Penmanship: Must knows about handwriting + how to improve handwriting

Penmanship: What you should know about handwriting and how to improve handwriting. A turquoise lead pencil lies on a white piece of paper with shading marks next to pencil shavings. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

The easy way to get beautiful handwriting and how to write neatly

First published August 23, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Penmanship could be considered a dying art in this internet-filled world.

But think how good it would be to receive a loved one’s life story written by hand?

And to know they touched the pages and wrote every word with you in mind.

Indeed this happened to a friend of mine.

After her grandmother’s death, the family found a life story written in an exercise book hidden in a top cupboard box.

Certainly a surprise find to be treasured!

So let’s find out why the magic of penmanship can be good for you and how to improve handwriting …

1 Penmanship definition and benefits

Penmanship can be defined as using a pen to write.

And it can also mean the ‘art of handwriting’.

Indeed we do this to compose a document or create a literary work.

However, interestingly there are many advantages to writing a life story in longhand, even if only a first draft.

Firstly, you can roam and write where you want.

This could be at the beach, on the back verandah or in bed!

Secondly, the beauty of pen and paper is you aren’t constrained to a desk or a computer’s battery life.

And finally, you won’t be as distracted by the lure of the internet, social media and email interruptions.

So in other words, you will get more writing done!

Coaching Calls Forever Young Autobiographies. Open hand outstretched over sparkling water.

2 Penmanship is good for your brain

Previously I’ve written about how memory works.

Well it turns out penmanship and handwriting are also brain boosters.

So holding and feeling a pen and paper to write reportedly heightens your creativity.

Most importantly it takes longer to write than type and forces your mind to slow down.

And another bonus is penmanship allows thoughts to flow more freely because you are not editing and rewriting as you go.

3 Penmanship tools

Obviously you need a pen and paper for penmanship.

But it is worth thinking about what types before sitting down to write.

Pens

You don’t want a pen that is too heavy because it will strain your hand.

So pick one that is easy and free flowing to use.

Indeed it can be nice to use one colour of ink the whole way through, especially for a one-off copy of a life story.

However, a pencil is a good option for drafts.

Paper and notebooks

Loose-leaf paper is great for recording different memories.

This is because the order of the stories can be quickly rearranged.

However, small pocket notebooks are ideal for drafting notes on the fly.

Meanwhile, larger ones are easier for drafts or a final work.

Certainly you might need more than one notebook depending on its size and how much you write.

So keep this in mind if you want the notebooks to all match or sit flush on a bookshelf.

Indeed a fancy journal might do the trick but so too could three cheaper ones all the same colour and size.

And finally, paper with lines will make handwriting easier and neater!

4 How to improve handwriting

Penmanship, like any new skill, takes training.

Firstly, if you are writing a final draft by hand make sure you pick your handwriting ‘style’.

For example, will you print or use running (cursive) writing?

Of course this will depend on what feels most comfortable and what is easiest for your reader.

So pick a style and train your hand.

Secondly, don’t press the paper too hard or it will give your writing a strained look.

Similarly, don’t hold your pen too hard or you will hurt your hand.

Aim for loose and airy lettering.

Finally, it also helps to readjust your paper as you write down the page.

And most importantly, start out handwriting slowly each day and gradually increase your speed.

If you want to further improve your penmanship and handwriting check out more resources online.

A good place to start is the free videos lessons at Peterson Handwriting or the The Art of Cursive Penmanship: A Personal Handwriting Program for Adults by Michael R. Sull.

Final say: Penmanship

Of course you can write a life story by hand!

Indeed penmanship offers many practical and brain-boosting advantages.

However, always be mindful of the pen and paper you choose to use.

And adopt good handwriting technique.

Most importantly, a writer’s character can shine through their penmanship.

And in today’s screen age, there is definitely something magical about receiving a handwritten life story to treasure and read for generations.

Happy writing!

Free gift!

Before you start a handwritten life-story project, try the free Structure Success video training to plan your chapters. Simply sign up here or fill in the form below.

Your say

Are you going to try handwriting a life story? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me anemail or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.

Get in touch

Have you hit a roadblock planning, writing, polishing or finishing your autobiography? Let me know here so I can help!

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This article first appeared on the website Forever Young Autobiographies.com.
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