Unlearning poor handwriting technique

[RyanM14]

So, I've been enjoying this game they call "Fountain Pens" over the past few months. I've managed to stay in control of my urges so far and I've not made any financially-crippling purchases, yet...

Recently, I thought about starting up a notebook to record my eating habits, gym routines and help me attain my goals over the next year or so. I figured this could also double as a project to rid me of shoddy handwriting that has plagued me after years of scribbling down notes in university (I really should've taken my time but I was a late bloomer with regards to fine writing instruments!). Since I first picked up a fountain pen, I've still not been able to slow myself down and my writing, while still semi-legible to me, would probably resemble Arabic script if I was to show it to anyone else.

So, I was thinking this thread could be of use to fellow newbies if the veterans of The Nib are willing to help out in righting the wrongs of writing.

Are there any success stories or tips out there from rehabilitated students, or even from people that transformed their writing experience for the better?

 

[rickcharles606]

My handwriting over the year had deteriorated into just block letter printing. One of the ways that I was able to improve my handwriting (it's not great, yet) was to start a journal and make sure to write in it everyday. This will also give you a base point to judge your improvements by, let's say in 6 months. As with shaving, I'd recommend slowing down and think about each and every letter and how they're formed and how it joins/flows into the next letter.

Practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes...and sayings don't get old without being true ;-) Good luck and keep at it. Also, investing in a higher end pen with a nice nib, helped me "commit" to getting better. Not really, LMAO...but having a nice pen and nib helps ;-)

 

[Soldierdan]

So, I've been enjoying this game they call "Fountain Pens" over the past few months. I've managed to stay in control of my urges so far and I've not made any financially-crippling purchases, yet...

Recently, I thought about starting up a notebook to record my eating habits, gym routines and help me attain my goals over the next year or so. I figured this could also double as a project to rid me of shoddy handwriting that has plagued me after years of scribbling down notes in university (I really should've taken my time but I was a late bloomer with regards to fine writing instruments!). Since I first picked up a fountain pen, I've still not been able to slow myself down and my writing, while still semi-legible to me, would probably resemble Arabic script if I was to show it to anyone else.

So, I was thinking this thread could be of use to fellow newbies if the veterans of The Nib are willing to help out in righting the wrongs of writing.

Are there any success stories or tips out there from rehabilitated students, or even from people that transformed their writing experience for the better?

I am in the same boat sir, I have atrocious penmanship and would like to change it. I've been trying the journal idea, but I am a very instant gratification person, and the slow going is not great on me lol.

 

[Gammon]

My handwriting over the year had deteriorated into just block letter printing.

Deteriorated? I spent decades (so far) perfecting my handwriting into just block letter printing.

 

[Mr5x5]

Same here. What I have had to focus on is something as simple as not resting my elbow on my desk and getting the right muscle groups involved. I have a long way to go. Unlearning 4+ decades of bad habits is hard to do.

 

[celestino]

You should contact, James (Syngent) and ask him about his transformation!
Good luck.

 

[kats]

...Practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes...and sayings don't get old without being true ;-) Good luck and keep at it....

Like my father always said...

"If at first you don't succeed...
....don't be a hard-head, give up"

 

[Gone Gray]

I was inspired to improve my handwriting when someone said they couldn't read what I wrote and neither could I. I first starting learning the Palmer method of writing, but I figured if I was going to spend the time I wanted something more fancy and have settled on the Spencerian style. At first it is painfully slow, but my writing is getting faster, super legible, and the capital letters are very elegant.

 

[jbradley]

I'm interested in any suggestions also. My handwriting is pretty bad. I'd like to improve it, but really don't know how.

 

[Snargle]

Honestly, the more I try to use cursive writing, the worse I get. I've struggled with cursive since I was in single digits and despite lots of practice with nice writing instruments, it hasn't gotten any better. My block printing is fast and legible, not unattractive, and I'm comfortable with it, so I'm running out of reasons to change it. At this point, I throwing in the towel and sticking with printing. Good luck to those of you who go the cursive route, but I'm jumping off that train.

 

[Gone Gray]

I'm interested in any suggestions also. My handwriting is pretty bad. I'd like to improve it, but really don't know how.

I ordered the Palmer Method and Spencerian books from a on-line book retailer (both were reprints.). They demonstrate everything you need to know.

 

[rickcharles606]

I'm interested in any suggestions also. My handwriting is pretty bad. I'd like to improve it, but really don't know how.

Also for me, YouTube has been invaluable for watching a pro form letters in Spencerian.

 

[syngent]

I'd first start out by just writing... anything amd everything you can
Get yourself into the habit and a bit worked up then from there maybe hit up palmermethod.com and get it all pretty like


See what works for you

 

[fsturnz]

I'm an Architect by trade, and learned my craft long before the age of computers. I gave up script writing at a very early age, and in college I developed my own stylized lettering. The first week in the profession, crusty old head draftsman told me they were going to have to unleran me of my bad habits...and proceeded to teach me the art of clear and legible lettering techniques. More than thirty years later, and I still practice every day to keep from getting sloppy...even though my job is mostly computerized. A fountain pen has been my weapon of choice since those early days, or a pencil with a proper chisel point . I despise ball points...the scourge of fine penmanship. When I'm on the phone, instead of doodling, I'll practice my alphabet...and constantly experiment and refine. But there's little more beautiful to my trained eye than a fwell done block lettering. Practice every day...I still do after all these years!

 

[LittleSocrates]

Take a lesson or two from a career calligrapher, with the aim being improved penmanship...NOT mastery of calligraphic arts. I'm the son of a career calligrapher in Washington DC. I used to write exclusively in block caps (I was heavily into graphic arts) and could not write in cursive to save my life. My block caps looked good, but writing in such a manner was extremely slow. My mother, who has been a calligrapher for about 40 years, sat me down before I went off to college (over 20 years ago) and taught me in 30 minutes some simple penmanship techniques that changed my life, literally. I can write extremely fast with - if I may say so - good looking lettering. And trust me, my cursive handwriting was as bad as it gets...that's no exaggeration. The trick is in learning the basics of letter angles and flow - verticals and diagonals. Below is what it looks like now, and these are meeting notes so there was no intent for me in sharing (i.e., I wasn't trying to make it look particularly good). This is by no means a "look how good I am" but instead an "if I can do it, ANYONE can do it." It's not going to win any awards, but a short lesson can make all of the difference! Incidentally, this was written with a Parker 51...an amazing fountain pen...

 

[LittleSocrates]

A fountain pen has been my weapon of choice since those early days, or a pencil with a proper chisel point . I despise ball points...the scourge of fine penmanship. When I'm on the phone, instead of doodling, I'll practice my alphabet...and constantly experiment and refine. But there's little more beautiful to my trained eye than a well done block lettering. Practice every day...I still do after all these years!

Right on...on both points! Writing with a fountain pen is like shaving with a DE or SE (a ball point is a 25 cent disposable), and fine architectural lettering really is an true art in and of itself!

 

[Gammon]

I'm an Architect by trade, and learned my craft long before the age of computers. I gave up script writing at a very early age, and in college I developed my own stylized lettering. The first week in the profession, crusty old head draftsman told me they were going to have to unleran me of my bad habits...and proceeded to teach me the art of clear and legible lettering techniques. More than thirty years later, and I still practice every day to keep from getting sloppy...even though my job is mostly computerized. A fountain pen has been my weapon of choice since those early days, or a pencil with a proper chisel point . I despise ball points...the scourge of fine penmanship. When I'm on the phone, instead of doodling, I'll practice my alphabet...and constantly experiment and refine. But there's little more beautiful to my trained eye than a well done block lettering. Practice every day...I still do after all these years!

I'm not an architect, but did study to be one, as well as a mechanical draughtsman. Everything else you have written applies to me.

 

[wherndon]

A picture is worth a thousand words...

 

[oc_in_fw]

Like my father always said...

"If at first you don't succeed...
....don't be a hard-head, give up"

Or to quote the great H. Simpson- "Trying is the first step in failing".