Fountain pens usually get all the praise among enthusiasts and collectors, whereas paper is often left behind or simply overlooked. Even ink seems to get more attention, yet paper, which is, in my opinion, the element that defines a great writing session, consistently falls to the bottom of the list. But what if I told you that choosing the right paper for your writing tools could completely transform the experience? In today’s article, I’m sharing why investing in quality paper can transform the way you write and, ultimately, inspire you to write more.
Paper hasn’t always been given the same importance, or perhaps it was, but the technology simply wasn’t there to support it. When the first modern fountain pens appeared in the late 19th century, most paper wasn’t made with them in mind. n fact, it was designed for dip pens and pencils, and that paper was often rougher and more fibrous for several reasons, which led to serious problems for fountain pen users, such as feathering, bleed-through, clogging, and fiber transfer. That’s no longer the case today, as we’re fortunate enough to have access to some of the best paper ever produced, like Tomoe River, Clairefontaine, Midori, Maruman Mnemosyne, or Hahnemühle, and the list can go on.
For a long time, I didn’t really care about the paper I was using. There were moments when I stuck consistently to specific brands like Leuchtturm or Rhodia, but there were also times when I wrote on cheap printer paper or whatever scraps I could find, without giving it much importance.
That was until my first encounter with truly high-quality paper, and I have to say, it forever changed the way I saw it. It was a notebook from Clairefontaine, and I still remember the first time I put the nib to the page: it glided across it like butter. This 90gsm paper is well regarded in the pen community for its smoothness, and I remember testing it with a medium nib. I was really impressed by how well it handled both the ink flow and the nib. There was almost no bleed-through or ghosting on the other side, even with wetter inks, a revelation compared to my experience with ordinary paper.
That was the moment that sparked my appetite for writing even more. I became curious about paper and started testing different options on the market, trying to understand what best suited my style. I also tried the famous Tomoe River, which is a dream to write on, though I personally prefer thicker alternatives. More recently, I discovered Hahnemühle, another fantastic choice, especially given their rich background in paper manufacturing.
The thing is, now I feel even more drawn to writing. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing my cursive look sharper and more refined on high-quality paper. The lines are cleaner, the ink sits beautifully on the surface without feathering, and the whole act feels more intentional. Writing has gone from being an ordinary task to an experience I look forward to, one that engages both the hand and the mind. It just feels right to put words down on paper while enjoying every stroke and appreciating the beauty of the process itself.
I’m currently using several paper brands: Clairefontaine, Montblanc (two notebooks), Pineider, Leuchtturm, Rhodia, Fabriano, and Original Crown Mill. I have to confess, I’m not even tempted to grab a piece of printer paper anymore. Jokes aside, writing has remained one of life’s few simple pleasures — and how can we truly enjoy it if we don’t give it the importance it deserves, from the pen we choose to the paper we write on?
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