Questions On Palmer Method

[jemamus]

My backstory is much the same as many on this forum. My handwriting was/is awful and it always has been. I write with my fingers and my wrist instead of using any of my arm or shoulder muscles. About 6 months ago I began a slight interest in changing that part of myself. What triggered it, I cannot really remember. I bought a TWSBI 540, which I absolutely adore, and I found this forum to pull inspiration from. That being said, I started using the Palmer Method from www.palmermethod.com and have hit a slight wall, or at least a slow uphill battle. I sit for at least 15 minutes usually 30 minutes everyday and practice the first drill or two that the method proposes. I try with all my might to maintain a healthy posture but I'm seeing very little if any improvement from my drill work on day one and day 30. If anybody else has used this system is the progress painstakingly slow? I'm not adverse to a multi year uphill battle, I'm just starting to wonder if I'm missing some huge portion or a fundamental idea within it.

 

Another issue I have may simply just take some slowing down and finding a place to write with decent posture but when I copy data usually in numerical format(oil drilling tool data onto data sheets for field use) I'm often writing on a clipboard, which goes without saying leads me straight back to my old style of finger writing. I think that could be sabotaging much of the progress from the Palmer method.

 

Any comments or suggestions for the method will be appreciated.

 

Write on,

 

Trey

[pmhudepo]

I, too, find it difficult to stop old habits and form new ones. I've been practising on and off since last summer, and I still can produce chicken scratch without breaking a sweat. A relaxed, flowing cursive, on the other hand, not so much. Maybe I'm overthinking it and I should just sit down and write. (I am sure a few of my penpals would agree :embarrassed_smile: )

 

Anyway, I believe posture, grip and motion are key. Forget about letter forms during practice for a few sessions. Large, flowing shapes that you can gradually reduce in size and inch towards the loops of the letters l and e. Next, 'words' like 'llll,' 'eeee,' 'lleellee' -- flowing, looping letters. Then move a a little beyond that, perhaps 'letter,' or 'little.' Add some drills from a textbook whenever you feel you are cramping up.

 

If, like mine, your writing has had more than a decade to deteriorate, I suppose we can't be surprised that it will take significant time to correct. Practice makes permanent and not necessarily perfect.

 

At least we can have fun during practice -- doodle, sketch, vent your anger, write out good things from your day, etc.

 

Oh, and

Edited March 28, 2012 by pmhudepo

[jemamus]

"If, like mine, your writing has had more than a decade to deteriorate, I suppose we can't be surprised that it will take significant time to correct. Practice makes permanent and not necessarily perfect."

 

I guess this is a very true, I have been writing chicken scratch for over 15 years, I can't really expect it to change within a month like that. I'm just from the generation of instant gratification, doing things slowly and surely is a struggle for us. I will try to change up my practice sessions too, I do feel a little stagnant sometimes while practicing drill after drill for 30 or 45 minutes straight.

[Najdorf]

I find it very helpful to practice pair of letters, after you control the basic drill in that method and feel comfortable with the letters

practice them in pairs like: ab ac ad....az, ba bc be, and so on, then triple letters and whole words, in that way you cover all possibilities

and with time and practice you get more confidence and wont have to figure out how you gonna get to the next letter while writing.

 

BTW when i was in college i had friend with very clean and beautiful handwrite, and he was writing in class while sitting like

he is in the beach half lying in the chair, this guy is the most pleasant easy going man i ever met only second to someone i met while traveling in india.(pic)

 

 

 

 

my point is that imo its more then posture and technic.

 

My handwrite improved in college, mainly because of drawing classes, it still not beautiful but a lot better then it use to be.

 

Confidence is the keyword.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Najdorf

[jemamus]

I find it very helpful to practice pair of letters, after you control the basic drill in that method and feel comfortable with the letters

practice them in pairs like: ab ac ad....az, ba bc be, and so on, then triple letters and whole words, in that way you cover all possibilities

and with time and practice you get more confidence and wont have to figure out how you gonna get to the next letter while writing.

 

BTW when i was in college i had friend with very clean and beautiful handwrite, and he was writing in class while sitting like

he is in the beach half lying in the chair, this guy is the most pleasant easy going man i ever met only second to someone i met while traveling in india.(pic)

 

 

 

 

my point is that imo its more then posture and technic.

 

My handwrite improved in college, mainly because of drawing classes, it still not beautiful but a lot better then it use to be.

 

Confidence is the keyword.

 

 

Very interesting thoughts!

[Najdorf]

BTW if you havent seen this... it looks very good,

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/9112-how-to-improve-handwriting

 

Guy

[pmhudepo]

These videos certainly are of help, but it's been pointed out to me, when I posted a link a while ago, that she does plant her hand quite firmly on the table. That is at odds with whole arm movement.

 

Regardless, her comments about posture, relaxed state, rhythm and not repeating practice words ad nauseam are very valuable.

[jemamus]

These videos certainly are of help, but it's been pointed out to me, when I posted a link a while ago, that she does plant her hand quite firmly on the table. That is at odds with whole arm movement.

 

Regardless, her comments about posture, relaxed state, rhythm and not repeating practice words ad nauseam are very valuable.

 

 

I agree, I watched all her video's and while she has some very insightful tips and tricks with the spacing excersizes and many others. She writes very much with her fingers instead of her upper arm and leaving her pivot point at her forearm. While that may work for her I don't think that the finger muscles can compete with the arm in longevity of writing or general population form. She, needless to say, is very talented though!