[Zgarbas]

Ugh, ballpoint pens are a recipe for disaster in my case; for Japanese I only use mechanical pencils.
I've not used a fountain pen since primary, and all i remember from that time was constantly breaking them due to applying too much pressure when writing, and ink blots; ink blots everywhere.

.

Personally, I like drafting pens for writing (Sakura Micron sized 01); they're not floaty like ballpoints and you don't have to worry about dry spots, jams, and the other crap you get when writing with ballpoints.

Of course, if you are too heavy handed for a fountain pen, you might not do well with one of these (I made the mistake of lending one and it came back with a bent nib and a leak; last time I lend someone a $4 pen).

I've used (borrowed) some nice ballpoints before, so you can find them if you really like them, but I know they won't be cheap.

[Zgarbas]

Arupan Wrote:Writing with a ballpoint pen should be easier. Most people write about 1.5-2 times faster with it. I recommend SARASA. You can buy one pretty much everywhere and they're cheap (108 yen if it's from a convenience store).

it is easier and faster, but it gets really ugly really fast. The only ballpoints I normally use are uncomfortable ones which forced me to write more slowly. Mechanical pencils are pretty much the friendliest tool I've worked with. Ignoring the fact that that I use refills like crazy (I break the tip every 10 kanjis or so)

I've been forced to use a ballpoint pen for the last 2 weeks since I've ran out of ink cartridges for my fountain pen and I get headaches just looking at my shitty handwriting now. I can't even draw a straight line anymore.... god..

How do people break pens though? I've regularly used my cheap parker fountain pen for like 10-15 years now, never had issues. :S