We Tried Writing With a Quill, and Here’s What We Learned
The use of quill pens dates back to the sixth century CE, when the feathers of large birds — primarily geese, turkeys, swans, and even crows — replaced the reed pens that had been used previously. Though it’s an obsolete writing utensil today, the quill pen remains a symbol of education, literature, and artistic expression. Many important historical documents were written using quill and ink, from the Magna Carta to the Declaration of Independence, and white quills are still laid out every day the U.S. Supreme Court is in session.
In pop culture, the Harry Potter series has helped generate interest in the old-fashioned writing instrument, and Taylor Swift, noting the influences of Charlotte Brontë and period films, has referred to some of her music as “Quill Pen Songs.” “If my lyrics sound like a letter written by Emily Dickinson’s great-grandmother while sewing a lace curtain, that’s me writing in the quill genre,” she explained at the Nashville Songwriter Awards in 2022.
So what is it actually like to write with the quill pens of yore? To answer that question, I turned to the internet for authentic supplies and expert advice, and set out scribbling. Here’s what I learned from the experience.
First, What Is a Quill?
A traditional quill pen consists of a feather that has been trimmed to around 9 inches long, had its shaft stripped of barbs, and had the inside and outside of the hollow barrel cleaned of membrane and wax. The quill is then dried, typically by curing it in sand, and the tip is shaped into a nib with a channel split (cut) to hold the ink.
The earliest fluid inks were carbon-based black inks that are believed to have originated in China around 2700 BCE. Iron gallotannate (iron gall) ink eventually replaced carbon and became the primary ink used with quill pens from the Middle Ages until the beginning of the 20th century. Iron gall ink is a permanent, deep purple-black or blue-black ink that darkens as it oxidizes, and is made from iron salts and gallotannic acids from organic sources (such as trees and vegetables). The Codex Sinaiticus, written in the fourth century CE and containing the earliest surviving manuscript of the Christian Bible, is one of the oldest known texts written with iron gall ink.
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The Writing Technique Is Familiar — But With More Blotting
Though the quill pen was the primary writing implement for more than 1,500 years, it’s an awkward tool for a modern writer to learn to use. Thankfully, hand-cut goose quills and iron gall ink are readily available online for the curious scribe to purchase.
I was eager to start writing once I acquired my pen and ink, but I hadn’t considered what type of paper to use. I felt a bit like Goldilocks while trying different types: Watercolor paper was too absorbent, printer paper and a coated writing tablet weren’t absorbent enough (though the pen glided across both beautifully), but a good-quality sketchbook offered just the right amount of absorbency.
On the first attempt, I dipped the pen in the jar of ink and then removed the excess liquid by rubbing the barrel of the feather along the rim of the ink jar. I found this didn’t remove enough ink to prevent drips, however, so I used a paper towel to blot the excess.
Once that was done, using the quill pen was no different from using my favorite metal-tipped ink pen. I held the quill the same way and applied about the same amount of pressure (at least initially) to the paper to write.
A Soft Backing Helps Prevent Breakage
Once I found the right paper to use with my quill pen, I practiced loading the tip with ink and writing the alphabet and short sentences. My initial attempts were challenging because using a quill pen requires frequently dipping the pen tip back into the jar for more ink, which affected the quality and consistency of the letters. In trying to finish a word or sentence before replenishing the ink, I would find myself pressing too hard on the quill tip, which quickly dulled the point and resulted in me cracking my first pen.
With only one quill remaining, I sought the advice of more experienced quill pen users. They recommend using a felt cushion underneath the writing paper to preserve the quill’s point; I didn’t have any felt on hand, so I used an old linen napkin instead. I expected it to be more difficult to write with a soft backing rather than a solid tabletop, but I was amazed at how much easier and smoother it was to write. And I didn’t crack my pen!
The Ink Needs Time to Dry, But Sand Can Speed Up the Process
I smeared the ink on many of my early efforts by trying to move or stack the paper too soon. Blotting paper was (and still is) a popular way of preventing ink from smearing, but my attempts to use a clean piece of paper on top of my iron gall ink still resulted in smudges.
However, I had good luck with a technique that predates blotting paper: sand. In this case, I used sterile terrarium sand from the craft store and sprinkled it over my still-wet ink. The sand absorbed the wet ink in a matter of minutes and, once I shook off the sand, my quill ink writing was dry and (relatively) smudge-free. (Which was more than I can say for my hands and shirtsleeves.)
Successfully writing with a quill pen took more practice and patience than I initially expected, especially considering I’ve been a lifelong fan of sending handwritten letters. But once I got the hang of it, there was something very soothing about the rhythm of the old-fashioned process.
