How To Write Properly With A Fountain Pen

[rwilsonedn]

I suspect that no matter how you hold your pen, which muscle groups you use, or what style you attempt, there will always be an expert to explain to you why it's all wrong and you must change at once. That's just people. I think the process is similar to what occurs in grammar. If you want to get your book on grammar published, you have to point out that everyone is unknowingly speaking and writing incorrectly, and you must correct them. No one who aspires to better himself will buy a book that tells him he is speaking well already. And the entire market for grammar books, as well as penmanship books, comprises people who are trying to better themselves.

Similarly, if you want to be a successful teacher of penmanship, calligraphy, or whatever, you have to start out by persuading people that they are doing it wrong now, and hence need your services. The more difficult and obscure you can make your technique, the more obvious it will be to your students that they need you to teach them. In this way, by a process of gradual selection, the most weird and difficult techniques from the past are the ones that get preserved and repeated. The teachers who were able to get all their students to enjoy handwriting and to write legibly are forgotten after one generation.

I think it is not unusual in the crafts to find the occasional master who does things all wrong, but achieves wonderful results. Focus on the enjoyment of writing, and on your results as a means to that enjoyment; don't focus on obedience to an expert.

ron

[riff raff]

Without getting into which way is The Best...it took you a long time to learn that way...it'll take some time to unlearn it.

[lynxcat]

the household to-do list is written in whiteboard marker on a letter-paper-sized piece of whiteboard stuck magnetically to the side of the fridge --- mounted vertically, of course, at just below face level. i dare anyone to write with mostly arm and shoulder movement on that.

 

I'm confused. I've never tried it, but in a situation like that writing vertically on a wall, it should be difficult to /not/ use mostly arm and shoulder movement.

 

we must have very different habits, and/or muscle memories, then. for me, trying to use my arm in that position loses me all control and there's no way to form the letters small enough or neat enough to read the list later on. i'm forced to lean the corner of the heel of my hand on the surface and write with finger movements almost exclusively --- though i suppose mileages will differ.

 

Also, you are writing in cursive correct? I cannot use this technique with printing, and I have no clue about Italics.

 

i wish i were writing in cursive. i'm trying to learn monoline italics, but i've only just started on that. the to-do list i spoke of is still uglily block-printed in all caps, my old style which embarrasses me horribly.

Edited December 31, 2009 by lynxcat

[sokuban]

Thanks to everyone for your input here. I have to say I am undecided about it all. I am not writing with any special nib or pen, it is just with an ordinary fountain pen for everyday writing. I am not doing calligraphy.

 

How comfortable are you with your writing? Are you satisfied with the speed/stamina you have? If you believe you don't have a problem, then I suppose there is no real need to learn a different method.

 

(I learnt the arm-method because before when I wrote I'd get lots of wrist pains very easily.)

 

I usually rest my hand on the paper, so writing with my whole arm is kind of tough. My desk is high enough that trying not to rest my hand on the paper would be mighty uncomfortable.

 

I rest my hand lightly on the paper and let it glide while writing with my whole arm.

[wolf4]

Hmm...I think I've started something here. :hmm1: A lot of members are writing in on this subject. I thank all of you for responding.

 

The trouble is you all had some very good arguments and advice both for and against the arm movement. I will, however, try to find some time to practise the arm movement technique just to see how it goes. Whether I stick at it or not will be the question.

 

I do understand the concept and agree, like most things in life, when you have to learn a new technique, because it is considered better or an improvement, it will feel strange and awkward at the beginning. Later it should feel comfortable. Again, on the other side to that argument, there is the more relaxed, flexible philosophy which says if it already feels comfortable then continue using it.

 

A lot of valid points were made on both sides of the argument. You all made some good arguments for and against. So at the moment I am very much undecided.

 

I have to add this final remark because it is amusing. I was perfectly happy with my writing until I spotted that article on using the whole arm technique. Now I feel slightly inferior knowing I am not using the so-called "correct" full arm technique.

Edited January 1, 2010 by wolf4

[feimo]

If you have a golf swing that is not working well for you -- a bad slice, say -- then you go to a golf teacher and tell him you want a better swing. He watches you swing for a while, and then describes some changes you need to make to straighten out your swing. You try them once or twice and then say "but it doesn't feel right."

 

Of course it doesn't feel right. It's not what you are used to doing. You would have to practice that new golf swing for an hour or so, every day for a couple of weeks before it felt right.

 

When you start using the "shoulder method", it won't feel right. Also, your letters will be bigger, because you are used to using your shoulder for big movements. But if you practice every day for a few weeks, it will start to feel better. And you will find that you attain better control; you will be getting used to using your shoulder for finer and finer movements. Your letters will get smaller and smaller.

 

I believe that some finger movement will always occur, and even be necessary. But most of us don't need to be told that; we do it already. So the handwriting teachers don't bother mentioning it.

 

As someone pointed out, we are talking about penmanship, not calligraphy. If anyone can direct us to a method of penmanship that depends more on fingers and wrist, and less on arm and shoulder, I would like to see a link for it. I haven't seen it yet.

 

I can't say that I'm the perfect practitioner of this system. I use too much finger control still. But I sure noticed the difference when I started using the shoulder method, and stuck with it.

 

If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always had.

 

Very good posting! Almost nothing to add.

 

I started the shoulder girdle-technique about one year ago. Why? Not because my fingers were hurting or something like that, but to quicken my handwriting. Before I improved my writing style I wrote very slowly and it looked kind of childish. Now I can write quite fast and my handwriting looks more "matured" (don´t know, if it´s the correct term). Moreover my writing got more effortless.

 

I´m very happy that I decided improving my handwriting, but you have to know that this is a very long process. I don´t know how old you are. Fortunately I´m just 18 and not 50, so it might have been easier for me than for somebody older. But still I haven´t finished for a long time yet.

[wolf4]

Happy New Year to you "feimo".

 

Thank you for your message. I shall try to practise the shoulder technique and see how it goes. A pity it is a long process because I am 53 but I don't feel like it.

 

I too considered the post by "Brerarnold" to be very good and truthful. I recognised the valid points he was making especially his analogy with golf swings.

 

Many many years ago I used to practise figure skating techniques on an ice rink at about 6.30 in the morning. I was the only one there on the ice at that time, just me and the fresh clean rink. I would go round and round in a small circle at one end of the rink and then change to the opposite direction by doing a figure eight to the other side of the rink. All I did was to concentrate on just one technique until after several weeks I got it right and it became natural.

 

So, I already knew what "Brerarnold" was saying. It's just that I thought to myself bloody hell, I have to start all over again with another technique! Looks like I'm still on that ice rink. :bonk:

 

Thanks for your adding your view.

Edited January 1, 2010 by wolf4

[feimo]

Happy New Year to you, too!

 

I was unsure, too in the beginning. I was totally happy with my handwriting and didn´t thought of changing it until I got to know that there exists a "better" way of handwriting. Unfortunately I´m a perfectionist and every time I wrote I thought "this and that could be better". Finally I started changing my handwriting.

 

To be honest, I can see some parrallels to you.

 

At last I think it´s less a matter of age, but more a matter of motivation, will and discipline. And as I see on your ice skating example, you seem to have the right mix of it! So why not give something new the chance to grow on you? (Could also be a New Year´s pledge )

 

Good luck!

[wolf4]

Unfortunately I´m a perfectionist and every time I wrote I thought "this and that could be better". Finally I started changing my handwriting.

Oh my god, you're a perfectionist too! Just a quick note to say thanks for the reply. I too am a bit of a perfectionist. It irritates me if I am doing something and someone out there tells me that my technique is inferior or not the best way of doing it. So I find it difficult to continue doing something knowing that it is inferior to something else.

 

I have already started practising the arm method, and yes it isn't too bad, and I can see how it's meant to work but it will take time. When I was in a rush to write quickly something that needed urgent attention, I had to resort to the usual method. But when I am not pressed then I practise it. Fortunately I don't have to do it at 6:30 in the morning on a cold rink!

 

Anyway have a good year "feimo" and thanks for your feedback. Take care.

[Brerarnold]

It's just that I thought to myself bloody hell, I have to start all over again with another technique! Looks like I'm still on that ice rink. :bonk:

 

LOL!

 

:roflmho:

[richiwalt]

http://richimages.net/Penmanship/IMG_7032.JPG

 

 

Well, actually ... this is not my **first** post anymore - it's a re-post from the thread of post must be handwritten only ... But folks there are enjoying writing too much to read the full note (Just kidding - this seems a more appropriate thread to ask the question).

 

BTW ... my first fountain pen arrives tomorrow ... and I'm slightly worried this hold may not work well for the pen anyway ... I have read through the thread here, so perhaps this is an opinionated question - but I would like to master that very ornamental Spencerian penmanship ...

 

thanks for any advice ...

 

- richard

 

 

http://richimages.net/Penmanship/IMG_7031%202.JPG

Edited July 9, 2015 by richiwalt