The Pelikan’s Perch – WordPress.com Information

Welcome again to our “WordPress.com Favorites” sequence! In these interviews, we’ll be highlighting bloggers about their ardour challenge. Warning: contents assured to be inspiring.  

In the present day’s featured weblog, The Pelikan’s Perch, dives deeply into a distinct segment of a distinct segment: proprietor Joshua Danley writes solely about Pelikan-brand fountain pens. 

Even when you’ve by no means written with a fountain pen and know nothing about this graphological pastime, you’ll be captivated by Joshua’s interview beneath. 

1. Inform us a bit bit about your self. What do you do for a dwelling? What do you write about? How lengthy have you ever been running a blog?

Firstly, I’m a father to 2 candy and rambunctious little boys and a husband to an incredible spouse. More often than not, you will discover me working at a neighborhood hospital within the Philadelphia suburbs. I’m a pulmonary and significant care doctor by commerce, working in each in-patient and out-patient settings in addition to serving because the medical director of my hospital’s ICU. As you may think about, my days may be lengthy and intense, by no means extra so than since COVID-19 landed on our doorstep. 

It would shock some, then, to be taught that my weblog has nothing to do with drugs or household. As a substitute, I write completely concerning the Pelikan model of fountain pens, a model that’s practically 184 years outdated. 

I launched my weblog, The Pelikan’s Perch, on September 1, 2014, however I’ve been gathering fountain pens since 2012. Whereas learning for my inner drugs boards, I’d take breaks from learning by researching my small however rising assortment of pens. It was a good way to decompress. I discovered a number of nice data, but it surely was fragmented and broadly distributed throughout the various corners of the web. I spent a number of time piecing all of it collectively, actually for nothing greater than my very own edification. 

In some unspecified time in the future, it struck me that others may take pleasure in and profit from the knowledge that I used to be gathering for myself. That was the catalyst for the weblog. I’ve no formal writing expertise, although I all the time excelled in my English lessons. I sought to mix a colloquial, conversational language that was straightforward to entry whereas nonetheless making use of a extra rigorous scientific strategy to the analysis behind every bit.

2. Why Pelikan particularly? What makes the model so particular? Why not write about fountain pens extra broadly?

I acquired my first fountain pen in 2009 however have solely been gathering them in earnest since 2012. I first collected a broad swath of manufacturers and skilled many distinctive filling techniques, dabbling in something that caught my eye. It was an ideal training within the historical past and design of fountain pens. 

It wasn’t till 2013 that I acquired my first Pelikan, a flippantly used white M205. It was love at first sight. The M205 was my first higher-end, piston-filled fountain pen and it stood out for its clear design and excellent stability when posted. It was sufficient to make me begin searching for out different Pelikans. Don’t get me unsuitable, it wasn’t like I made a snap determination on the spot to dedicate myself solely to at least one model, however as I started to gravitate an increasing number of in direction of Pelikan, I began to forsake all the others. 

My assortment of Pelikans would develop with the addition of an old-style Black/Inexperienced M600 after which an M400 Tortoiseshell White. A medical resident’s wage isn’t a lot to talk about, so I began promoting off my earlier non-Pelikan acquisitions to fund my new dependancy, a choice that I’ve but to remorse all these years later. 

What makes the model so particular is that Pelikan pens have an indescribable high quality, a personality and a self-discipline, that makes proudly owning and utilizing them a pleasure that transcends the sum of their elements. There’s a wealthy historical past and heritage behind the model that actually captivates the creativeness if you begin digging into it. I don’t write about fountain pens extra broadly just because there are a number of wonderful folks already working in that area and placing out nice content material. I needed my voice to be distinctive, so I sought out a distinct segment inside a distinct segment. I feel that laser focus has allowed me to deliver high-quality content material to the weblog that may not in any other case be doable if I used to be extra broadly targeted.

3. You write inside a distinct segment of a distinct segment. Do you ever really feel constrained or such as you may run out of concepts? Is it straightforward to give you new content material concepts?

Time. Time is what I’m constrained by, particularly the woeful lack of it. My day job retains me very busy, so my running a blog is shoehorned into the odd hours of the night time, no less than after I’m capable of keep awake. Numerous analysis goes into a lot of my items, and it’s time-consuming to try to get issues proper. It’s not the subject material that constrains, no less than not but. The Pelikan model traces its roots again to 1838 and so they have been making fountain pens since 1929. That’s 184 years of firm heritage and 93 years of pen making, which suggests that there’s loads of fodder there to jot down about — if solely my time and creativeness have been equally expansive. It has been an actual blast with the ability to deliver a few of the extra esoteric and buried details about the model and its pens to the floor. I’ve much more concepts that I’m simply ready to have the ability to discover.

4. What are the advantages of writing with a fountain pen? What would you say to somebody who’s by no means written with one as a way to get them to strive?

First, I discover the act of utilizing a fountain pen considerably cathartic. We’re so related and device-oriented as of late. There’s something particular about unplugging and placing pen to paper. That tactile suggestions, the nib gliding on a easy line of ink, seeing your phrases come to life, that’s one thing very rewarding. It could possibly actually unlock your creativity in a method our digital units can’t. 

It additionally connects us to the previous. Whereas there are many new, fashionable pens available, there are simply as many classic fashions on the market. Choosing one up can’t assist however evoke pictures of who may need owned it and what may they’ve written with it. It’s a enjoyable train of the creativeness. 

The summary apart, I feel utilizing a fountain pen helps enhance retention and generally is a stress reliever. Additionally, it may be very rewarding for people who like to jot down and ship letters. When a lot of our mail is junk, receiving a handwritten letter from somebody is a uncommon deal with and a particular present that anybody can provide. That’s not a fountain pen–particular exercise, however the train is extra satisfying than when utilizing a ballpoint.

5. There’s a sturdy neighborhood of fountain pen fans on the market. What are a few of your favourite sources, for folk who is likely to be desirous about exploring this huge world?

After I was given my first fountain pen in 2009, I crashed and burned. I had no thought what I used to be doing, and I didn’t know the place to look. That lesson in frustration turned me off to the idea and it took three years earlier than I’d discover my method again. The second go-round was way more profitable, largely due to websites like The Fountain Pen Community and Fountain Pen Geeks which have been very influential for me in my early days. I feel they’re nonetheless nice repositories of knowledge and there’s a lot there for a novice to discover and unpack. 

Different websites are nice too, akin to r/fountainpens over on Reddit. These are simply a few of the larger boards and dialogue boards. It will take method an excessive amount of area to checklist all the different nice bloggers and different sources on the market that even have nice data. The boards make for place to begin although.

6. Do you’ve any suggestions for aspiring bloggers, writers, and/or hobbyists? What has saved you going all these years?

Discover your personal area of interest inside a distinct segment. Write about one thing you’re keen on, one thing near the center. That can hold you going. 

Hold at it however don’t sweat posting daily or each week. Do what you may, when you may. When it begins to really feel like work and you start to battle, step away from it. It shouldn’t be a chore. 

For me, the weblog has been a remedy of kinds. It’s a refuge the place I can go to unplug from the stress of my day job and get misplaced in a world that has nothing to do with drugs. That stress reliever has been invaluable to my psychological well being.

In case you suppose you’ve found your personal area of interest inside a distinct segment, however are a bit caught in getting your website off the bottom, try our free, self-paced Intro to Running a blog course.

Additionally remember to learn the primary two options on this WordPress.com Favorites sequence: The Journey Architect writes all about touring and doesn’t slim in on a single geographic space or journey subject; Empish Thomas writes about all types of issues, from incapacity advocacy, to guide/podcast opinions, to why she loves writing. 

Editor’s word: This interview has been flippantly edited for readability.