Level Up Your Cursive!
Level Up Your Cursive!
Write in Style: A Class on Muscular Movement
It all started about a year ago. I was trying to get back into the habit of journaling and soon I realized that I had lots of trouble trying to read my own handwriting. At that point, I never imagined that trying to improve my cursive would become such a big thing… but here I am.
At first, I only wanted to make my handwriting more legible, but I quickly discovered an entire world of styles and scripts that I fell in love with. Before I knew it, I was not only practicing for hours every day, but also researching about techniques and methods. On the side I also developed an affinity for fountain pens and quality paper—so far I’ve been able to keep this under control, no worries.
Learning cursive has given me more benefits than just improving aesthetics; it has also enhanced my fine motor skills, coordination, and cognitive functions. I’ve found that handwriting, along with journaling, has been incredibly beneficial for my overall well-being this past year. By taking the time to slow down and reflect on my daily experiences, my mental health has improved, and I’ve become more present in my everyday moments. Additionally, my ability to process thoughts and ideas has significantly improved. Plus, it has allowed me to tap more into my creative side and develop a unique personal style in writing that reflects my personality.
About half a year ago I released THIS class sharing some of my own journey with others on Skillshare. I am not a total expert on this, but I decided to share from the perspective of someone who is still learning. The response has been amazing and I’ve received a lot of positive feedback. This has not only been wonderful to see but it also encouraged me to continue practicing and improvement. Now I am excited to announce a NEW CLASS on cursive, this time for intermediate or advanced learners.
One of the most significant breakthroughs in my learning journey was when I discovered muscular movement. This writing technique involves using the arm and forearm to write instead of the fingers, which allows for a more relaxed and comfortable writing experience, even for extended periods, without causing hand cramps or fatigue. It has made the practice of handwriting much more enjoyable and it has allowed me to dive deeper into styles like Palmer Method (also called Business Penmanship) and Spencerian.
⬆︎ You can check the trailer for the class and some of the backstory in this Youtube video I just released, or you can go straight to the Skillshare page and watch the class for free under the trial with THIS LINK.
The truth is, everything I know, I’ve learned from other resources. But in this class I’m kind-of compiling everything in a way that’s much easier to digest. I’ll be giving you tips and advice that I’ve learned from my own experiences, and I’ll even show you some mistakes that you may also encounter if you go through my same journey.
If you are the type of person who likes to research and look into original sources I want to give you some that you may find useful. Any of the following are not affiliate links:
• Tamblyn’s Home Instructor in Penmanship. This is probably my favorite resource of all. Took me through all the basics and introduced me to Ornamental Penmanship.
• New Spencerian Compendium (FREE). A classic.
• Palmer Method of Business Writing (FREE). Probably the most cited resource for muscular writing, though I found it confusing at times or annoyingly specific. I can’t deny, however, that all the drills and practice were extremely useful.
• Spencerian Calligraphy and Ornamental Penmanship by Dao Huy Hong. I have learned and practiced with this book for the last few months. I wouldn’t say this is for beginners as there’s little explanations, and it doesn’t focus on exercises for muscular writing, but it’s more like a very clean and well structured book of writing samples.
• IAMPETH (FREE). This may be the ultimate resource to learn anything related to cursive of calligraphy. Just search for “Muscular Writing,” “Palmer,” or “Spencerian,” and you’ll find a huge amount of free content. Enough to become a master yourself.
There are also communities dedicated to handwriting enthusiasts, where you can share your work and get feedback from others. I particularly enjoy The Flourish Forum, or the Handwriting and Calligraphy Reddit communities.
I’ve been thinking about how to introduce more tips or content about handwriting here and on Youtube. It truly is something I’m passionate about. I would love to hear from you if you’re also interested and let me know what you would find useful.
If this post was helpful to you, I hope you consider buying me a coffee :)
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