Will a fountain pen bleed through my journal pages?

It depends on the paper. Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia, and Tomoe River paper handle fountain pen ink beautifully with zero bleed-through. Standard composition notebooks and Moleskine journals may bleed with wet writers or broad nibs. The solution: use a Fine or Extra Fine nib, which puts down less ink, or choose a journal with fountain-pen-friendly paper. Most ghosting (faint show-through) is normal and does not affect writing on the reverse side.

How much maintenance does a fountain pen require?

Minimal. Flush your pen with water every 4-6 weeks or when changing ink colors — this takes 5 minutes. If the pen sits unused, the slip-and-seal cap on pens like the Platinum Preppy prevents drying for over a year. For daily journalers, the pen stays wet and requires almost no maintenance. Avoid leaving a pen uncapped, do not press hard on the nib, and store nibs pointing up when possible. That is the entire maintenance routine.

Best Fountain Pens for Journaling 2026