Cursive handwriting is the art of writing in a way that forms natural loops and curves on the paper. It is commonly known as ‘scratch writing’ or ‘nibbling’ because the nibs of the writing instruments used are often decorative in nature and leave a nibbled pattern on the paper. Although there are several different kinds of cursive handwriting, such as sloping and pointed styles, each has its own unique quirks that make it recognizable.
Learning how to write cursive can be a challenge. Not only do you have to master the intricate art of forming letters and words, but you also have to learn how to do it correctly. In this article, we will discuss some of the most useful tips, tricks, and resources available to help you perfect your handwriting and write with authority.
Study The Craft
As with any other skilled craft, practice makes perfect. One of the best ways to improve your handwriting is to study the craft and try as much as possible to replicate what you have learned. There are several great apps that can be used for this purpose including the famous Microsoft® Word™handwriting practice tool and the more recent Hello Fresh® Pen and Paper. These applications help you master everything from the slant of your letters to the angle you form them at.
Join A Club
One of the best things about writing is that it’s something you can always continue doing. This is why it’s such an excellent skill to have and something that can always be improved upon. One of the best ways to learn is by teaching others. Joining a club or society that teaches and mentors young people in the craft is beneficial as you can get feedback on your work and see how others have improved their handwriting through practice. You can also get inspiration for new ideas and unique ways of doing things from the experiences of others.
A great place to start is the Penmanship Club of America. This organization was started back in 1881 and exists to promote the art and science of penmanship, encourage good spelling and punctuation, and help members develop confidence in their writing. Through their online directory of members, you can browse samples of their work and see if they are available for tutoring or mentoring opportunities. If you want to get involved in this wonderful club, simply visit their website and click on the ‘become a member’ button at the top of the page. This will take you to a landing page where you can fill out a quick application and get started on your journey to improve your handwriting.
Take Lessons
If you’re serious about becoming a good writer, then the only way to improve is by taking classes or lessons. This could be anything from a correspondence course with a professional writing tutor, to visiting a teacher in person to get one-on-one help, or even taking a class on the computer using software such as Duolingo or Memrise. These are just some of the more popular methods of getting a leg up on the competition, and they can all be useful in helping you achieve your goal.
On that note, remember to practice what you’ve learned. Keep a notebook or draft book dedicated to your practice and keep working at it until you can demonstrate mastery of the craft. This is something that cannot be taught online or via a tutor, as it deeply depends on your own ability to sit down and actually put into practice what you’ve learned. We can’t stress how important this is enough, so let’s not even try.
Use Technology
If you’ve got a smartphone, then you’ve got access to the entire encyclopaedia of knowledge at the tips of your fingertips. This is also true of other forms of technology such as the PC and the tablet. There are many different apps, documents, and websites that can help you improve your handwriting. Simply search for “handwriting practice” on your favorite search engine and you’ll see what we mean.
Microsoft Word is probably the most popular software used for this purpose. It has a built-in tutor who can help you practice spelling, grammar, and handwriting as you work through the document. You can also utilize this software to create a learning journal where you can track your practice and monitor your progress. Microsoft® Word™ is available for free so you can’t really go wrong with it.
Join A Writing Group
Collaboration is one of the key ingredients to a successful creative project. Working with others to bounce ideas off of one another and to have diverse opinions is how many great inventions were conceived. For this reason, it’s critical that you join a writing group if you’re serious about becoming a professional writer. Being part of a supportive community of writers can help guide and encourage you along the way. The more you put in, the more you’ll get back. Remember to be respectful of the members of the group and contribute ideas and feedback when asked.
Take Advantage Of The Momentum
Writing is very much like any other skill or craft in that it can improve with time and practice. Once you’ve gotten the basics down, then all you need are some more moments of practice. The best thing about writing is that it’s something that can always be improved upon. Once you’ve mastered the basics, then the next step is to find more complex words and sentences to practice with. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. All you need is the desire and the dedication to practice. It might seem daunting at first, but once you get going, then it’s like riding a bike.
On that note, be mindful of your practice when using tools such as the Penmanship Calculator or the Letter Quality Meter. These are great for giving you an overall sense of the quality of your writing, but they don’t get into the finer details of what you’ve learned. The best way to gauge the effectiveness of your practice is to actually look at what you’ve written and evaluate it critically. Nothing is more frustrating than spending hours working on something only to discover that it’s not what you intended and needs a lot of work. This is why we always recommend taking a little bit of time every day to practice, whether that’s with a simplified sentence or two, or even a few short stories. Just enough to remind you of what you’ve learned and to keep the momentum going.