Since joining FPN I've been more and more itching to really knuckle down and get a good hand going.
How is the best way to do this?
Do you print off those feintly written sheets and go over them with your FP's?
Do you buy how-to books and work from those?
Do you just print off guide lines and make up passages?
What is the easiest script to start with?
I don't want anything too fancy to begin with but would love for my writing to look more elegant and free-flowing. At present its quite legible but a bit jerky, and my letters are inconsistant. eg I sometimes write "e" like that or sometimes more like a "c" with a tiny dash in the middle, so it looks a bit Greek, and its the same with the letter "a"

Also, how regularly and for how long at a time do you seriously practice?

Any advice would be gratefully received

Cheers
T

T,

I no longer practice regularly -- just write daily, as much as possible. When started, would practice 20 to 30 minutes and write as much as possible. Took a lot of notes, so wasn't hard to get in a fair amount of practice. I started with Fred Eager's Beautiful Handwriting the Italic Way. It's a workbook format and I just paper-clipped thin typing paper over many of the practice sheets.

The next step was to start writing, using a guideline. That was about three weeks into the program. And just kept on adding skills and practicing until I developed a hand that looked nice to me. You will find that you are the sternest critic about your handwriting.

Best of luck to you

T,

Do a search in this forum on the word "etudes". Kate Gladstone gave some writing exercises she called Etudes for Penmanship. I have been using them and they have helped my hand a lot. Before I post anything in one of my journals, I do one of these exercises - kind of like a ball player swinging a weight-bat.

Paddler

What has helped me is keeping a journal. You can blah blah blah and practice at the same time. Some days you can work on particular elements of your hand. You can write slowly and carefully one day, and work on speed the next day. Sometimes it seems like you may not be making progress, but flipping back to an earlier time will show the difference practice makes. You can also see the "phases" your hand goes through.

Doug

This is what my approach to studying and practicing has been.

This is to get away from finger writing
and start using arm motions to move hand kept steady.
http://paperpenalia.com/handwriting.html
Tips for improving your handwriting

Fellow FPN member compiled Briem's "From ZigZags into Handwriting" lessons
on how to form letters.
Notice it starts out describing different method, moving hand with wrist action.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...st&id=28620

Several handy links here:
Excerpts from Getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting books
http://www.cep.pdx.edu/titles/italic_series/excerpts.shtml
"Comparison of Five Handwriting Styles" good description of advantages of their method
"Reading Looped Cursive" what I use to practice cursive joins
when I run out of things to say in journal
Write Now: A complete self-teaching program for better handwriting
Italic Letters: Calligraphy and Handwriting

Hope you enjoy practicing your hand at penmanship!

Thank you for the answers. Tawanda, thank you for asking about something I've been wondering about.

+1 on the journalling method of self improvement! I like it because it allows my mind to focus or wander as I choose, and it has done wonders for my "normal" handwriting over the years. I'm an intermittent journal keeper and I can really tell when I've been away from it for a while. Like all creative endeavors requiring hand/eye coordination, frequent practice helps tremendously.

Joe Vitolo, a very gifted (and well-practiced) penman says that a little bit of very focused "good" practice beats a lot of unfocused "not so good" practice. So, when you practice, even if it's for only a few moments at a time, take your time and carefully form your letters. Review what you've done and work to correct flaws.

One of the forms of practice that really helped my hand take big steps was learning Chancery Cursive writing. You'll find many resources on this form of "daily italic" handwriting. One of my favorites is a book called Italic Letters by Inga Dubay and Barbara Getty.

Happy Writings!


Cheers,
Tom

I have nothing to add to the excellent advice already given, except for one very basic, but very important point......

When you start practicing handwriting, beware of the seductive habit of repeating over and over, that which you have already mastered. It feels good and is very satisfying but is ultimately, non-productive.

It's better to isolate letters or combinations of letters which are giving you trouble, and practice these until they reach the level of the rest of your work.

Just a small point but IMO an important one.

It's exactly the same as when learning to play the piano. When a new piece becomes a bit too difficult, it is very easy to slip into the comfort zone and play something you can play well and have played hundreds of times. It feels good, but gets you nowhere in the development of your playing.

caliken

Thanks to all for your advice, and Caliken, I will remember your wise words and practice letter groups in isolation. One of my most irritating habits is to make the "hump" on an h hardly visible. It usually ends up like a very small inverted v shape, so I think I'll concentrate on that first.
I have been sloping to the left now for a few days (ref another thread of mine), following your kind words of encouagement, and my writing is much clearer, and more rounded now. I will try and get a photo posted up soon.
TTFN
T

I recently purchased a book called Write Now! from Pendemonium, and in just two days of practice, I see a real difference. I was already legible, but my writing is quickly becoming faster, easier, and more attractive.

--HedgeMage