Thursday, January 22, 2015

National Handwriting Day

Penguin by Zoƫ Friend

January 23 is National Handwriting Day.*  Is there anyone out there who DOESN'T long for better handwriting?!  I know I do, and as a professional calligrapher, I write for a living.  Here are four easy steps to take that can instantly improve your penmanship:

  • Get your elbow on the table.  Don't write standing up or lying down.  
  • Put two sheets of paper under the paper you are writing on.  
  • Upgrade your pen: from ballpoint to rollerball, from rollerball to thin marker, from marker to fountain pen, from fountain pen to calligraphy pen.  
  • Write on better paper. 

If you also take half a minute to warm up, your pen will write better lines and your muscles will make better letters.
Write, by hand, to someone who would like to hear from you.  You'll be glad you did.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, "...in a letter, We have not better things to say, But surely say them better." 

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*National Handwriting Day is on the birthday of John Hancock, who signed the Declaration of Independence with special emphasis.

7 comments:

  1. Welcome back Margaret, great to hear from you.
    William Tury
    Phoenix, Arizona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm back; this time I hope to post regularly in 2016. And thanks for your encouragement.

      Delete
  2. I'm so happy you are better... Have a great 2015. I just subscribed via email so I won't miss future posts.
    --ct

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm back. I hope to post regularly in 2016. And thanks for your encouragement.

      Delete
  3. Really educational blog about type. I love everything about type, from graffiti to calligraphy, stamps to fonts.. But this is exeptional. I like your blog Margaret!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really educational blog about type. I love everything about type, from graffiti to calligraphy, stamps to fonts.. But this is exeptional. I like your blog Margaret!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm back. I hope to post regularly in 2016. And thanks for your encouragement.

      Delete