Practical Penmanship: Fundamentals | Grip, Posture, Muscular Movement 

That's awesome! Yeah all the old text recommend you do it that way. My knuckles will sometimes drift to the side but now the arm is more dominant in writing so it doesn't effect the writing. Once you've established the arm writing as the habit, finger movement can be introduced to a minute degree for finesse.

It is my absolute pleasure! Makes me very happy to know you've enjoyed and appreciate the content :)

Wow. That's crazy. Best wishes on your recovery. Honor to help.

Thanks for the note. I'm so happy you've found some value in the video. Best of luck on handwriting journey!

My pleasure! Im glad you've found it helpful.

Hello Rich, Thank you for the kinds words. All the best on your journey through Spencerian. American penmanship and movement writing is an absolute joy of a practice.

Thanks! Glad it helped.

I changed my writing grip at the age of 22. It's difficult but not impossible. I dont have much experience teaching kids I've taught adults mostly but one thing I would try is introducing it more like an exercise akin to yoga. Im not sure if you've seen my other videos but I mainly taught ambidextrous penmanship. So, the students would learn right handed to write normally and left handed in mirror image penmanship. At the beginner level we approach the drills like a yoga. For example, we would do the letter L lowercase loops, do a set across the page right handed in the normal direction. Then, flipping our form completely we'd do the same exercise backwards across the page left handed. Another way to implement this is through ambidextrous coloring. I have some coloring pages that are mirrored and you can color one side right handed and the other left handed. The point of the exercise is learning through observation. The dominant hand will always be more proficient, so, by observing closely how does our dominant hand write, how does it hold the pen, where does the arm rest, what part of the hand moves, the fingers? Or wrist? How is the non-dominant hand assisting? Then applying what your learning to the other hand. There is a phenomenon known as intermanual transfer of skill learning where it has been found when you train the non-dominant hand the dominant hand can improve more quickly. I know its unorthodox advice but I hope it's helpful. Best of luck! There's also the American Cursive handbook by Master Penman Michael Sull. They have a more traditional approach for teaching cursive and have a certification course for teachers.

Thank you so much for your feedback! I'm glad the video helps :) Are you right or left handed?

20 minutes a day of consistent practice will get you there. Any more than that will expedite progress but the daily practice is really a must to see a change in writing and feel.

Thank you. Glad you enjoy it

Thank you!

I had the same experience. Left hand writing totally changed how I write right-handed.

You're welcome!

hey, not exactly in handwriting, but I was pretty good cricket bowler, and one day I forgot how to bowl a delivery I liked, i regained it through tons and tons of practice, hope this helps

Wow I've not come across this before. You want to incorporate more exercise to regain the dexterity. Picking marbles, shaking and throwing dice, anything that involves some form of hand dexterity and build up in complexity. You can get really creative, throwing darts, sewing, ukulele, etc. I would also try things with both hands and see if that helps regain control more quickly. Wishing you the best.

@@DieyenDualPen many thanks for those ideas to regain my dexterity and strength back into my hand, especially my weak thumb that 'collapses' inward and thus, changes my usual pen grip/hold.

I would also suggest, when writing to be aware of how tightly you hold the pen. You dont need to squeeze the pen, your grip should be just firm enough to hold it in place. If you notice your nails turn white from pressure your holding the pen too tightly.

Best of luck, it's an interesting journey with more to gain than nice handwriting :)

Hello Annie, I'm very happy to hear that you've found my videos helpful. I hope that you may continue to progress on your journey in handwriting. Best of luck!

Thank you!

It's my pleasure!

My pleasure!

Thanks!

Thanks, best of luck on your penmanship practice!

John Matthias working on my handwriting, form, posture, and grip had definitely improved my drawing as well

Thank you so much! 🙏🙏

Thank you!

Hello, no we weren't. I learned cursive early in kindergarten but didn't explore muscular movement till I was in my 20s. Your welcome thanks for watching.

I have not. Are you straight hold or oblique?

​@@DieyenDualPenI'm a left-handed underwriter. I'm not using an oblique holder. I've actually just ordered a vintage flex fountain pen so I'm hoping to use that! 😁

What style of writing are you trying to replicate?

@@DieyenDualPen I'm wanting to add flex to the downstrokes in my standard writing style. That's British upright joined up writing (cursive). I'm fairly certain it was created with line variation in mind because of how the letters are supposed to loop and how older writing samples look, although we weren't taught line variation in school. I can arm write and have built up some muscle memory but I don't know the correct body mechanics for varying downward pressure to get fat downstrokes and crisp upstrokes.

Hmm, I do practice some breathing techniques that I use to relax. I have a free download to the first three chapters of my book on my website, the breathing practice is described there. Relaxing can be hard but one point I focus on is my jaw and tongue. I regularly check on that and relax that area if it's tense. Hard to assist any further in a comment. Best of luck.

@@DieyenDualPen where can your book be downloaded

@@stocks4bt This can be found in the description of the video: "Get the first 3 Chapters of Creative Brain Training for Free at: goo.gl/YPNSGC"

God bless you 😊

That's fantastic! Thanks so much for telling me! Best of luck to you!

Thank you!

I'm happy to hear that you've found them helpful. Stick with it and be patient! Best of luck.

Same man, not very easy to pick up. The book should include a QR code to this video!

It's an extra fine pilot falcon. The ink I believe is smoky quartz by pelican.

@@DieyenDualPen thank you. Please share the paper, everything works together so beautifully - I must get this combination of pen, ink and paper.

Velum grid paper I think

I've seen done quickly. Not sure how to approach it left handed though.

Thank you! I still use whole arm writing. For me it's become rather intuitive at this point so it's the primary movement in my writing. However, once you've established that movement in your writing you can allow for some slight finger and wrist movement for a combo of all three movements (I talk about this combo movement in other videos). The problem most people have is they plant their palm and write solely using finger movement when your primary movement should be coming from the arm. So in the beginning you should try to isolate the muscular movement through the drills shown here till that movement is a habit.

You can write using whatever kind of movement works for you

@@DieyenDualPen i see, thank you! 💗

Thanks!

Thanks. I'm not familiar with what carolingian minuscules are, I'll have to look that up. As far as the ambidextrous mirror writing goes I would recommend starting now. Practicing the opposite hand will accelerate your progress with the dominant hand. Good luck in your practice.

dieyen DualPen hey mate. Carolingian minuscle was one of the first more simpler font ever created in latin alphabets. Before that there was the roman capitalis with major letters (eg. ROMANVM) Charles the great or charlemagne standardized letters so everyone could read the others script. Before that writings varied from region to region. All the old manuscripts of the early middle ages 9-11th century was mostly written in this minuscle. Yeah I‘m training with both hands, not only writing but more than less everything. Button up your sark, brushing your teeth. Today my noodlers ahab arrived so I can practice when I am on the way. I tested it for a few strokes and I have to admit a classic penholder is way superior. But at that price range it‘s okay I guess. There aren‘t really that much fountain pens with flexible nibs in europe. Most of them are imported from the us. The next few days/ weeks I will spend watching your videos and practicing my arm writing. Love how your videos are structured. Have a good rest of the week. Greetings!

Oh that's very interesting! Thanks for sharing. Are there any exemplars you'd recommend for Carolingian? Thank you for the compliment I really hope that they're helpful. Feel free to join the discord group and share some writing samples. All the best.

dieyen DualPen it would be nice to get the discord informations so I can join.

Here is the link: discord.gg/49EnMh

Thank you! I personally use the lamy 2k far more often in my day to day. Its smooth reliable and holds way more ink. I use the extra fine falcon for practicing because the fine point makes mistakes more obvious. But I run out of ink quickly and I don't really like the extra fine point for casual writing or printing (if I must) I would recommend the L2k as the best all around pen. Super smooth, great ink capacity, sleek understated design. You'll be very happy with that pen.

Dieyen DualPen thanks you so much. And 1 more thing, should i get a lamy 2000 in extra fine or fine nib?

Duy Ngo mine is a fine, I've never tried the extra fine. But I'm sure you'd have a smooth experience with either

Thanks you alot ^^ i really love the falcon's fine line. But maybe i will buy a lamy 2000 for daily writing. Hope that extra fine's fine line is not too fat ^^. Many thanks. Love to watch your beautiful handwriting.

Duy Ngo thanks let me know what pen you get I would love to see a writing sample

You're the best

An hour a day is plenty. If you can download the Palmer method book and read its directions carefully and often. You want to ensure your practicing in a correct way or else it will be harder to break any poor habits you develop. I still warm up with basic drills today at the beginning of every writing session.

Hello, I have made many videos that can help you improve your handwriting. Also I do a livestream practice session monday through friday from 7-8 a.m. P.S.T. For long sessions of writing I highly recommend you learn how incorporate whole arm movement into your writing. This style also uses a lot of muscle memory which will help with consistency. My practical penmanship series should help you. Be patient, this is not a skill gained over night. Good luck!

I try not to write in notebooks when I'm writing "this way" but you can put a book under you arm to create an equal platform with the notebook.

I haven't used that paper in a couple years but I believe is is an 8x8 per inch.

Very much so. But once whole arm or muscular movement is attained and dominant finger movement can be reintroduced for finesse.

Ha, I wish.

Absolutely, as long you practice every day in the correct way. You dont want to build bad habits in your practice.

I agree it's not a direct applicable line, but the advice is the result of a few years experimentation writing with both hands. I've actually learned a great deal from my left in regards to what could be naturally comfortable and improved my right hand as a result. I do hope it may have helped her, but it's hard to say. I just offered what I could knowing the little I do. Thanks for your comment!

The red one? It's a Pilot Falcon EF

Thank you!

I don't know what that means but i'm getting a friendly energy :)

The more medicated the more dedicated. Great penmanship. I like Palmer’s;)

Thank you sir! I love the Palmer style as well. Such elegant simplicity

Lol

Interesting, I've never heard that before. Chair low or high I've always had a habit to do so.

Lol