I am currently in Fountain-Pen-Land, a.k.a. England. I’ve had a hankering for a fountain pen of my own for a long time now, but fountain pens seem to be an expensive rarity in Australia.

My husband has been clearing out his drawers at his parent’s place here in Essex and came across an Orient Express Fountain Pen he’d been given but never used. It has now become my constant, and much beloved, companion.

Since using it I’ve noticed a difference in my writing style. With my new fountain pen I’m more likely to use flowery language. I’m also more likely to write an extra sentence or two just to watch the ink come out of the nib.

I enjoy experimenting with many different writing implements to see what impact they will have on my writing style.

My list so far contains the following:

• Gel pen – When using my favourite gel pen (with comfy grip) I am at my most thoughtful. It’s not unusual for me to spin it around my fingers as I consider the next words I’ll write. I love the feeling of the pen gliding across page after page, guided by my hand.
• Purple pen – With a different coloured pen I feel bolder, perhaps even a little eccentric, which greatly appeals to my Creativity. I find myself more likely to branch out into new ideas when using it.
• Mechanical pencil – I feel freer with a pencil, more likely to experiment, safe in the knowledge I can always erase anything I don’t like. I also don’t feel my words are as permanent when writing in pencil so this can help me overcome perfectionism.
• Keyboard – I love typing as it allows my writing to keep pace with my mind. I use my computer keyboard when my writing mind is in full flight and I have to get all my thoughts or story down on the page as quickly as possible.
• Typewriter – This is by far the noisiest option, but I love hearing my words hit the page. There’s something special about words that had to be worked onto the world with such mechanical precision. There are also plenty of little knobs to fiddle with if beset by writer’s block.

What about you and your Creativity? How many different writing implements have you tried? Use the list below as a starting point.

Over the next few weeks, spend at least an hour or two with each writing implement and note down the impact it has on your writing.

• Ordinary pen
• Coloured pen
• Pencil
• Keyboard
• Typewriter

What’s your favourite writing implement? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used to write?