry over smearing, smudging, and streaking as a result of my inveterate left-handedness was wholly without merit. No problems whatsoever. The preferred legal pad of The Exorcist: Staples’ Gold Series, Narrow Ruled, 20lb paper, white. No bleed-through and possessed with the perfect amount of gloss to allow The Exorcist to GLIDE. Started using these only yesterday and I’m already in love. Speaking of paper: though I’ve used them for a little over a year now and besmirched them with various pretenders to the throne of The Exorcist, my beloved Midori A5 “Ruled Line Free” (AKA Blank) notebooks/journals are proving themselves to be the perfect home for days rendered in The Exorcist’s discarded processings.Ink cartridges (Pilot Namiki black) changed – more or less – once a week. Might take the leap into bottled ink as that green conscience of mine is getting a bit more verbose (though cartridges are a vast improvement over disposable pens).Two minor problems that might become more but are tolerable for now: The Exorcist is a bit thick, resulting in slight discomfort as the day goes on, possibly the result of arthritis’s first whisperings; and the ridge just above the nib digs into my finger with something approximating wanton cruelty. Lastly, while I don’t see myself being unfaithful to The (present) Exorcist and seeking greener pastures anytime soon, I can’t deny that the Lamy Safari and the Muji Fountain Pen are both tempting. For right now, however, the local availability of Namiki ink cartridges and general love of its heft and balance (and value) is keeping me faithful to The (present) Exorcist.

Other items of business: I’m giving the Pomodoro technique an honest go and have, so far, found it to be revelatory. Will probably discuss it a bit more in the next newsletter.