I started working on my handwriting about 3 years ago when I started writing with fountain pens,. I practice every day with a variety of pens and nibs from ef. fine, medium, stub, and flex. I find when writing with wider nibs, I try to write larger so no letter gets filled in and the letter looks less compressed. As mentioned arm movement is key. I would recommend getting the french ruled paper to develop the correct height and width. I try to personalize the letters in a more minimalist manner, fewer loops. I started studying copperplate for the discipline more than the aesthetic. Lastly, in my opinion, EF and Fine nibs are good ways to reveal the flaws one needs to work on.
Thank you for this! A number of years ago, I decided to get serious about my handwriting. I used to hold my pen all wrong, and it wasn't fountain pens that cured me: I've been using them since I was 10. What cured me was buying my first flex nib. I wanted my writing to look good. I found that two things helped: one was to use my arm rather than my hand to move the pen. The other was to use a larger nib. It forced me to exaggerate loops, and that carried over into my finer (or flex) nibs. I looked at Spencerian writing, but soon decided that I don't want to do the work needed to learn it. So I just focused on my shapes. My handwriting deteriorates through the day. I've confessed multiple times that I'm not a night person. I function best in the morning, and that includes my handwriting. And it's also worth noting that my notebooks contain a lot of less than ideal handwriting: if I'm writing rapidly for me, it looks quite differently from more performed writing for the channel or pen pals. By the way, I like your combination of views: you and the writing. And someday I want those floor to ceiling bookshelves!
Every person develops his or her own style when it comes to handwriting. Please take a moment to write the word IMPERFECTIONS on a sheet of paper. Circle the word PERFECTIONS and always remember that there will always be perfections within our own perceived imperfections. You have wonderful handwriting. Thank you for your video presentation.
Thanks! Lovely handwriting, of course. Interesting to watch you with your small struggles. It actually gave me sensory reminiscences of tightness in my hand. You drew me in so well that it felt like I was writing through your hand somehow, and my own struggles came to the fore. I prefer using unlined paper leaving the lines to wander where they will. Watching you fitting your strokes between those lines and thereby determining the height of your ascenders and descenders was part of my discomfort. Well done, both on fitting them in and in pulling my hand along with yours! How fun is it that handwriting can be so individual and carry many validities. Nice to find these older golden videos.
I suprisingly have a lot in common with your handwrithing and its "problems". Just like you I would like my handwriting to have that extra specialness. My daily journaling (wich I started doing because of you) is definitly helping with that step by step.
Also, what a wonderful video. I love the opportunity to take a break for lunch and watch. The content of this video is right up my alley! I have been teaching my children Spencerian and they have loved the penmanship practice. I, too, experience the numbness. Mostly while playing piano, but also from writing at times. Thanks again, sir.
Thanks for this video, HJ. As I have told you before, I went to Catholic School in North-Eastern India. We were taught from Second Grade onwards using the Vere Foster Writing Methos. I finished school with what I would call pretty good handwriting. Fast forward, I suffered a bunch of strokes after having beat brain cancer. Well, it left me paralysed on my right side. I had to spend a few years regaining the use of my right hand, and I had to work at being able to use a fountainpen to write with. I am using a book written by Handwriting Experts, Inga Dubay and Barb Getty, titled, "Write Now". It is a workbook that teaches one to use what they call a modify italic method. Seems, in their workshops and other courses, they had had a lot of the students achieve success. Their book is published by Portland State University Press. I am in my office now, and once I get home, I iwll add a comment with the full info about this book. Wonderful video as always, Hemingway. Thank you.
Thank you for introducing topics of interest to those of us who follow you. Personally, my writing wasn't bad in elementary and secondary school. It was at university taking so many notes and so fast that it deteriorated terribly. Since then I have struggled, like many people who have commented, to improve it. Happily, when I started to write with fountain pens regularly, perhaps because of the relaxation it gives me, my writing begun yo improved. It is not prefect now, but it has regained its personality, which is very important, and I feel good. It's very relevant that your writing can be recognized by those who know you. However I still suffer because I would like my handwriting to be more in line with the canons and more artistic.
Thanks for another smart choice of topics, Hemingway. It has prompted the usual number of thoughtful and helpful replies. I believe I mentioned I am also an attorney; albeit, retired. Therefore, I have the time to work on overcoming 45 years of dreadful handwriting practice. I specialized in casualty litigation defense practice. Hence, most of my handwriting consisted of taking notes as fast as I could during depositions, trials, meetings, and hearings with any cheap ballpoint available until the last year or two when I began using a fountain pen. My secretaries and paralegals assured me my chicken scratch was among the most legible they'd seen of all the attorneys for whom they'd worked, but it was still chicken scratch. On retiring, I began growing my collection of pens and spending more time journaling and writing notes and letters. That prompted me to search the web for tips on improving my handwriting. The most useful I found were: 1. An article about exercises to encourage free-flowing movement while using the arm more than the fingers to move the pen; 2. Another article about copying cursive lettering that looks good to me with links to examples of nice-looking cursive lettering; 3. Several articles and videos encouraging practice, practice, practice. After a couple of years of applying these suggestions, I believe my handwriting has improved. Of course, as noted, I'm in the process of overcoming 45 years of cursive malpractice, so to speak. Hence, my hand is not award winning, but I can read it (I couldn't always read my own notes taken during long depositions) and those who receive my notes often comment favorably on it. Even my wife--my toughest critic--finds it passable. On another subject, since I was just a grunt litigator for defense interests, I could never really afford a Montblanc. I also thought of them as something meant more for plaintiff attorneys trying to impress. Very few attorneys in the firms with which I practiced owned Montblancs, even though the firms were large and successful, representing many very large companies. Of course, once I started studying fountain pens seriously a few years ago, I started hearing that Montblancs really are quality pens and that every serious collection should include one. Ditto the Lamy 2000. Being retired, living on a fixed income and having 4 children and 7 wonderful grandchildren, I had decided that I would forego purchasing a new Montblanc. Since I have 3 Lamy pens already (a Studio, an Accent and a Safari) I also figured I could do without a 4th. Then a few weeks ago I read about a company in Japan that restores vintage Montblancs and sells them at excellent prices. Further investigation led to the discovery that they also have an eBay store. The company is japantreasuretrove. Searching eBay for likely candidates, I found a Montblanc 225 and placed a bid of $100.00. The auction had 4 days to go when I bid. I didn't really expect to win, but I did at $91.00. With tax and shipping, the total came to about $120.00. I somewhat hesitantly paid because while the vendor has a 99.1 approval rating, it is still in Japan and has a no return policy. Too, the listing included a warning that it might take as much as a month for the pen to arrive. It actually arrived in 8 days. I got it yesterday. It is absolutely amazing! In a very prompt and thoughtful response to some questions I sent to japantreasuretrove, I was informed that it was Montblanc's answer to the Lamy 2000, but only remained in production into the early 1970s. It was advertised as part of the Masterpiece Group, which included other luxury pens, and sold for about $120.00. The body is similar to Lamy's macralon in appearance and feel. The cap, however, is steel, coated with silver but textured like the macralon body. It has a 14k semi-hooded nib and is a piston filler. Even though the nib is an extra fine, it writes smoothly with just a bit of feedback because it is very wet. The piston filling mechanism is even smoother than my Pelikan 200. There are no nicks, dings or brassing anywhere. It could be NOS, but was not advertised as such. When I cleaned it with water before using it, the water came out crystal clear and a lot came out. I would guess about 2 ml. I've written several pages in my journal with it and like it more and more with each stroke. It is light, but feels substantial. It is perfectly balanced with or without the cap. I prefer to use it with the cap because I like the extra length. However, unposted it fits my hand just fine. I wear medium-large gloves to give you an idea. In short, with the purchase of this one pen, I have a Montblanc which is the functional equivalent of a Lamy 2000. I'm tempted to say my collection is now complete, but can any fountain pen collector honestly say that?! I can say with assurance that it will encourage me to practice my handwriting even more "religiously" than I already am. What higher compliment can one pay to a pen?
Was it this one? I swear I responded to this, but I probably didn’t post it correctly! You already have an amazing collection. Anything you add at this point is more jewels in the crown. thanks for the tip on the company that fixes them. I love the inexpensive vintage MBs. The write amazing. I have a few myself and love them. I have one with a hooded nib as well. I think it’s a 252, but I’d have to look it up since I am always forgetting. Stay inspired and keep writing!
@@HemingwayJones Yep, this was it! Thanks for the reply. Now, how about the notion of a video about the pens and/or mfgs that should be in any "serious" (or unserious, if you prefer) FP collection?
Hi Hemingway, I enjoyed your take on penmanship and why you want to write the way you do. I'm sure in your line of work, legibility is very important for you and your clients. As for me, I tend to write the way I feel on any particular day. If I'm happy, sad, irritated, angry, mellow, studious, signing documents, etc., I have good penmanship and tend to like flourishes most of the time when journaling or taking notes. There is a freedom of just letting go and being artful and not constraining myself to strict guidelines. I have a lot of fun when I do that. The last thing I want is to be stressed into worrying about every dot and tittle. So, let go every now and then and whatever happens, happens.
In the UK in the 70's we learned to write cursive with fountain pens from age 7 or 8 so my writing is already pretty good. However, over the years it has become far messier - probably because I type a lot and only write to-do lists and notes in pen. Although I write a short gratitude journal every evening before bed, I guess the lack of practice in writing letters and school essays etc meant the quality had slipped. My writing slopes to the right but it's incredibly tall and narrow - I fit around 12-14 words on a line. My letters are also quite large so all of my loops go up and down into the adjacent rows! I actually usually skip a row when writing and I've found that using an extra fine of fine nib helps to define the letters. They are so close together that using a medium nib will blur them into one another. My friend has wide handwriting so a medium nib suits his style far better. Since buying my fountain pens, I now practice every morning for 10 - 15 minutes and have also bought a book called The Art of Cursive Penmanship so I can see if there are any letters I would like to emulate and adapt my style a little. I love these handwriting videos.
I am old school and constantly take pages of note during meetings. I use a Parker IM and, whilst taking notes during a recent meeting a colleague looked over my shoulder and said 'you write like a girl'. I took that as a compliment!
I've always wanted to correct and change some letters in my handwriting for print as well as master cursive again. I've forgotten most of my cursive learning because I was of the generation where cursive penmanship classes were starting to be phased out. Its funny how we want to go back to those old times before they're completely forgotten
Thank you for introducing topics of interest to those of us who follow you. Personally, my writing wasn't bad in elementary and seciondary and school. It was at university taking so many notes and so fast that it deteriorated terribly. Since then I have struggled, like many people who have commented, to improve it. Happily, when I started to write with fountain pens regularly, perhaps because of the relaxation it gives me, my writing begun to improved. It is not perfect, but it has regained its personality, which is very important, and I feel good. It's very relevant that your handwriting can be recognized by those who know you. However I still suffer because I would like my handwriting to be more in line with the canons and more artistic.
So relatable! I struggle with the same issues and switch to block letters most of the time. I‘m regularly in awe about (even young) people‘s extremely uniform cursive handwriting. No idea how to achieve that.
Oh my goodness, this video showed me you are a perfectionist by nature. I think you are too critical of your own handwriting. I would say one thing, I believe you have more than one handwriting style. In the video and, no doubt your journals, you adopt a slow and purposeful style with each letter being carefully formed. I suspect you don't write like this when in meetings at work. I think your work handwriting will be quicker yet more relaxed. Indeed, I think many of us vary our handwriting style for each situation. Another observation is how differently you hold your pen, particularly the positioning of your right thumb. My thumb and forefinger are held either side of the grip section while the pen is resting against my middle finger in an almost Lamy-esque triangular grip. It's all really interesting and you produced a very enjoyable video.
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I do have a messier version of my handwriting. I keep a ledger book for notes at work and some are really messy. Great insights as always.
Nice watches! I normally only cared that my writing was legible. Since I've gotten into fountain pens, I have started caring more about my handwriting.
My oh My - A wonderful sharing on your part to provide perspective on improving handwriting! The quality of comments being shared from the community are amazingly helpful for me as I start the journey of improving my handwriting and enter the journaling practice. I have been following your channel for about a month now - so much to learn and reflect on. To me your channel is an internet treasure for me. Thanks to you and the community that shares their experiences.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so glad you were able to find some inspiration here. This is what I was hoping for with this Channel. Thank you.
Many years ago I gathered 19th century textbooks on Spencerian business writing and studied the methodology until I could actually write in that script. All that practice changed my own handwriting. It is obviously not a practical script for everyday writing but the flourishing helped me maintain a fluidity in long, sweeping lines. I created my own letter shapes, borrowing from many different scripts. I truly enjoy it but find that I must practice daily to maintain proper heights, slant, and uniformity. I don’t really understand why but I also prefer the straight crosses on my “T”s. If I do the flourish you demonstrated, I can be fairly consistent. Not so with the straight lines unless I actually almost stop and pay special attention…which, tends to disrupt the flow of thought. Minor things, indeed. All of us have unique penmanship. Thus, the only advice I really have is to truly analyze what you want your letters and transitions to look like and then just practice. Then practice so more. I find hastily scribbled notes to be an actual sabotage. Thanks again Hemingway. It’s a pleasure to have a place to discuss these things.
Thanks James! Yours is an excellent strategy. This is also a timely comment. I have just dedicated a lined notebook as a kind of repository for historical handwriting that I will attempt to duplicate as a kind of style book. If I am successful, it may make the channel sometime soon. Thanks so much for your wonderful contribution!
@@HemingwayJones Excellent sir! I specialized in Colonial Mexican linguistics and the paleography involved greatly increased my fascination with historical scripts. I look forward to whatever you decide to do.
@@HemingwayJones Hi Hemingway. I’m just a bit curious as to what you would consider “interesting”. I have all manner of script examples from the various iterations of English to Indigenous scribes writing their oral languages phonetically in 16th century Spanish. Might you narrow down what you might find useful?
This was an immensely calming and fascinating video! In our technological age, beautiful handwriting is not something we encourage one another to cultivate as much. This breaks my heart. I will always write ✍ by hand. Since childhood, I have been commended on the quality of my handwriting; but, the internet has exposed me and my awareness to the stunning work of calligraphers...and I feel there is so much more for me to learn and improve upon. I will be binge-watching ALL of your videos, sir! Thank you for making the precise type of content I yearn to see. 🖤
Thank you very much, I’m really glad that you enjoyed the video. I agree that many people have fallen away from writing by hand but perhaps this video and others like it will inspire the next generation to take up the pen. Lovely handwriting is a lifelong struggle, but an enjoyable one. I wish you all the best always.
-I can’t believe that I am learning to write legibly again. -Not since grade school have I had a lesson in this. -I think that I will concentrate on developing this skill again, but I am worried that it will not come easy. -My medical colleagues cannot possibly criticize me, because they cannot get any worse. My wife thinks this is a good idea too. RS. MD, FRCS, Canada
Hi, it's very relaxing, nice, to watch you writing and I like a lot your handwiting. If one day you want to experiment a little, here are some sort of suggestions: try to draw the "t", shorter, lower of the other ascenders (f, h , d etc.); draw capital letters as high as the "t" and finally, draw the "r" and a little higher than the other "standard" letters ... This may give your handwriting a little bit of dynamism and movement. No rules, however. I started changing my handwriting about six years ago ... I forgot the cursive and started over. I'm a F / EF nib type but I really like italic nibs. Thanks for your videos. Greetings from Italy.
Grazie Fra! Thanks for the kind comments and the helpful hints. Handwriting is a constant struggle, but so rewarding. Tanti Auguri e ci vediamo a presto!
I share your frustrations, my handwriting seems to differ everyday of the week! I found the medium nib on my 149 too broad for my writing and send it off last week to have a fine nib fitted by Mount Blanc. Great post and points!
Very cool video, good pointers. You write very nice. I am not skilled at copper plate, but I found that if I write fast then I tend to flourish my loops and crosses in a more natural way that looks, or at least, feels more pleasant to me. Once again, your writing is very nice.
I appreciate that your struggles with penmanship don't detract from your love of the pens. My penmanship is awful, but I love carrying my Brass Sport around with me anyhow. Practice has yet to make improvements. "Now it sounds like I'm making excuses for my handwriting, and maybe I am, but it's my pen show" lololol damn right buddy!
I always had messy handwriting, and when I went into University, I started taking tons of notes with a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, and started printing only. It looked a lot neater than my cursive, so I stuck to printing. After decades of writing print only with ballpoints and pencils I lost cursive, couldn't do it anymore, until I took up fountain pens about 15 years ago. It took a while, but I picked up cursive handwriting again with fountain pens. Writing flex with line variation works better in cursive than print I find. For my work, I usually print still, but for my personal journaling I write cursive. It looks more elegant/artistic I think. I am trying to make my handwriting neater, but it seems to be a never ending effort. Thanks, I enjoyed your video, and some valuable tips there, I will try to apply.
Impressive to see you write while speaking, I’ve not tried but I’m doubtful I could do it. I like your deliberate thinking on your penmanship and your candor about what you’re not happy with. But also writing with tripod on the way. My handwriting would probably seemed designed not to be read by others, but anyway I re-learned at about 19 y.o. Based on a end 18th century image of a French document, I recently learned that it would reminisce of copperplate writing. To get the slant I want (surely not the consistant 55 degree) I just turn the page (which I guess was hard to do with the tripod) and I don’t mind having letters going super low or high. Up I generally don’t cross the line above but down I easily go down to the next line especially for j J I and down loops like y or g but sometimes with more flourish instead, also my Ts are crossed with very long line, “it” tend to be wider than its height, but I don’t mind having the line going above the previous or next word even connecting with the previous or next t crossing. Now I typically use a Japanese fine so there is more definition than if I were using wider nibs (though sometimes I do) and I tend to write faster than you and I kinda play with hand/pen inertia if you will, it’s hit and miss but more frequently hit which is sufficient for me. I feel it gives my writing some flair but some could see it as pretentious but I don’t care. By no mean my writing is like copperplate artist you see on TH-cam, and is not consistent at all which I think makes it more interesting than if it were undistinguishable from a computer font. My qualm with my writing is with my r which I oscillate writing between cursive and non-cursive form, I’m trying to relearn that letter now. Also I used to finish the line by continuing the last letter of the line with an horizontal line right to the right margin, but I lost the habit and I’m trying to relearn that. What I noted is obviously when writin the non cursive r the natural continuation line would be higher than all other letters. Now this week I received a new fabulous pen: the Pilot Custom Urushi vermillion in Fine Medium (the last pen I’ll ever buy, or not…) and I’ve been trying to correct my handwriting using this pen. I guess this is very similar to your experience with the 149. All about the nib :) As always thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next video. Cheers Chris
Thank you Chris for the great and I interesting comment! I really enjoyed how similar we both approach our handwriting although our techniques are different our thoughts about them are the same. I do wish you a lot of luck in your hand writing journey and I hope you will stop by and see me again sometime. Wish you all the best!
It's not good to be envious, but being left--handed I do envy how a right-handed person can write with a fountain pen. To avoid the dreaded SMEAR, I print.
So sorry! I have heard that you can shift your hand position and write from below the line and avoid the ink entirely. I can post about it sometime soon
I quite understand your concern regarding your handwriting. Personally, I find that when I write larger and quicker I tend to get a more fluid, natural handwriting. I used to write small and slow but now I'm less concerned about the appearance and enjoy the writing, rather than being overly ornate. I feel that this is best left to calligraphy.
Hi Hemingway. I always loved writing. My printing is not nearly as nice. But I noticed when I'm sick the writing changes and try as I might, I cant write the way i usually do. But i have accepted the situation, just as i have accepted my illness. Love your videos. Thank you! BLESSINGS
I know you said you planned to skip this week but I came looking for your video anyway. So glad you decided to do handwriting. You get some awesome comments from people: very inspirational. As for writing obsessions, I went so far as to buy Clairefontaine Seyes-french ruled paper to have markers for letter heights. BTW, I have started emulating your capital T. Thanks Hemingway.
I don’t know all the nuances of Handwriting, but I was known for my good handwriting during my school and college days and I used to win prizes for ‘good handwriting’ ! Glad you chose India made Ayush paper for this video.. Eventhough shuttlecocks May still be getting handmade in India, unfortunately it is the plastic ones which are becoming more and more popular due to their durability..
Thanks so much! I love Ayush! India has excellent products; pen and paper. There is a Business Insider video on the shuttlecocks here on TH-cam right now.
I've owned two Leica M3's and my favorite lens was the 90mm collapsible F4; I took thousands of portraits with that lens. I switched to reflexes with the SL, then the R3 black and chrome, then the R5 in black and chrome. Favorite lens was the Schneider shift lens and the 60mm Macro-Elmarit. Still own several Rolleiflexes, and even more Rolleicords. My first TLR in college in the seventies was the last 'white face' Vb, and I still own it, having traded in a Miranda Sensorex for it. Own several TLR Mamiyas all the way to the end with the 330s and the 220 and a pile of those interchangeable lenses. Own several Minolta Autocords, too, several Yashica-Mats also. Still miss film so much, and I have thousands of Kodachrome slides still with an archival life approaching 300 years. You and I seem to have the same outside interests! I supplemented my income for a decade of college shooting weddings with those TLR's and one of the 'potato masher' Strobonars.
What a lovely video, and great tips too. I love handwriting and genuinely admire beautiful penmanship. My handwriting is not great, and half a century on I'm still endeavoring to improve it. Speed is my enemy.
Do you have any pen friends? I exchange letters with friends around the world, using fountain pens. It’s fascinating to see the variety of letters I receive from my pen friends, what inks, papers, an handwriting styles. Plenty of inspiration.
Hello Hemingway! Love your videos very much!! New subscriber and have been binge-watching quite a lot recently.🙂 I've struggled with improving my penmanship for years. The words used to slant way too much to the right and too many closed 'e's. I tried a new method of holding the paper at a more severe angle so the script is almost straight up and down. My writing is more legible that way and I can fit in more words per line but it doesn't 'feel' as satisfying as my regular style for some reason. I tend to have very tiny script so really need an extra fine nib for any hope of success. Didn't realize the difference between a Japanese fine and the other brands before, but I'm quite happy with the Pilot Metropolitan at the moment. Looking for a nicer pen though. Just not sure which one will work best for me yet. Thanks for making such great videos. They are quite enjoyable to watch!
Hello Sylvie! Thanks so much for joining and thank you for binge watching my stuff. I hope that you enjoy it. Thanks for the tips and insight on your handwriting. I appreciate it. The Pilot Metro is a good choice. You have lots of others for a next step; Lamy Studio, Pilot E95S. So fun! Thanks so much for the kind words. All the best.
@@HemingwayJones Just wanted to share a TH-cam site I am subscribed to for handwriting practice that I really love. He's called 'Mazic Writer'. He doesn't use fountain pens much, but his videos are awesome. Check it out!
So glad I found your channel. You have very nice penmanship in my opinion. I recently started a new journal and I’m trying to get the lines,pages ,ect to be more uniform. One of my problems is that as my mind speeds up about what I’m writing or if I’m writing an exciting story about something that’s happened my handwriting gets WAY worse. Have to tell myself to slow down. Anywho great content. Do you do any EDC videos? Watches,glasses,what you carry or using that day or week as in pen rotation? Just curious
no dont feel bad hemingway because i actually have the problem its in both of my arms my dr says its apparently a herniated disk in my neck like from the top of my shoulder down to my fingertips go numb
Would you do a video on everyday writing speed? You usually demonstrate writing slowly, but how about if you quickly write a note that you don‘t want to forget during a call or if you write down a shopping list?
@@HemingwayJones I can‘t do that! One of my issues might be that I write about at least three times as fast. When I force myself to slow down it feels like drawing instead of writing. I’m a teacher and scientist. Maybe it comes with the job lol.
@@frixhax9069 I can understand that. I did have problems in this video with the commentary and writing and thinking about what I was writing about. I could probably write a bit faster. I am sure I will do more like this soon.
I see it later. In France we don’t have this kind of problem with the height of the letters because we learn to write on Seyès paper in cursive and we have to follow the rules when forming our letters.
I share some of your insecurities . Presently I have been experimenting with a bigger rounder handwriting . As a 75 year old I’ve been learning to read and translate Latin and that requires much hand writing . It seemed to me to be shame to do all the writing and not use the effort to improve my squiggle . ( If you wish to improve your Latin I strongly recommend N.R.R.Oulton’s the free to subscribe TH-cam Channel ‘ So you really want to learn Latin ) ? I start each day with a different fountain pen and write its name after the date in my note book then start a translation . Martin 1947
I am currently working on my handwriting also and I am seeing some improvement with the fountain pen, but maintaining good writing on plain white paper is harder than lined paper. Can you elaborate on that and give some advise.
Do you have a PO Box? I’d love to write you letters to practice my handwriting. I already started journaling which is fun but it be nice to write to someone else.
Thank you very much and thanks for the kind words on the channel. I try hard to make interesting videos. Don’t be too jealous. Remember, I get a lot of these for free to make TikToks and that is an advantage most people do not have. Wish you all the best and stop by again soon.
I started working on my handwriting about 3 years ago when I started writing with fountain pens,. I practice every day with a variety of pens and nibs from ef. fine, medium, stub, and flex. I find when writing with wider nibs, I try to write larger so no letter gets filled in and the letter looks less compressed. As mentioned arm movement is key. I would recommend getting the french ruled paper to develop the correct height and width. I try to personalize the letters in a more minimalist manner, fewer loops. I started studying copperplate for the discipline more than the aesthetic. Lastly, in my opinion, EF and Fine nibs are good ways to reveal the flaws one needs to work on.
Thanks very much for the tip! All the best.
Thank you for this! A number of years ago, I decided to get serious about my handwriting. I used to hold my pen all wrong, and it wasn't fountain pens that cured me: I've been using them since I was 10. What cured me was buying my first flex nib. I wanted my writing to look good.
I found that two things helped: one was to use my arm rather than my hand to move the pen. The other was to use a larger nib. It forced me to exaggerate loops, and that carried over into my finer (or flex) nibs. I looked at Spencerian writing, but soon decided that I don't want to do the work needed to learn it. So I just focused on my shapes.
My handwriting deteriorates through the day. I've confessed multiple times that I'm not a night person. I function best in the morning, and that includes my handwriting. And it's also worth noting that my notebooks contain a lot of less than ideal handwriting: if I'm writing rapidly for me, it looks quite differently from more performed writing for the channel or pen pals.
By the way, I like your combination of views: you and the writing. And someday I want those floor to ceiling bookshelves!
Thank you very much for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. You offer excellent advice. All the best.
Every person develops his or her own style when it comes to handwriting. Please take a moment to write the word IMPERFECTIONS on a sheet of paper. Circle the word PERFECTIONS and always remember that there will always be perfections within our own perceived imperfections. You have wonderful handwriting. Thank you for your video presentation.
Wow! What an Idea. Love this.
I love this! Thank you, John. I appreciate your kindness
@@HemingwayJones I am going to show your handwriting examples to my students when school begins in August.
Thanks! Lovely handwriting, of course. Interesting to watch you with your small struggles. It actually gave me sensory reminiscences of tightness in my hand. You drew me in so well that it felt like I was writing through your hand somehow, and my own struggles came to the fore. I prefer using unlined paper leaving the lines to wander where they will. Watching you fitting your strokes between those lines and thereby determining the height of your ascenders and descenders was part of my discomfort. Well done, both on fitting them in and in pulling my hand along with yours! How fun is it that handwriting can be so individual and carry many validities. Nice to find these older golden videos.
Thank you very much! I am so glad you enjoyed this! I am sure you can do better than I. Thanks for being here and for watching.
I suprisingly have a lot in common with your handwrithing and its "problems". Just like you I would like my handwriting to have that extra specialness. My daily journaling (wich I started doing because of you) is definitly helping with that step by step.
Thank you so much! So glad that I could inspire you in some way. Thanks very much!
Also, what a wonderful video. I love the opportunity to take a break for lunch and watch. The content of this video is right up my alley! I have been teaching my children Spencerian and they have loved the penmanship practice. I, too, experience the numbness. Mostly while playing piano, but also from writing at times. Thanks again, sir.
Thank you Brett! It’s always a pleasure.
Thanks for this video, HJ. As I have told you before, I went to Catholic School in North-Eastern India. We were taught from Second Grade onwards using the Vere Foster Writing Methos.
I finished school with what I would call pretty good handwriting. Fast forward, I suffered a bunch of strokes after having beat brain cancer. Well, it left me paralysed on my right side. I had to spend a few years regaining the use of my right hand, and I had to work at being able to use a fountainpen to write with.
I am using a book written by Handwriting Experts, Inga Dubay and Barb Getty, titled, "Write Now". It is a workbook that teaches one to use what they call a modify italic method. Seems, in their workshops and other courses, they had had a lot of the students achieve success. Their book is published by Portland State University Press. I am in my office now, and once I get home, I iwll add a comment with the full info about this book.
Wonderful video as always, Hemingway. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind comment, My Friend. I appreciate it. I admire your stick-to-it-ness. You are indefatigable, My Friend, and I admire you.
Thank you for introducing topics of interest to those of us who follow you. Personally, my writing wasn't bad in elementary and secondary school. It was at university taking so many notes and so fast that it deteriorated terribly. Since then I have struggled, like many people who have commented, to improve it. Happily, when I started to write with fountain pens regularly, perhaps because of the relaxation it gives me, my writing begun yo improved. It is not prefect now, but it has regained its personality, which is very important, and I feel good. It's very relevant that your writing can be recognized by those who know you. However I still suffer because I would like my handwriting to be more in line with the canons and more artistic.
Thanks so much for the kind comment. Thanks for sharing your journey with me. Handwriting is a struggle! We are on a path. All the best.
Thanks for another smart choice of topics, Hemingway. It has prompted the usual number of thoughtful and helpful replies.
I believe I mentioned I am also an attorney; albeit, retired. Therefore, I have the time to work on overcoming 45 years of dreadful handwriting practice. I specialized in casualty litigation defense practice. Hence, most of my handwriting consisted of taking notes as fast as I could during depositions, trials, meetings, and hearings with any cheap ballpoint available until the last year or two when I began using a fountain pen. My secretaries and paralegals assured me my chicken scratch was among the most legible they'd seen of all the attorneys for whom they'd worked, but it was still chicken scratch.
On retiring, I began growing my collection of pens and spending more time journaling and writing notes and letters. That prompted me to search the web for tips on improving my handwriting. The most useful I found were: 1. An article about exercises to encourage free-flowing movement while using the arm more than the fingers to move the pen; 2. Another article about copying cursive lettering that looks good to me with links to examples of nice-looking cursive lettering; 3. Several articles and videos encouraging practice, practice, practice.
After a couple of years of applying these suggestions, I believe my handwriting has improved. Of course, as noted, I'm in the process of overcoming 45 years of cursive malpractice, so to speak. Hence, my hand is not award winning, but I can read it (I couldn't always read my own notes taken during long depositions) and those who receive my notes often comment favorably on it. Even my wife--my toughest critic--finds it passable.
On another subject, since I was just a grunt litigator for defense interests, I could never really afford a Montblanc. I also thought of them as something meant more for plaintiff attorneys trying to impress. Very few attorneys in the firms with which I practiced owned Montblancs, even though the firms were large and successful, representing many very large companies.
Of course, once I started studying fountain pens seriously a few years ago, I started hearing that Montblancs really are quality pens and that every serious collection should include one. Ditto the Lamy 2000. Being retired, living on a fixed income and having 4 children and 7 wonderful grandchildren, I had decided that I would forego purchasing a new Montblanc. Since I have 3 Lamy pens already (a Studio, an Accent and a Safari) I also figured I could do without a 4th.
Then a few weeks ago I read about a company in Japan that restores vintage Montblancs and sells them at excellent prices. Further investigation led to the discovery that they also have an eBay store. The company is japantreasuretrove.
Searching eBay for likely candidates, I found a Montblanc 225 and placed a bid of $100.00. The auction had 4 days to go when I bid. I didn't really expect to win, but I did at $91.00. With tax and shipping, the total came to about $120.00. I somewhat hesitantly paid because while the vendor has a 99.1 approval rating, it is still in Japan and has a no return policy. Too, the listing included a warning that it might take as much as a month for the pen to arrive.
It actually arrived in 8 days. I got it yesterday. It is absolutely amazing! In a very prompt and thoughtful response to some questions I sent to japantreasuretrove, I was informed that it was Montblanc's answer to the Lamy 2000, but only remained in production into the early 1970s. It was advertised as part of the Masterpiece Group, which included other luxury pens, and sold for about $120.00.
The body is similar to Lamy's macralon in appearance and feel. The cap, however, is steel, coated with silver but textured like the macralon body. It has a 14k semi-hooded nib and is a piston filler. Even though the nib is an extra fine, it writes smoothly with just a bit of feedback because it is very wet. The piston filling mechanism is even smoother than my Pelikan 200. There are no nicks, dings or brassing anywhere. It could be NOS, but was not advertised as such. When I cleaned it with water before using it, the water came out crystal clear and a lot came out. I would guess about 2 ml.
I've written several pages in my journal with it and like it more and more with each stroke. It is light, but feels substantial. It is perfectly balanced with or without the cap. I prefer to use it with the cap because I like the extra length. However, unposted it fits my hand just fine. I wear medium-large gloves to give you an idea.
In short, with the purchase of this one pen, I have a Montblanc which is the functional equivalent of a Lamy 2000. I'm tempted to say my collection is now complete, but can any fountain pen collector honestly say that?!
I can say with assurance that it will encourage me to practice my handwriting even more "religiously" than I already am. What higher compliment can one pay to a pen?
Was it this one? I swear I responded to this, but I probably didn’t post it correctly!
You already have an amazing collection. Anything you add at this point is more jewels in the crown.
thanks for the tip on the company that fixes them. I love the inexpensive vintage MBs. The write amazing. I have a few myself and love them. I have one with a hooded nib as well. I think it’s a 252, but I’d have to look it up since I am always forgetting.
Stay inspired and keep writing!
@@HemingwayJones Yep, this was it! Thanks for the reply. Now, how about the notion of a video about the pens and/or mfgs that should be in any "serious" (or unserious, if you prefer) FP collection?
Hi Hemingway, I enjoyed your take on penmanship and why you want to write the way you do. I'm sure in your line of work, legibility is very important for you and your clients. As for me, I tend to write the way I feel on any particular day. If I'm happy, sad, irritated, angry, mellow, studious, signing documents, etc., I have good penmanship and tend to like flourishes most of the time when journaling or taking notes. There is a freedom of just letting go and being artful and not constraining myself to strict guidelines. I have a lot of fun when I do that. The last thing I want is to be stressed into worrying about every dot and tittle. So, let go every now and then and whatever happens, happens.
That is all very good advice. I have trouble turning off my obsessive inner monologues. I would be happier if I did. Thanks!
In the UK in the 70's we learned to write cursive with fountain pens from age 7 or 8 so my writing is already pretty good. However, over the years it has become far messier - probably because I type a lot and only write to-do lists and notes in pen. Although I write a short gratitude journal every evening before bed, I guess the lack of practice in writing letters and school essays etc meant the quality had slipped.
My writing slopes to the right but it's incredibly tall and narrow - I fit around 12-14 words on a line. My letters are also quite large so all of my loops go up and down into the adjacent rows! I actually usually skip a row when writing and I've found that using an extra fine of fine nib helps to define the letters. They are so close together that using a medium nib will blur them into one another. My friend has wide handwriting so a medium nib suits his style far better.
Since buying my fountain pens, I now practice every morning for 10 - 15 minutes and have also bought a book called The Art of Cursive Penmanship so I can see if there are any letters I would like to emulate and adapt my style a little.
I love these handwriting videos.
Thanks very much! I’ll be doing more on this!
YAY! So glad you posted this, my friend!
I am old school and constantly take pages of note during meetings. I use a Parker IM and, whilst taking notes during a recent meeting a colleague looked over my shoulder and said 'you write like a girl'. I took that as a compliment!
Haha! I think I would take it as a compliment too. All the best.
I've always wanted to correct and change some letters in my handwriting for print as well as master cursive again. I've forgotten most of my cursive learning because I was of the generation where cursive penmanship classes were starting to be phased out. Its funny how we want to go back to those old times before they're completely forgotten
Truly! It’s a good skill to have and is very expressive. There are good reasons for it. All the best.
Thank you for introducing topics of interest to those of us who follow you. Personally, my writing wasn't bad in elementary and seciondary and school. It was at university taking so many notes and so fast that it deteriorated terribly. Since then I have struggled, like many people who have commented, to improve it. Happily, when I started to write with fountain pens regularly, perhaps because of the relaxation it gives me, my writing begun to improved. It is not perfect, but it has regained its personality, which is very important, and I feel good. It's very relevant that your handwriting can be recognized by those who know you. However I still suffer because I would like my handwriting to be more in line with the canons and more artistic.
I agree so much with this. It resonates. It’s the struggle that I relate to.
So relatable! I struggle with the same issues and switch to block letters most of the time. I‘m regularly in awe about (even young) people‘s extremely uniform cursive handwriting. No idea how to achieve that.
Me either. I try! I obsess.
Love your intro, Hemingway....Reminds me of something I would watch on PBS. ⭐❤⭐
Thank you! I was psyched to find it on the license free TH-cam music. It reminds be of The Great British Bake Show. Thanks!
Oh my goodness, this video showed me you are a perfectionist by nature. I think you are too critical of your own handwriting. I would say one thing, I believe you have more than one handwriting style. In the video and, no doubt your journals, you adopt a slow and purposeful style with each letter being carefully formed. I suspect you don't write like this when in meetings at work. I think your work handwriting will be quicker yet more relaxed. Indeed, I think many of us vary our handwriting style for each situation. Another observation is how differently you hold your pen, particularly the positioning of your right thumb. My thumb and forefinger are held either side of the grip section while the pen is resting against my middle finger in an almost Lamy-esque triangular grip. It's all really interesting and you produced a very enjoyable video.
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I do have a messier version of my handwriting. I keep a ledger book for notes at work and some are really messy. Great insights as always.
Nice watches! I normally only cared that my writing was legible. Since I've gotten into fountain pens, I have started caring more about my handwriting.
My oh My - A wonderful sharing on your part to provide perspective on improving handwriting! The quality of comments being shared from the community are amazingly helpful for me as I start the journey of improving my handwriting and enter the journaling practice. I have been following your channel for about a month now - so much to learn and reflect on. To me your channel is an internet treasure for me. Thanks to you and the community that shares their experiences.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so glad you were able to find some inspiration here. This is what I was hoping for with this Channel. Thank you.
Many years ago I gathered 19th century textbooks on Spencerian business writing and studied the methodology until I could actually write in that script. All that practice changed my own handwriting. It is obviously not a practical script for everyday writing but the flourishing helped me maintain a fluidity in long, sweeping lines. I created my own letter shapes, borrowing from many different scripts. I truly enjoy it but find that I must practice daily to maintain proper heights, slant, and uniformity. I don’t really understand why but I also prefer the straight crosses on my “T”s. If I do the flourish you demonstrated, I can be fairly consistent. Not so with the straight lines unless I actually almost stop and pay special attention…which, tends to disrupt the flow of thought. Minor things, indeed. All of us have unique penmanship. Thus, the only advice I really have is to truly analyze what you want your letters and transitions to look like and then just practice. Then practice so more. I find hastily scribbled notes to be an actual sabotage. Thanks again Hemingway. It’s a pleasure to have a place to discuss these things.
Thanks James! Yours is an excellent strategy. This is also a timely comment. I have just dedicated a lined notebook as a kind of repository for historical handwriting that I will attempt to duplicate as a kind of style book. If I am successful, it may make the channel sometime soon. Thanks so much for your wonderful contribution!
@@HemingwayJones Excellent sir! I specialized in Colonial Mexican linguistics and the paleography involved greatly increased my fascination with historical scripts. I look forward to whatever you decide to do.
@@user-hq6ou2je6n Thank you! If you see anything interesting out there, email the pdf to me, please! Thanks!
@@HemingwayJones Hi Hemingway. I’m just a bit curious as to what you would consider “interesting”. I have all manner of script examples from the various iterations of English to Indigenous scribes writing their oral languages phonetically in 16th century Spanish. Might you narrow down what you might find useful?
@@user-hq6ou2je6n Roundhand, Spencerian, pretty Palmer in English that is expressive and rendered by hand. Thanks!
I like your handwriting very much!
Thank you! You’re very kind.
This was an immensely calming and fascinating video! In our technological age, beautiful handwriting is not something we encourage one another to cultivate as much. This breaks my heart. I will always write ✍ by hand. Since childhood, I have been commended on the quality of my handwriting; but, the internet has exposed me and my awareness to the stunning work of calligraphers...and I feel there is so much more for me to learn and improve upon. I will be binge-watching ALL of your videos, sir! Thank you for making the precise type of content I yearn to see. 🖤
Thank you very much, I’m really glad that you enjoyed the video. I agree that many people have fallen away from writing by hand but perhaps this video and others like it will inspire the next generation to take up the pen. Lovely handwriting is a lifelong struggle, but an enjoyable one. I wish you all the best always.
-I can’t believe that I am learning to write legibly again.
-Not since grade school have I had a lesson in this.
-I think that I will concentrate on developing this skill again, but I am worried that it will not come easy.
-My medical colleagues cannot possibly criticize me, because they cannot get any worse. My wife thinks this is a good idea too. RS. MD, FRCS, Canada
That’s wonderful!
French ruled paper helps greatly with letter sizing. Clairfontain has great easily accessible French ruled notebooks.
Thanks for the tip!
Hi, it's very relaxing, nice, to watch you writing and I like a lot your handwiting.
If one day you want to experiment a little, here are some sort of suggestions: try to draw the "t", shorter, lower of the other ascenders (f, h , d etc.); draw capital letters as high as the "t" and finally, draw the "r" and a little higher than the other "standard" letters ... This may give your handwriting a little bit of dynamism and movement. No rules, however.
I started changing my handwriting about six years ago ... I forgot the cursive and started over. I'm a F / EF nib type but I really like italic nibs.
Thanks for your videos.
Greetings from Italy.
Grazie Fra! Thanks for the kind comments and the helpful hints. Handwriting is a constant struggle, but so rewarding. Tanti Auguri e ci vediamo a presto!
@@HemingwayJones 😀
Very informative thx. Your handwriting is nice.
Thank you very much. That’s very kind of you.
I share your frustrations, my handwriting seems to differ everyday of the week! I found the medium nib on my 149 too broad for my writing and send it off last week to have a fine nib fitted by Mount Blanc. Great post and points!
Thank you very much! Wish you all the best with the nib conversation.
Hi. You are way too critical if your handwriting, it's perfectly fine and shows your Personality. That 149 is just stunning.🤗 Cheers
Thanks very much, John, on both counts. I appreciate it.
Very cool video, good pointers. You write very nice. I am not skilled at copper plate, but I found that if I write fast then I tend to flourish my loops and crosses in a more natural way that looks, or at least, feels more pleasant to me. Once again, your writing is very nice.
Thank you very much! That is very kind of you to say. I am glad you enjoyed the video.
I am your favourite and very much like your videos of handwritings ❤
Thank you very much!
I appreciate that your struggles with penmanship don't detract from your love of the pens. My penmanship is awful, but I love carrying my Brass Sport around with me anyhow. Practice has yet to make improvements.
"Now it sounds like I'm making excuses for my handwriting, and maybe I am, but it's my pen show" lololol damn right buddy!
Thanks Mark! Your comment made me smile. I love that Brass Kaweco. It’s coming up on a future list. All the best.
I always had messy handwriting, and when I went into University, I started taking tons of notes with a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, and started printing only. It looked a lot neater than my cursive, so I stuck to printing. After decades of writing print only with ballpoints and pencils I lost cursive, couldn't do it anymore, until I took up fountain pens about 15 years ago. It took a while, but I picked up cursive handwriting again with fountain pens. Writing flex with line variation works better in cursive than print I find. For my work, I usually print still, but for my personal journaling I write cursive. It looks more elegant/artistic I think. I am trying to make my handwriting neater, but it seems to be a never ending effort. Thanks, I enjoyed your video, and some valuable tips there, I will try to apply.
Thank you very much! I enjoyed reading your journey. All the best.
Impressive to see you write while speaking, I’ve not tried but I’m doubtful I could do it. I like your deliberate thinking on your penmanship and your candor about what you’re not happy with. But also writing with tripod on the way. My handwriting would probably seemed designed not to be read by others, but anyway I re-learned at about 19 y.o. Based on a end 18th century image of a French document, I recently learned that it would reminisce of copperplate writing. To get the slant I want (surely not the consistant 55 degree) I just turn the page (which I guess was hard to do with the tripod) and I don’t mind having letters going super low or high. Up I generally don’t cross the line above but down I easily go down to the next line especially for j J I and down loops like y or g but sometimes with more flourish instead, also my Ts are crossed with very long line, “it” tend to be wider than its height, but I don’t mind having the line going above the previous or next word even connecting with the previous or next t crossing. Now I typically use a Japanese fine so there is more definition than if I were using wider nibs (though sometimes I do) and I tend to write faster than you and I kinda play with hand/pen inertia if you will, it’s hit and miss but more frequently hit which is sufficient for me. I feel it gives my writing some flair but some could see it as pretentious but I don’t care. By no mean my writing is like copperplate artist you see on TH-cam, and is not consistent at all which I think makes it more interesting than if it were undistinguishable from a computer font. My qualm with my writing is with my r which I oscillate writing between cursive and non-cursive form, I’m trying to relearn that letter now. Also I used to finish the line by continuing the last letter of the line with an horizontal line right to the right margin, but I lost the habit and I’m trying to relearn that. What I noted is obviously when writin the non cursive r the natural continuation line would be higher than all other letters.
Now this week I received a new fabulous pen: the Pilot Custom Urushi vermillion in Fine Medium (the last pen I’ll ever buy, or not…) and I’ve been trying to correct my handwriting using this pen. I guess this is very similar to your experience with the 149. All about the nib :)
As always thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next video.
Cheers
Chris
Thank you Chris for the great and I interesting comment! I really enjoyed how similar we both approach our handwriting although our techniques are different our thoughts about them are the same. I do wish you a lot of luck in your hand writing journey and I hope you will stop by and see me again sometime. Wish you all the best!
It's not good to be envious, but being left--handed I do envy how a right-handed person can write with a fountain pen. To avoid the dreaded SMEAR, I print.
So sorry! I have heard that you can shift your hand position and write from below the line and avoid the ink entirely. I can post about it sometime soon
Slowing down is my "pro tip." We live in a chaotic phone and keyboard driven lifestyle that influences our writing speed.
Very good point! Thanks!
Great content!
Thank you!
I quite understand your concern regarding your handwriting. Personally, I find that when I write larger and quicker I tend to get a more fluid, natural handwriting. I used to write small and slow but now I'm less concerned about the appearance and enjoy the writing, rather than being overly ornate. I feel that this is best left to calligraphy.
Very good advice. Thank you!
Wonderful video. It was relaxing to watch.
Thank you! That is the vibe I am aiming for.
@@HemingwayJones your ability to simultaneously talk coherently and transcribe was impressive 😂
Hi Hemingway. I always loved writing. My printing is not nearly as nice. But I noticed when I'm sick the writing changes and try as I might, I cant write the way i usually do. But i have accepted the situation, just as i have accepted my illness. Love your videos. Thank you! BLESSINGS
Thank you for the kindness. I wish you all the best.
Lovely handwriting ❤....
Love from India 🇮🇳
Thank you very much!
@@HemingwayJones Please make a video on your handwriting
Sure. I can do that. Thank you!
I know you said you planned to skip this week but I came looking for your video anyway. So glad you decided to do handwriting. You get some awesome comments from people: very inspirational. As for writing obsessions, I went so far as to buy Clairefontaine Seyes-french ruled paper to have markers for letter heights. BTW, I have started emulating your capital T. Thanks Hemingway.
Thank you for the tip and the kind comment! Yes, I changed my mind and decided to switch up the format a little. All the best.
Elegant handwriting! Ambambué! 👏
Thank you!
I don’t know all the nuances of Handwriting, but I was known for my good handwriting during my school and college days and I used to win prizes for ‘good handwriting’ !
Glad you chose India made Ayush paper for this video.. Eventhough shuttlecocks May still be getting handmade in India, unfortunately it is the plastic ones which are becoming more and more popular due to their durability..
Thanks so much! I love Ayush! India has excellent products; pen and paper. There is a Business Insider video on the shuttlecocks here on TH-cam right now.
I've owned two Leica M3's and my favorite lens was the 90mm collapsible F4; I took thousands of portraits with that lens. I switched to reflexes with the SL, then the R3 black and chrome, then the R5 in black and chrome. Favorite lens was the Schneider shift lens and the 60mm Macro-Elmarit. Still own several Rolleiflexes, and even more Rolleicords. My first TLR in college in the seventies was the last 'white face' Vb, and I still own it, having traded in a Miranda Sensorex for it. Own several TLR Mamiyas all the way to the end with the 330s and the 220 and a pile of those interchangeable lenses. Own several Minolta Autocords, too, several Yashica-Mats also. Still miss film so much, and I have thousands of Kodachrome slides still with an archival life approaching 300 years. You and I seem to have the same outside interests! I supplemented my income for a decade of college shooting weddings with those TLR's and one of the 'potato masher' Strobonars.
Wonderful! Come over and film by B Rolls!
What a lovely video, and great tips too. I love handwriting and genuinely admire beautiful penmanship. My handwriting is not great, and half a century on I'm still endeavoring to improve it. Speed is my enemy.
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind comment. The struggle for interesting expressive handwriting is real!
Hey I like the content you post. Seeing your videos inspires me to get a fountain pen. Do you ever write with a standard ballpoint pen or gel pen?
Thank you very much, Elliot! I appreciate the encouragement. You know, I never write with anything else but a fountain pen.
Do you have any pen friends? I exchange letters with friends around the world, using fountain pens. It’s fascinating to see the variety of letters I receive from my pen friends, what inks, papers, an handwriting styles. Plenty of inspiration.
Yes! We are doing a letter exchange with Cognoscenti & Illuminati Members. It is so much fun. It has been so much fun getting to know everyone.
Hello Hemingway! Love your videos very much!! New subscriber and have been binge-watching quite a lot recently.🙂
I've struggled with improving my penmanship for years. The words used to slant way too much to the right and too many closed 'e's. I tried a new method of holding the paper at a more severe angle so the script is almost straight up and down. My writing is more legible that way and I can fit in more words per line but it doesn't 'feel' as satisfying as my regular style for some reason.
I tend to have very tiny script so really need an extra fine nib for any hope of success. Didn't realize the difference between a Japanese fine and the other brands before, but I'm quite happy with the Pilot Metropolitan at the moment. Looking for a nicer pen though. Just not sure which one will work best for me yet.
Thanks for making such great videos. They are quite enjoyable to watch!
Hello Sylvie! Thanks so much for joining and thank you for binge watching my stuff. I hope that you enjoy it. Thanks for the tips and insight on your handwriting. I appreciate it. The Pilot Metro is a good choice. You have lots of others for a next step; Lamy Studio, Pilot E95S. So fun! Thanks so much for the kind words. All the best.
@@HemingwayJones Just wanted to share a TH-cam site I am subscribed to for handwriting practice that I really love. He's called 'Mazic Writer'. He doesn't use fountain pens much, but his videos are awesome. Check it out!
@@sylvie1941 Thank you!
So glad I found your channel. You have very nice penmanship in my opinion. I recently started a new journal and I’m trying to get the lines,pages ,ect to be more uniform. One of my problems is that as my mind speeds up about what I’m writing or if I’m writing an exciting story about something that’s happened my handwriting gets WAY worse. Have to tell myself to slow down. Anywho great content. Do you do any EDC videos? Watches,glasses,what you carry or using that day or week as in pen rotation? Just curious
I don’t have an EDC video here. I’ve done it on TikTok but that is an excellent idea and I will film one soon. Thank you.
@@HemingwayJones I think you could do them GREAT!
@@cmoore7780 Thanks very much!
no dont feel bad hemingway because i actually have the problem its in both of my arms my dr says its apparently a herniated disk in my neck like from the top of my shoulder down to my fingertips go numb
Ouch! They’re still looking for the cause of mine. I have a herniated disk too. They should have mentioned that. Physical therapy is no fun
Would you do a video on everyday writing speed? You usually demonstrate writing slowly, but how about if you quickly write a note that you don‘t want to forget during a call or if you write down a shopping list?
I’m unsure it would be much faster! Lol. This is pretty much how I write. But I can try to just write and do a voiceover later.
@@HemingwayJones I can‘t do that! One of my issues might be that I write about at least three times as fast. When I force myself to slow down it feels like drawing instead of writing. I’m a teacher and scientist. Maybe it comes with the job lol.
@@frixhax9069 I can understand that. I did have problems in this video with the commentary and writing and thinking about what I was writing about. I could probably write a bit faster. I am sure I will do more like this soon.
I see it later. In France we don’t have this kind of problem with the height of the letters because we learn to write on Seyès paper in cursive and we have to follow the rules when forming our letters.
I just bought some of that paper. It is a wonderful tool. Thank you!
I share some of your insecurities . Presently I have been experimenting with a bigger rounder handwriting . As a 75 year old I’ve been learning to read and translate Latin and that requires much hand writing . It seemed to me to be shame to do all the writing and not use the effort to improve my squiggle . ( If you wish to improve your Latin I strongly recommend N.R.R.Oulton’s the free to subscribe TH-cam Channel ‘ So you really want to learn Latin ) ? I start each day with a different fountain pen and write its name after the date in my note book then start a translation . Martin 1947
Hello Martin, that is a wonderful project and an excellent sue of handwriting. Such a great comment. Thank you.
I am currently working on my handwriting also and I am seeing some improvement with the fountain pen, but maintaining good writing on plain white paper is harder than lined paper. Can you elaborate on that and give some advise.
Sure. I can do that. Thanks.
Well, if you have to obsess about anything, handwriting is not a bad choice !
Haha! Thanks!
Hey, do you find you writing changes with your mood?
Yes! Absolutely! You too?
Have you had a haircut? It looks great!
Thank you! I actually get my haircut every two weeks, but I changed it up and went over instead of back. It’s my summer look.
I noticed that too. Looks great!🙂
Do you have a PO Box? I’d love to write you letters to practice my handwriting. I already started journaling which is fun but it be nice to write to someone else.
I don’t. I need to get one.
@@HemingwayJones imagine the amount of fan mail you’d get. But no it’d be cool to have a pen pal.
@@Cowboy_likeme13 It is always nice to hear from people.
All just happy little accidents...
LOVE this! I do have a PBS vibe on this one.
Do you not have handwriting classes at school?
Yes, I literally talk about that in the video.
@@HemingwayJones How long for? I had handwriting classes from 5 till 13 years of age. Seems like your schooling let you down. 😒
@@diversemix You’re very unkind and you clearly cannot comprehend a video. It’s all spoken about in the video.
@@HemingwayJones Why do you judge me as unkind?
I really enjoy the subject matter of your videos, but can't help feeling a whole lot of jealousy over your really interesting and beautiful pens.
Thank you very much and thanks for the kind words on the channel. I try hard to make interesting videos. Don’t be too jealous. Remember, I get a lot of these for free to make TikToks and that is an advantage most people do not have. Wish you all the best and stop by again soon.
You should go see a good neurologist. Sounds like a compression problem.
Yes! Much has happened since then. Thanks very much.
Numbness? Learn to write left handed. You can do it!
I can write left handed.