Get a couple of quill feathers, preferably duck. You might be lucky if you have a couple of them running around.

Get a penknife. Then strip the plume completely or keep some of it, whichever you prefer. The plume can get in the way of your writing, but it adds some attractiveness, so you may want to sacrifice a little comfort. However, strip enough of the tip that you have a comfortable grip, and scrape away the scales near the tip.

It is recommended that you soak the quill in cold water beforehand, or dip it into boiling water in order to soften it. Others advise that you temper it in hot sand to make it more brittle, and clean out the inside of the quill with a piece of wire. Try out all these methods if you like.

To make a nib, first slice the tip of the quill at about a 45-degree angle. Shape the remaining tip into a sharp point; after this - and that is counter-intuitive, but recommended in several places - chop the very tip off to make it slightly blunter.

Finally cut a grove inside the pen, to ensure the inflow of ink