Agreed with the above-- as the proverb goes, "sharp tools, light cuts".
I'd advise you on getting to know the skew chisel very, very well. I have recently only truly found out how fantastic of a tool it is. It's possible, and actually IMO easier, to use the skew for 90% of the cuts you need to make on a pen--- including roughing the blank. I don't know of any tool that can cut cleaner and safer than a skew, particularly in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.
Grab your biggest skew (or buy a 3/4 or 1" skew, oval shaped or rounded edges)--- hone it up to or even beyond 300 grit diamond stones. Mount beteen centers a good, clean grained wood like maple, and go to town on it with the skew. Practice and have fun, make lots of shavings (itty bitty slivers should be what you get).