How to Improve Your Handwriting

Kirsty Cameron
2025-07-09T14:01:59+01:00

At some point in our lives, each of us has come across a handwritten note or letter and thought – I wish my handwriting looked like that. There’s a quiet charm to the way well-formed letters sit on a page. It feels thoughtful, composed, as if the writer took real care in shaping their words.

Writing by hand can be a calming habit. Whether you're sketching out your day, keeping a journal, or signing a card, it gives you a moment to pause. And when you take a step back and actually like the way your writing looks, that moment becomes even more satisfying. But it’s not always easy. In a rush, we scribble. Sometimes, the wrong pen makes our writing feel tight or messy. And so the page becomes something to finish, rather than enjoy.

We can’t promise to fix your schedule to avoid rush moments, but we can help you find small, simple ways to improve your writing style. Whether you're starting fresh or just want to refine what’s already there, the tips ahead will help bring a little more ease and clarity to every line you write.

What Affects Your Handwriting

Before improving your handwriting, it helps to understand what shapes it. The way your writing looks depends on more than just how you form letters – your posture influences it, the type of pen you use, how quickly you write, and even the kind of paper beneath your hand.

Rushed notes on rough paper will always look different from a thoughtful message written slowly with a quality pen. Recognising these factors helps you improve not just the outcome, but the experience.

Choose the Right Pen

The pen you use has a clear impact on how your handwriting looks and feels. A smooth ink flow, a balanced barrel, and a comfortable grip reduce strain and give you more control. When your hand is relaxed, your writing becomes steadier, more fluid, and often, more beautiful.

Different types of pens offer different writing experiences. Ballpoints provide a firmer line with more resistance. Rollerballs move more freely across the page, ideal for those who write quickly or with expression. Fountain pens respond to even the lightest pressure, inviting a slower, more deliberate rhythm.

Luxury writing instruments go further: not only in craftsmanship, but in how they support the hand. Scriveiner pens are built around a solid brass barrel, which gives the pen its signature weight and balance. This heavier body means you don’t need to press hard – the pen naturally meets the page with enough pressure to allow the ink to flow properly. The result is a smoother glide and more even distribution, particularly noticeable over longer writing sessions.

The Basics of Letterforms

Improving your handwriting is about consistency, not perfection. Focus on the shapes of your letters. Are your lines clean? Are your ovals closed? Do your letters lean one way or another? These small details make a big difference.

A good place to start is with rhythm – keeping your spacing, slant, and height even across a line of text. If you notice irregularities, slow down and give each letter your full attention. The result will already look more deliberate and composed.

Improve Your Posture and Sitting Position

Physical comfort directly affects the quality of your writing. Sit upright with your shoulders relaxed. Keep both feet on the ground and rest your arm on the table to stay steady. A relaxed grip reduces hand fatigue and gives you more control.

During moments of focus, it’s easy to forget about writing posture. Legs cross, the torso twists, elbows start to hover. Over time, this builds tension in the shoulders, forearms, wrists, and restricts your range of motion. The result is often a cramped, uneven script.

Angle your paper slightly, so your wrist can move freely. Let your arm, not just your fingers, guide the movement. The goal is ease and not force in every stroke.

Make Practice Intentional, Not Tedious

Handwriting practice doesn't have to feel like homework. In fact, the best way to build a skill is to make it enjoyable. Choose one or two things to write each day – a journal entry, a note to a friend, a passage from a book – and give yourself the space to enjoy the process.

For a short, effective routine:

Choose a favourite quote or sentence

Write it slowly, once or twice

Focus on forming each letter with care

Use a good pen and paper to make it pleasurable

The more joy you take in the act, the more naturally your handwriting will improve.

Your handwriting carries traces of your mood, your energy, and your attention. When you slow down to write by hand, you're doing far more than recording thoughts – you're making them visible, tangible, allowing them to exist outside of your mind. A beautiful pen invites you to take that moment of pause. To enjoy the ink on paper. To make even a quick note or card feel personal and real. And the more you write with intention, the more your handwriting becomes a quiet source of pride.