Your First Year with a Burn Pen: What I Wish I Knew

Starting anything new can be equal parts exciting and intimidating, and pyrography is no exception.

When I first picked up a wood-burning pen, I was equal parts nervous and obsessed. I had this idea of designing wooden beads for a macrame project. I wanted to master it quickly, but I also had no clue what I was doing. I made a lot of mistakes. I tried to go too fast. I wasted a lot of wood. And I compared myself to everyone who looked “better” than me.

Now, with years of experience (and a whole lot of scorch marks behind me), I can look back and say: I wish someone had told me these things sooner.

So, if you’re in your first year with a burner, or even just thinking about picking one up, here’s what I wish I knew:

1. Start Slow

Speed is not your friend when you’re working with heat. Go slow. Let the pen glide. If you push it, you’ll dig in too deep, burn unevenly, or scorch the surface. Each piece of wood is different, and you have to get to know it so you know how to burn it.

2. Mistakes Are Part of It

You will burn too dark. You’ll go off your line. You’ll smudge, slip, or accidentally go a little too deep. It’s okay. That’s part of how you learn. Every mistake teaches you something. The cool thing is a sander can fix all of that right up and you can start over.

3. You Don’t Need Fancy Tools

Start with a solid, beginner-friendly pen. You don’t need a $300 machine right out of the gate. Learn how to control heat, pressure, and movement first, then upgrade if and when you feel ready. I started with a $20 machine from my local craft store, upgraded to a Colwood Detailer that I used for 15 years before switching to the Razertip.

4. Tracing is Not Cheating

Seriously. If you’re worried about proportions or don’t feel confident sketching freehand, trace a design to get started. It’s not lazy, it’s smart practice. You’re building muscle memory and control. Using patterns is a thing in pyrography, I will only caution to be mindful of copyright.

5. Burn What You Love

Forget what’s trending. Burn quotes that matter to you. Burn your dog’s paw print. Burn a mountain you hiked. Make it meaningful, even if it’s simple. When I first started, I burned what everyone wanted, which, inherently, isn’t anything wrong with that. However, over the years, my interest and style have changed a bit. I now burn what inspires me and will only burn what people want when they commission me to do so.

6. Practice on Scrap Wood

Don’t “save” your good ideas for fancy wood. Use scrap pieces to experiment. Test nibs, play with shading, and try out new patterns with zero pressure.

7. Take Progress Pics

Document everything. Even the messy pieces. One of the best things about pyrography is watching your growth unfold in photos. What looks shaky today will look confident next season. I didn’t document as much in my early days as I do now, but even the pictures that I do have speak volume of the growth I’ve made.

8. Find a Community

Creating alone can be peaceful, but creating with others is powerful. Inside Pyrography Academy, we share prompts, patterns, encouragement, and even the not-so-pretty pieces.

We grow together, one burn at a time.

If you’re just starting out, let me be the one to tell you: You don’t have to be good. You just have to be willing.

Ready to start your first year strong? Join Pyrography Academy