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I'm 3an old left handed writer. I love use fountain pens and I like to improve my hand writing. All books reccomended in this forum are before the left handed people were enable to use left hand. Do you know any good text for left handed imrovement hand writing? Thanks a lot

I am about to make my first gold nib purchase and I'm unsure about which nib I should get. I am a lefty, over writer without a hook. I turn my paper/journal at a 45 degree counter clockwise angle when I write, so I write away from my body. I will be purchasing a Santini pen, I enjoy using the Pilot Metropolitan Cursive Medium and would like a similar, if not more refined writing experience. My choices are Italic, Left Oblique or Reverse Oblique. They also offer a 0.9mm Italic nib as an option to their 1.1 Italic. Any insight would be appreciated, I've had a recent bad experience with a TWSBI Precision Stub pen which I had to pass on to my wife as it proved to be unusable in my hands. I'd like to think it's a one off experience being a lefty, but I do not want to risk a similar experience.

A colleague showed me his Twsbi Eco and I was so impressed by the piston-filler concept, it re-kindled my love of fountain pens after a 4-year hiatus. Now I need a nice blue ink to go with it . I've been using Parker Quink permanent blue for most of my life and I love it. My other favourite ink is Waterman Florida blue (last bottle I purchased was in 2009 so I still use the old name in my head ). Looking for an ink that's slightly less "purple" and more "blue" than these, with the following qualities: Quick-drying (I'm left-handed) Wet/smooth feel of nib on paper (I currently use a Lamy EF nib) Saturated/strong colour. I don't like dilute inks that show shading (I dislike Quink washable blue and Pelikan 4001 Blue for this reason) Won't stain the polycarbonate barrel of the Twisbi (hence my hesitation to try anything by Noodler's) Won't fade over time (Quink washable blue was notorious for this, school notes would be grey by the time I needed to study from them a year later)Regarding the shade of blue, - something that's more light/blue than the Quink/Waterman, but far from torquise (I use it for work so it has to look "serious"). No darker colours - I'm not a fan of "murky" hues like Quink blue-black, much prefer pure blue or pure black.

I am 20 years old, a left handed writer, and new to the world of fountain pens. I taught myself cursive when I was in the 7th grade, because before then my penmanship was absolutely terrible, and schools in the U.S. do not teach it past the 2nd grade. For a very long time I have admired the beauty of Spencerian script, yet I am very apprehensive to even attempt to learn it because of my handedness. Normally I am a hooker, like most left handers, but I do not view that as practical for a script that emphasizes whole arm movement. I am trying to become a sort of underhanded writer, and am doing the push-pull exercises as described in the book "Modern Business Penmanship" on IAMPETH.com. The trouble is, I don't really know what I am doing right, nor do I know what I am doing wrong. I have attached an image below of my grip and the angle at which I have the paper. Is this grip feasible for the script? Is there anything I could do better? Please let me know.

I confess not only to being left-handed having illegible handwriting and horrible printing for the last 70 years, since kindergarten, but also to using mild dyslexia and lack of coordination as an excusefor using typewriters and computers in the intervening years. Now in impecunious retirement, I have decided it is time to learn calligraphy. Note, I do not say "try to learn" -- I say learn. My first foray has been into using Pilot Parallel pens and basic and supposedly easy unembellished Gothic as seen on You-Tube. I also have discovered that I use over, under and side writing as a matter oc course, switching with what my eye and wrist need to complete a stroke. Very uncomfortable and less than fruitful on thick/thin relationships requiring re-angling the pen. I have seen left handed calligraphy nib sets, and also found the Neil has someone grind ing Parallel Pens to left handed usability. But, being broke, allegedly retired, and owning a Dremel tool, as well as some fine grit finish emory paper, AND knowing that each left-hander may have need of a different cut angle because of grip and wrist I have decided to take matters into my own hands and head. I can see that as an apprentice grinding my own Parallels might be affordable, however, I just do not know where to start. At which angle to put slant that would fit many lefties, including myself is the first question. I have the tools already paid for and can afford about one $10 a month pen to work on. Neil charges about $15 a pen plus shipping so I would otherwise have to go about 2 months between trying pens. Can anyone suggest a starting angle and where to cut the Parallel Pens so I do the least damage and can cut deeper if needed? And for the younger folks out there regarding the headline here - -- sinister was an old term for left handed people -- who were considered irregular, out of step and probably criminal in Olden Times. Those were the days before they learned about southpaw pitchers in the major leagues. Gregg Chmara -- Looking for a perfect signature G.

I confess not only to being left-handed having illegible handwriting and horrible printing for the last 70 years, since kindergarten, but also to using mild dyslexia and lack of coordination as an excusefor using typewriters and computers in the intervening years. Now in impecunious retirement, I have decided it is time to learn calligraphy. Note, I do not say "try to learn" -- I say learn. My first foray has been into using Pilot Parallel pens and basic and supposedly easy unembellished Gothic as seen on You-Tube. I also have discovered that I use over, under and side writing as a matter oc course, switching with what my eye and wrist need to complete a stroke. Very uncomfortable and less than fruitful on thick/thin relationships requiring re-angling the pen. I have seen left handed calligraphy nib sets, and also found the Neil has someone grind ing Parallel Pens to left handed usability. But, being broke, allegedly retired, and owning a Dremel tool, as well as some fine grit finish emory paper, AND knowing that each left-hander may have need of a different cut angle because of grip and wrist I have decided to take matters into my own hands and head. I can see that as an apprentice grinding my own Parallels might be affordable, however, I just do not know where to start. At which angle to put slant that would fit many lefties, including myself is the first question. I have the tools already paid for and can afford about one $10 a month pen to work on. Neil charges about $15 a pen plus shipping so I would otherwise have to go about 2 months between trying pens. Can anyone suggest a starting angle and where to cut the Parallel Pens so I do the least damage and can cut deeper if needed? And for the younger folks out there regarding the headline here - -- sinister was an old term for left handed people -- who were considered irregular, out of step and probably criminal in Olden Times. Those were the days before they learned about southpaw pitchers in the major leagues. Gregg Chmara -- Looking for a perfect signature G.

Folks, I have a family member who is learning to be a leftie, after a quarter century of right (handed) living. I have twisted her young mind into liking fountain pens, and when I asked if she would like a nice pen to practice with, she was very much on board. I had seen, (probably on e-bay), listings that claimed to have nibs that were good for left-handed writing, and now I'm not able to find them. I thought that these were Pilot PO(Posting) nibs, but now I'm not seeing any of these claims, and/or nibs. To be clear, I see the PO nibs, but not the claims of "good for left handed writing". I'm not looking for italics, at least at this point. The posting nib is more in line with her usage (as it is with mine) - relatively fine, easy and fun to write with, and not requiring a great deal of effort to get legible writing. These are brainstorming instruments, and no one else sees most of the scribbles of these pens, but having the writing experience pleasurable is paramount. So, is there a nib that will tend to lower frustration, and if possible, just work? She is not easy on her devices, so I'm still thinking the posting nib would be a decent choice: a nail, but one that I believe will not tend to dig into the paper. I am not a left handed writer, so I can't actually know what will or won't work. I really want this to be a good experience, she's got enough frustration on her plate for the foreseeable future. If I need to back away from this, please let me know. Thanks much in advance for sharing your experience and advice... Mike

Hello, I´ve been using fountain pens daily for a couple of years. First I had a Montblanc 592. A flea market find that wrote like a dream and got me into FP´s. Later I found an ST Dupont, gilt sterling silver one (I don´t know the model name) that also worked very well. The first pen I bought new was a Lamy 2000. I´ve used it daily for 2-3 years and it is a great pen for me. It has never ever failed to put ink on a paper when I want it to. Not once. Being a left handed overwriter, I use a lot of push writing and I´ve found that some nibs work better than others for me. For instance I owned a Visconti van Gogh, an early example with a very beautiful and springy nib (compared to the Lamy 2000). And it didn´t work very well for me. I now want to buy a more classically styled pen (compared to the Lamy) and I am considering something along the lines of the Pelikan M800 or Montblanc 146. Do you think they would be too springy for me? Are there alternatives, classically styled pens with the same quality and styling with a nib better suited for me? A Lamy 2000 nib in a meisterstuck package, if you will? Any and all help will be much appreciated!

I have a friend at work that is struggling with an italic pen. He is left handed and having trouble finding a comfortable writing position or font to use. I am right handed so I don't know where to start to help him. I am looking for any advice, links or examples that could help him. He has not asked me to ask, but I know that he is really interested in italic calligraphic handwriting and is having trouble finding a way to make it work. Thank you in advance all for your help.

http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/lh-zone-200.gif It's almost that time again! Left Handers Day is on Wednesday, August 13. There are a lot of fun resources at the Left Handers Club website. They have posters you can print off, and these graphics. See last year's thread here (with even more fun images). These images are from the Left Handers Club: http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/left-handers-day-150x150.png http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/keep-left-200.gif http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/lh-and-proud-200.gif http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/right-minds-200.gif http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/a-left-handed-thing-300x251.gif http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/always-right-300x251.gif http://www.lefthandersday.com/wp-content/uploads/left-handed-definition-300x251.gif How will you celebrate Left Handers Day? I hope you'll post your lefty's scrawl here!

Left Handers Club has some fun posters (.pdf) you can print off free here to help celebrate the day. They are located in the U.K. They are affiliated with Anything Lefthanded, a mail order company that specializes in left-handed pens and left-handed-friendly gadgets of all kinds. I'm not affiliated with them, though I have bought a few products to help teach my left-handed daughter how to write (I'm left-handed as well). Thought other lefties might enjoy a day just for them! http://www.lefthandersday.com/posters/leftyzone200.jpg

So today I got my first chance to really practice writing with a flexible nib dip pen, I have a tiny bit of experience with flat-tipped nibs doing Uncial, but this Copperplate stuff is completely new to me. From reading on these forums I've decided not to use an oblique holder (being left handed and all), also as you can see in the video, my nib catches CONSTANTLY and its really frustrating, apparently I need to change my nib angle, but it always seems to catch (hence why I made a video). I am open to critiques on everything I am doing wrong (and considering I am a total beginner, I'm sure there is a lot of stuff in that regard). Thanks! My other nibs (such as the Leonardt Principal EF) catch so badly I have given up practicing with them and only use the Gillott 303

Hello All, I've been trying to work on my handwriting and though not going for a particular, style I'm trying to achieve something that looks confident yet considered and doesn't look like it's written by a 10 year old. I'm finding it difficult to get a look of confidence in my writing and it looks tentative to me. I'm also having difficulty with the slope, I'm a left handed underwriter and the page is almost 90 to my body and so cannot use the right handed technique of angling the paper and then writing vertically to get a consistent slope. The attached is an example of my everyday slightly slower than normal writing. I'd value your suggestions on the way forward.

I just got my first fountain pen (Visionnaire Noir [yes, I am aware of the controversy]) which I wanted because I had taken to hand writing letters. Having the pen, I want to tackle my handwriting. My current is an abysmal print (chicken scratch), and I would like to develop a respectable cursive. I currently I do not even know how to produce all of the cursive capitals. My goal from this endeavor is to be able to pick up "any old pen" (ballpoint, gel, standard-nib fountain) and be able to write a nice cursive for "everyday" writing. I intend all my practicing to be with a fountain pen. I just do not want spend a lot of time learning to write nicely but require a special pen (flex nib, oblique holder, etc.) to be able to do it. I considered just acquiring some primary school cursive guide sheets and figuring it out; however, I am thinking that formal resources on how to write and try to learn a 'proper' method would give give better results. I know it will be slower and more work; though, as I understand it, side-writing is the worst configuration for left-handed FP so the effort is likely worthwhile. I am willing to put in the effort of relearning how to hold a pen so long as the method had clear instructions how to do it. I would even be willing to change writing hands if that is strongly recommended. Switching hands would not be high on my priorities (I like being recognized as a lefty), but I am ambidextrous so switching to right-handed writing would not be too great of sin. I write exclusively with my left because a primary school teacher needed me to not switch hands to be able to teach me how to hold my pencil properly [with a little grip thingy added to the pencil]. Before I properly did research, I picked up Platt Rogers Spencer's Spencerian Penmanship (Theory Book & Copybooks) thinking I would just work through that. I now realize that would best be done with a flex nib but I would prefer not to buy a new pen right now to get a flex nib. If it is a a strong recommendation I would. (I figure Spencerian would still look nice written without a flex nib once learned.) Ideally I would be looking for a recommended resource that I could work through. I spent a good portion of the day looking through posts and linked resources, but there end up being a lot of options. A common message was "do what works for you" and there are "ways to make it work." If I am going to try to learn a new writing form I would prefer proven guidance on something that works; or at least a good list of pros and cons so I can make an informed decision. Much of what I was finding just recognizes "different" options with the choice having been natural then adapted to work. The Spencerian book has instructions on how to orient the paper, and hold the pen, but only for right-handed use. I am looking for any advice or wisdom the community has. Your input will be greatly appreciated. ___ What I currently have for this undertaking: Visionnaire Noir Pen, Medium Round Standard NibVisionnaire Noir Black Ink (not especially saturated, seems to dry fairly quickly) Mohawk Strathmore Writing 24lb, Wove, Natural White Paper Spencerian Penmanship (Theory Book plus five copybooks) by Platt Rogers Spencer