I have been working on devolping a neat, legible hand, and on the advice of several books have been using an alternative method of gripping the pen. This method involves holding the pen between the index and middle finger. The book points out that people in other parts of the world use this grip. It also points out that it forces you to not grip the pen to tightly.

So far I really like this grip. However, I have come acress the advice that when forming caps wth an edged instrument (such a fountain or dip pen), one should hold the pen at a 90 degree angle to the paper rather than a 45 degree angle. To do this with the altenrative grip requires that I turn my hand in an unnatural and uncomfortable position.

Does anyone else use the alternative grip when using an edged pen, or when doing calligraphy? Should I go back to the standard way of holding a pen? I really like the altenrative grip and am reluctant to give it up.

The same book that offers this alternative method (I have seen this method advocated in several places) is the book that advocates using a 90 degree position for caps. The book is ambiguous about what type of hold you should use for an edged pen, at one point stating that the alternative method is good for all writing instruments, and in another place stating you should hold the edged pen in the standard way.

Repying to my own post. First, I realized that I am holding the paper to close to my body so that I can't move my arm in close enough to my body to get the right angle. Second, the book recommends a 15 to 30 degree angle, not a 0 degree angle like I thought. So the alternative angle seems to work.

If you hold the pen at a 90 degree angle to the paper, isn't the fountain pen really scratchy?

Shaun

(I think he means the angle of the nib edge relative to a vertical stroke, not pointing the barrel straight at the ceiling.)

(Uh?...Oh!...Aaaaaah!, got it...)...This is getting subtle...

I've seen, and taught, quite a few successfully calligraphic users of the index/middle pen-hold. Since it works so well for you, why give it up?

Index/middle pen-hold, in my experience and observation, often works well for those with unusually long fingers/unusually short thumbs and/or for those with index-fingers shorter than their ring-fingers.