iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

A latte at my neighborhood coffee shop is $7. An ebook crammed full of short stories is $10. That's less than the price of a latte plus a pastry!

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

If you are using the same color you probably don't have to clean it every time you put in a new cartridge.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Air drying is fine. You can speed it up by wicking out the water with a paper towel. Letting it dry overnight is usually fine.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The degree to which you clean it depends on the difference between colors.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

So usually I don't disassemble the pen to where the nib is separate. But I will remove the cartridge and run water through the front part. You can also get one of those bulbs at the drugstore for dealing with baby mucus and force water through the pen. You can also use a converter, if you have it

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Treat yourself to a fabulous book. Highly recommended if you like fantasy, space opera, and fighting the patriarchy. www.amazon.com/How-Rory-Tho...

amazon.com

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MARC in a Cold Climate @marccold.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

nothing can go wrong if we tell the cataloger to teach a library instruction session for a comparative literature seminar on the Brothers Grimm, they said

A slide deck for a one-shot on the Brothers Grimm titled "My Mother, She Killed Me; My Father, He Ate Me; The Librarian Was Helpful, Though."

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Always a good time to recommend this fabulous steampunk book, heavy on the punk and with an actual critique of Victorian social norms.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Me: Okay, guess what type of Star Destroyer this schematic is-- Joel: Victory class.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I have not, but I may have to pick it up eventually.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Last year I played Stardew Valley, discovered I really like cozy games, and found a type of gaming that works with my hand issues. This year I bought a Switch 2. We'll see if it makes me a lifelong gamer.

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Catherine Tavares @cjtavares.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It me! If you enjoyed some of my disability panels at FoF, may I also recommend my latest essay: "Here and Happy" where I talk about the need for disabled characters (and people) to take up joyous space in our stories and lives.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Marie Vibbert comes to mind. A lot of her short fiction features blue collar workers. We Built This City is one of them. clarkesworldmagazine.com/vibbert_06_22/

clarkesworldmagazine.com

We Built This City by Marie Vibbert

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Postscript: Blue collar workers make your city run and they are mostly overlooked in spec fic, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Really enjoyed being on the infrastructure panel with @soniafocke.bsky.social @bernie-jsyk.bsky.social and @elizabethcobbe.bsky.social It was a great conversation! I had so many thoughts we didn't even make it to.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My last panel is in a little under an hour, come hear me talk about roads and sewers and water lines and probably space elevators.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I survived my second ever panel. Speaking on a panel is definitely a skill. (Also it feels kind of like being on a job interview, you can prep a bunch and then forget half the things you meant to say.)

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Okay, @emlinden.bsky.social now I need to know about your love / hate relationship with the word "resonance" when talking about fairy tales.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Yes! I'll be on a panel in twelve hours on infrastructure. My day job is in local government so definitely my bailiwick.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It was great! I was vastly underqualified but I think it was a good panel in spite of that.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In an hour (9 pm Pacific Time) I'm going to be talking about Fairy Tale retellings! I'm practically vibrating with excitement! Come see how many times I mention Robin McKinley and Ever After.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I would disagree on several points but in particular I need to point out that Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which are clearly intended to be read as angels.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In about an hour (4:00 pm Pacific Time) I'll be hosting a meetup for fountain pen fans! Please come hang out, I need more ink recommendations.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Municipal water systems are great! Look, no cholera!

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Jiji is definitely more responsible than my cats.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Yes it was a moving story about monetizing your art but also who let a 13 year old travel to a random city with no connections and almost no money.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I just watched Kiki's Delivery Service and I'm too old for this movie. I spent the whole movie horrified that the parents of a 13 year old would send her off into the world by herself.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

My updated Flights of Foundry schedule! Come join online! It's free! 🖋️ Fri 9/18, 4:00 pm PT: come show off your fountain pens ✨ Fri 9/18, 9:00 pm PT: panel on Fairy Tale retellings (Robin McKinley btw) 🛣️ Sat 9/19, 10:00 am PT: panel on infrastructure (infrastructure is there, intentional or not)

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I'll be at Flights of Foundry! Come hang out and talk about fountain pens on Friday, or watch my panel on Saturday in Infrastructure as Worldbuilding! It's free, and online!

A handwritten note surrounded by four fountain pens of varying colors and types. The note reads:

Flights of Foundry Schedule
Friday 9/18, 4:00 pm PT: Fountain Pen Meetup

Saturday 9/19, 10:00 am PT: Infrastructure as Worldbuilding

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I'll be at Flights of Foundry! Come hang out and talk about fountain pens on Friday, or watch my panel on Saturday in Infrastructure as Worldbuilding! It's free, and online!

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I was trying to describe Howl's Moving Castle (the movie) to someone who's never seen it and the best I can do is--it's about finding yourself, bacon and eggs, and war is bad.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

My pens are very nice to write with, although there is generally not much line variation unless you get a nib intended for calligraphy. In my experience, the finer the nib the less variation is possible.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

If you can find one where they will let you try the pens that would be great! Much easier to tell what nib size you want when you are writing with the pen.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

If you do pick up a Pilot, consider grabbing a Platinum Preppy. They have a fantastic nib given that they are super cheap. It will let you try out a different smoothness of a nib. (Also if it is an option, ink samples are a beautiful thing.)

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The Lamy Safari writes more wet, and in my experience writes more smoothly which I prefer. Some people really like the Pilot, so YMMV. A lot of fountain pens involve figuring out what you like. (And in fairness, some people dislike the triangular grip on the Safari. I've never minded it.)

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

In my experience, the Pilot nibs have more "feedback" aka can feel almost scratchy. This is partly because (as mentioned by others) they have much more fine nib as a Japanese company than the German style nibs. But I think they also write more dry.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

So if you are thinking of getting the Kakuno, it's not too bad. It's better than the Pilot Metropolitan which I dislike. For starter pens, the big difference is in how the nib writes. I like a very smooth writing experience where the nib glides across the paper.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I'm so opiniated when it comes to fountain pens. 😂 Also take a look at the Lamy Safari. I think they are a pretty good starter pen and IMHO nicer than Pilots.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The fancier inks that have shimmer or shading tend to work better on fancy paper.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

You may also need to experiment with paper and inks. Fountain pen ink is very different and often not suitable for normal paper, hence my recommendation for Diamine inks which generally behave well on whatever paper you have lying around.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I definitely recommend starting with something entry level to see what you like. I personally do not like Pilot pens. The Lamy Safari is okay, but not my favorite. I really like my Diplomat Magnum. (I also really like my TWSBI Ecos, but they aren't the best starter pen.)

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Cartridges, but the selection is very limited. A cartridge converter is easy to use, though.

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Kate Ravenna @fantasticalkate.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

THIS IS MY OBSESSION AMA. The Diplomat Magnum is a great starter pen. Very affordable, great writing experience, takes cartridges and converters. Pairs well with Diamine inks, which are not too expensive and write well on cheap paper. My favorite pen is the one where my dad hand turned the wood.

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