Sunday, August 23, 2020

Letters Trellis Brings "Handwriting Improv" to the Winchester Farmers Market

 “Handwriting Improv”


Welcome to Letters Trellis.  Letters Trellis is a project to encourage the writing of traditional letters.


Handwriting Improvisation

Sometimes concerns about handwriting present an obstacle to writing letters.  Since the computer keyboard has become a predominant way for communication, you may have less comfort with pen and paper.  Yet we all appreciate a written message from a loved one or friend.  There is something revealed through a person’s hand that is individual and true to their identity. Holding a personally written letter in your hand makes a unique and special connection.


The goal of “Handwriting Improv” is to offer suggestions to make you feel better about your handwriting.  That is why we named our session for the form of music that allows creative expression among seasoned musicians.  If you think about the notes that form music, we can appreciate that the basics of the simplest song starts with notations to be played by any beginner.  This is equivalent to the handwriting basics we learned as children.  Carrying this thought forward, our writing changed with our experience in life.  Whether used frequently or occasionally, our current writing became our improvised version of earlier lettering.  It expresses who we have become.  Letters are valued for this honesty of who we are.


Slow down! The most important way to improve any handwork is to slow ourselves down.  Contrary to hurried notes jotted to remember names or directions, a slowed pace of writing complements the way ideas evolve into letters.  Therefore, a letter reflects a gift of time to your intended reader.  They know the message, and writing of it, took time.  Instead of the many ways your time could be spent, your letter indicates a decision to focus your attention on the person who will receive it.   


Warm up. Consider these suggestions to warm up your hand, as you think about what you want to write.  Even the most seasoned handwriting can benefit from the attention to releasing tension, optimum posture, and selection of writing implement.   



In Rosemary Sassoon’s 2006 handbook on handwriting, she proposes several key questions, including:

  • Is my handwriting worse under pressure?
  • Does it hurt to write?
  • Is my writing so slow that I never get enough done, or so fast that it looks sloppy?


Answers to these questions, and other self-perceptions of one’s handwriting, may be aided with attention to the following suggestions.  First, consider where you are writing.  A writer’s posture is impacted by a writing surface at the right height, a chair to support an upright back without shoulder strain, and an arm supported by the table top so your elbow is kept at a 90 degree angle (like the recommended ergonomics for a computer keyboard).  In addition, the paper should be positioned for access and light, with paper and light source to the left side for left-handers and right side for right hands.  Some writers benefit from a paper (lined or unlined) below the writing sheet, to soften the surface.  Experiment to find what works best for you.   After setting up your writing environment, try the following warm up exercises before you write, and during your writing whenever you notice tension or discomfort.


  • Raise and lower shoulders a few times to relax them.
  • Extend your arms to your sides and alternate stretched and relaxed fingers. 
  • Take a couple of deep breaths
  • Use a piece of scrap paper to draw some relaxing scribbles, like the following, continuing until your pen is skimming across the paper.     



A second consideration is using a writing implement most comfortable and suited to your script.  Pen options include varied writing points (e.g. ballpoint, fiber tips, gels) and varied widths (e.g. fine, medium, bold).  Pen handles can be long, short, thin or thick, and these characteristics impact the comfort of the pen in your grip (your pen hold).  In addition, some pens work better with smooth paper while others will work better when writing on paper with texture.  

• Try out a variety of pen types to determine what works better for you. 


Lastly, consider the reasons for writing with letters joined to each other.  Cursive writing is encouraged if it can help you write faster (less time repositioning the pen), with less up and down hand motion, and to help with good visual spacing of your words. Sometimes it helps to think about what characteristics make written letters easy to read.

  • All letters are a combination of ovals and parallel lines. Some ovals are closed (o, a); some are  open (u, y).  Some lines are straight (l, k) and some lines are curved (u, m).
  • Some letters are higher than others (t, l, k) but all similar letters are the same height (a, c, e).
  • Spacing between letters, words and lines aid in the reading of a page of handwritten script.
  • Some letters join at the top and some letters join at the bottom.


Adjustments to lettering take time, so focus on any specific change just one letter at a time. 

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Letters Trellis Returns to Farmers Market August 15th, 2020

Letters Trellis will return to the Winchester Farmers Market this coming Saturday, August 15th. We will continue the “Post It Forward” program that was started earlier, distributing packets of stationery and stamped envelopes for market attendees to write paper letters so they can connect with others in a tangible way during the viral pandemic.   19 packets were distributed on August 15.

Stop by the Letters Trellis tent and ask about a surprise activity! See https://letterstrellis.com for more information.



“Post it Forward”

 

Welcome to Letters Trellis.  Letters Trellis is a project to encourage the writing of traditional letters.

 

What is Post It Forward?  Post It Forward is an attempt to adapt a community writing opportunity into an at-home activity.  With current physical distancing limits, our plan to welcome you to a letter writing desk at community events has been postponed.  Instead, packets are available to promote a time-tested form of communication, the hand-written letter.  Participants receive a Post It Forward packet with materials for two letters.  You can write to two people, (or invite someone else to “post it forward” and write their own letter by including the folded blank materials in your post).  Either way, you are doubling the impact of your efforts.

 

What’s in the Packet?   Each packet has two stamped envelopes, a few sheets of stationery, and suggestions on getting started.

 

Where can I get a Packet?  We will be at the Winchester Farmers Market a few times during the 2020 season. For actual dates and location see the market page https://winchesterfarmersmarket.org and the Letters Trellis home page https://letterstrellis.com .

 

[August 2020]

So you want to write a letter?​ 

 

Here are some prompts to get you started.  When writing a letter, think about the person to whom you are writing, similar to how you might start a conversation.  Consider the suggestions below and how they might influence what you write.

Prompts

·      Thoughts about when you first met each other, or last visited ________________ 

·      Remembering when you experienced (a place, a person, or gathering) together

·      Things learned because of the person you are writing ________________ 

·      Memories of what your intended reader likes, how they expressed their thoughts,  or how they influenced your own __________

 

Additional prompts

·      When I think of _________________, you come to mind

·      You know my favorite _____________________________________

·      ___________ is happening outside my window and ______________

·      After you left ________________________________

·      Our conversation left me ___________________________

·      I see you in my happy places, like ____________________

·      You make me think of ______________________

·      I can imagine ___________________________________________


Safety

The links below suggest that the risk of transmitting virus through the mail is low.  However, a cautious approach might include the addition of a statement on your envelope, “Please open this letter one day after it arrives, and enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee”. The US Postal Service has this information: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/usps-statement-on-coronavirus.htm