The pen and ink work I do is done with a stylus (that is the handle that you hold) which holds a nib (of which there are many forms) and is dipped into ink. My favorite is a crow's quill nib. The nib holds a small amount of ink, and depending on its shape controls the flow of ink onto the paper.
The stylus is historically very old and is mentioned in the Bible. Note this prophecy of a coming Savior from the book of Job:
From the King James Version of Scripture:
Job 19:3 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in abook! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 ForI know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold . . . .The pen mentioned here refers to an iron stylus.1 According to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon, such a stylus would probably have a diamond tip. It could be used for writing on stone or metal (I'm assuming etching or engraving). However, as papyrus (plant material) or parchment (animal skin) came into use, ink was used to write on these materials, and so the stylus would have needed a tip that could carry the ink.
The pen would be dipped in some sort of ink reservoir each time more ink was needed. Today we hardly even give a second thought to writing instruments. The ballpoint pen has eliminated the dipping reservoir, so that the pen itself carries all the ink needed. This is much cleaner and neater than using a reservoir outside the pen. However, once the pen is out of ink, we either throw it away, or if we have a fancy pen, we get a new cartridge.
The ink reservoir was so common in the past, that there is a term you have probably heard, yet most people do not even use nor are familiar with these days: the inkwell. We're only maybe a generation or two removed from this, but ballpoint pens have replaced all that.
Ever see an old desk used for schoolchildren from years ago? Chances are there will be a hole up in the corner of the desk (probably on the right side). That's the inkwell. That hole was used to keep a small container of ink. It was also very handy, because it kept you from tipping over the ink and spilling it everywhere. Some elderly folks might laugh at these observations, but they are true.
There is another step in between the pen that is dipped and the ballpoint. That would be the fountain pen. This pen would have the stylus and nib, but the pen was built to use some sort of cartridge OR the pen was made to suck ink into the reservoir from a bottle or inkwell. The fountain pen is still more stylish than the ballpoint and allows for more ornate penmanship, but it is also less messy than the pen that is constantly dipped in ink. Please refer to this particular Wikipedia article on the fountain pen for more exhaustive detail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_pen
Writing instruments will always be around, in spite of computer technology-they just might take different forms. These days, if you wish to write (rather than type) on the computer, get yourself a Wacom tablet with its own digital stylus, and you will be up and running. Much like a computer mouse, the digital stylus tracks your movements across the screen, yet it is designed to be more like a writing instrument. If you can write well with a mouse, good for you. If not, the digital stylus gives you a lot more control. Keep those old school pens around though-you never know if the entire grid may go down someday, and if it does, you and your old school pen will rule the world once more-kind of like the dinosaurs.
1. The Hebrew word for stylus here in Job 19:24 is spelled ayin-teth, pronounced, "ate" ref #5842.
