In a world ruled by technology, few turn to pen and paper to tell a story. For Christopher, it’s become second nature. Seeking a break from the endless pattering of fingers on a keyboard, he turned to hand-writing Brisingr (at least in part) using an old-fashioned method: a dip pen. The tool requires less pressure than a modern pen, thereby reducing strain on the wrist and hand.
Christopher experimented with various nibs (the part of the pen that contacts the paper), including vintage and crow quills. His favorite featured a metal strap beneath the main body, which acted as a reservoir. This allowed him to write several paragraphs with just one dip. In the end, Christopher scrawled over 126,000 words of Brisingr with his pen.
Pages from the manuscript and one of his spiral notebooks show some of his work. The blotter board functioned as a testing ground for new inks and as a distraction when his mind needed a break.
