Good Made Better Jester Fountain Pen Setup at Chicago Pen Show

Kickstarter Alert: The Good Made Better "Jester" and "Muse" Fountain Pens

October 2, 2024

We’re big fans of Good Made Better products here at T.G.S. The company’s focus on “mindful writing tools” and stated goal of cultivating an intentional space for writing dovetails nicely with our own curation philosophy, as all of the items in our own shop are chosen with a focus on good design and usability. Those familiar with Good Made Better likely know about their first product, the Penwell pen holder, and successful follow-up releases such as the Writewell Portable Desk. It was only a matter of time before they designed their own fountain pen, right?

Good Made Better Jester and Muse Fountain Pens — The Good Made Better Jester (left), shown posted, and the Good Made Better Muse (right), shown uncapped.

Yesterday, Good Made Better launched their latest Kickstarter project, the “Jester” and “Muse” fountain pens. Personally, I’m thrilled that Dan Keller, the maker behind the brand, decided to use ebonite for both pens. A classic penmaking material, ebonite pens have a warm feel in the hand and a distinct vintage-inspired look that’s always appealed to me. When I first saw these pens at this year’s Chicago Pen Show, it took all of five minutes for me to buy one of the Jester pocket pens, in this mottled matte beige ebonite that also features swirls of orange, black, and even light blue, the latter of which is hard to photograph and only really shows up in certain lighting.

Good Made Better Jester and Muse Fountain Pens, shown capped

Every design element in a Good Made Better Product is intentional. For example, with respect to the triple rings engraved in the barrels:

“Both pens feature sets of triple rings (with the Jester sporting two sets), and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.”

— Good Made Better, Kickstarter

Good Made Better Jester Showing Faceted Cap — The caps on both the Jester and the Muse feature a single facet rollstop, engraved with the Good Made Better wordmark.

Both the Jester and the Muse are comfortable to use, and oddly enough, despite the Jester being a pocket pen, approximately the same length when in “writing mode”. The Jester, a cartridge-only pocket pen, is designed to post, and threads on the back of the barrel allow the cap to sit securely. The Muse does not post, by design, as posting the cap simply would not work due to length and weight. My Jester features a matte ebonite section, and the Muse textured brass.

The GMB wordmark is even more subtle on the Midnight Black Muse. I consider matte black ebonite one of the most underrated fountain pen materials out there, and choosing this one was a no-brainer.

As you might expect, the overall look and aesthetic of these pens complement the rest of the Good Made Better lineup. The Muse fountain pen fits perfectly into the Penwell, and given that the cap can be removed in 2-3 quick turns, is quite easy to deploy. Both pens also feature a single facet on the cap, which serves as a roll-stop and allows you to rest the pen on your desk without worrying about it rolling onto the floor.

Good Made Better Muse and Jester Fountain Pens Compared Side-by-Side — When posted, the Jester is actually slightly longer than the Muse. Without the brass section and end cap, it’s also lighter. If portability is important to you, the Jester should be your pen of choice.

So which pen do I prefer, in terms of writing experience? The Jester and Muse both use JoWo No. 6 nibs, which arrived perfectly tuned, so there’s little to no difference between the two pens nib-wise. While I have more experience with the Jester, having used it for a few months now, the Muse has grown on me. I have to stress that this is a perfectly balanced pen. I prefer my pens slightly frontweighted, and this combination of the brass section and a slightly wet JoWo medium nib makes for a pleasant writing experience directly in line with my own preferences.

The Good Made Better Muse Fountain Pen with Writing Sample — The brass section on the Muse will patina nicely. For whatever reason, a green ink spoke to me, and I filled this one with Tom’s Studio “New Forest” No. 4. Both Good Made Better fountain pens use No. 6 JoWo nibs, and both of mine arrived as well-tuned, smooth writers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve had my Good Made Better “Jester” fountain pen in-hand since the Chicago Pen Show in May, and I’ve only become more impressed with Dan’s work over the following months. The Muse is equally good, with the workmanship and quality exactly what I’ve come to expect. These pens earn an unqualified recommendation, especially for those who love ebonite as a material.

Good Made Better Chicago Pen Show Display — While the launch colors on Kickstarter are (necessarily) limited to five options, Dan has been showing off these pens at various pen shows throughout the year, and the range of available unique ebonites is fascinating. You can even add textures, including the “bark” shown here, as an add-on to your pledge.

As I mentioned above, Good Made Better has launched both of these pens on Kickstarter, and the project fully funded on the first day. Pledges start at $250, which is standard pricing for small-batch, bespoke pens. There are currently five different colorways available (Midnight Black, Orion Blue, Herdsman Green, Sunrise, and Sunset). Sorry, the blended beige ebonite that I snagged in Chicago isn’t currently available, so you’ll need to go get yourself to a pen show and visit Dan in person!

Many thanks to Good Made Better for providing the Midnight Black Muse for review. I purchased the Jester pocket pen shown here with my own funds for my own use, and I just backed the Kickstarter for another Muse in Orion Blue.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are not compensated monetarily for review content such as this one, so if you enjoy our content please consider supporting us by shopping with us directly or pledging via Patreon. Many thanks!

Good Made Better Muse Fountain Pen in Penwell — My Muse fountain pen has a new home in my TGS Aged Red Penwell.

Good Made Better Writewell with two integrated Penwells, a brass rollstop, and the Reader’s Kit book holder.

Kickstarter Alert: Hands-On with the Good Made Better Writewell

December 3, 2022

Because I sit at a desk in front of the computer for most of each workday, I try to mix things up “after hours” with my journaling and other personal writing by moving to a standing desk or a more comfortable club chair. I own several different standing, lap, and writing desks, making me something of a self-proclaimed connoisseur of this particular niche in the office supply world.

The Good Made Better Writewell, shown pictured here atop my standing desk in “writing slop” mode, with two fountain pens installed in the Penwells.

And it really is a niche, because there aren’t that many options out there, which is why I was so excited to see that Good Made Better had brought a prototype writing desk, the Writewell, to the D.C. Pen Show in August. Given how busy the show was, I didn't have much time to talk to Dan, but I could see how excited he was about the prototype and he promised to send me one when it was ready for review, prior to the Kickstarter launch.

The underside of the Good Made Better Writewell. The wood grain on this product is beautiful, and the craftsmanship top notch. Not only is it going to make working on this surface every day a joy, but you’ll see the Writewell featured as a backdrop to a lot of TGS product reviews and photos.

The Writewell fills two roles for me. First, it’s a lap desk, which was the original idea behind the product. While the underside of the Writewell includes no padding, I haven’t had any issues with comfort, and the Writewell rests both comfortably and evenly on my lap regardless of whether I’m sitting with my legs crossed or uncrossed. (This is a personal observation, so YMMV.)

An antique writing slope from my personal collection, which I thought might be fun to post here.

Second, the Writewell functions as a desktop writing slope, allowing me to angle the paper slightly upwards when I’m working at my standing desk. I use the Levenger Sit-to-Stand Rolling workstation, which I like, but I also find the work surface slightly too low, even in standing mode. By adding the Writewell, it’s at a perfect height. I’ve always enjoyed portable writing desks and writing slopes, and have had several antique models in my collection over the years. (Pictured above). The Writewell is a modern take on this age-old concept.

The Writewell with a journal set up in the “Reader’s Kit” add-on. The Reader’s Kit is a two-piece adjustable book stand that features a brass book rest and an acrylic page holder. While the version I have is a prototype, I have had no issues getting most books and journals to fit.

In terms of accessories and add-ons, the Writewell sent to me for review features two integrated Penwells, which allows me to alternate between two different fountain pens while I’m journaling or taking notes. This solves a key problem with my previous go-to lap desk, an older Levenger model sort of like this one, which uses an elastic band/pen loop system. While the Levenger lap desk itself is comfortable and offers a large work surface, I vastly prefer the Writewell’s integrated Penwell system as it makes it much easier to cap/uncap pens by holding them securely. Even more convenient is the “Reader’s Kit” add-on, which can be used as a book, pad, or tablet holder that’s especially useful when transcribing passages into my commonplace book or cleaning up notes I’ve taken elsewhere. (I don’t necessarily use book-holders when I’m actively reading, as I rarely read at a desk.) Other customizations and add-ons are available, including brass and wood roll-stops and recessed niches, which hold pens and the Bookfellow book weight. You can even change the number and location of the Penwell - the standard Writewell comes with one, but you can add an extra and/or change the orientation from right to left.

My next challenge to Dan: A portable writing box!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Good Made Better Writewell is currently available on Kickstarter with 12 days remaining in the campaign. Pledges start at $179, with add-ons and modifications such as additional Penwells, a brass or walnut roll stop, recessed niche, and reading kit available at extra cost. The “as-reviewed” model shown here would cost approximately $275, which honestly, given the quality of construction and lack of any truly comparable product on the market, represents excellent value. A writing desk like this won’t fit a need in everyone’s workflow, but the versatility of the Writewell in allowing me to move from “lap mode” to “podium mode” makes it a must-back for me. I’ve ordered a second one, which I plan to pair with my second standing desk that I keep at the office.

While of course there are no guarantees that any Kickstarter project will be successful, Good Made Better is an experienced maker with an excellent Kickstarter track record. I would encourage you to visit their website and check out their other products, including the Penwell pen holder, the Bookfellow book weight, and more. I’ve been proud to collaborate with Dan on our own T.G.S.-exclusive Penwell, which features an “Aged Red” finish that you currently can only get via the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Disclaimer: Good Made Better sent me the Writewell Writing Desk for review purposes, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and I do not receive any commissions or affiliate fees if you back the project via Kickstarter. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Thursday Drops: Building Your "Perfect" Office Workspace

November 17, 2022

I say “perfect” because it’s almost always a work in progress, right? The main item I wanted to highlight this week is the Kickstarter release from our friends at Good Made Better, who launched the “Writewell” portable writing desk, which I just backed before posting this. I have a prototype Writewell here in my home office for review, and will definitely be posting a thorough review before the Kickstarter closes.

Given that the Writewell launch will likely prompt many to revisit their home office setups, I thought it might be fun to highlight some of my own favorites that we’ve recently restocked in advance of the Holiday shopping season.

Writewell Portable Writing Desk by Good Made Better (via Kickstarter). I’m frankly stunned by what Dan has put together here, and that’s based only on the prototype. I have a sizable collection of standing desks, writing boxes, and lap desks, and this one is both beautiful and practical.
T.G.S. Exclusive Penwell. While we’re on the subject of Good Made Better’s products, have you checked out our own collaboration with them on their original product, the Penwell pen holder? The first run sold out fairly quickly, so this year we did a second batch for the holiday season.
Hightide Sandglasses. I’ve always loved hourglasses, but only since smartphones took over our lives have I realized how useful they can really be. Available in 30, 15, 5, and 3-minute increments. To read more on how I use these beautiful analog timers in my own life, check out this post here.
Hightide Folding Metal Book Stands. One of my favorite aspects of the Writewell desk is the ability to add on a book holder. These inexpensive folding metal book stands from Hightide allow you to take the same functionality on the go, as they fold up flat and easily fit into most bags.
Hightide Marbled Melamine Pen Trays. I have various desk valets, pen trays, and catch-alls in pretty much every room of my house. We recently added new shapes and colors, which complement the other Hightide products.
Reading Accessories. We carry a multitude of reading accessories - namely bookmarks and page points - and they’ve been some of the most popular items in our three years running the shop.
WMS+Co Planner Desk Pads. These undated planner desk pads come in both keyboard and full-size, allowing you to flexibly plan your week without committing to a dated calendar. Use them as you need them, for whatever tasks you may need to manage.
Platinum Desk Fountain Pen. Would you like a true dedicated desk pen with an excellent inexpensive extra-fine nib? Platinum brought back a version of their popular desk pen in the U.S. market this year. Base is sold separately.
Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood Gift Set. Personally, I think everyone should have a set of high-quality, long-lasting pencils in their stationery kit. This gift set from Caran d’Ache includes three Swiss Wood pencils, a sharpener + eraser. While Swiss Wood pencils are pricey, I’ve found that they last for years due to superior point retention.
Mitsubishi Hi-Uni 22 Pencil Set. Or perhaps you’d like a full set of extremely high-end Japanese pencils, in all of the various hardnesses available, for both writing and drawing?