A writing instrument includes a barrel having a substantially cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a finger gripping area and an outer circumferential recess portion provided around the finger gripping area, a writing medium advancing mechanism axially movably disposed within the barrel, an actuating member provided at the outer circumferential recess portion for actuating the writing medium advancing means, the actuating member being engaged with the writing medium advancing mechanism, and a finger gripping member provided around the circumferential recess portion of the cylindrical body, the finger gripping member having an opening, the actuating member being exposed externally through the opening of the finger gripping member.