Learning Spencerian Handwriting: How I fixed My Grip 

Thank you so much for this video. I'm just now (finally) starting to look into Specerian script fundamentals, and I knew I should look for info on my grip. Your content has been very helpful! I hope you won't mind my sharing one of my related finds on RU-vid... The few videos on PaulAntonioScibe's channel are fantastic--he is clearly a higher authority on writing/penmanship. His videos on Posture, Placement and Position are also helpful for beginners, and his video, "PAScribe's Whole-Arm Movement Technique" may be of particular interest to anyone who valued this video on how you fixed your grip. Cheers!

Why is this not taught at school? I learned cursive as a child, but nobody ever explained the wrist thing to us. I'm 33 and I have been making writing harder for myself (and hating the ends of lines or long words!) because of a grip thing? I just tried to write the way you explained it and I can't wait to get practicing! Thank you so much for sharing this!

Thank you so much! I have always had terrible handwriting. My 6th grade teachers finally begged me to print, as they could not read my cursive. In the last few months I have tried every video on cursive for lefties (which I am) and every technique. Your video was incredibly helpful. I could not believe my handwriting could look so nice. It only took me 56 years to get here.

THIS BLEW MY MIND AND HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL oh my gosh I cannot believe how instantly comfortable 5hat was. I have a hell of a writer's callus and major wrist pain from doing it wrong for so long. THANK YOU SO MUCH

I found this to be quite helpful! All too often the calligraphy instructions simply tell you how to make the strokes, but not how to hold the pen. About a year ago I had a similar eureka moment when I tried a new grip. I simply rested the pen on my middle finger instead of my ring finger and my cursive handwriting improved more in 10 minutes than the previous 10 years.

Best explanation and image on how to hold pen correctly. I've only recently started learning cursive writing, and my writing is going from bad to worse trying to learn to grip the pen.

Super helpful, thank you! I'll be trying this out tonight when I play with my new flex pen.

Wow, thank you so much for this video. For a while I've been trying to change my grip not knowing what was wrong with it. I even took a calligraphy class and didn't get it. Watching your video was a breakthrough!

I suggest taping your ring and pinky fingers together while you practice, so you can get the feeling of keeping them together lightly on the page, completely separate of the grip with your other three fingers.

Thank you so much for these helpful hints, and your informative videos. My mother and her four sisters have the most beautiful handwriting. All four have similar handwriting to each other, and it looks pretty much as the Spencerian Penmanship. My mother tried to teach me the drills she taught in grade school, but I had no patience at the time. I just wanted to get the practice over and be on to playing outdoors. I should have tried harder. Today, my handwriting, at times, is difficult for me to read let alone anyone else trying to read it. I have seen the Spencerian Penmanship books on Amazon and thought of purchasing. To be honest, I just thought I wouldn't be able to write as beautifully, and my hand would tire before I could complete assignments, and I would give up as I am still a bit short on patience. Your recommended reading, how to position the elbow, wrist, pen position, and fingers have helped me decide to give it my all. I want better handwriting so I will work hard to get as close as I can. Thank you, again. Thank you for your encouragement.

OK. That is really so much better. You know, I was taught 40+ years ago, but I never learned it like that. I need to practice more now! :-) Thanks!!

I found this extremely helpful. I'm a writer and journalist in DC who has taken several stabs at Spencerian writing including using the handbooks that you're using. You brought a profound intelligence and good empathy to a difficult task. Thank you so much .

Thank you so much! I had been struggling with my grip and having inconsistent ink with my glass pen. I tried your suggestions last night and I can finally make pretty flourishes. My letters are much more consistent now and better shaped. Thank you!

I love those Spencerian videos of yours. Being a beginner in Spencerian (as in any other kind of proper writing, to be honest), I will try this tomorrow as soon as I get up. Thank you for posting this!

Wow, I love it when little things make such a difference. Thanks!

I have not even begun to do the exercises and just changing my grip improved the look of my cursive. Very encouraging!

I've been struggling with the first book of spencerian and trying the new grip, and both my shoulder and the back of my hand hurt after a while, and I couldn't control the pen to write in an uniform way. Now it's a lot easier, thank you so much!

Instantly better! Thank you so much!!! I will NEVER forget 🤩

Excellent video on a topic which doesn't get the attention it deserves. My grip definitely isn't "right", but simply holding the pen more lightly makes a big difference.

I always know there's something wrong with my pen holding. Now i finally figure it out, thank you.

Great video, just what I've been looking for. I have seen a number of vids on the correct grip and arm placement but your's was the most clear and simple vid. Thank you.

Thanks a lot. I'm strugling so much with the grip and arm movement!

Thanks a lot for this video. I was already so frustrated. This technique helped me a lot to improve my writing!

I found my grip to be even shakier when my wrist is off the table, but at least you gave me the idea to experiment different methods of gripping for more efficient writing, thanks! Edit: I found that if i put my hand palm down facing the table to support my arm (somewhere between the elbow and wrist) it alleviates the some lack of control problem by keeping the pressure of your writing hand lighter, thus easier to pivot using the elbow.. not sure if it's unorthodox. Haha.

I am going through the Mott books and had the exact same issue. I am so happy I found this video. Thank you.

I too would like to have stunning penmanship. ThisSpencerian writing is beautiful.

Thanks a lot. I'm self-quarantined. Improving my handwriting is a good project to occupy my time.

Thank you!! This was driving me crazy!! Your hints helped tremendously.

Thank you so much ! I never understood why my writing was irregular. You fixed that.

This was great! I have been working on my Spencerian script just from the books (same ones you have) and struggled with trying to re-create the grip showed in the books. No idea why it took me so long to look for videos online! Very nice!! :-)

Thank you so much. I have these books and have been practicing with little control. Its been frustrating. This was exactly what i needed

I am so glad I found your video. I gave up on figuring out the grip from the book but now....I can't wait to try this. Thanks so much!

This is so helpful! I’ve been struggling with the grip for weeks. Trying this out right now. Thanks.

Omg thank you so much you saved me SO MUCH TIME!!

So anxious for my books to arrive. You are so clear and precise with your instruction. Thanks!

So helpful, thanks so the explanation. Definitely getting better control and less jerky curves!

WOW! Thank you for this video.

Wow..Lady! I'm better liking the way you educated me to hold my pen..it truely gives me the control.

Thank you so much for this video. I'm just starting the Spencerian theory book and I wanted to make sure my grip was exactly right before I continued. It seemed almost impossible but this makes it easy. Thanks again!

This was very helpful. It will take a little getting used to but the improvement was immediate and obvious. Thank you!

Some people actually told me i was doing it wrong, all the while i was right on the money.. Damn u crazy classmates!!

Do you see enough information for those who are left handed? Love the extra help you are giving. I’m slowly trying to do this left handed. It’s frustrating but getting there. THANK YOU!

Great post! I need to watch it and practice. One of my problems is I want to grip too hard. There are lots of videos showing how to hold a fountain pen, but not how to fix your grip. Then, when they start writing their penmanship is not very good. I can hold the pen all kinds of ways, but the point of it for me is I want my penmanship to be nice. Also, I have the same set of books and links! Thank you!

Thank you so much for sharing your grip! It feels so natural!

Thanks for this video! I`m currently considering writing novels by longhand, so this goes a long way in inspiring me to go ahead and do so!

Thank you for the sharing! I am really in much more control than before!

I was helped by this video. Thank you for sharing!

Incredibly helpful

Whoah! so i was having a hard time till i saw this! That forward the knuckle grip was my mistake too! THANKS FOR THIS!

this really got me paying attention to my grip position so that i can improve my skill! thank you for the video! this really helps a lot and you do a lot of practices, leaving you have a absolutely beautiful handwriting! have a nice day Jimie

Great thank you. Please make more Spencerian videos yours are the best.

I love this video, you just solved Spencerian for me, thank you 🙏 😊

What a great tip! Thank you. Can’t wait to start teaching myself.

Wow ! Thank you very much for these tips. I've just received those books today and going to practice right away ! Thanks from France :)

I've had the EXACT same problem! It being so frustrating that it was causing me to be feel nothing but dismay with it all. I'm so thrilled that I found your video! Thanks so much!!! :-{)

Wow!!! another great video. Thanks for posting this. I'm off to try it right now!!

Almost. The palm of the hand should be parallel with the table. The back of the pen will point to you sholder. You are right about let your pen raised from the paper. But your pen is outside turned yet. The nib is pointing to inside of your body center line. In the correct posture the nib points outside. You need take attention specially to your thumb. It will let your pen stay firm in the grip. You will discover the right position with some important observations: 1. palm is parallel to the table. If it is turned you're wrong; 2. the back of you pen points to your right shoulder. If it is pointed the your right side, out of your body you are wrong; 3. the nib points outside your center line; 4. the pen barrel should be just on your knucle or at between your at the index finger second and third bones. Your middle finger can be more stretched sideways the pen or more folded. Your thumb should be near the first and second bones of your index finger; but, never at the tip of the index finger. You need a thumb forcing the back of the pen up, producing a momentum with the tip of index finger. If your thumb is much forward the back of your pen will fall down, not raise up.

oh my goodness, i will look more into this! i got a fountain pen and the spencerian books in the mail today. getting the proper grip was so frustrating! i honestly felt like giving up because i couldn't master it. after a bit of practice i seem to be getting better at it. im using a pilot metropolitan (fine) and i dont really like the grip. it's too small. i guess i'll try a pencil for the moment. thank you for your videos!

Thank you! It is really nice to find your videos that answer some of the questions that I've had working my way through the IAMPATH rare books section. I think I may have to order the Mott Theory and Copy books especially because it looks like one of my relatives was involved in producing the copy books!

Years....This has plagued me for years.... Thank you.

Thank you. This is most helpful.

I have exactly the same problem. At one point I just can't write anymore and have to move my whole arm to start again. Gonna try this, thanks!

i just purchased these 5 books , great note for me to keep in mind. Cheers mate good luck

This was a game changer !! Thanks for taking the time and sharing sum mad knowledge!

Thank you for this tip.That was awesome. I can't wait to try the new position.

Thank you! 💕 Kim

Thank you for explaining that, that was outstanding.

Thank you for sharing.

damn! that's fixed a whole load of my problems in one fell swoop....

Do you have to become a member of IAMPETH to access the Palmer Method of Business pdf? The link only takes you to an overview of the book pages. Thank you for the video, the grip change helped tremendously!

Thank you ❤

nicely done

Thank you, very helpful!

Very good information. I have been looking for a video like this.

The theory book literally tells you how to hold your hand and arms when writing. It tell you all of this.

the best video ever and really clear!

Very good. It helped.

This was tremendously helpful. I just got my copybooks and I was having trouble with the grip myself, so thank you very much with this. Just out of curiosity, are you still writing with Spencerian? You're very helpful and I'd really like to see more videos like this on youtube.

Not all heroes wear capes!

I know that this is an old video now, but it's still absolutely top-notch for information! I was wondering if the channel or any subscribers can address the idea of using the third and fourth finger. In the spencerian book it says rest on the fingernails. I find it more natural to be slightly on the side of the fingers. Should I be resisting that inclination? Thanks!

Thank you very much 🙏🏻

Thanks for this. I’ve been working on the first book, but I struggle with getting a comfortable and controlled grip. The pen slips down, rolls, or some other thing that botches my lettering. I’ll give this a try tonight.

This was so helpful!! I'll have to do all my drills again with the new grip, but it feels much more stable. Thank you :)

Girl, you better get yourself a Pilot Prera! They don't ever dry out unless you leave them uncapped for too long. I've never had an issue with any of my Pilot fountain pens dry starting.

I was doing this method and thought that this is a wrong way to hold you're pen turns out this was the right

I'm trying to convert this to my left handed body!

Thanks.

This was very helpful. Thank you very much!

This is so cool!

How is your handwriting now. After eight years

I was looking for a video like this!

How wonderful!. I just bought myself the same work books as a 'selfie' birthday present. Was struggling with my hand, writing across the page, and much more - tomorrow's practice will be a bit different I hope. Many thanks. PS On your travels did you find any reference to 'leftie' handwriting tips??

You are my rock star! Thank you!

I've been working on my Spencerian Penmanship...how is yours? Did you get through all the books? Would love to see an update video.

Surely this angles the nib incorrectly to the axis of the letters? I guess it would work if you were using a nib with no flex.

You are an angel thanks for this

Thank you! This helped so much!

Alas, none of this was taught to me in elementary school in the late 60's. I have always struggled with muscle fatigue when writing. Does this grip and method help you to write longer without cramping?

This video was very helpful! I had a lot of trouble adjusting the proper grip from the theory book and I wasn't sure if it was correct. Thanks for this! By the way, what notebook are you using in this video to practice? Is it made for calligraphy writing?

Could you provide a list of the practice books you are using?