Gather a large feather, a sharp knife or craft blade, scissors, and fine sandpaper
Choose a feather with a sturdy shaft, such as a goose or turkey feather
Clean and dry the feather
Trim off any fluffy barbs near the base of the shaft
Cut the tip of the shaft at a shallow angle
Split the tip of the shaft slightly down the middle
Shape the nib into a point with the knife
Cut a small slit in the nib for ink flow
Smooth the tip with fine sandpaper
Test the quill on paper and trim as needed
Dip the quill in ink before writing