Fountain Pen Shame | I’m Not Reducing My Collection 

I can’t even express how happy I am that you did this. We don’t ever need to feel pressure to meet someone else’s limits. Do what makes you happy. We all need to be making our own choices. This platform needs to stop being a place to influence others.

You have hit on a hot-button topic for me. Thank you. I have over 200 fountain pens, in multiple price ranges, and I am happy with them. I will not be force-culling because someone else thinks I have too many pens. I refuse to let anyone make me feel bad about my beloved pen collection. I did have a moment of doubt in the past - I think when I passed 60 pens - that favorite pens sometimes sit unused, but I quickly let that go. I'm not buying as many pens as I used to, but if something catches my fancy and I can fit it in my budget, I will get it. My tastes have changed over the years when it comes to buying pens, and I don't often reach for a lot of the early pens I loved. But they are still special to me and just as much a part of my collection as the new shiny I just picked up. I still get joy from seeing them, even if some sit un-inked for a while. Also, several of those unused pens can take center stage for a day during 30inks30days, especially when their color closely matches an ink, or an ink performs better with its nib. (But I have also done a 30inks30days with mostly one pen for the entire month - because I wanted to.) A particular friend once asked me how I could 'waste' my money on a bunch of pens and I reminded her about her shoe collection. She LOVES shoes and is always buying them, in all colors and styles. I said that many people would see her collection as a waste of money but she loves it. Then I asked why it was okay for HER to spend her own money on what she loved, but she thought I couldn't. No answer... Another friend likes to go clubbing and drink. (I don't.) I told them that the money spent on just one of their outings could pay for one of my pens. Different people have different hobbies and as long as they are not putting their family in financial or some other danger to do it, people should let them be. Don't misunderstand, I do get rid of pens that 'don't bring me joy' for some reason. And I may at some point pass on some of the pens I still really like, but that will be my choice and not because others think I have too many. If someone has a problem with my collection, all I can say is, "You do you, and I'll do me." We can stay in our own lanes. 😏

Thank you for sharing your insights and being open with your thoughts and feelings about your pen collection. It hit me, especially when you mentioned my name, that I am (at least partly) to blame for your feeling of shame. I'm sorry. It was never my intention to make anyone feel bad about owning dozens or hundreds of pens. All I hope is that everyone can love and appreciate the pens they have in their collection, no matter the number. It sounds like you've achieved a renewed appreciation for your collection and I think that's great! -Tom

I’m only 4 minutes in, and I just want to say DO WHAT YOU WANT. My currently inked videos are always a “what’s nearby inked” 😂😂😂 I have to finish this video later because I’m leaving work now, but I’m very excited about finishing it

Hi Kristen! I enjoyed hearing your perspective on this so much! Ever since the first round of the 8 pen questions tag last year, I admit to having several times when I felt uncomfortable about having 200 fountain pens and thought maybe I really SHOULD to do something about it. I even went so far as to try in my mind and on paper to narrow my collection down to 20 and then that was laughable since I have 20 TWSBI Ecos! Then 40 ... then 40 but not counting my separate cases of TWSBIS, Lamys, Jinhaos, student pens etc. LOL that never made sense and I realized I couldn't make myself into someone else. LOL I know my reaction and any shame or discomfort I had is on me = my feelings and thoughts (even if sparked by someone else's video or my comparison of their tidy minimal collection with my sprawling eclectic accumulation) I have to own those. I think I have a inner secret fantasy of being a minimalist but books and pens have proven to be major exceptions! I mean, I have given pens away that didn't work out for me and I've certainly sold and donated books ... but I am HAPPY with a large collection in both of those categories. Your words really feel so true to me as well that for the most part I too really love having lots of options especially for color matching .... which makes sense given my love of colorful inks! At times I can even remember being almost influenced against my beloved TWSBIs (Ecos) because of the experiences of others that I heard about. But, in the long run I must make my own choice being aware of the limitations and possible issues with the pens but checking to see what my actual experience is. I always appreciate thought provoking videos like this! Thank you!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a large collection. I’m pushing 400 and can’t see myself going under 300.

“It is okay to enjoy what you have” - fully agree with that sentiment because it’s an inclusive perspective that recognizes and celebrates everyone’s different ways with engaging in a hobby. If it’s not a problem, it’s not a problem. As I watched all the 8penquestions, I enjoyed learning about all the different pens, inks, and meeting fellow pen enthusiasts! It’s allowed me to consider other ways I might want to expand my collection in a way that works for me. I do get overwhelmed easily, but I recognize and don’t expect that my experience is going to be the same for others. I also participated in 30inks30days in my own way and had a blast rediscovering inks I had previously written off. It’s a fun hobby and I’m all for making more space for joy and less for shame. ❤

A very raw, honest and important video. I applaud you for the guts it took to produce it. I believe that the “right” number of fountain pens is the amount that brings you joy and doesn’t drive you to the poorhouse. It’s nobody’s business but your own what that number is. I’m so glad you are getting such joy from your collection. That’s what matters.

Thank you for this. I’ve noticed the “collection culling” videos too and something about them bugged me. Like there was some sort of moral component to having more or less. Everybody is different. I say do whatever you want as long as it’s not causing financial or emotional problems.

There is so much freedom and joy in this video. Thank you for sharing your journey and your philosophy on expanding compassion and joy to self and others in the community! 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

YES, YES and Yes! I have over 170 fountain pens! Some of the videos made me feel less then! What’s wrong with me wanting, loving my pens! And I do love ALL my pens! I’ll be making a video for next week on the same topic! NO one should bad for having “X” amount of pens. PS. I plan on buying more at the SF pen show!

This week, im seeing all the videos on burnout and shaming. Idk, maybe it's because Im an only child, but it's not anything these internet ppl gonna ever make me feel shame about. IMO if you're a year into this hobby and you have 100 pens, then I can understand why you're burnt out, if youd chosen bike riding, you wouldn't have bought 100 bikes in a year? Im not comparing. Im a little over a year in and think im buying too much ink for my nine pens, but Im not gonna be shamed about it. Im 56 and my nest is finally empty so I dont want to spend my disposable income on pens since I like other things but if you wanna buy 100 pens in a year why do you feel the need to come to YT to justify it to a bunch of strangers? Gurl go buy a hundred more pens and live your best life

A well-curated collection is a well-loved collection. Period. The number has nothing to do with it. Glad you didn't let those other people's experiences take your joy ❤

I'm a lot more cynical about this than you, I think. Stationery content was buying and unboxing and more buying and unboxing, multiplying until viewers started to get tired of it. And then, surprise surprise, the counter-cycle started where everyone's stripping down & presenting it as an antidote to consumerism. To my mind, it's still an obsessive focus on what to buy--which products are best--which is why so many stores with RU-vid channels are able to jump on the bandwagon. And in the end, it'll just pave the way for a new cycle of maximalism, and videos about extravagant purchases. Personally, I like having a collection and growing a collection... but I've been into fountain pens for 20+ years and I'm not trying to speedrun the hobby.

This was a great video! I have been culling my collection a teensy bit from the beginning of the year, but only because I am using the funds from the sales to buy pens I want more. I have a tendency to go overboard with my interests (TWSBI in every colour) and there is always a period of honing that happens with me. If I feel burnt out I just go play with resin or watercolours and come back later. I will not be going down to 10 pens. I love the exploration aspect of them too much!

I started back with fountain pens about 5 years ago. I have collected over 300 pens, not ashamed of it, and obviously not using them all. I just enjoy the different styles and colors.

Kristen, thank you for making this!! You have an amazing collection, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be unique to you and keep doing what you love 💖

Awesome! Theodore Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

I just finally watched and wanted to thank you for your beautiful and valid statement! I’m a collector headed towards 200 and “je ne regrette rien”, no regrets, no shame, just pure fun! 🎉🖋💕✍️🙌🏻

Yes! You get to choose how you live and what you surround yourself with. Hope to meet up again at another pen posse soon.

Oh my gosh - THANK YOU for this video!!! Seriously. I have well over 100 fountain pens and I can't even begin to tell you how many inks I have and I did wonder if there was something wrong with me because I get so much joy from having ALL of them. I love the exploration of new colors, of new nibs, of new pen body shapes - the list goes on. I just found your channel and actually just ordered a couple of pens on your list from your video back in January. Am I ashamed of ordering more pens? Not now thanks to this video. Finding joy in this hobby is what makes it a true hobby and I will no longer feel embarrassed or ashamed by loving this hobby. Thank you Kristen for being you and addressing this!!!

Thank you for posting this video! I am someone who has been in the FP community for just a few years and I have been feeling horrible that I have about 400 pens. I buy and sell on ebay, mostly vintage pens because I love to restore old pens, and after I do that its difficult to let go of them because I really pour my heart into fixing them and making them look good again. The videos going around have had me feeling like there is something wrong with me. I am a collector, Im not into planning so much. I guess we all need to find our place and I appreciate that I am not alone in how I feel. Thanks!

I love my collection. I wondered if the influencers talking about selling off pens are tired of creating content, not their collection.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! While I have been struggling with fountain pen/hobby burnout for a few months, not once did I think about force culling my 200+ fountain pens collection. And while no one has out right shamed me for the number of pens, there was a very loud unspoken shame that came with people exclaiming "I have 20 pens, 30, 15". Like you said, I felt there was something wrong with me that I couldn't just be happy with 10 pens, and why had I let my collection grow to such a size. And I have sold pens. Many pens in fact. But not once was it to force my collection to a size predetermined by someone else. Thank you Kristen. I 💚 you!

My collection may be small (just hit 14) but there’s always room for more! I think the most important thing (for me) is the intention - am I excited about my acquisitions? Otherwise, its understanding what has that acquisition has taught me - about my desired writing experience, about the retailers accessible to me, about the knowledge bases within the community, etc. The number of fountain pens you have is a PART of the journey. There were things before and hopefully more to come in the future. I think the thing that makes me sad in all this is the shame aspect - both from an individual standpoint and even an industry standpoint. The community is relatively niche - and so whatever support we can provide to producers, financial or otherwise, is what keeps us going. Concerning us as individuals - what was supposed to be a fun approach to a ‘fountain pen bucket list’ or a personal top 10 is being internalized as ‘the pens outside this list is a testament to my irresponsibility ’. You aren’t counting mistakes- you’re counting blessings. Heck! You might even be creating something of an archive. What is most telling in all this (and more hopeful) is that in all cases that I’ve seen so far, culling a collection isn’t simply a matter of discarding - its selling what you have or otherwise giving it way. Those who chose to do so may not be pruning solely for the aesthetics of a small collection but instead feeding the growth of another person’s collection or propagating the community with new hobbyists. I have a lot of thought on this (evidently) but no matter how this plays out, I think we’ll come to be perfectly happy with or collections (whether its grows, shrinks, or stays just as it is) :)

Thoughtfully articulated! Thank you for offering us this freedom and this kindness. I'll join you: Let everyone celebrate having pens that bring them joy, and celebrate others having pens that bring them joy, regardless of number!

Fantastic, well worded; a video drawing on a rational argument, but with also an emotional input, and confidently put forward. Very well done. Also I say, keep one of those OMAS pens always inked up, and either the M800 and the Unicorn Visconti, and you won't have a boring month ever again :)

The great thing about this hobby is that we can collect the way we want. I'm sorry others make you feel like you need to collect different. I have less than 50 pens but my weakness (Love?) is inks. I have so much fun with inks and I'm ok with not owning a lot of pens. And we go through phases as we continue through our hobbies, too.

I have a firm rule that I never have more than 10, except when I have 11. The problem is not that a person has a certain number of pens it's counting them that's the problem. This is my first time here and I enjoyed the talk and how articulate you are.

It was time. Time for your video! As I read the comments I noticed that quite a few were now unsure about their pen collection because you „need only 10“. I said under Simone’s Video „you need only one because you can write with only one at the same time“. But that’s not what I want. And honestly I’m a bit sad if I see that someone wants to get rid of pens that clearly „spark joy“ (this is how I measure if I want a pen or not ☺️) but for the sake of a „trend“ they want to reduce their collection. Like you said: each to their own. And if you’re a collector and like more than one safari because they are pretty- so what? I grew up with fountain pens in school and started collecting around 25-30 pens. Except of safari and Pelikan mostly cheap no name but fun colors. Nobody understood me for having so many fountain pens. Now I feel that I finally found a community for my hobby 🧡 Thanks again for this uplifting video! 🙏

Finally! Someone said what needed to be said. There is no right or wrong number of fountain pens!

I am so sad that you felt fountain pen shame, no one should have to feel judged or shamed because of what they enjoy as long as it isn't causing any harm to themselves or others. I rejoice that your collection brings you joy and that you aren't going to reduce it. My fountain pens bring me joy, there is something very special about writing with a fountain pen and just being able to enjoy the experience. I think you have a lovely collection, Life is far too short and you are right to enjoy it. I enjoy content on people's fountain pen collections and currently inked because I find joy in knowing that there are still people enjoying fountain pens in a world where the art of writing is becoming lost. In my opinion the only time to think of culling pens is if they are causing you to feel unhappy, pens don't take a lot of space to store. We shouldn't feel shamed or judged because we have a particular number of pens. One pen, one hundred pens, one thousand pens I rejoice whatever the number that a person has that they are enjoying them! Keep doing you!

Love the video and YES! Everyone’s magic number including those who have no number/limit on pens is ok. One of my favorite parts of this hobby is we all bring our own sensibilities to this hobby whether that’s paper choice, number of pens, price points we are willing to spend etc. seeing others collections and choices is so interesting. I also think we each change over time. That can be the pens we prefer, the size of our collection etc. bottom line I celebrate all of us and each of our individual experiences and I love seeing your perspective.

i think you go about this in a really good way! i think a lot of people fall into a trap of buying something for the sake of buying it, not for owning it. if you get joy out of your collection and you’re not compulsively buying for the sake of buying, then i think you’re golden. i think marie kondo even said in her book that if you have a lot of books and you don’t really need or want them then it might be best to pare down yo ur collection, but if they do bring you a lot of joy, if they’re a high priority for you, then it’s fine to have a lot of them. i don’t think there’s anything wrong with a gentle reminder to take a second look and re-evaluate every once in a while and be mindful, but you’re also 100% correct that there’s no shame at all in enjoying what you have’

Im with you. I do not sell my fountain pens, I have given many away but never sold a one. And as far as limiting the amount of pens I have inked at one time? Well lets just say each page of my notebooks looks like a skittles convention.

Thank you for this, just like many here I agree with you. Finding new nibs and inks and different writing experiences is why I got into this Hobby. Getting rid of any number of pens is getting rid of a writing experience . My desire to re-experience it may wane and wax over time. As such I want more pens to experience writing in unique ways, and different inks to express different ideas . Congratulations on not falling to the reduced collection . I was mortified to see others culling their collection of very liked fountain pens.

This is a great perspective to share. While I currently have less than 20 pens, I am an avid fibre artist (knitter, crocheter, spinner). I have a large and beautiful collection of yarn and wool (and I own three spinning wheels). It would take me years to use up what I own. But that does not mean that I want to, or need to, give away or sell what I have.

Whatever, I have at last count 76 fountain pens, I may have more. I go through seasons with my pens, I draw and write with them, but they are mine and I love trying new ones, I coordinate them with my inks, and with my notebooks, they are my gifts to myself, and with all due respect fuck what anyone says about it, no one says anything about collections of designer purses and shoes, and makeup and wigs, I don't buy any of those but I do buy pens, ink and stationary because they make me happy , I do t need any other reason and neither do you😊

Very well done. A thoroughly honest and compelling talk that I can appreciate. I’ll state my take. I’ve been a fountain pen lover and user since the age of 10. But it’s only over the past 5-6 years that I’ve been fully immersed in the Fp hobby and been spending a lot on buying pens. And bottled inks, too. I’ve deliberately downsized my collection (over the last 2 years) from a peak of a 110 pens to exactly 65 today. No pressure or outside influence involved at all. Mine was a very self-motivated, personal and intentional decision to keep a collection of pens comprising my essentials and outright favorites. One reason among a few that drove me to downsize is that I began to dislike the idea of having too many pens lying idle in storage for too long. And holding on to the pens I rarely even felt the urge to ink and use anymore. I’ve already spent a minor fortune on buying my pens (majority of them $300+). So, although pens don’t take up too much space at all, I didn’t want to hold on to pens that I didn’t think I loved or would use anymore. I gave many away for free and sold the ones I could. I’m awaiting the arrival of two new pens later this month. So, I’ve not sworn off buying new pens. 🙂. I don’t think I regret letting go of any of the nearly 50 pens that I did. It was a somewhat ruthless cull, I know. Most importantly, I’m very content with the size, breath and quality of my present fountain pen collection. Now, I’ve randomly watched a few of the recent videos by several pen channel content creators on YT on the whole ‘burnout’ issue. To me, almost all of them seemed to honestly express their own journeys, experiences, and decisions surrounding the whole burnout issue and other related matters from a purely personal perspective. I didn’t feel there was any overt condescension, pressuring, or forcing and ‘shaming’ others to conform to their views on the issue. Or to do what they did. Very many of the comments I’ve read here sound overly sensitive and defensive. If you really are not easily influenced by the opinions and choices of other people, there’s no need to get so riled up about this topic at all. I know I don’t give a toss about the size or nature of anybody else’s pen collection. So why all the haughty defiance that I see here in the comments? I have unsubscribed from several of the pen channels I once used to watch and enjoy. I now find them dreadfully boring and a waste of time. Retailers’ videos are nauseating, to put it kindly. I wish I could see your entire collection of nearly 100 pens, Kristen. How many Auroras among them? 😋 I ask because I adore Aurora and their pens still dominate my collection. Sailor and Stipula are the other two of which I have several pens of each.

Yay! I mean it’s fine if some want to decrease their own collection. But other than maybe 5-6 of my 40 or so pens, I am very happy with mine. And I don’t even want to sell any of them at this time. Sometimes I felt like some of the you tubers were copying each other, but thanks for keeping it real. Some of my non-pen friends make me feel as if having 5 nice pens is just crazy. 😜 And I don’t need that kind of negativity! 😚🤪😜🥰😎

How other people choose to spend their money affects me absolutely zero. Life's too short to feel bad about the things that bring you joy--even if they are just "things." So, do your thing!

I have over 100 pens, I stopped counting cause it doesn't matter to me I enjoy them all! Will I purchase more? Absolutely! And i buy a variety of priced pens too the $10 to the more expensive ones. It's Okay!!! We just need to stay on our own lane and not worry about anyone else's collection. Thanks for the video so had to be said.

Spread the joy! I saw a coworker use a fountain pen during a routine meeting and witnessed his face light up when I pointed it out. He was shocked when I mentioned I had WAY more fountain pens than he has in his collection, but all mine are still new in their boxes. I will be changing that, as he has all sorts of inks he wants me to try. It is a hobby, meant to be passionate about, whether you own 1,000 pens, or none at all.

I’m the same with all these declutter/donate videos on craftrooms lately…. Get away from my supplies! Ok, I realise I buy stuff and I’ll never use it but I get the dopamine hit from buying/swatching/storing… and that’s my jam! I’m lucky with FP’s… I’m only into permanent waterproof black ink and I’m happy with the 7 pens I already own…. 😂 (shuts the door on her craftroom with 9 sewing machines, large shelves bulging with shops-worth of yarn and fabric, every alcohol/wc marker/pencil set imaginable, hundreds of watercolours, gouache, acrylic paints, etc etc….)

Let keep in mind that Drew was answering a question a viewer asked HIM the question was What is the ideal amount of FPs that would be practical and allow for variation (ie: you can actually give attention to them all without strain and have a mix of (fine, med, ect nibs) He gave the viewer examples and said why they were good why he recommended them HE never said anything about we shouldn’t or can’t have more than 10 pens Drew has more than 40 that he actually owns and he was more than 40 yes he works around many pens that’s not the point the point is he merely answered a question and he threw no shame at anyone (ie. He spoken about his collection before on the podcast) My point is let’s make sure we see the whole picture and not a fragment Enjoy your pens everyone ❤

Don't get rid of them! I collect both fountain pens and playing cards (of which I have maybe 30+ decks) and I don't use them all, but they bring me joy just thinking about each of them. There is a memory associated with each one and its fun to see the collection as a whole, even though I don't use all of them, and honestly its impossible to use all of them consistently. You've got this!

Nobody gives the side eye to a comic book or stamp collection in the hundreds. So why pens? You are just fine no matter how many pens you have.

love this video!!! It's so true, we need to make us happy and not meet up to anybody else's expectations..

No one cares what anyone else does with their collection.

I love this video! Thank you for putting it out there!

this was a great video !! If you have one pen or a thousand, it should be "you do you" and find joy with that

This was such an insightful perspective on how we can draw joy from items, activities, beliefs, etc., but still appreciate the fact that others get joy from different things which is equally valid. We all have individual preferences and biases (whether we are aware of them or not) and this often impacts how we share and teach. I personally LOVE seeing all the collections (not just pen related) out there, it brings me so much joy to see other people enjoying what lights them up. Thanks so much for sharing this Kristen 💜

Thankyou for saying this! I too have 90+ pens and I was starting to feel wildly out of step with the community. My pens aren't causing me pain, they're not a burden and I'm not feeling overwhelmed (ink is another matter! ;)) and I don't think there's anything wrong with the way we collect and use pens. I'm glad you're able to take joy in your pens again too!

I'm just 2 months into the fountain pen hobby. I got my first pen, and three inks, and realized I needed 2 more pens. Then I needed more ink and more pens. When you find something you enjoy - just do it! You love your collection - and I hope you continue to love them for a long long time. All the best!

As someone new to fountain pens, I thought the "currently inked for X month" was kind of interesting but also too rigid for me. Even 5 years from now, when I am deep in the hobby, I think I would absolutely hate it because I would have to make sure I switch out pens/inks on a particular day of the month. Scheduled time for enjoyment is not it for me. I'd prefer to switch out in a more organic scenario when I'm actually out of ink on a pen or bored with the combo. I only have 4 pens for now (as I despise buyer's remorse, even though reselling is an option) so I want to be very intentional with my purchases, but even now, I cannot imagine having such a small collection permanently. 30 pens? I'm bored already.

I am so glad that you made this video. I recently started enjoying fountain pens last December. I have 18 so far and 5 more to arrive in the next month or two. I have been telling myself to stop for some arbitrary reason. After listening to your story I feel that if I see another pen, concurring with your idea, that will bring me joy - I will acquire it. Thank you for your video.

I feel meditation in writing..when I write with beautiful nib ..I feel myself being nib writing with smooth ink flow...This is the joy of writing and collecting fps...I don't know weather it is addiction or not?

This is the first video I’ve ever seen of yours & I’m subscribing. Love your confidence & I feel the same way!

Thank you for sharing this!!!

Brava!!! Well said!!! 😃

oh Kristen I am standing & applauding (really, lucky I live alone).You put it so well, I have been through this exact situation with previous collections. I hated the endless videos about culling your tarot deck collection, I didn't watch them at all after a while. Guilt trip after guilt trip & NO ONE seems to understand that it is each to their own!! As you said, enjoy your collection but don't put your thoughts about numbers etc on anyone else. To be honest I was horrified to see the bunch of pen burnout videos that have popped up. IT made me feel like I had gone backwards & I refuse to watch them at all. If a person needs to sell pens, then sell pens. That DOES NOT mean every other collector needs to sell pens, align with your "perfect" total or anything else. I just have to add that I love your videos & look forward to them. Your swatching is on the biggest variety of paper, your new pen vids are always full of information + your excitement 😊 Thank you for making this supremely sensible statement - I look forward to your next vid! 😁

I have +-50 fountain pen between Lamy, Sheaffer, pilot, platinum, sailor, jinhao and hero. The problem is ink. I have ink for +20 years and yesterday I buy 1L of pilot standard blue

What I really love about this hobby is that it looks different for everyone! I have stopped comparing myself to others, it’s my own journey. You do you Kristen and thank you for sharing 🥰

I was impressed by your collection. I subscribed. You have a beautiful collection ❤ You made me feel good about the things I enjoy!

I hate how so many people hop on the latest RU-vid fountain pen trend: culling your fountain pen and/or ink collection, fountain pen “burnout”, etc. We are all individuals and each one of us should follow our own bliss.

I'm so glad that you found your way back to feeling joy with your collection. That's the important thing - that this pastime is a source of happiness, whether we have 10 or 500. I did the 10 pen hypothetical just to see what choices I would make and why, which taught me something about my priorities. ❤

I have two parallel collections of pens right now. Some years ago I cleared out most of my pens to 20, but I ended up rebuying much nicer copies of some pens I used to have. I have a similar number as you now, and they're split into two parallel collections. One set is the more special stuff that's higher value, Auroras, Pilots, Sailors, and some others. The other set is basically all sorts of colorful German kid pens that mostly have steel nibs. Some of them are more historic or uncommon, but they're all really fun. I use them all and they make me happy. Some days it's so nice to just go through what you have and go, "I'm in the mood for some of this that and the other thing today" I have a little Rickshaw sleeve and every day I pick out a few pens to go in that sleeve, and that's what I enjoy that day. The next day I take those out and grab another few. It just brings a lot of joy sometimes just having a fresh selection of different pens, different inks, and fun nibs every day. I've been using these pens since I was in elementary, and every day feels like a "fun pen day" still. My mom also uses these. We have been just having a lot of fun over the many years we've been using them. She used them when she was little too and she has a collection too. It's not as big as mine but it's sure eclectic. She also has some high value stuff, but some days she pulls out this Pilot V Pen fountain pen (which we have refilled a few times without taking out the nib or feed-we have a method) and uses it. It brings her joy, and it's a great writer. It must be at least 15 years old. It's wild. Both my mom and I still have and use pens we had back as middle school girls

Enjoying fountain pens should not include a number. Everyone should have what they want. I don’t feel like I need to be aligned with anyone but myself.

Yes, I totally agree! I need to count my pens but I will have to gather them up an into place for that task. I have pens at home, work, inked, flushed, etc. 😂 Now I’m curious to know how many pens and inks I do have. No current plans to sell. Thanks for the talk!

Yesssssss!!!!! Thank you. This is an amazing topic. I have a very large collection and there does feel some shame sometimes and literally stop buying for like 9+ months.

I’m a collector! I want many fountain pens!! I don’t care what others have! Continue to enjoy your pens!! Thx for the video😍😍😍😍😍

I’m still in search of my 200 Collection. 😊 keep collecting as many as your heart desires ❤😊 it is nobody’s business.

I've seriously reduced my pen collection twice, but built it back up again with pens I loved more. There is NOTHING wrong with having a large pen collection. I have a few cheap pens, mostly TWSBI, but my most expensive pen cost $14,000, and I have a lot of pens in the $800 to $5,000 range. What I do with m,y money is no one else's business, and neither is the size or worth of my pen collectionn.

Everyone's on their own journey. If someone is happy with 1 or 5 or 500, that's all that matters really.🤷🏻‍♀️ 'Happy' is the operative word here. 😉 Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kristen!

I love everything about this! I sometimes feel guilty about my 100-plus pens. But I really enjoy them. Really enjoyed this video

I have 14 clear Kakunos EF fountain pens. I want to get a total of 20. I love them. I've sealed the holes with silicone sealant. But I'm going to remove that and use a clear resin kit. You had liquid resin that's cured by a uv light. It's mainly to cut down on evaporation. I experimented with Chinese fountain pens first. I did like the Platinum meteors. I switched out the nib units to EF = 0.20mm. I bought 12 of those in different colors. I also bought about 8 Jihao 80s = 0.30mm. These are both writers. But I found that Platinum meteors had a kind of flat Lamy like nib. I realized that the 80s were great, but I preferred a thinner line and the curvature of an excellent steel nibs. I'm just a Pilot girl. Eventually I'll try to sell off the meteors and 80s. I can see myself getting 2 Custom 74s EF, a custom 742 EF and Custom 743 EF., in the future. At this point my FOMO is buying fountain pen inks. I think it's great that you have a curated collection of higher end fountain pens and they give you joy. There is no shame in your game. If you want to write more there's Journaling: a planner, bullet and dream journals. There's also a penpal reddit to write letters. And you can use them for holiday cards. You could also use one pen every 10 days. To use them throughout the year. You might find you like some pens better than others, and might think about culling them.

Good on you! I'm with you. I have a LOT of fountain pens and they run the gamut of $$, style, brands, material, nibs, etc. However, even unused they bring me joy. I'm lucky to have some disposable income to pursue a hobby and this is what I've chosen. Keep it up because I very much enjoy your videos.

Wow. Folks have so many pens! That's great though, enjoy your hobby if it isn't breaking your bank. I can't personally imagine having more than 10 but I'm just not as devoted to pens as a hobby in the way some folks are, they're a tool for me. I currently have 9..? But I will admit that my ink sample collection is getting out of hand, for me, and those are only because I'm a Level 7 Susceptible and ink swatch videos influence me. But inks are way more affordable and enjoyable for me to get my hands on vs the $100+ pens people have in their collections. I feel joy emptying a sample vial, comparing swatches while I look for the perfect ink for my needs.

I don't honestly know how people keep ONLY 3-5 pens inked at once. I have around 20 pens currently inked while I slowly make my way through all of them. When one goes dry, I clean and fill it. I just keep them all in rotation.

Only you can know what you enjoy. I have 3 blue 02 Preppy, 2 black 02 Preppy, 1 red 02 Preppy, all other colors and transparent (5) 03 Preppy, 5 different Platinum Meteor editions in EF (they are basically a different looking Preppy). I love them. I use them and I might get more of them in the future. I also have 1 vintage Lamy Safari, 4 different models Pilot ones, 1 Charlie, a bunch of Jinhao (about 4 are the shark one) and some random Chinese fountain pens. I use most of them from time to time. It may take me a year to get to the ones I use less but I don't want to get rid of them yet and I might never do it. And there are pens I still want to buy and test in the future. We do us.

What a nice video. First off, thoughts on Konmari: I love her and that method because I feel like she gave me self defense against all the true minimalists in my life who want me to get rid of things all the time. I'm over here like "It sparks joy, leave me alone!" and they can't say anything to that. Regarding the number of pens: I had one pen for years and was fine with it, and that grew to five or six and I was fine with that. Now: I have had serious health and immunity issues so all I do is write and I'm at home all the time and I have a LOT more pens than I used to have, and a lot, lot, LOT more ink. I examined that, and felt guilty. But it makes so much sense for me. I mark the seasons with the changing colors of my ink, and each pen is a different sensation and vibe to work with. I never go anywhere so I've got to get my novelty from SOMEWHERE. I've got reasons in my life to have the things that I have, and everyone else has different lives and different things that make them happy. So there can't really be one correct amount of pens, because we're all different people. Similarly, I can see culling if someone is feeling some overwhelm or their needs have changed. Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying your pens again. :)

Thank you for putting this out there ! Joy is the key. I used to collect frogs. In all shapes and sizes… all kinds of materials… and it was fun, even if they were of no use at all, I had my whole apartment decorated with frogs. One day it didn’t bring me joy anymore, which partly came from people bringing me frogs whenever they visited me and most of them I didn’t like… ;) And if I ever get to the point where I don’t enjoy my fountain pen collection anymore, I will probably reduce it to a number that is a little more reasonable to the eye of the beholder. :D But right now that point in time has not arrived and I will use my pens and collect them as I see fit. Funny though that some of those „You need only 10“ videos come from people who work for retailers… aren’t they supposed to talk us into collecting more and not less ? :D Anyway, I do this exercise of hypothetically picking my favorite 10 sometimes (or rather 30 maybe…;) and that‘s the end of it. I know I could do it, but I don’t have to and that‘s good.

To normies, us fountain pen nerds will always have too many pens wether it's 10 or 100 haha

Hi Kristen Good advice. Never let anyone to tell you what is right for you. I have so far 9 fountain pens. Kaweco was my first. My favourite is a vintage Parker slimfold which i love writing with. God bless

Bravo! Do what works for you. I really don’t think people should ask how many pens you have. It’s right up there with how many rolls of toilet paper do you have? How many pairs of knickers do you have? If you want to share that information unasked that’s fine. But frankly, asking that question always seems to have an agenda.

I think a lot of hobbies go through this cycles especially with social media. Having spent quality time in both the book and yarn craft spaces well. (No, I have not read all of my books, and yes, I have more yarn than I will ever be able to use. Your point is?😂) At some level, there is a valid concern when comparing collections that there will be unintentional influence to encourage people to buy something that they can't afford or don't have space for. I think it is important to let people know that you don't have to have a lot of pens to be welcome in this space. But, and this is important, if you enjoy collecting pens, can afford it, and have room for it... then go for it!!! Enjoy. Collecting is a slightly different hobby than using. Related, of course. But not exactly the same. If they bring you joy, then keep them. Use them. I appreciate your videos because you do talk about the interaction of pen, ink, and paper. And I appreciate knowing that it isn't just me for whom that is really important. And if you just want to collect them because they look pretty. Go for it!

Welcome to my story! I don't even know how many pens I have anymore (I don't count 😉). But according to my several pen cases it's in the few hundreds. And I'm fine with that. I have gifted and given away sooo many pens over the years to be able to curate my collection; but I still find myself in the 3 digit numbers in the end. So I gave up; realising that I am not really the type to curate a collection. First of all I like many styles of pens and I don't mind adjusting my grip according to the pen's size, style etc. This already means I can easily write with a variety of pens and most of the time I don't have to consider the writing comfort. Secondly I absolutely love all nib sizes and nib grinds. The weirder the grind the better! I just got a Galen × Kaweco Sport special with a 'bilateral' nib which is a fude nib in normal writing and a cursive in reverse! And I got the same pen with a 'dentist architect' grind wich is apparently a soft architect (I want to ask them about the name as well 😂) Think about all the other grinds that I get whenever I find them. I love these! And even if I wanted to slim down my collection, the pen per grind I'll end up with would probably come to at least 50. Let alone the pens that I love for different reasons. I am very much into my maki-e pens for instance; they are a collection within my collection. No way I'm getting rid of those! If I don't ink them up a while, I still love looking at the craftmenship and the beauty and the artistry that they hold. I'll have to say that there has been a while about a decade - decade and a half ago - when FPs got popular (as popular as FPs can get) and a gazillion pens from several brands started to come out. That's when I started getting every pen under the sun. That was a bit much. I realised I had many pens but didn't really enjoy most of them. That's when I gave away many of them. After that phase, I really got to know what I enjoyed more. I can appreciate a beautifully curated small collection of pens that satisfies its owner. And I love listening to their process as well. But I have been with my pens for too many years to actually delude myself into thinking I can be like them. And that's just fine. People should do their own thing and be happy with it. So more power to you!

Thank you for your insightful video. I wonder if thinking about the quantity of pens I have not as a “collection,” but as a “wardrobe” might lessen the guilt or shame I occasionally feel. Were I to count all the items in my closet and bureau, the total would be astronomical, and obviously far exceeds what I actually need to be decently clothed, but each piece - from the coats and sweaters to the unmentionables - serves a different purpose, and complements a different mood, style or season. I “cull” them only when they no longer do that, or when they no longer “spark joy.” I still have a pair of boots dating to Nixon’s first administration. I have not worn them in…oh…a very long while, but they still make me smile -as do certain pens in my collection.

If you aren't bamkrupting yourself, the bills are paid and you are enjoying them... Who cares how many you have? They are for your enjoyment not someone else's I change every couple of weeks because that's what I like to do. The rest of yourtube is not the boss of you, do it how you like! I'm sorry you felt shame. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Did I mention that you don't need to look for an excuse to use your pens? Use them when you need to use a pen. You don't have to start writing in a diary. You don't have to transcribe a novel. It's not necessary. You also don't need to have a grail pen in mind. If you're not comfortable with dropping $800+ on a writing utensil that you'll be afraid to use, don't. Pay your rent and feel good about it.

I have 200 + pens. When I am ready I will start to sell a few. ❤ your video. I am not going to shamed by someone saying you will never be able to adequately use them all. Who are they to judge? Do I tell them how many kids to have? Do I tell them to stop flying on airplanes because of global warming. No. It is their personal choice. I make my choices you make yours. As long as we are not breaking any laws or directly hurting anyone live and let live. Way to go great video. Best,

Brava, Kristen! I have a large bunch of fountain pens, well north of 100 -I stopped counting. I’ve been collecting for over 35 years, the numbers are going to add up. My solution to getting the best out of my collection is rotation. I have around 20 inked with different colors and use them all until dry, then clean them and ink a different pen with another color and the cycle continues. I’m doing a 365 ink calendar and use many of my dip pens to enjoy those. No guilt, no shame. I love all my pens and ink- whether they were free, cheap, or hella expensive flagship models.

Love to see your beautiful face. So what makes you happy in regards to your collection. When that changes you can also change your mind. Hugs to you.

I LOVED this video! I don't know the number of pens I have but the last time I counted I had at least 90. I also struggle with the whole "these pens only for this month". I ink what makes me happy when it makes me happy, and if I get bored I can move the pen to the cleaning pile. I am going to the dutch pen show in june, and to japan in october, I fully expect to increase my collection then! I do *try* to avoid fomo, because I have bought pens that I then regret, but I also know I can just sell them on again, so its not too bad.

No shame, only joy! We do these things cos they make us happy. Great video, gonna subscribe for sure.

Enjoyed your video and agree :) have fun with your collection!

Kristen, great video. Well done. Really appreciate all of your efforts on behalf of the fountain pen community. The structure of your review videos is amazing and they demonstrate consistently a lot of thought and effort in making them.

Thanks for sharing this with the FP community Kristen! As a long time FP collector /user, I think we go through different phases, having over 340+ FPs I had to develop a rotation system of using my FPS which allowed me to appreciate each of them (or not) and make changes accordingly! Culling a collection can certainly be part of the collecting experience, I just have not reached that point in my 43 years of using/collecting, I hope you continue to post your experiences with these wonderful writing tools, thank you❤

Thank you so much for making this video and sharing this message! I've been feeling that same pressure. I have given away pens, but I haven't sold one yet. I have a small list of possible sale ones in the back of my mind, but I appreciate the reminder that I don't have to do anything until I am ready and unless I want to. I certainly won't be engaging in a massive culling to a set number.

I quite enjoy hearing/viewing people discussing/reviewing fountain pens. I do it a lot. I am seldom if ever inclined to heap shame on anyone about something that intrigues me. But the very thing that draws me to this is the thing that also makes me feel a bit conflicted about it. The best thing about FP’s is the relative irrelevance of them. Their lack of connection to the rat race, politics, religion, and stresses of our times is their primary virtue. Their general simplicity as a thing and their infinite variability while still being one thing is their charm and seduction. I really do get it. So why do I feel like such a loser for being unwilling to shake off this interest? I do feel some guilt over the sheer irrelevance of them when viewed against the backdrop of a world burdened by innumerable needs. It does seem like such an excess. But, pen Puritanism is itself a sign of self-loathing I think and a destructive inclination to be wary of. Finally there are the design and aesthetic features - the beauty of these things, the tactile experience in the hand that seems to override all my reservations. So there I am. Don’t deny the innocent joy of fountain pen appreciation.