Handwriting is something that is too tempting to fall by today, as more people are more into digital. Handwriting is also an art and a creative subject. We take it lightly and make fun of it. But we should understand that Handwriting & calligraphy is a form of art. For designers in particular, it’s important to appreciate what it takes to create specific characters — this can only help them when they’re designing new fonts.
To know the importance of handwriting, you must familiarize yourself with them. For those who do not want to pay and learn handwriting, Writing Guru brings you the tips & tricks to improve without any charges. Let’s consider it as “Handwriting challenge”. We will be listing strategies step by step that will serve you in your quest to become a master of good handwriting. After some days, your characters will flow smoothly and seamlessly onto the paper.
Strategy 1: The Analysis – Why do you want to improve?
There maybe a reason why you want to improve your handwriting? Maybe your handwriting is really bad or you realized when good number of people started giving remarks on your writing. Some people want to improve because they are sitting at a management position and want to make their handwriting look authoritative.
Strategy 2: Look at your own handwriting
Pick a book or a piece of paper or magazine and write a few paragraph from it. You don’t need to make it perfect and neat; just write naturally. When done, go through your handwriting and analyse as a starting point.
Strategy 3: You should know what you are looking for
Examined the paragraphs your just wrote? Great!
Now, look at following attributes too:
- Shapes – curves, corners
- Slants – angle
- Sizing
- Spacing – upward, downward, overlapping
- Alignment
- Quality – hard pressure on paper.
Strategy 4: Identify your loops
You have to assess your handwriting honestly. No one is perfect, neither am I. So, chances are that you must be able to spot mistakes your paragraphs. You may find letters which may be illegible, pressed hard on paper, crooked alignment, etc.
Strategy 5: Preparations – Get the right material for rescue
Now that you have identified that what wrong you had been doing. You know how to fix it and you can begin by basics. That is, “writing instruments”. You handwriting depends on the type of pen and paper you use. That is why Writing Guru has their writing exercise books printed and pens as well so that your handwriting is smooth. Then buy a notebook, so you can chart your improvements over the days.
Strategy 6: Make handwriting role model too
You must be getting inspired by someone’s handwriting just like we admire someone and make them the role model. If you do not have inspiration, simply visit typography websites: Google Fonts, Typewolf.
Strategy 7: Start writing on Air
Start practicing in the air before you take it to your newly-bought notebook. When you write in air, you are simply training with your muscles.
Strategy 8: Learn to hold Pen/Pencil properly
You must have heard from oldies that you are not holding the pen correctly. I have heard from one on my uncles, for sure. When writing, learn to hold your pen or pencil in between your thumb and index and middle fingers. The end of the pen or pencil ought to rest on either your index finger’s knuckle or the web of the hand.
Strategy 9: Make sure to have proper body posture
There are so many of us who put our head down below and write or lean and write. Sit up straight, and then utilize your non-writing hand for balance; this will provide you with more control during handwriting. Always sit at a table and a good chair.
Strategy 10: Get familiar with basic handwriting shapes
The core of handwriting is shapes. Just thinks: you are writing lines, curves, circles. Before you get started, get back to vertical and diagonal lines, circles and semi-circles. When your basic curves and lines look perfect then you can get back to actual letters.
Strategy 11: Give time to Doodle
Yes, you heard it right. Doodling will help you in hand-eye coordination and gets you in habit of smooth writing.
Strategy 12: Reconsider your loops
Here, I will be talking about 2 loops:
First – I told you earlier that there are some loops, it’s time to go back how your handwriting was earlier. All this time, you were actually working on your loops and now you just have to hide your loops by above tricks. Start working on your cursive proper.
Second – working on letters. Making round loops between and inside your letters like a, b, d, e, p, l, k, j, etc.
Strategy 13: Slant or Straight
How do you like it? Slant or Straight? You have to now practice by writing in straight perpendicular to the horizontal line or slant it by 45 degrees.
Strategy 14: Time to Review
Review what you have learnt so far. You need to examine whether you followed right or not. Kudos, if you are on the right track else “it’s never too late”.
Strategy 15: Be Consistent
Consistency will help you to create a uniform look. Ultimately, you will develop your own style of writing so keep practicing. Practice makes a man perfect.
Strategy 16: Try Various paper position and paper
Now that you feel that your handwriting is improving than before, you can change the quality of paper. Remember: you have to write anywhere. It can be a whiteboard, piece of your favourite smooth paper, rough legal papers to sign, child’s report cards for your remarks. So be prepared to write anywhere. Hence, practice on all kinds of paper when you think you can see improvements.
Strategy 17: Refrain from applying pressure
Too much pressure creates unattractive handwriting. It also makes your hand and write hurt. Just relax your grip on the pen or pencil in order to create your relationship with the paper.
Strategy 18: Buy handwriting book
This is because there is no one to guide you so at least cursive writing or handwriting books will help. Do you remember practicing this when you were small? I remember. I still make my child practice even though he is class 6.
Strategy 19: Last and final – Self-Analyse
It is the perfect way to master your handwriting. You cannot just improve handwriting or any skill by just learning but also by constantly examining yourself. So, for more improvement keep analyzing your handwriting and keep practicing.
The only way to continue to ensure great handwriting is to abide by all these best practices.
Congrats! You have done. You have completed all 19 strategies. Now, handwriting should be seamless to you.
If you need just a little bit more handwriting inspiration, though, be sure to head on over to Writing Guru. We are always here to help you.