Handwriting is a beautiful and personal form of expression, but let's be real, not everyone is blessed with beautiful handwriting. If you're looking to improve your handwriting, grab your iPad and Apple Pencil, and get ready to say goodbye to poor handwriting forever!
Writing Style
You've got four writing styles to choose from in the app. You can start with the basics, like Simple or Printed Alphabets, or with Neat Writing or Italic Neat Writing which are a little bit more challenging.
All four are clean and neat fonts. Simple and Print Alphabet, and Neat Writing fonts are comfortable and efficient, but Italic Neat Writing is slightly slanted and may be more difficult if you’re at the beginning of your journey. At the end of the day, it all depends on your preference so feel free to choose whichever you like and feel more comfortable with.
Now that you've made your decision on which writing style to learn, let’s review these 4 steps together:
1. Training
These basic shapes serve as building blocks for forming each letter of the alphabet in their respective styles. They let you build a foundation for consistent and legible handwriting.
All the writing styles have great training worksheets to help you take the first steps: basic strokes - the foundation of good handwriting. From lines and loops to curves and more, the section covers it all.
Simple Alphabet
This style focuses on basic strokes and shapes to form letters. The basic shapes include straight lines, curves, and loops.
Print Alphabet
Similar to the simple alphabet, the print style emphasizes clear, legible letters. Basic shapes include straight lines and simple curves.
Neat Writing
Neat writing typically involves slightly more complex shapes compared to print, aiming for clear, consistent letterforms. Basic shapes still include straight lines and curves but it needs more precision and attention to detail.
Italic Neat Writing
Italic writing features slanted letters and often requires a more flowing movement. Basic shapes include slanted lines and curves.
Don’t skip this part since it’s essential to train your hands to get used to writing these shapes and it helps you concentrate on details.
2. Alphabets
The basis for good handwriting is the formation of the alphabet. Head to Writey's Print Writing sections and choose the Alphabet training. Start writing the alphabet from A to Z. Try to learn how to form each letter correctly and practice writing both the uppercase and lowercase versions of each alphabet over and over again.
Learning and practicing each writing style involve progressing from basic strokes to more complex letterforms while focusing on specific features such as clarity, legibility, precision, and slant. Practice activities may vary but typically include tracing, copying, and writing exercises tailored to each style's unique characteristics. Consistent practice and attention to detail are essential for mastering handwriting skills in any style.
Simple Alphabet
The simple alphabet is often the starting point for handwriting practice. It's important to emphasize being consistent with stroke direction and spacing.
Repetition is key to developing muscle memory and improving control over hand movements.
Print Alphabet
Print handwriting is characterized by clear, block-like letters. You'll learn to create legible letters with distinct shapes and consistent sizing.
Focus on maintaining uniformity in letter size, and spacing. It's important to be consistent with letter heights and alignment.
Neat Writing
Neat writing emphasizes clarity and precision in handwriting. In these lessons, you'll have exercises to refine letterforms, improve your overall handwriting legibility, and focus on maintaining neatness and consistency throughout.
Italic Neat Writing
Italic handwriting features slanted letters with flowing strokes. You'll see a transition from upright to slanted letterforms. You'll be able to practice techniques for achieving the proper slant in writing.
You can practice tracing and writing italic letters with a slanted angle. There are exercises to learn the rhythmic movement of the hand and wrist to create smooth, flowing strokes.
Make sure to pay attention to the direction and order of tracing for each letter.
For example for writing the uppercase F, a lot of us probably start drawing the horizontal line to the side and then to the bottom, but the correct way to write it is to start from the top and draw a straight line from the top to the baseline, then go back to the top and do a straight line to the side, then go to the middle and do a straight line to the side.
Come back to this section whenever you feel like your handwriting is going in the messy direction again.
Practice each alphabet several times until you know the correct order to write it by heart, after that try to draw on the letter tracing exercise as perfectly as possible.
Start to write like the worksheet examples on the second line, on your own.
3. Words
Now that you've got the hang of writing numbers and alphabets, it's time to put your skills to the test and start writing words. All sections have collections of different words for you to practice writing. In the beginning, just follow the tracings for each word and repeat. Then, try to write it on your own.
Make sure to come back to the words section regularly since Writey constantly provides new words for practice, and don’t forget to write the older words once in a while because practice makes perfect!
Simple Alphabet
Approach:
- Start by selecting simple words that contain letters you're practicing.
- Focus on the overall shape of each word rather than individual letters.
- Begin with short words and gradually increase complexity as you gain confidence.
Practice Tips:
- Write each word slowly and deliberately, paying attention to the formation of each letter.
- Practice tracing over printed examples of words in the simple alphabet style.
- Stay in the lines to maintain consistency in letter size and spacing.
Important Tips:
- Keep your writing relaxed and avoid tensing up your hand.
- Practice regularly to build muscle memory for forming letters in the simple alphabet style.
- Don't be discouraged by mistakes; learning takes time and patience.
Print Alphabet
Approach:
- Choose words that showcase the clear, block-like letters characteristic of print handwriting.
- Focus on maintaining uniformity in letter size and spacing throughout each word.
Practice Tips:
- Write each word with attention to detail, ensuring that each letter is clear and legible.
- Practice writing words in print handwriting using tracing orders to maintain consistency.
Important Tips:
- Pay close attention to letter formation, particularly the shape and direction of each stroke.
- Practice writing words at a comfortable pace to maintain accuracy.
- Review your work regularly to identify areas for improvement and track progress.
Neat Writing
Approach:
- Select words that allow you to focus on achieving clarity and precision in your handwriting.
- Aim for uniformity in letter size, shape, and spacing while maintaining overall neatness.
Practice Tips:
- Write each word slowly and deliberately, concentrating on forming each letter neatly.
- Experiment with different writing brush types and sizes to find what works best for you.
Important Tips:
- Maintain a comfortable grip on your writing instrument to prevent fatigue.
- Pay attention to letter spacing to ensure words are evenly spaced and easy to read.
- Practice regularly and be patient with yourself as you work towards improving your neat handwriting.
Italic Neat Writing
Approach:
- Choose words that allow you to practice the slanted, flowing letters characteristic of italic handwriting.
- Focus on achieving a consistent slant and rhythm in your writing.
Practice Tips:
- Write each word with a slight slant, aiming for smooth and fluid strokes.
- Practice tracing over italic handwriting examples to familiarize yourself with the style.
- Experiment with adjusting the angle of your writing instrument to find the most comfortable slant.
Important Tips:
- Practice using your arm and wrist to create flowing movements while writing.
- Pay attention to the connection between letters to maintain a consistent flow in your writing.
- Take breaks as many as needed to prevent hand fatigue and maintain focus during practice sessions.
4. Numbers
Numbers can often be tricky for people with poor handwriting. But don’t worry! We got you. Start today and you'll be able to improve the way you write numbers very soon.
You'll need to practice writing each number multiple times from zero to nine until it becomes a permanent fixture in your handwriting.
When writing numbers, regardless of the style, focus on mastering basic strokes and shapes for each digit. Practice tracing over examples to ensure clarity and consistency in size, shape, and spacing.
Tips
Posture: Sit upright, with your feet flat on the ground and your back straight. This will allow you to keep good control of the Apple Pencil as you write.
Grip: Place the Apple Pencil between your index and thumb, comfortably but not too tightly. To avoid strain and fatigue, keep your grip relaxed.
Practice tracing: To become familiar with the app and the Apple Pencil, begin by tracing the letters on the screen. Make an effort to stick to the letter strokes and directions as closely as possible. You can change the tracing speed and thickness to suit your comfort level.
Practice writing on your own: Once you've gotten the hang of tracing, try writing on your own. Begin by writing slowly and deliberately, focusing on each letter and the direction of its strokes. As you gain confidence, you can increase your speed and focus on writing with fluidity and consistency.
Take breaks: Writing can be tiring, so take breaks to rest your hand and relax your grip. This will help you avoid strain and fatigue.
These 4 sections on Writey are the perfect way to improve your handwriting. Make sure to do every section in order and pay attention to the details of how each letter is written. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, improving your handwriting is the perfect place to start, but it can also be a beautiful start to the beginning of your journey.
Whenever you feel like you’ve mastered any of these sections, the Cursive Writing and Calligraphy sections can help you take a step further and enter the world of beautiful cursive writing and even learn the art of calligraphy, both of which are becoming quite popular these days.