I have been working on my cursive penmanship since January of '07. For the 50 years before that, I used block printing almost exclusively because I worked with technical subjects that were rife with acronyms and abbreviations.

I mentioned my improvement project in the thread "Your Handwriting Quality" in this forum. Kate was kind enough to provide some writing exercises (see Études for Penmanship, 24 Jan 07). I made a lot of progress in a short time by using these études and continued with them ever since that date. My cursive handwriting was beginning to look downright civilized by this spring.

Then, about three weeks ago, I began gardening: wielding rakes, shovels, garden tiller, wheel hoe, dibble sticks, and stoning the woodchuck. EGAD factorial My hand died. Went palm-up, so to speak. My handwriting reverted to the old, uncouth, and disreputable condition I started with 18 months previously. All that unwonted manual labor must have discombobulated my proprioceptors. I can't write worth a dang, now.

Has anybody had this happen? How much work does it take to get your hand back after you wreck it like this?

Paddler

I noticed right off that when I tried writing (I'm currently working on improving my handwriting) after my visit to the gym included forearm exercises, that the entire experience of writing became a difficult task, due to muscle fatigue.

I'd say this may be at least part of your case, though I haven't expereinced your exact situation, so I may be wrong.

Based on my similar experiences, I believe a tightness re-develops as the use of our bodies changes. As I practiced my handwriting, I relaxed more and more and my writing became more fluid. I then started doing some home improvement projects over a few weeks period and noted that my hand, arm and shoulder were not as loose when I wrote. Just my take on it. /Craig

About a year ago I started training my left hand to write due to arthritis in my right thumb. Throughout this past year, I've noticed that when I come in from doing barn chores and begin to write something, my coordination is not great. I persist and it's gets better. We've been doing some home projects lately - painting, etc. and I went two or three weeks without writing much of anything. When I started a letter a few days ago, I realized that I have regressed somewhat. I've resolved to get back to my evening handwriting practice while I'm watching TV - which is truly a waste of time these days if you're not doing something productive while you watch.

I think this must have something to do with large muscles vs. small muscles. When we're gardening or doing barn chores, it's the large muscles that get used - which may somehow detract from the fitness of the small muscles? I don't know. Just a thought. Anyway, I've been making it a point to write more -everyday for about a week now - and my hand seems to be bouncing back. Don't get discouraged - just get back to some daily practice.

Judybug

I agree with Judybug about the television and I, too, try to be doing something else when the TV is on and handwriting practice is becoming the most popular. The act of writing, even just practice or scribble doodles, is relaxing to me. /Craig

I did that for a while, and now writing, drawing, and calligraphy have mostly replaced TV for me.

Thanks for the advice, folks.

I am working out with Kate's "Études for Penmanship" and my hand is slowly coming back. The improvement is faster than when I originally began to work on my writing, so I guess I can't complain. It is strange that I didn't notice this strange phenomenon last year at gardening time. Maybe I didn't have enough to lose then.

I tried to use handwriting drills to keep my mind occupied while watching television, but it just made me crazy (crazier?). FP writers unite! Ditch the TV, the PDA, the cell phone, the pager, the video game, and the automatic dish washer! Slow down! Give full attention to everything you do. The cat will once more sit on your lap.

Paddler

I notice that whenever I do hard physical work that my hand gets very shaky and my handwriting looks like a spider took LSD and stepped in a bucket of ink and then stumbled across the page.

'Loosening up' isn't the issue so much as rest.