We hope you've found a comfortable way to configure your fingers after our article on How to Write with a Fountain Pen, because we're giving away a brand spanking new Pilot Cocoon Fountain Pen for your writing pleasure! The Cocoon is a substantial daily writer with classic curves, leaving an impression of sophistication and strength. It's perfect for taking notes during presentations and meetings, annotating thesis papers, or just journaling at home.

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Rules and instructions:

While ballpoint pens write equally well from most angles and positions, fountain pens require a certain touch. The ink flows more easily if you hit the pen’s “sweet spot”, the pen feels more balanced in your hand with the cap posted, and everything seems to flow better from a lower angle. Once you find that flow, writing should become natural, fluid, and almost effortless.

In this article, we’ll show you the optimal way to hold and write with a fountain pen, but ultimately it comes down to what works for you. If you’re comfortable holding the pen in a grip that’s slightly different from what’s recommended, and the pen is still writing smoothly, don’t worry about it too much. However, if you’re having difficulty writing smoothly or comfortably, try making some of the adjustments suggested below.

Here are our favorite customer images selected from our Facebook Page or the web for the month of February.

Picture from Briceño:

Combining the traditional art medium of comic tools and inks with digital Photoshop, Briceño has created a charming card of our beloved JetPens mascot, Jet-Do, enjoying the peaceful quiet of winter. How do you like his scarf?

New products are in!

The same Hi-Tec-C ink but now encased in a bedazzling body. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica gel ink pen has a metallic barrel embellished with a sophisticated “M” logo and a transparent cap with a multi-faceted top. Even with this makeover, the pen still remains true to itself with the water-based gel ink and the fine tip that lays down each line with such finesse. With plenty of pizzazz and sparkle to go around, push the envelope by adding a string of charms through the cap loop to take it to the next level. Don’t let this beautiful transformation pass you by. Take hold of the “Maica” and make it yours!

Ever wonder what FriXion erasable ink is made of? Or why NASA preferred Fisher Space Pens to pencils?

There’s a world of technology hidden inside the deceptively simple surface of your pen. In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 innovative pens and explain how they work. Click through to the patents for even more details and diagrams!