Handwriting seems like an ancient relic in our modern life; some say that teaching cursive writing in schools is “out of date” and “a waste of time.” But everyone needs to put pen to paper at least once in a while, and good handwriting is not only easy to read, it makes a better impression than hard-to-read “chicken claw” writing. Whether you want to simply improve your everyday handwriting, or learn (or relearn) how to write cursive or calligraphy, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your handwriting more beautiful.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Improving Your Basic Handwriting Techniques
Step 1. Choose the right equipment
Some people prefer pens, others prefer pencils. Some like bigger sizes, others smaller sizes. Whatever your choice, the important thing is to find a writing instrument that feels right in your hand.
- Consider a pen or pencil with a soft grip, especially if you tend to grip too hard.
- Use lined paper for practice, and thicker paper if you want to save your writing.
Step 2. Sit up straight but comfortable
Yes, your mother is right – posture matters. Bending over on paper will hurt your neck and back after a while, while also limiting arm movement so you'll be forcing your hands and wrists to use when writing (See Method 2, Step 3 below).
If you can sit up straight like a post and feel comfortable, that's great. But don't make your body too stiff and uncomfortable. Beautiful writing shouldn't be a painful job
Step 3. Hold the writing utensil in a relaxed manner
Hold the pen, don't choke it. (It is said that a good craftsman never blames the utensil.) If after writing there are indentations or red marks on your fingers, you are gripping too tightly. A loose grip allows you to move more freely and can help letters flow more freely from your pen.
- There are many "correct" ways to hold a pen or pencil. Some people put it on the middle finger and hold it with the index and thumb, some press it using the tips of the three fingers; others place the back of the pen against the knuckle of the most basic index finger, some place it between the index and thumb.
- Instead of spending time forcing yourself to use a different way of holding the pen, stick to a method that is comfortable for you – unless you realize the way you hold the pen is weird and negatively affects the quality of your handwriting. As long as you use both your first finger and your thumb, it shouldn't be a problem.
Step 4. Make the content of your writing more beautiful
Of course, it is okay to use abbreviations, symbols, non-sentences, etc. when writing notes, but if you're writing something that other people will see, take the time to write it right. A car that is shiny and clean, but missing two wheels and a hood cover doesn't look as pretty as a full-fledged car.
- Make sure you write using correct capitalization and punctuation.
- Do not use conversational texts or internet abbreviations. If you're writing something that other people will read, don't use text like se7, sgini, 4l4y, gw, titidj, cemunud, etc.
Step 5. Look for inspiration
You know someone who has beautiful handwriting? Observe as he writes and ask for some pointers. You may be able to look at various fonts in a word processor for inspiration for the shape of the letters.
Don't be too proud to look for writing courses and buy exercise books targeted at school children. In fact, if you have kids, practice together. Turn family time into better handwriting skills for all
Method 2 of 3: Write More Beautiful Cursive Letters
Step 1. Learn the cursive alphabet
Maybe you've forgotten how to form cursive letters since you learned it in elementary school. Look for some cursive writing practice books that have lines on the paper to help you practice writing cursive letters.
- Of course there's more than one style of cursive writing, and it's okay to give your cursive letters a personal touch, as long as they're legible. However, it would be better if you start by copying an existing style.
- Look for websites that provide printable study tutorials and practice sheets. Some even have pen stroke animations used to shape each letter.
Step 2. Practice using your entire arm to write
Most people write by manipulating their fingers, and some people call it “drawing” letters. Handwriting artists make use of their forearms and shoulders when writing, which helps create better flow and thus produces handwriting that is neither stiff nor wavy.
- Try “writing in the air.” You may feel silly doing it, but it helps retrain your muscles. Pretend to write large letters on the blackboard. (Actually, you can practice writing on the board.) You will naturally use shoulder rotation and forearm movement to create your letters.
- As you become more proficient at writing in the air, reduce the size of the invisible letters and take the position you would use to write on paper with a pen. However, continue to focus on using your shoulders and arms, not your fingers.
Step 3. Practice basic pen strokes to make cursive letters
Two important movements in cursive writing are upward strokes and arcs, so practice both movements before writing full letters.
- When practicing your strokes and, ultimately, you need to work on keeping the spacing between the letters constant. Linen paper will be very helpful in this case. If you want to write on plain paper, draw thin, spaced lines using a pencil and ruler and then erase the lines once you're done writing your letters.
- To practice an upward stroke, hold the pen just above the baseline, touch the baseline as you move down and slightly tilt forward, then rotate the upward arc into a straight line (also slightly angled forward) through the centerline towards the topmost line.
- The basic curved stroke exercise resembles the lowercase "c". Starting slightly below the centerline, drag up and then down to create an oval (heighter than the width) that is counterclockwise, and angles forward, touching the centerline and baseline as you move and stopping about three quarters up towards your starting point.
- As you continue to practice all the letters and their combinations, don't forget about the connections. In cursive, the connection is the “air,” the space between the strokes of the pen when the pen is lifted in lettering. Correct connection will not only make your cursive writing more beautiful, but also faster.
Step 4. Start slowly
Writing cursive letters is actually writing quickly with less force on the pen, but start by practicing forming each letter and connection carefully and accurately. Increase speed only when you have mastered the letterform. Think of cursive writing as art, because it really is.
Method 3 of 3: Learning Basic Calligraphy
Step 1. Find the right equipment
In order to get your calligraphy strokes to look great and look thick and thin, you need to make sure you have the right pen, paper, and ink.
- The best writing tools for calligraphy are pens that have wide edges such as markers, fountain pens, brushes, quills, reeds or wooden sticks with embedded pen tips (or so-called nibs).
- Make sure that your paper does not leak ink. It's fine to practice on standard notebook paper, but you should test that the ink won't bleed. Most stationery stores sell paper made for calligraphy purposes.
- If you're going to use ink, it's best to avoid Indian drawing inks because the lacquers they contain have a tendency to clog the pen and nib. It is better to use water soluble ink.
Step 2. Prepare your paper properly
This means that you need to understand which way the lines will be drawn so that your calligraphy has a uniform look.
- You'll want to choose lined paper for practice. You can use lined paper, or place paper with thick lines under your practice paper, or use a pencil and ruler to draw parallel lines on your exercise paper.
- You need to set the nib height – meaning the distance between the measured guide lines and the width of your nib. (The width of the widest part of your nib is equal to 1 “tip” in this equation.) A common standard is 5 nibs between the guide lines.
- The guide lines include the baseline, center line (waistline), and ascending and descending lines.
- The baseline is the writing line where all the letters are placed.
- The center line is the line above the baseline, which changes according to the x-height of the letter (in this case 5 nibs above the baseline).
- The rising line marks the height at which all rising letters (such as a lowercase “h” or “l”) hit it. It is about 5 nibs above the center line (or whatever nib height you are using).
- The descending line is where the descending letters (such as a lowercase “g” or “p”) collide below the baseline. In this example it is 5 nibs below the baseline.
Step 3. Position yourself and your pen
As suggested, to improve all writing styles, sit with your feet flat on the floor and your back straight (but don't be so stiff that it's uncomfortable). Likewise with the pen, hold the pen so that it can be controlled, not gripped tightly, or your hand may cramp.
Calligraphy requires you to position the nib at a 45 degree angle. To ensure that you hold the pen at a 45-degree angle, draw a right angle (90 degrees) with a pencil. Draw a line up from the right corner that cuts the right corner in half. If the resulting line is thin, then you are holding your pen properly
Step 4. Practice the main strokes
In calligraphy these strokes include vertical down strokes, push/pull strokes, and branch strokes.
- For vertical downward strokes, practice drawing thick, straight lines down from the rising line to the baseline and from the center line to the baseline. Tilt the line slightly forward after a few exercises. Later on, you'll add "tails" (short-thin strokes) at the beginning and end of your down strokes, but you can practice later.
- For push-pull strokes, draw a short, thick horizontal line along the center line. These strokes will be used to create the tops of the lowercase “a,” “g”, bars for “t,” and more. Later you can add small curves and/or tails to these strokes, but concentrate on straight lines first.
- For branching strokes, draw a curved line, slightly angled forward, from the baseline to the ascending line and from the center line to the baseline. For example, you will use this gesture to make the letters "n" and "v" lowercase. Practice starting thick and ending thin and vice versa – you should be able to do both.
- As you get more proficient with these moves, create shapes like squares, triangles, and ovals before moving on to the actual letters. Pay special attention to maintaining a 45 degree angle.
Step 5. Don't rush
Unlike cursive, in calligraphy each letter requires you to lift your pen one or more times. As you start practicing the letters, focus on each stroke used to form the letters. Collect all the puzzle pieces in the right place, then put them together to form letters.
Step 6. Consider taking a course
If you're serious about getting into calligraphy, you might want to consider taking a calligraphy class at an art school or even a Community Learning Center. Calligraphy is a true art form, and correct and directed instructions can prove to be of great help to many aspiring calligraphers. Not only that, learning calligraphy independently can also be fun and improve your handwriting in general.
Tips
- Just relax. Writing fast tends to be messy.
- Try to imitate a writing style that you think looks good. It may be difficult to try, and it takes a lot of concentration and practice, but the results can be rewarding.
- Remember, practice the base of perfection!
- As you get better, try picking up speed.
- Layout can be important for clarity – don't be afraid to take up a lot of space. Skip lines, use paragraphs and make sure there is enough space between each word.
- Keep your layout professional and clear. If you make too many details it will reduce the value of the work and the message it contains.
- If you want to write on plain paper, to keep your writing straight, place lined paper underneath and you should be able to see the lines.
- As you write, hold the pencil in your dominant hand and block out all sounds as you write. This will help you concentrate.
- Buy and use smooth writing books. Until the last sheet.
- If writing is difficult for you, try asking someone for help.
- Don't shy away from writing if you're having trouble writing well – practice is the best thing you can do.
- For some people, writing using a mechanical pencil (not a wooden pencil) may be easier.
