There's no dearth of newspaper and magazine articles decrying the decline in the average American's handwriting. And no shortage of old fuddy duddies willing to wring their hands over the fact that cursive is no longer part of the official curriculum at most (all?) schools. I'll tell you what, though: I bet if you clocked our national average typing speed, it's been steadily improving!
But with all the time you spend at a keyboard, do you ever cringe at your own handwriting as you scratch out a grocery list? Have you ever left a note for someone who later confessed they couldn't read a word of it? Or worse, is your bad handwriting holding back your progress with projects like creating an illustrated notebook?
Luckily, there is good news: it isn't easy, but it is definitely possible to improve your handwriting.
Step 1: Slow Down
Most of us wouldn't have such bad handwriting if we weren't in such a hurry! Whether you're scrawling notes during a meeting or dashing off a quick note, this hastiness is not conducive to decent handwriting.
The next time you need to write something, stop and take a breath. Force yourself to slow down. Be in the moment. Look down at your paper and really focus on what you're doing. Relax your shoulders. Concentrate on being calm as you write. You'll really see the difference!
Step 2: Use Your Arms
This is a truism of sketching and painting, and it's true of handwriting as well: A lot of bad handwriting comes from the hand, whereas a lot of good handwriting comes from the arm. If your handwriting looks cramped and uneven, chances are good that you are resting your hand on the paper and writing with your fingers.
The Papernalia website has an excellent tutorial on how to re-learn to write with your arms, rather than your hands.
Step 3: Pick A Font
You may want to try emulating a computer font that you particularly admire (like Garamond), or the particularly tidy handwriting of a friend. Or you can try learning italic, which - as this New York Times Op-Ed piece maintains - is both legible and easy to write.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice
Even if you don't decide to write your next ridiculously huge manuscript longhand like Neal Stephenson (pictured: his hand-written manuscript for The Baroque Cycle), you still need to practice! The more time you spend writing by hand - both short and long pieces - the better you will get.