Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into The Void with John Miller

I refuse to soil my hands by writing with a cheap writing instrument.

Personally, I am offended when someone offers me something like a Bic Stic or one of those ugly Papermate pens to write with. They are abominations and should be done away with.

This has nothing to do with the Bic or Papermate companies. They do make some quality products. For the vast majority of people, these pens are fine. They do the job required and are easily replaceable if lost or when they run out of ink. They can be tossed aside without a second thought.

For me, though, this kind of pen won't do. I require a better writing instrument. It is my belief a person's work is only as good as the tools they use to do the job.

After all, a carpenter wouldn't use a toy hammer to try to build with. Most carpenters I have known have been more than willing to shell out a few more bucks to get a good hammer, one they trust and can rely on.

The same can be said for any reputable mechanic. If they buy their tools at bargain barns they will not be allowed to work on my vehicle.

Like everyone else, I have made the mistake of trying to work with cheap tools and had them break in my hands, bend or simply not be able to do the job at hand.

I think of my writing the same way. A good writing instrument is needed so the end result will be pleasing, at least to me. Yes, there are many reporters who use cheap pens and write well. They don't give a second thought to what they put in their hands to write with.

I just happen to be different. To me, a pen should feel good in the hand. It should be well balanced and write smoothly when used. The ink should be dark enough to see on the page, but not blot, clot or glob. The better writing instruments almost write by themselves, only needing a hand to guide it along the surface of the paper.

Ah, yes, there's nothing like the feel of a fine writing instrument in use. Watching words form, sentences come alive, paragraphs take shape and an idea become a reality.

Frankly I have several good pens and I'm always on the lookout for new ones. It's the closest thing to a hobby I have, aside from reading and writing. In fact, several Cross pens are on my night stand right now. I carry a Waterman ballpoint with me, along with a Montblanc (my personal favorite). And, believe it or not, I also keep a supply of the Pilot precise rolling ball pens on hand.

The Pilots are my only concession to cheap pens, but this is because they feel good in my hand, write well and are reliable. The only problem I've had with them is when they run out of ink and have to be replaced. My personal preference with this pen is the V5, because of the finer writing line it provides.

Many people tell me they use cheap pens, because they tend to lose good ones. I have also been told about pens people miss, because they let someone use them and they were taken. Good pens do have a way of coming up missing, but this is no reason to subjugate the hand to an inferior product.

It would be like using 30-weight motor oil to cook with instead of cooking oil. It can be done, but would you really want to eat the end results?

I've also been on the receiving end of some strange looks when I tell people they will return my pen or lose an appendage. My writing tools do not leave my sight for any length of time, and the person using one of my tools doesn't leave my sight at all.

The pens I use are how I make my living. I feel comfortable and confident when using them and don't have to think about what I have in my hand. This allows me to concentrate on the interview or meeting in progress.

Yes, I have used cheap pens. More than I can remember. One thing about them never changed for me. They didn't feel right and this led to my thinking about the pen and not the job. This meant the work I was doing wasn't up to my standards, but it couldn't be helped.

Go ahead and call me weird, eccentric or just plain old strange. All are true. But when it comes to what I write with understand it has great meaning for me. While I'm no Hemingway or Shakespeare (at least not yet), I am a serious writer and demand the proper equipment to do my job with. For me this means making sure I have the best writing instruments possible at my disposal.