Etymology – the study of words. Pen – from Middle English, denoting a feather with a sharpened quill that can be dipped in ink for writing; derived from Latin penna, meaning ‘feather.’ When I was around 7 years old, our family traveled to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. I remember my souvenirs, a white quill pen and ceramic ink well. Later I married a writer, who for the past 25 years has been my best friend and my teacher, sharing this crazy life and helping me hone my tools and my craft.
He is sitting at his desk, next to mine, and just asked me, out of the blue, where his Exacto penknife disappeared to. I have absolutely no idea!
He has a website, netscribe.com, and here’s a pointed piece he published there a few years ago, about bumper stickers and writing.
The feather, whence the pen
Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men,
Dropped from an angel’s wing.
~ William Wordsworth
Wendy Nadherny Fachon 