Guest Post: Handwritten Notes and You By Cheeks

Last week DocSersh asked me to write a post regarding handwriting and penmanship. As someone who does a lot of writing by hand, I know that being able to read your own handwriting is important. More importantly, I know that writing by hand is still a useful skill.

    You may be asking yourself, “Why does my handwriting matter? Is it really that important?” Truth is your own handwriting is still important, even in the age of texting and word processors. While people these days will stick with sending emails and text messages to other people, there will always be a place for thank-you notes, personal memos, private journals, and the like. Such examples tend to hold a more personal and emotional connection between you and whoever may be receiving said work.
    Of these examples thank-you notes see the most application. A gentleman knows when and how to send a more personalized note of thanks. Typically, such notes are sent to friends, family, and your superiors based on the work environment. One needs to keep in mind the length and content of the note. A good thank-you note does not deal with any other content besides thanking the receiver for their work, service, generosity, etc. If you intend to mention or talk about other subjects, consider writing a full letter.
Sending a thank-you note or a letter works twofold: first, it a show of courtesy to the person receiving your note, and second, it shows the person you cared enough to sit down and write a message.
   

While sending thank-you notes displays courtesy, it will not matter if your actual penmanship is terrible. Your penmanship, your actual handwriting, can deter even the most honest of intentions. A person cannot accept your thanks or correspondence if they cannot read your handwriting. Being able to write in a legible fashion is critical in sending letters and notes. For the time being, here are a few quick tips on improving your handwriting:

-Make sure you are using a good writing tool. If pencil, make sure it is sharp so your words do not look dull. If pen, make sure there is plenty of ink.

-When using a pen, have one that has a grip. This will make writing easier on your fingers.

-Do not grip your pen/pencil with force. Holding your pen or pencil will put stress on your fingers and your handwriting will suffer as a result.

From here you can browse the Internet for tips, how-to videos, and full books on improving your penmanship.