when i was a little kid, my handwriting was awful. and throughout middle and high school, my handwriting continued to be terrible. i once even had a teacher call me out in 9th grade and ask me if i wanted to take a handwriting course big oof. when i joined studyblr last year, i decided to improve my handwriting to get more tumblr notes as a point of pride. i was at a pretty low point mentally when i started this blog, and improving my handwriting created a small measure of relief among all the other wild things that were happening in my life. so here are my personal tips for a massive overhaul of your handwriting. [before and after photos]
find inspiration. it can be anything: a friend’s sweet penmanship, a favorite font, or the handwriting of a popular studygrammer. for max legibility, i’d recommend avoiding particularly cursive-y or decorative fonts. start with something simple and easy to copy. it’s totally okay to try to copy someone else’s handwriting exactly when you’re first starting. don’t worry, you will eventually develop your own unique style. if you’re stuck, here are some bloggers that i think have simple and cute handwriting- @tbhstudying @studyquill @gudetama-studies @peachystudy @adelinestudiess but there’s even more inspiration out there if you’re willing to look!
slow it down. one of the reasons that your handwriting may not look as neat as it could be because you write really fast. whenever possible, make a real effort to slow your handwriting down and write every single letter carefully. this will also help you identify which letters you want to change the way you write them, and which ones you want to keep.
try to write smaller. small handwriting generally tends to be neater because it uses less large strokes and forces you to write slower and with more precision. large flourishes of ink or pencil tend to make your handwriting more shaky and less controlled, which leads to it being messy and difficult to read. of course, not so small that it’s illegible, but smaller than you currently write.
write in the middle of the line, not directly on the line. when using ruled paper, writing in the middle of the line will not only make your handwriting smaller (see tip #2) but will make you think about what you’re writing and how it looks.
use dot grid, college ruled (or smaller if you can get it) or grid paper. not only paper does paper with narrower spaces make your handwriting smaller (best handwriting tip) it also helps you keep your handwriting in a straight line. blank paper can be good in a pinch or for art or something, but when writing things out, it can be hard to keep handwriting straight or a consistent size!
figure out what writing utensils make your handwriting look the best. for me, it’s gel pens in 0.5 mm, for some people it’s pencil or ballpoint pen, and for still others it’s fountain pens. it’s amazing what a difference having the right materials can make.
practice! once you know what your new and improved alphabet should look like, then go ahead and write everything in that style. carry a cheat sheet if you need to but that writing needs to look consistent kids. like all skills, the only way you can get better is by making a conscious effort!
