My penmanship is very poor and I've developed a habit of gripping the pen/pencil very hard.

So I'm hoping someone out there will be able to recommend something from this shop that could suit me. I'm not looking for miracles here but just some pens AND pencils that will perhaps hide some of the bad details of my writing.

Nothing reaches out and punches the reader in the face quite like an italic nib or calligraphy pen. It can be a fountain pen, if you roll that way (and you should, or else!) or a chisel tipped marker or pen of your choice. I've written pretty much primarily with a calligraphy fountain pen for years, and while my penmanship has... changed somewhat because of it, I wouldn't say it's improved per se. I find my writing is a little more angular and I can add serifs effortlessly (as a matter of fact, I usually do out of reflex) but it's really not that much neater. However, with the line variation of the calligraphy pen it looks awesome, and the effect pretty much completely masks the chicken-scratchiness of my usual handwriting.

ditto what zero said about calligraphy FP's. i've improved my penmanship using these. not that it is gorgeous or anything, but in comparison to what it used to be a few years ago... great improvement!!!

go for it!!!

regards,

The calligraphy pen idea will probably help improve your penmanship if you also find a rather plan, slanted calligraphy font. I suggest Chancery Cursive. Study it, don't try and copy the strokes as that is not writing but Calligraphy. Try to reproduce the look, in some fashion, of the letters. The font lends itself to both printing and cursive writing and most of the letters, even if modified, can be made without having to lift the pen from the paper.
A calligraphy pen is designed to be pulled, not pushed! If pushed too much it will chatter and spit ink. But it can be pushed a tiny bit, enough to make some of the serifs and flourishes. Calligraphy books can be found at arts and crafts store, book stores and on line. You would want a basic, inexpensive book, not a tome! All Basic calligraphy books have some sort of Chancery Cursive in them. An alternative is to find a True Type Chancery Cursive font on line and put it in your font folder. Then you can use a word processing program to print out the font in the size that fits your handwriting.

The pen will also help with the pressing too tight and holding the pen too tight as well. Calligraphy pens do not lite to be pressed hard and holding them too tight will not allow you to slightly twist them in your hand, something useful when using them to write with. I suggest a medium nib. Narrow nibs are hard to master and broad nibs make too big a stroke for writing. Shaffer makes a set with one body and 3 nibs that uses ink cartridges and can be found on line or in most arts and crafts stores for not too much money. It's a basic, but very usable, calligraphy pen set and the medium nib is a good writing nib.

Another way to lighten your writing pressure is to use a 0.3 mm pencil with just a skosh too much lead advanced. This will fore you to write very lightly or you will break lead left and right.

But the bottom line, my friend, is that you will have to put forth a concentrated effort to loosen your grip and lighten for pressure. If you don't, then nothing wrought by man will help you improve your handwriting! You have to be dedicated to it and practice good writing habits every day!

I suggest that you carve out a minimum of 20 minutes a day, that's 20 minutes writing, not getting ready and setting up! and practice good penmanship. Don't sit on the sofa or comfy chair to write, instead sit properly at a desk or kitchen table. Use a writing pad that lays flat. Hold the upper left portion of the pad with your left hand ( reverse that if you are a lefty) and writ at the proper slant. Go slow, at least until you see some improvement. Once you have masterd good penmanship in this way then practice this technique once a week in order to refersh your brain on how it's done.

Then during regular activities, whenever you find yourself griping the pen too tight and pressing too hard, consciously make an effort to lighten up on your grip and pressure. It's the only way you're going to get it done. It could take as long as 6 weeks too break such a bad habit!! I know that you were looking for miracle cure but there an't done, Bub! Sorry, but you'll have to do it yourself! But we will do all that we can to encourage you in your efforts, so let us know how it goes! We may have more suggestions for you. Best of success! :wink: