@JessMahler

Fountain pens are _the_ tool for people who enjoy writing by hand. Why would someone who doesn't enjoy that like a tool that is harder to use than any other available tool?

@JessMahler If your child hates handwriting because it hurts, try a fountain pen AND good paper like Rhodia or Clairefontaine or Kokuyo’s Campus. Typical American notebook paper is simply awful and the benefits of the pen won’t show up as well. None of this need be hugely expensive.

@JessMahler Maybe; it's actually helped do the opposite for me: the way it can make writing feel artsy makes me want to draw by hand again, something I've long given up on!

If nothing else, fountain pens have plenty of artistic uses too. So if it doesn't help them enjoy handwriting, they don't have to go to waste

@JessMahler it might! I'm dyspraxic and holding a bigger pen that requires me to NOT press down on the paper makes writing easier and less painful for me. There are also a lot of very affordable options for pens and ink.

@JessMahler

It is possible. You need to a good writer with some cartridges. And you need to make sure it is a good writer by trying it yourself. You can also go for disposable (they can be refilled thought) Pilot Varsity pens. They come in a pack, pre filled, with a few color options.

@JessMahler It's certainly worth a shot. There are definitely some very inexpensive fountain pens out there to use as starters. Platinum Preppy and Hongdian Forest Series are pretty inexpensive. My friendly local stationary store well like 2-3 dollar ink samples (2ml). You can get a fun selection of colors for like $12-15 bucks and they'll last a fair amount of time.

you might want to get some decent paper to write on. Depending on the age something like a Traveller's insert can be perfect

@JessMahler
A lot of it will be about why they hate handwriting and whether they can use the FP for things they do like.
Have they encountered pen and ink washes? Are they into anime style outlining?
If their problem is that they tense up when they hold a pen then having a FP may be less productive because that will make the FP harder to use. FPs need a light touch and attention to the nib orientation on the paper. Twist the pen a little off the slit touching the paper and the pen can seemingly not work in a frustrating manner.
Preppy's have very fine nibs so if calligraphy is the thing then get a stub (or italic) nib pen usually a 1.1 mm or wider. This will make it easier to position the nib properly and deliver less frustration ... also the thick and thin strokes made the whole handwriting thing a lot more engaging for me. To this day if I want to handwrite a broad or stub nib makes the whole effect a lot more enjoyable.

@JessMahler A Preppy is a perfect way to try it out without a big investment.

Stub or italic style nibs take a little more care when writing but offer a unique experience, you can find them inexpensively sometimes. Lamy Joy is an easily obtainable one to start with, there are also some Asvine pens with stub nibs on places like Amazon. Those are a little more costly, but still should be able to find a good one under $30.

@JessMahler

It certainly would if the reason that they're not writing is because ball points are cramping their hand.

Other than that, I'm not really sure.

@JessMahler depends on why they don't like writing, honestly. Many people find that a fountain pen (not any fp, one that's right for them - length, weight, thickness, type of nib) takes less effort for long writing sessions since less pressure is needed. Others like for instance the refills (less plastic) or collecting. If you are wondering if something like calligraphy could trigger an interest, most fp are not calligraphy pens. If so maybe get a dip pen set - also useful for art?

@JessMahler Could work! I love my TWISBI pens. They’re a little bit more expensive but you can use bottled ink with them and they come with multiple pen nib sizes. I adore the 1.1 stubs for instant no effort calligraphy

@JessMahler It is worth a try! Lamy is a wonderful refillable fountain pen, and I always end up ambiantly drawing. It moves so smoothly

@JessMahler Possibly. I would suggest picking up a Platinum Preppy. They go for about $5, last I checked, They work very well (I used one as my primary pen for years, despite actually owning expensive pens), and come in a variety of colors.

I might also suggest the thing that got me into fountain pens at age 10: calligraphy.