The most common problem when learning Spencerian or Palmer Method (Business Penmanship)

[@PerfectBiscuits]

You can download the worksheets with slant lines at consistentcursive.com (click on the Worksheets tab).

[@karodora]

In grammar school we were spoon-fed phonics, diagraming sentences, and cursive writing, among other subjects that are no longer extensively taught, if at all. I am now in my seventies, and those lessons have served me well.

[@apscafe]

Wonderful information

[@labaccident2010]

I lived in a small town in Mississippi and learned phonics and cursive in elementary school. The other I learned from my mother while being homeschooled from fourth through sixth grade. She also made my sisters and I learn italic calligraphy, to improve our handwriting, which was terrible due to fine motor issues. I still use what I learned during handwriting lessons, and my handwriting ended up looking like my Grandmother’s, which is fantastic compared to what it could have been.

[@cathykrueger4899]

Me too. My grandchildren can’t read my cursive.

[@edwardcuneo5294]

Thank you for sharing your honest feelings about how those spoon fed subjects have served you well in life. As a former elementary school teacher I found my students got a better understanding and sometimes enjoyment when the teacher explained to them why they were learning such perceived mundane subjects. This is a skill that very few teachers possess - the ability to relate why we need to learn something as opposed to just making the student learn it without prior background knowledge.

[@karodora]

@@edwardcuneo5294 My brother is an engineer and a couple of years ago he was in a meeting discussing a major contract. He disagreed with one of the statements in the contract, but those in attendance contested his opinion. He diagramed the sentence in the contract right there, and the attorney had to admit that my brother was correct. His grammar school lessons have obviously also served him well.

[@sazji]

I remember as a kid that my dad told me he’d learned writing by doing repetitive strokes, moving from the arm. It helped me with my penmanship so much and I wondered why they never taught us that when we learned cursive in school!

[@d_15745]

Wow! I just started Spencerian and I am glad I saw this video before I went too deep into practicing wrong. Thank you

[@kerry5586]

This compression is exactly what I do! Great video. Thank you.

[@thestevenbell]

David, thank you for creating this course. I have found the content incredibly helpful.

[@vanessacazares7960]

I’ve just begun & am so glad I found your teachings! Thank you!

[@PerfectBiscuits]

You’re welcome, enjoy!

[@apscafe]

Appreciated 👍

[@bakhytkadyrova5326]

Thank you for the wonderful video, David! I like wide compound curve at 30 degree, and between letters a bit wider, than inside a letter.

[@PerfectBiscuits]

Thanks Bakhyt!

[@apscafe]

Yes it's very useful video

[@HugsBach]

The problem is that the compression is because the paper is straight up and down. It isn't at the angle of natural movement, like brushing stuff off the counter. If you put the top left point of the paper to the center button-down shirt/sweater. These root scripts were written on writing slopes or writing desks with a 30° angle...or 3 inches. This is like a race track that it keeps the script movement on bead. The angle is set by twisting the paper not your hand. Leftist writers already have the angle by virtue of the angle but, hook writers do need to correct the grip into a prayer 🙏 position as to be more in line verses hook, writing upside down. Especially important for dip nibs. Left hands push, right hands pull. So, often, the mud flap effect causes catch and spatter. Gillott 404 is stiffer as to tolerate the push, Gillott 303 works if the Left hand allows the glide. Remember, antique laid watermark is to be read in the direction of normal Chirography. Left hand writers are recommended to "turn the page"..don't put upside down but turning the page puts the fiber in alignment with left push.

[@bella-bee]

This is wonderful. ! Thank you so much! And free! Wow. I’m going to stick with this and try to learn something new. I have attractive writing, so I’m told, but there are some glitches in it I want to learn to do better.

[@PerfectBiscuits]

You’re welcome!

[@apscafe]

Thumbs Up 👍

[@dharmaofdog7676]

WHY most Schools in the U.S. have totally dropped Penmanship as an important and valued part of a Student's Education is beyond comprehension. That goes for Phonics, too. We put our Son through Private Schools in NYC (K-12) and I fear to even add the entire cost invested. He is now an Adult and last Christmas, when I received a Card from him with a lovely Note added it makes my Head Spin! egads! His handwriting did not seem to reflect his excellent Education to say the least. Last year, when he started a career in a Corporate environment, I gifted him some elegant yet simple Notecards with a beautiful Waterman Pen. I imparted a little "wisdom" explaining the importance of sending an occasional Hand Written Note and its potential impact in certain circumstances. Now that I've recently seen an example of his handwriting, I fear he will follow my advice!

[@TwinIonEngines]

Arm movement is difficult as a Lefty, so I end up wrist spacing things a lot

[@nowheretobefun4904]

Same here :(

[@apscafe]

Great approach, very helpful

[@kevenreis224]

Loving the content! Great work!

[@sruckel]

Much of my daily writing is in a smaller notebook on my knee. Arm writing is harder to do.

[@kituwahband]

Pretty cool, as a lefty I need good penmanship!!

[@henryviera7825]

Anyone else have an issue of creating the lines and letters at too low of an angle... like really really low angles. 10-12° low

[@TheEnvelopeOZ]

Thank you sir. Perfect Biscuits

[@patriciadaibes]

Now I know why my letters always come out compressed. Thanks!

[@lydiasabina]

Thanks for the video... Is the sheet. Available on your website??

[@PerfectBiscuits]

Yes, click on the Worksheets tab: consistentcursive.com

[@apscafe]

Very interesting

[@RealEnglishNow]

Great video! I’m gonna check out your site now :)

[@DahHar117]

Thank you so much !!

[@krishnaswainpiano4129]

Do downstrokes have to be done with the arm? I am having trouble doing them with the correct slant and arm movement. I am not having issues with the other strokes.

[@PerfectBiscuits]

No they do not. Only certain books recommended arm movement for all types of strokes while others recommended incorporating the fingers for downstrokes. You could also execute all of the strokes with the fingers, but that will make it a little harder to achieve the traditional forms and you definitely won’t achieve the same line quality as arm movement writing.

[@krishnaswainpiano4129]

@@PerfectBiscuits Okay, that makes sense. I’m using arm movement for the other strokes. While you’re here, I am having some discomfort above the elbow in the upper arm during and after writing. Is this because I’m writing a lot? It is not pain, just a weird sensation. My arm rests on the edge of the desk about an inch in front of the elbow, and my hand position is good from what I can tell, comparing it to videos and pictures.

[@PerfectBiscuits]

@@krishnaswainpiano4129 Sounds like it could be soreness in the arm from writing, which is pretty common. Should go away after another week or so of writing on a regular basis.

[@krishnaswainpiano4129]

@@PerfectBiscuits So I guess I will just keep writing then...

[@SoftBreadSoft]

I feel like mixed movements are optimal for speed and comfort but other people might feel differently. The most important is comfort and consistent legibility, dont worry about how its achieved.

[@cgw509]

Artist! 🙂

[@Siva-DigitalEnglishEducation]

Which pen u r using sir

[@mabulrub]

Thank you for the video I noticed that your main slant is steeper than the spencerian, I think it is around 60 degrees whereas the spencerian is 52. Isn't it spencerian that we're seeing here, or am I missing something?

[@PerfectBiscuits]

Yes the slant is 60 deg in the video, but everything I talk about applies to Spencerian done at 52 deg.

[@zackzimmer7167]

I hold my finger like yours, but everyone says it’s wrong.

[@bella-bee]

I noticed Donald Trump signs like this, with his whole arm, big too, of course!

[@PerfectBiscuits]

He does. Not much to his signature, just some movements up and down.