A couple of thoughts:

- I met a clerk at a bakery I frequented (for business, not pleasure) who made a tight fist with a pen whenever she wrote down an order. How do you hold a pen or pencil? I think the ideal is to hold it as lightly as possible with your thumb, fore- and middle fingers.

- A fountain pen has the least amount of friction of any writing instrument; I learned to write with one in grade school, and managed to forget it later. But I recently picked up a cheap Zebra V-301 for USD$5 and am trying it again.