Improving Your Handwriting

However, I know from feedback to my posts and talking to friends, there are many out there who want to improve their handwriting. I have put together a few tips for you to try it out.

1. Supplies, you need supplies
   All you need is a pen and paper. Now, this might seem difficult as the choices are endless but think of what you like. I do nearly all my writing with a fountain pen but you might prefer a pencil or a roller ball. There is no need to buy the expensive stuff. Work with what you like and is affordable. Buying the more expensive stuff might only hold you back from using it because it seems too precious to you. The same applies to paper. Use what you like and can afford. For my Journaling I only use Moleskine® notebooks and for my letter writing I am now using the Moleskine® paper which was only released this year. I really recommend at least for the beginning to use ruled paper.
2. Find a Goal
   Find an example of handwriting you really like and you might want to imitate in parts or completely.
3. Test Sentence
   Create a test sentence that you are going to use to exercise. Write it down on top of every new page. This will help you to measure your progress.
   Then start with practising individual letters, those you want to keep from your handwriting, then those you want to change based on the example you have selected in step 2. Practice a letter a day; then change to words. If you don’t like a test sentence you can start to copy paragraphs from your favourite book.
   This will really help you to develop your own and unique writing style!
4. Take your time …
   and slow down in the beginning and increase your writing speed with practise and experience. Be patient with yourself. Consider improving your handwriting as an adventure! Practising and perfecting your handwriting is an ongoing process (I have changed a few of my letters only recently).

Here are some more tips

• Try to keep the words lined up; use ruled paper for the beginning and change later to a shine through ruled template.
• Try to tilt the letter the same way and keep the same spacing between words. This will make it easy for the eye to follow your writing.
• While you practise, experiment with different pens and find out what works best for you.
• Write on a softer surface and not on a hard desktop as this will help to gain better control over your handwriting.
• You can also indent your paragraphs. It’s a personal preference and can look very nice. When you decide to do this, ensure you consistently use the same spaces.
• Practice, Practise and more Practise
  Write as much as you can by hand. Skip typing on a PC and start writing letters instead of sending emails. Maybe you want to start a journal for your daily thoughts. Always try to make it readable. After all you want to improve your handwriting so that others can read it too.
• Enjoy the time you handwrite!

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