By Hand
I did something the other day that I rarely do anymore: I wrote a letter by hand. Not a thank-you note either… A bona fide four page letter. I was writing to someone who doesn’t have access to a computer, and although I could have written it in Word and then printed a copy, it seems so much less personal to do that — less friendly.
I used to have rather nice handwriting, but boy-oh-boy, I’ve gotten lazy with it. I used to write my manuscripts by hand and then re-type them, but I found that too time consuming when I got to writing full-length novels. These days the most practice I get is grocery lists and notes in the margins of manuscripts. (But then I’ve even started doing more of those things on the computer too!)
Interestingly, bad handwriting is one of those flaws most people will confess to. People will rarely admit to being bad drivers, having no sense of humour, being overly sensitive or talking about themselves too much.
I think I do judge people by their handwriting. If people have really lovely script, it makes me admire them just a little bit more. I wonder if people ever lose out on jobs because of bad handwriting on a job application. I do think if someone I was dating wrote me a note and they had really scattered or immature handwriting, it would have given me pause.
The whole thing is a bit silly, because hand writing is a skill anyone can learn, just as anyone can learn to touch-type. But it does seem to make a difference.
How do you rate your own handwriting? Do you judge others by theirs?
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I agree with you that it’s slightly silly, but I also look at handwriting! I try to write my best when I write things other people will see – but my notebook is far less tidy!
[ Follow me on Twitter: AlexandraCroco ]
I don’t hand-write much anymore because arthritis has overwhelmed my hands. On occasions where I do feel a handwritten letter is in order, I will rest my hands or dip them in hot water so I can write comfortably.
I once visited a nun who taught me to write as a child. I had to sign my name for something and she remarked that she couldn’t understand how I could write so beautifully while holding my hand in such an awkward position.
I smiled and explained to her that she forced me to be right-handed and even to this day it feels unnatural so I end up holding my pen funny.
My handwriting has deteriorated but if it’s important I do make the effort to make it pretty.
My mother, nearly 80 still has beautiful penmanship.
[ Follow me on Twitter: MariaZannini ]
I used to have decent handwriting skills but now – not so much. When typing, I can keep up with my thoughts but when I’m writing by hand, I can’t which leads to some pretty messy handwriting.
I too once had lovely handwriting. But laziness has taken its toll. I do use a pen though when I am writing. I need the flow of a pen across the page. Often though the writing is so sloppy trying to keep up with the flow of thought, I have a hard time deciphering it. I am a nervous hesitant driver. I refuse to comment on the sense of humour or the talking too much about myself.
I have TERRIBLE handwriting and I realise it’s cos I’m thinking faster than I can write!
I thank the good lord jesus everyday for whomever invented typewriters! And luckily too one is now able to fill in a form online.
My sister has gorgeous handwriting – she has loops and curls and rounded letters – amazing!
Take care
x
My handwriting is atrocious. Always has been. In fact, I’m quite traumatised by it, because when I was in kindergarten my teacher made me miss the bus home to practise my Qs. It’s a really big deal to miss the bus when you’re only 4. Is your heart bleeding for me yet?
I don’t have very good handwriting! However, thank you notes that are handwritten are so much more personal. Good for you!
[ Follow me on Twitter: alexjcavanaugh ]
I have atrocious handwriting – always have. My printing skills are okay, but just as I can’t keep up with my thoughts in cursive, it’s worse trying to print the letters, and I inevitably slip into cursive. Which leads to this unwieldy mess of mixed media handwriting that is difficult to decipher. LOL
Needless to say, I don’t do much handwriting anymore. Even my grocery list is digitized on my PDA. When I do have to write a note (or sign books like I did last night), I try to make it legible, but it takes an insane amount of time and makes my hand hurt, and I inevitably get frustrated and rush through.
It’s certainly a wonderful skill to have and handwriting is always more personal…but I’m exceedingly happy that online correspondence is the norm now.
[ Follow me on Twitter: JamieDeBree ]
I correspond with my god-daughter because she hasn’t time for the computer once she’s home from work. How exciting it is to receive a letter from her, filled with news of what’s going on in her life. I, in kind, respond with great enthusiasm…she want’s to know what’s going on in MY life! Of course, we exhibit our best penmanship, kind of like we’re on our best behavior as we share our ink filled thoughts.
When I write creatively I much prefer to put pen to paper first and type later. I like to feel the words as they soak into my legal size pad. After spending several years writing for an advertising insert for a local Sunday paper that required my taking copious notes during interviews, my handwriting can only be deciphered by me. But, when it comes to my god-daughter, only my best will do.
It’s sad to say that I do judge people by their handwriting, but not too harshly. So that’s good.
I wrote a note by hand the other day. I was exhausted by the end!
Whew! It took me years to learn to compose poetry via computer — no joke. I had to hand-write on a yellow legal pad using black ink. Way back, it also mattered where I sat, I needed coffee and a cigarette, as well. (Haven’t smoked since ’72.) Imagine? It took what it took. Does that mean I’m bifurcated? If so, can we come up with a smart sounding word for it?
[ Follow me on Twitter: girlfrenkate ]
It’s amazing the importance of writing by hand and how it can affect the reader. My husband wanted to type and print out wedding thank yous (mostly because he can’t even read his writing) but I insisted on writing them by hand. It’s a personal touch and how the words flow differently.
[ Follow me on Twitter: eileenandrews ]