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This started from Lisa at Olive Octopus and has made the rounds on several pen blogs. I found the questions interesting so I’ll take a swing.
If you consider the different ways you can engage with pens and stationery—as a user, a collector, a hobbyist, a creator, a maker, a vendor—which roles fit best and what percentage of 100% would you assign to each? Are you happy with the balance?
50% user, 20% collector, 20% hobbyist, 5% creator (if that’s what you can call posting a site such as this). As for happiness with the balance, I never thought about such percentages before so there’s no good or bad in them as far as I’m concerned.
Also, 84% bad at math.
What is something you want to understand better or develop more informed opinions about?
How pen companies set their pricing not just as a matter of cost + markup = retail, but with consideration of how they regard their products and prices relative to other makers. They would, I’d figure, keep an eye on what the competition does and what they’re selling for. Does a maker like Esterbrook put hands on the latest issue Leonardo Momento Zero to clock it against their Estie? Does Platinum go do the same with Pilot? Aurora with Pelikan, and so on? Or do they mostly skate their own lane and focus on themselves? Sometimes I really wonder.
In the pen community, what’s something someone has said or done that stuck with you?
“Find what you love. And then use what you love. Instead of longing for all the potential things that you may or may not one day own, look at what you do own, and then enjoy those things.” — Stephen Brown
There are now 25 hours in a day, a bonus hour is available to use however you like as long as pens or stationery are involved—how do you spend your hour?
Practicing a basic calligraphy style to build the muscle memory and skill so I could execute it consistently.
In the pen community yearbook, what would your superlative be? (i.e. “Best ______”, “Most _______” “Most likely to _______”)
Most likely to say nothing all day and then talk your face off about a pen you randomly mention in passing.
How do you feel about your handwriting?
There was a time I didn’t like the appearance, but now I’m fine with it. Things look better with something that provides line variation like a stub, italic, or naginata.
What is something you are proud of doing, achieving, or overcoming?
I suppose it would be maintaining a steady output on this site. It started because all that I was doing/thinking/feeling about the hobby needed some place to go other than just bouncing around inside my brain. But over time the act of writing and sharing has helped me figure out things I had trouble with, like where am I going with my interests and how that changes.
You’re going on a writing retreat anywhere in the world—where would you go, what would you write, and what would you write with?
I’d go someplace I’ve never been, which is most places. I’d likely write my impressions of it and the people living there, hopefully with a benefit of time and undisturbed observation, to compare against my own life. I’d write with something expressive but dependable, like a Pilot Custom 74 sporting a cursive italic nib.
What’s a current or favorite creative outlet?
Jotting down a thousand questions that will never get answered. I don’t know if that’s creative or just scribbling. Maybe there’s no difference.
What’s something that causes you benign envy—the kind of admiration and desire that leads to inspiration or motivation?
I admire anything that José Naranja puts on paper, though I don’t think it motivates me to do anything.
What’s a comfort item, material, or color?
A Parker 45, or almost any old Parker pen.
What would be a dream collaboration, project, or partnership?
Never really thought of such a thing, but maybe being able to create a unique notebook with a favorite maker. Something where I could choose all the features — paper, binding, marking, cover, size, format — and have a bunch made. Clairefontaine, are you busy?
