My handwriting's pretty decent when I write on flat surfaces, but when I write in notebooks, it becomes incredibly messy and sometimes illegible. I've found that the main reason is its being a raised surface — raised, meaning the writing surface with respect to the desk. When I come to an edge, my hand rests on the desk, so I have to keep the pen raised; effectively, it changes my grip, and it's difficult to write. On small notebooks, the problem's even worse because my hand is always resting on my desk.

I've been using the calligraphy grip as pictured on <a href="http://www.paperpenalia.com/handwriting.html">paperpenalia (fig. 3)</a> ever since I began using fountain pens regularly. Before then, I'd been using a deathgrip on ballpoints, with very little of the hand resting on the desk, so this was never a problem.

Suggestions?

One thing I found helps is to put a thin book underneath your hand. That way, ideally, the surface of the paper is the same height as the top of the book.

If this is the way you normally write and at home, you might consider a lap desk--it should give added support and provide a good surface.

I find in small notebooks I often write smaller (difficult for me) but probably have a similar situation you describe and try to use an elevated surface.

If you use a top bound notebook, instead of side bound, you can adjust the page in use to where your hand is always supported by the rest of the pad.

Dan

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone...


I'm having trouble visualizing this... Could you describe how it would work in greater detail? Thanks in advance!

I always follow the same method as suggested by Daosus - resting my hand on a pad of paper at the same thickness as the writing surface.

caliken