January 14, 2012
Have you ever noticed whenever elegance is required in written or even printed communication….
script always fills the bill!
Let’s face it, cursive italic IS classy.
The popular lament these days is “my handwriting is horrible!” Vimala Rogers counters that remark with her #1 Truth: “There is no such thing as ….bad handwriting.” She continues, “If your handwriting is difficult to decipher,” you might call it “casual,” or “very casual.” That brings to mind Barbara Getty’s comment about “mumbling on the page.”
Can such “written mumblings” or hasty writing habits be rescued?
Absolutely!
What’s required is some determination to stick with it, a “can-do” attitude, and a little time! There are many marvelous approaches to improve your handwriting. I will cover a few in subsequent posts.
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To get us started, Margaret Shepherd offers-
Tips for “Rapid Repair”
Minute repairs:
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Sit up straight in your chair.
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Place a pad of paper under your writing paper.
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Support your elbow and forearm on the table.
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Scribble for 30 seconds on scrap paper to loosen up.
Hour repairs:
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Get a better pen, one you feel comfortable with.
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Change the nib or point size to suit your taste.
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Warm up on lined paper with connected script letters: nnnn, uuuu, llll, oooo.
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While practicing, slant your writing till you find the the comfortable, readable angle.
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Notice any problem letters or combinations. Practice those.
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Try to keep your lines of writing straight and level. You can slip a lined sheet of paper under your writing sheet.
A Week or more repairs:
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Find a book or a class that will support your efforts to improve your handwriting and practice the alphabet!
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Margaret Shepherd, The Art of the Personal Letter, Broadway Books, New York, NY. 2008.
Vimala Rodgers, Transform Your Life through Handwriting, Sounds True, Boulder, CO. 2009.