The Power of a Pen

You might think that modern technology has rendered the trusty pen obsolete. It turns out, however, that there are a number of reasons why the pen is still a worthy tool for writers.

The History of The Pen

The first known mention of the quill dates back to around 600 AD in China. The Quills were used to write by hand and for decoration purposes. These quills use feathers from birds such as geese or swans and these feathers will produce ink which is called "pens". The word pen derives from penna which is Latin for feather or feathery plume-like outgrowth found on certain animals, including birds and bats. The first metal pen was invented by John Scheffer in 1792.

John Scheffer was born in Dresden on 3rd November, 1753. His parent were well-known silversmiths, and he was apprenticed to them when he was a young boy. He married Friederike Rohnert in 1802. In 1790 he invented the "Pen" which used a metal nib instead of a quill pen.

Benefits of a Pen over a Laptop or Smart Phone

Pens are better than laptops because pens are more portable and require less screen space than laptops do.

A pen has fewer distracting distractions and they tend to make less noise than a laptop.

Pens have more tactile feedback which makes them more comfortable to write with (and also helps avoid frustrating mistakes).

Pens can allow writers to get writing done faster than they would be able to on a laptop.

Pens may look more aesthetically pleasing and personal than laptops do. Also, if you're trying to write something confidential or important, having your work available via a pen might make you feel more secure about sharing it with others. You can always hide the document in your pocket or other location away from prying eyes that could cause you harm or embarrassment.

A pen can be like a walking stick or cane. It is a great tool to use as you are writing instead of having your hands holding onto the side of your chair or desk. You can even use it as a blunt object to ward off attackers in certain situations.

Writing with a Pen

You might not realize it at first, but there is a very specific way to hold the pen when you're writing by hand. When you're holding the pen, your thumb should be on top and your fingers should be positioned from top to bottom in this order: index finger, middle finger and ring finger. The pinkie finger should not be used while writing with the pen. Indicating words should be formatted to go from left to right, top to bottom.

If you want, you can make it easier on your hand by holding the pen standing up instead of at a slant. You may be able to save your back a bit of pain as well by holding the pen at a 45 degree angle instead of straight up and down. Writing can be more comfortable this way because your tendon tendons aren't being pulled so tightly.

What Writing with a Pen Looks Like

While writing with a pen is great for long-form writing projects, it's not quite as good for short-form writing like taking notes or composing emails or messages in text input fields on your phone or computer.

To write short form text with a pen, you're going to have to do a little more bending of the fingers. You'll have to use two or three fingers with your thumb on top and all of your fingers on the bottom. This means that you'll have to hold your pen differently than shown above, and it might take a little longer for you to get used to this than writing by hand in general. If you're used to writing on a computer, writing long-form text using three-fingers and two-thumbs might feel strange at first.

Using a pen can help you write with more control because your hands aren't being forced to reach forward for each word. You're also able to hold the pen at a more comfortable angle for your hand since you can get it which is closer to your writing position.

If you're still not convinced about how important the trusty quill is, or if you want to learn more about the benefits of writing with a pen, please visit Pen: A Journalist's Tool by John Markoff .

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By: Vincent Nguyen Hi, I'm Vinny Nguyen. I'm a blogger/freelance writer with focus on technology. I have experience in IT and business strategy consulting. In addition to blog writing, I have done ghostwriting, copy writing, and SEO copywriting for clients of mine. Feel free to check out my blogging services page for more information about the types of writing I do. Disclaimer: Thoughts expressed on this website are my own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of anyone else. If you'd like to obtain permission to quote from any of the content found on this website, please contact me.

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The Power of a Pen

The Power of a Pen

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