How have you improved or developed your handwriting?

[Woody2143]

I sent the below question to Merlin and he suggested that it would be a
good topic to post here...

-------------------

Had a quick question to pose to you and your army of smart, organized
and creatively lazy people:

It boggles my mind how people can put pen to paper and have this
beautiful script flow across the page. How many people have had to
over-come horrible handwriting when moving over to the Hipster or
moleskin? What resources have they used to improve their handwriting?
Obviously practice, practice, practice and more practice is a part of
the solution but what resources were used to develop style/form?

This may apply more to those who grew up in front of a computer or who
in using their computers for 98% of their writing have let any
handwriting skills go...

In my humble opinion, I think it would be a topic that many could
benefit from seeing discussed on 43Folders...

Thanks
// Brandon Wood

[tfsd]

My handwriting was very bad and therefore very inefficient. I
retrained myself by coming up with letter forms and then focusing on
them every time I wrote. It worked, but it took years to produce what
everyone says is very neat, very legible handwriting. You may be able
to short-circuit the process by getting a workbook on handwriting. I'd
highly recommend "Italic Letters: Calligraphy and Handwriting"
[Paperback] by Dubay, Inga; Getty.

[Bryan Ewbank]

I think you address it will - practice, practice, practice. The trick
is /what/ to practice.


For me - I'm left-handed - I abandoned cursive writing (a curse from
the right-handed majority :-) and have done nothing but print for the
last 30 years. Turning the paper 90 degrees clockwise helped me
tremendously as well.

Amusingly, yhe largest "back-slide" I've had to overcome happened when
I first got a Palm-I many years ago. Suddenly, my hand writing was
suspiciously like graffiti. That took a while to untangle.

[Josh Rothman]

It's just practice, practice, practice. My handwriting improved
dramatically when I started writing letters--there, you write slowly
because you care about how your writing comes out. Just practice and be
conscious of your form and eventually you will improve. I had terrible
handwriting as a kid--I have very good handwriting now.

[Beth]

As an occupational therapist I worked for many years with older students improving their handwriting because, unfortunately, their papers were being graded on handwriting as well as content.

I like a system called D'Nealian.  It is more like people realy write than the curvy, corny letters that most schools teach.  You can check out how it looks at their web site...google for it I don't know the url.  Also, if you google for d'nealian like fonts, you will find some worksheets, tracing letters, etc in some of the homeschooling sites.

I am in fact, writing an e-book right now based on this more normal type of writing.

Zura

http://GroovyGraphicsPlace.com
Merging Art and Technology
Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 04/25/2005

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 04/25/2005

[Jonathan Greene]

One of the main reasons I try not to take hand written notes too often
is that my handwriting is terrible. It's been bad since I was a kid
and gotten worse as an adult. If I don't immediately transcribe my
writing to computer I can often not read it later... aigh. I actually
broke my hand a few years ago (Scaphoid for Zura the OT) and that has
not helped matters at all... writing can be uncomfortable the
post-break contributes to my "translation" issues as well.

I love the look and feel of Moleskin but there's no way I can make
something like that work.

Thanks,
JG

[Michael Langford]

While someone suggested trying d'nealian, that's simply the font they
teach little kids to write in (in GA at least) before they start
learning kindergarten. I can't see it hurting mind you, but that's
what it is.

I got an "Italics" workbook
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/002079990X/michaelsswiki-20?creative=327641&camp=14573&link_code=as1)
that I used all the way through. You can't really get the font right
with a ballpoint/rollerball pen, however you will drill things like
eveness and a sense of space into your handwriting that will transfer
to all your writing.

--Michael

On 4/26/05, Woody2143 <Wo...@2143.net> wrote:
>

--
Michael Langford --- 404-386-0495
The people who get what they want in this world are the people who get
up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find
them, make them. --George Bernard Shaw

[Anthony Baker]

Comic books.

That's how it all started.

Wanted to be a comic book creator, so I drew like mad and I paid
particular attention to how the letterers on comic books did their
thing. Was so geeky about it that I not only knew (and could tell) the
work of pencillers and inkers, but I could also tell you who lettered
the dang thing. This also got me into trouble in elementary school, as
they'd want kids to "write a certain way" to indoctrinate us in cursive
and all, but I'd do it My Way instead.

Also, I've found that the pen used makes a big difference in how well
one writes longhand. My current favorite is the Sanford Uni-Ball ONYX
Fine. Red, blue, black. Great writing instrument and I hoard these
suckers.

Oh, and I've also found that if I've been typing all day and finally go
to write, the first 15 minutes or so of writing produces the worst
penmanship. Really, the first writing of the day (longhand, that is) is
horrible for me. Sort of need to warm up, I suppose.

[John Graham]

Here is a weblink about using the Italic system:
http://briem.ismennt.is/index.htm

and more specifically:
http://briem.ismennt.is/4/4.1.1a/4.1.1.1.quick.htm

[Gustaf Erikson]

On 4/26/05, Woody2143 <Wo...@2143.net> wrote:
>

My handwriting looks good from afar, but is almost unreadable. I know
print (block letters) anything that needs to be read later. But I need
to be careful there too not to let the letters get too small.

/g.

--
Gustaf Erikson
N 59º16'52" E 18º02'58"
http://gustaf.symbiandiaries.com/weblog/

[Robert Lynch]

On 4/26/05, Woody2143 <Wo...@2143.net> wrote:

> What resources have they used to improve their handwriting?
> Obviously practice, practice, practice and more practice is a part of
> the solution but what resources were used to develop style/form?

I collect fountain pens, and many people expect pen collectors to have
nice handwriting. Mine's not so nice, but I have worked it back to
legibility after years and years of printing.

For me, practice came first -- it's an excuse to use those nice pens,
after all. Writing in a journal helped make me more comfortable with
cursive writing again, while also helping me work through my thoughts.

I did finally break down and buy a book on handwriting ("Teach
Yourself Better Handwriting", by Rosemary Sassoon) [1]. I read it and
actually took some time to diagnose what was wrong with my handwriting
so I could work on what I thought were my problems. I have seen
improvement and managed to maintain it even though I haven't practiced
in a very long time.

I have also seen good recommendations for Getty and Dubay's "Write
Now" [2], which I may buy and try at some point.

To help your legibility, slow down. Fountain pens can help with this,
by encouraging a lighter touch with the pen. Plain ballpoints need a
more ham-fisted grip than rollerballs, gel rollers, or fountain pens.
When I rush, my handwriting disintegrates into a random zigzag that
carries almost no information.

--
Robert Lynch
robert...@gmail.com

[1] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0844237809
[2] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0876781180

[Dan Brendstrup]

I found this a while ago -- an online course in italic handwriting:
http://briem.ismennt.is/4/4.1.1a/4.1.1.1.quick.htm

I haven't really done much about yet, but plan to soon. It's on my
summer projects list... :-)
And I definitely need it. I've recently converted to a Hipster too, and
although most of it is legible (to myself, at least) none of it is very
pretty.

Also, come join the club at 43things.com:
http://www.43things.com/things/view/2752

[Michael O'Henly]

Hey, nice link on italic handwriting. Thanks!

M.
--
Michael O'Henly

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Brendstrup [mailto:brend...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 9:45 AM
To: 43Fo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [43F Group] Re: How have you improved or developed your
handwriting?

[Beth]

There is a d'nealian that replaces "printing" for young children, but
there is the replacement for "cursive" also.

Zura

http://GroovyGraphicsPlace.com
Merging Art and Technology
Sign Up for our Monthly Newsletter





-----Original Message-----

From: Michael Langford [mailto:michael....@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 10:47 AM
To: 43Fo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [43F Group] Re: How have you improved or developed your
handwriting?

[mkr]

I am interested in improving not only the handwriting but the art to
structure information on a plain sheet of paper. E.g. in a meeting
there arise many kinds of information and it requires some creative
mind where to place the corresponding notes on the paper without
creating a clutter of different pieces of information.
Also I have the problem often that I reach a margin and I have to
compress my script until unreadability.
Does anyone know techniques how to "fill" a sheet of paper or are there
any resources concerning this skill?

- martin

[argonic]

I switched to printing (all caps) in university. Even my signature
uses stylized caps. It's slower, but it's readable.

[LeftBlank]

Sanford Uniball, yes, yes, yes

--
"One cannot but wonder at this constantly
recurring phrase 'getting something for nothing,'
as if it were the peculiar and perverse ambition
of disturbers of society. Except for our animal
outfit, practically all that we have is handed to
us gratis. Can the most complacent reactionary
flatter himself that he invented the art of writing
or the printing press, or discovered his religious,
economic and moral convictions, or any of the
devices which supply him with meat and raiment
or any of the sources of such pleasures as he may
derive from literature or the fine arts? In short,
civilization is little else than getting something for
nothing."
--James Harvey Robinson,
historian, (1863-1936)

[Rowlock]

Absolutely agreed on the point about fountain pens. My writing is
illegible to all but me when I use a ballpoint, but my Waterman seems
to magically turn my chicken scratches into something decipherable by
normal mortals. It encourages me to treat writing as a pleasure, not a
chore. The ritual of using a good bottled ink instead of cartridges
also helps a lot in this regard.

Fountain pen neophytes would be well served to take a look at
Pentrace[1]. There's a wealth of information on the forums, and some
really interesting articles. Pick up a Parker 45, Lamy Safari or
Waterman Phileas next time you're at the stationary store, and give it
a try.

Getty and Dubay's "Write Now" is excellent. It's a thoroughly un-fancy
script, but exceptionally legible and not too tough to learn. I'd love
to learn James Pickering's italic handwriting style[2], but I really
need to work on my basic hand first.

[1] http://www.pentrace.com
[2] http://www.jp29.org/catdr.htm

[jameshamilton]

I'd recommend to anyone considering taking the italic path that they go
straight to the original italic hands of fifteenth century Italy and
copy those, as the original hands set out to solve exactly the same
handwriting problems that we are discussing here. Most decent
calligraphic histories will include samples. I spent a summer teaching
myself italic, and it has been every bit as useful to me as typing - my
writing is faster, more rhythmic, more comfortable than before, and
best of all, other people can read it. (David Harris, "The Art of
Calligraphy", is well worth a look).

Organising notes on a page: that sounds a lot like mindmapping, and
I've certainly used mind maps to fit unfeasible amounts of data onto a
single page in the past.

[Michael Langford]

I would say the book "Inventing Comics" helps with this. It helps you
understand graphical communication, and get's you to develop a sense
of space. It will allow you to add meaning to text scattered
everywhich way (mind mapping in my experience requires large amounts
of space).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/006097625X/michaelsswiki-20?creative=327641&camp=14573&link_code=as1
is the book.

One of the author's online strips:
http://www.scottmccloud.com/comics/icst/index.html

After reading the book, I making things like grocery lists and travel
checklists graphically (I only sometimes do that now)

--Michael

[Scott C.]

Thanks for posting this. As I looked at my Hipster the other day and
said to myself, "What the hell is this?" I thought about finding some
sort of handwriting re-training. Describing my handwriting as chicken
scratch would be a severe understatement.

I printed out some of the italic tutorial and have marked it as @read.
Hopefully I'll get around to actually @reading it.

I really want to get rolling on the moleskine (have purchased 2) but
until my writing improves, I don't think that will happen. Also, part
of the reason I haven't put pen to glorious moleskine paper is because
of that damn pamplet they include with the history. Too daunting. It
makes it sound so sacred. And true it is, but I'm scared to not put
anything but literary worthy text into it. I've wandered off topic a
bit too far now.

Thanks for addressing this poor penmanship problem. My grocery list
will thank you when I'm able to tell that I was supposed to pick up
beats instead of beers. Although I will be pissed because I don't like
beats and I love beers.

[Gustaf Erikson]

On 4/27/05, Scott C. <etcm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I really want to get rolling on the moleskine (have purchased 2) but
> until my writing improves, I don't think that will happen. Also, part
> of the reason I haven't put pen to glorious moleskine paper is because
> of that damn pamplet they include with the history. Too daunting. It
> makes it sound so sacred. And true it is, but I'm scared to not put
> anything but literary worthy text into it. I've wandered off topic a
> bit too far now.

I threw the pamphlet away (I've wanted a moleskine since I read
"Songlines" way back) and thought the "reward" stuff too twee. Then
the 3 year old got hold of it and a pen, and it's wasn't so pristine
anymore :-)

Just use it. Practice makes perfect.

[Jason Ellis]

I have started using the hipster PDA, and agree with another poster
here that your handwriting improves the more you write. Prior to the
HPDA, I hardly ever had to write with a pen. I ALWAYS used a computer.
I type thousands of words a day, but write close to none. Now, with my
HPDA, my handwriting is coming back.

The problem I have is that my hand cramps when I write. Even if it is a
relatively small amount of writing. It is the part of my hand that
touches the paper (the left edge of my palm, if you were looking at
your hand with your palm towards your face). Anyone else get this?
Anyone else get this and found a fix?

Jason Ellis

[Michael Langford]

Fat pens and a loose grip help with cramping. I've seen pens that
change color if you sqeeze them too tight, but I can't remember the
brand offhand.

Anyone know it?

I've been a handcramper since I was a little kid.

--Michael

[Claudia Scholz]

> The problem I have is that my hand cramps when I write.

perhaps something like this would help?

http://www.penagain.com/

[Edward Vielmetti at Socialtext]

You might be interested in reading about the '"Cornell Notes"
system, an approach to note-taking and writing that emphasises
leaving generous margins for later annotation and analysis.

http://vielmetti.typepad.com/vacuum/2005/01/cornell_notes_s.html
has a bit of a writeup with links throughout to point to other resources.

thanks

ed

On 4/26/05, mkr <m...@waterproofed.net> wrote:
>

--
Edward Vielmetti at Socialtext in Ann Arbor, MI 48104
+1 734 276 5910
skype, AIM: edwardvielmetti

edward.v...@socialtext.com
http://vielmetti.typepad.com
http://www.socialtext.com

[Claire Connelly]

Woody2143 wrote:

> It boggles my mind how people can put pen to paper and have this
> beautiful script flow across the page. How many people have had to
> over-come horrible handwriting when moving over to the Hipster or
> moleskin? What resources have they used to improve their handwriting?
> Obviously practice, practice, practice and more practice is a part of
> the solution but what resources were used to develop style/form?

I picked up _Better Handwriting (Teach Yourself Series)_ by Rosemary
Sassoon (<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0844237809/>), read
through it, and did some of the exercises. Sassoon's focus is on a
kind of joined-up print style of handwriting rather than a
calligraphic/copperplate italic style, which makes it easier to learn
and do.

I ended up deciding that my handwriting wasn't really all that bad (at
least when I made a bit of an effort to make it readable), and found
that practice and care were the keys.

I admire the beautiful cursive handwriting that some people (like my
mom) have, but I haven't been convinced that it would be worth the time
and effort required to gain those skills for myself. I do, however,
have George Bickham's _Universal Penman_
(<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486206165/>) and _Penmanship
Made Easy_ (<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486297799/>) on my
Amazon wishlist... maybe someday my priorities will change.

Claire

[teri.p...@gmail.com]

I'm definitely on the side of the fountain pens here. I went back to
printing in block letters about the time I started buying fountain
pens. (And I second the Phileas. It's not as nice as vintage, but
certainly is a fun pen to use.) I try to practice once a week with a
journal post in more formal handwriting. I prefer Roman style
lettering, but you might be helped by the lessons here:
http://briem.ismennt.is/4/4.1.1a/4.1.1.1.quick.htm One of these days, I
want to try Spencerian. Really, pick up a pen that you enjoy looking at
and using. Make yourself slow down and really practice drawing each
letter. That's all it takes.