I've been writing cursive for a while... but have just recently fallen in love with the way that a fountain pen writes on paper.

It seems that sometimes it floats on the paper... but sometimes it scratches. I try to hold it as lightly as I can. It scratched and slipped a couple of times, as you can see.

I was writing my normal speed, so slowing down might have helped... but I don't have time to slow down sometimes.
Any help would be great! Thanks

-Usui

Aw...
Well not to let no responses get me down, I'm going to start using a little of my free time each day to practice better hand writing. I'm thinking about using the cursive lessons here first:
http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.php

After that, I might want to move to an italic point. I'm really interested in being a better penman.

Thanks for the cool forum.

Usui,

You have a good basic hand. Looking at the writing, I see that you fail to complete your strokes and fail to round your letters in some cases. Try completing your strokes and forming your letters carefully.

As for the scratchiness, that shouldn't be a problem -- not with a Pelikan Fine nib. I'm not sure what to advise you to do about it. If the nib needs smoothing, the pen should go back to the shop. But, not seeing the pen, I don't know if that is the case. You might try doodling on a piece of kraft paper (brown paper bag) lightly and see if that smooths the nib.

Using an italic nib is neat. But also contrary. You have to write differently because you have to control the angle of the pen on the paper. Something that a regular nib doesn't require.

Could you clarify what completing strokes and failed round letters is?
Is that like when I don't close the letter "a" "g" or "p"? If they were closed, would that be completing and rounding, or are you talking about two different problems?

As for the italic... it just sounds cool to start learning that style of writing, to improve my hand control. Maybe I can do it with a Lamy Safari Italic or Pelikan 200 italic from Swisher Pens or something.

Thanks again for the imput! Can't wait for more time to practice!

As a new user, you will want to start experimenting with different inks and papers. From your sample, it appears that you may have used a paper that is not quite fountain pen friendly. Some inks also lubricate better as you write. The pen will have an angle that it likes the best so change your grip on the pen until the "sweet spot" on the nib contacts the paper properly. The scratchiness you are experiencing is not unusual and most all of us have had or have pens that are like that. If you can't solve the problem with my suggestions above, you may need to have the nib looked at and adjusted by an expert. I agree with Randal, Pelikan nibs are not usually scratchy unless it has become tweaked somehow. Your handwriting is pretty good and will greatly improve the more you practice. By the way, welcome to Fountain Pen nirvana or hades as the case may be. /Craig

I think your handwriting looks pretty good. Try your pen on some 28 lb. or 32 lb. HP laser paper. If your pen is scratchy on that paper, I'd say it might need some smoothing by someone who knows what they're doing. I'll be happy to send you a few sheets of this paper if you want to PM your address to me.

I think the very best way to improve your handwriting is slow practice every day - if it's not but 15 or 20 minutes. Just write something slowly. Copy a poem, write the alphabet, write lists - lists of countries, fruit, dog breeds - whatever comes to mind. Just do it slowly.

Judybug

Thanks for the link to those penmanship documents on IAMPETH. They look quite useful.

Your penmanship is decent--I can read everything you wrote. I concur with the suggestions given. You're well on your way to superb scripting.

Handwriting evolves with the writer. All of us that went to US schools learned the standard cursive letters in 4th grade with school fountain pens. Ballpoints weren't allowed until middle and high school. Few if any people I know write those wonderfully formed cursive models. Unless you do calligraphy where you want to adhere to standard models, improving legibility will likely change things overall. If everyone wrote like the 4th grader who got A's in handwriting all the time (I was one of those disgusting kids), it would be pretty darn boring.

I am reading a book on handwriting analysis by Andrea McNichol (fun book by the way). People write the way they do as an expression of personality. There are meanings behind slant, illegibility, though some think that graphology is a parlor game.

Be totally with your writing as you write. Finishing your letter is besides the point. Forming the letters and appreciating the ink flow, feedback, and blossoming of the project are an end in themselves. You are familiar with that saying...it's not the end of the journey, but the travel that is the most important. Like any other activity from singing to athletics, don't forget to breathe! There's great beauty in being able to write and being conscious that we can perform this miraculous deed, at all. It is good if you can write for pleasure like a social letter to get a different spin on it in your brain.

Your handwriting is very acceptable IMHO.

Good luck.

Wanda

Thanks for the kind words... good penmenship... here I come!