So now, you know how to hold the pen. Next thing is you need to do is learn to write with it…without smearing ink all over the paper.

Since we write from left to write, lefties are at a huge disadvantage. As we move our hands across the paper when we write, the tendency is to move our hand over the text we just wrote. If it’s a ballpoint pen, then usually it’s alright with some minimal smearing. But when using calligraphy pens, fountain pens and similar ink that needs more drying time, we can’t just write the way we do.

Smearing ink is a huge problem for lefties and could be quite a frustrating experience. If not corrected, the tendency is to just give up on calligraphy altogether. I know I felt that way in the beginning. The first time I wrote without smearing, I wanted to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate!

So how do we stop our lefty selves from converting our lovely script to plain blobs and lines on paper?

The first thing you need to do is figure out your writing style. You need to ask yourself if you are you an overwriter, underwriter or side-writer?

Overwriters, or hookers, usually curl their hands as they write. They position their hands over the ascender line. The ascender line is the height of your majuscules (capital letters) and miniscules (small letters) that have ascenders (e.g. l, k, d, t, etc.). They also position their paper similar to right-handed people and rotate their paper counter-clockwise.

Underwriters, on the other hand, hold the pen at a more neutral position. They position their hand below the baseline when they write. They position the paper in the opposite direction and angle it clockwise.

Side-writers position their hand somewhere in between the ascender line and the baseline. There is also a tendency to push the pen as they write. The paper is positioned almost vertically, angled slightly either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

To better illustrate the differences in hand positions, check out this page.

For natural underwriters and side-writers (like myself), the best way to keep your ink from smearing is to utilize underhand writing. You may need to experiment a little with how you angle your paper to find that sweet spot when you write.

Check out the video below and hopefully it will better illustrate what I’m talking about.

For overwriters, you may try switching to becoming an underwriter. It may take quite a bit of adjustment, but it could definitely be done. On the other hand, you may also want to explore another method I’ve seen online. (Disclaimer: I have not fully tried it since it is not suited to my current writing style.) Try writing from above the ascender line and position your nib and it’s tines facing you. Essentially, you will be writing upside down and reversing the strokes as you write. The paper angle will also depend on what feels comfortable to you. I tried it and it was really H-A-R-D! But hey, this may work for you. No harm in trying, right? Do let me know how it works out for you.

Some additional references you may also wanna check out:

• Left-handed Calligraphy by Vance Studley
• Modern Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe

Happy writing!