From time to time, on this forum, members have posted examples of their handwriting with requests for comments and/or advice as to improvement.

I'm just curious as to whether or not there has been much change in handwriting as a result.

If anyone feels that their handwriting has benefitted from the study of others' work on this forum, or as a direct result of advice, such information would be very interesting and possibly helpful for those of us in a similar situation.

Before and after illustrations would be particularly enlightening.

caliken

I have greatly benefited by studying the handwriting of others from FPN and elsewhere, and practicing at least once a day. My handwriting has evolved from pathetic chicken scratches to being very clear and readable. I doubt anyone would call it beautiful, though. If I can overcome my reluctance to be evaluated, I might post an example of my current style a little later.

Well, I just posted my first sample and request for feedback a few days ago. So far I'm experimenting with a certain piece of advice (practice on unlined paper) and it hasn't yielded too much of a change yet.

My handwriting was already pretty good, though. If I were to practice a lot more, I think I could get my handwriting a lot more consistent looking, but I'm not sure how much that would be from advice. Like, I'm well aware that my handwriting would be greatly improved by making all my letters and spaces more consistently, but that's about the extent of the advice I get on the subject.

So, as my bagpipe teacher always says, "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." Just a matter of practicing, I suppose.

On the other hand, I also got a fair bit of advice regarding the learning of new alphabets. If I were to pursue that (and I may yet), I think I'd find the advice of the FPN members indispensable.

As the 'advisor' in the first paragraph, LCS, I wonder what effects you are (not) finding?

Do you not find that your lines more 'separated', and are you having difficulty keeping them 'level'?
(I use a folded sheet of paper under my writing hand, both to provide a guideline, and to keep 'skin oil' off the paper!)

As you say, your writing is, IMO too, "pretty good", and, as a learning sax-player, I do agree with your teacher about the quality of one's practice

My writing has certainly improved by following advice, both here and from Kate Gladstone....and practice!

Well, Roger, my lines are certainly more separated, and this has definitely helped the look of my hand. When I posted my above, though, I had only really written on unlined paper once or twice, and hadn't noticed anything much yet. I've since done it a fair few more times, and am finding more and more that my writing is being spread out and looks more elegant.

I do have a bit of trouble keeping the lines level, but only when I'm not paying attention. As I say, though, that's all about practice, like so many things.

An excellent idea for a thread, Caliken.

Here's a sample of my handwriting as it stands now. I wrote this specifically for this thread, just now.



Comments, please.

---

Yes, I know it sucks...

The first thing I noticed was the very even consistency of the slope, which IMO is the most important aspect of attractive handwriting. Secondly, I find this legible and personal, the other two main
ingredients.
This is good, attractive and personal handwriting and in no way does it "suck".

caliken

Thanks for the reply, Cal, that means a lot coming from you Do you think it's improved in any way from the previous samples of my writing that I've posted up here?

I've had another look at your posting of writing samples from April 2007.
The main difference IMO is the more consistent slope throughout. I think that your writing now, looks a bit more controlled, somehow - a bit calmer. It's difficult to put into words. I don't think it looked bad in the first place - it just looks better now! Would you consider posting them together as a "before & after" which may encourage others to do likewise?

Thanks fot the interest and in posting and well done!

caliken

what's your handwriting like caliken?

I have seen your amazing caligraphy work but not your normal hand..... ?? Do we get to see a shot?

My only suggestion, based on my own experience, is that it is more difficult to control a fine nib if you have relatively large handwriting....I have made a quick and rather unsatisfactory scan to try to illustrate the point, but it was affected by my previous 'garden activity'...extended use of secateurs, especially at my age, can have a temporarily (one hopes!) effect on one's 'manual/digital fine-control'!


My writing definitely sucks (compared with Ken's!!)....yours is improving!

It may be worth your experimenting by trying either a slightly broader nib, such as a Medium Stub, or writing a bit smaller with your Fine.

Pontificating on the handwriting of others is all very well, but I knew that someday it was going to come back to bite me - and, guess what, the day has come!

OK here we go -


In your criticism, please be kind to an old man with a fragile ego!

caliken

Yeah, sure, I'll be harsh critic..... after I recover from fainting here... What a absolutely gorgeous, totally awesome, pure elegant penmanship that is!. Now don't tell me you write like that at a normal speed.........

Caliken, is just beautiful.

Hey Caliken.

If I can find an older writing sample, I'll post it up alongside the one up there.

And with regards to broader nibs, I can try that, I do have a few lying around.

---

Caliken, I'll be honest, I scrolled right past your handwriting because I couldn't differentiate it from computer-font! that's how neat I think it is! I really think your hand is just beautiful. I wish I could write as controlled & neatly as you do. Next to yours, my hand looks like a seismograph reading...

Roger, yours is adorable, too!

Ondina

Thank you very much for the kind words.

This is how I write if I'm writing a letter. I'm not aware of going particularly slowly, but I do get pleasure from writing, both physically and mentally, so it's possible that I take longer than someone for whom writing is a chore.

I come from the generation who were taught that to send someone a scrappy, messy piece of writing, was to insult them, and the lesson has stuck. As a calligrapher by profession, I take pride in my work of necessity, and have no wish to let someone see my terrible writing, when taking notes rapidly. Some things are better left private.

caliken

Thanks Shangas,

I look forward to seeing your "before & after" examples, if you can find time to post them.

caliken

Great topic, Ken. As a calligraphy student I think this can be an important and interesting step.
Just an year ago (July 07) I posted my first "flex style" sample (at that time I didn't know what was copperplate):

This is the link of the Topic

********************************

Some time later (December 07) I posted one of my first copperplate attempt:

The topic was This

********************************

This is what I've learned now:

I write in this style with a medium speed (about 10 min to write the above sample), and I find it very "natural" using a flex nib like vintage Waterman's ones.

Sorry. I'm deleting this post because I can't get pictures to upload.

Judybug

Tipstricks

The progress you made in the 5 months between July 07 and December 07 was considerable, and since then your increase in confidence shows in your up-to-date writing - a superb effort and exactly what I was hoping for when I started this topic. Your writing is now flowing naturally, and must give pleasure to anyone receiving your snail mail.

It is so useful for beginners who feel daunted at the possibilty of ever making progress, to see what can be achieved.
Anyone can improve his/her handwriting with practice and perseverence and when you can see the results of your efforts develop as you practice, it ceases to be work and becomes fun.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

caliken

Tipstiks,

your scrip is awesome - especially because it looks written and not printed which makes it look quite personal in my eyes!

Congratulation of your progress...

Zed

Caliken, I understand completely, and get a bit frustrated when my snail-mails aren't as good as my 'best'....as you say it's courtesy to the recipient.
I find that, because of the advance of anno domini , and not having handwritten a lot for some years, my hand and brain get tired after a couple of pages!

[OT: It reminds me of some advice I was given about being brutal in weeding-out my 'bad' photographs "Only the refuse collector and you should see them!"....it is so much easier in these 'digital days' ]

Yes, super work Tipstiks

here is what I wrote with my right as well as my left hand. Remember I am not a natural born leftie but became a leftie after an accident I had when I was younger. I used a 1925 Parker Duofold Big Red Senior Single band flat top which is the best pen I found being used with the right or with the left hand. The nib on that pen is a fine semi flex nib.
Any comments are welcome.

georges

If you get tired writing, you only have to switch hands!

Seriously, I think that this is good, legible writing with either hand and is a most impressive feat. I can't imagine how difficult it must be, to start over with the other hand. It is to your credit, that the writing seems equally good with both hands.

Thanks for posting.

caliken

A truly inpsiring post from all concerned - I feel there is hope for me yet....... I just have to put my mind to it.

Interesting thread! I really enjoyed reading about and seeing the improvement in handwriting. It gives me a lot of faith in that mine will continue to improve!

I had terrible handwriting about 4 years ago, so bad that even I couldn't read it at times!

2004 Sample



In about early 2005, I chose to stop using my scrawl/cursive wanna-be and switch to print as the primary problem with my writing was its legibility. After much practice, voila, consistent, very legibile print.

2005 Sample



Problem with this print was that it took far too long to write! The above sample would've taken me close to ten minutes to churn out! The snail's pace couldn't cut it when I went to university, so I began developing a faster but still legible style.

2006 Sample



Although the writing isn't as pleasant to look at as my former print, it did allow me to keep up with the lecturer in class in terms of note taking. I've been working on this since then and I know there's still room for improvement (as always!) but I'm relatively happy with how far I've come.

2008 Sample



Editted to add: Only the last sample was written with a fountain pen. Unlike so many on the boards, I really like using ballpoints every now and then and all previous samples were written using ballpoints. I have a very light hand with fountain pens but very hard with ballpoints. I love using fountain pens but I find my handwriting fluctuates from pen to pen whereas it's very consistent with ballpoints (nowadays at least! ).

feiye

Another great "before & after" example!

Your writing is now so much more attractive, and easier to read. Also, it's no surprise, that your fountain pen writing looks better than with a ballpoint!

My handwriting still needs improvement (tell me what and how much, please), but I think it has come leaps and bounds ahead since last year.

The "before" sample is from one of my journals that is in the process of being reposted. It was written with a Sheaffer Saratoga Snorkel with an M nib and Levenger's Raven Black ink. The paper is hard, spiral bound notebook paper.

nice writing improvement feive and paddler

You must be delighted with the progress you've made in your handwriting - quite a change!

Once in a great while, my hand actually looks pretty (unlike the sample I just posted). However, I cannot tell in advance when this will happen; nor can I tell what I did to make it happen. One factor is that I have to really like the pen I am using. But even so, it is hit or miss. Maybe I should quit trying to analyze it, shut the heck up, and keep practicing.

Thanks to your calligraphy samples, caliken, I can see that, at least for a few people, it is possible to develop a cool hand.

Paddler

WOW i can only wish that someday my handwriting will be one fifth as good as yours, even when i try. Beautiful. Brilliant.

This is just the kind of handwriting I've been trying so hard to develop! It reminds me of the Renaissance and contemporary examples in Alfred Fairbank's A Handwriting Manual. Some qualities are hard to define, but at my lowly level of development the most difficult quality to acquire is the one that differentiates good handwriting from handwriting that's "trying" to be good. My handwriting tends to be either not good, or announce that it's trying too hard. But your hand has that magic ingredient.

I'm hoping focus, patience, and practice will serve me. I wish I could make as rapid progress as some here (Tipstricks! feiye!).

Anyway, caliken, thanks for starting this thread! It's both encouraging and discouraging...

Doug

HDoug,

I think your handwriting is very nice as seen in the traveling journal--and, what's more, it already resembles Calikens!!!!

Ann

Thanks for the compliment, Doug.

As you know, I admire your handwriting and I value your judgement.


caliken

Thank you Doug, I think my handwriting's still a work in progress (it's been four years now!). I'm mainly working on consistency now. It's strange but my handwriting is very legible and neat enough with some pens I use and goes out the window with some others. I'm primarily working on keeping it neat and legible throughout, no matter what pen I use. This thread is has also provided a lot of inspiration for me

Caliken: your writing is absolutely enviable. What size italic nib do you normally use?

Thank you, feiye

I normally use a Pelikan M200 fitted with a Richard Binder 0.7mm cursive italic nib. This nib is a joy to use. (No affiliation - just a very satisfied customer)

I have some of my old diaries, written 50 and more years ago...must dig out some 'suitable, ie non-embarrassing' samples & scan them!

Perhaps that's for a separate thread, though.