Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have decided to take up calligraphy. I am an artist with, what I think, is terrible penmanship. I often create things with wording and I struggle to make it look right, so I have my sister do the lettering. Not anymore! In just 1 week of practicing the alphabet in skeleton form (Without the thick and thins) with a carpenter's pencil (wide lead like a wide nibbled pen) and this book, and I'm well on my way! This book is perfect for me, I thought if this book can teach a child, it can teach me as well! On the other hand, I thought that if this can't teach me, nothing will! lol The key to this, I've found, is repetition. Start with a roundhand lowercase (or miniscule) alphabet and write your abc's literally until you cannot stand to write another strange looking "g" (the roundhand lowercase "g" is the strangest way I've ever written a "g" before since the top circle doesnt fill up the entire x height, only about 2/3 plus the rest of the letter is made with a funky motion. It feels unnatural to me.) Even so, now I can make them with ease. After this is when I picked up this book. My normal handwriting has improved immensely, I find myself using the tips and tricks from this book without even thinking about. It's becoming second nature. Again, repetition is key! The practice pages in the back are perfect! I scanned them in and printed off a ton of copies. Lots of pictures, stroke numbers and detailed tips to help you or a child learn the beautiful art of calligraphy! One thing I didn't see in the book was the tip to use the carpenter's pencil at first. You get the hang of keeping it flat at all times with the wide lead, just like a wide nibbed pen. I can see where kids may have an easier time with that instead of jumping straight to a marker or fountain pen. (If I may also recommend a pen, the Pilot Parallel is amazing! So simple to use, to load and write with. The ink flows perfectly, it is unlike any other calligraphy or broad nibbled pen I've ever used and they're under $8 here on Amazon. I also recommend getting the 20 dollar 4 pack with differing sizes. 1.5, 2.4, 3.8 and 6.0) Speedball's Elegant Writers are great chisel tip markers to practice with also, and Amazon sells a 4 pk for 4 dollars as an add on item! **I included a photo of the funky roundhand script letter "g" just in case anyone wondered what I was talking about, but also to show the difference my practice has made. The "weird" g's looked terrible when I started a week ago. Written with the Pilot Parellel 1.5 mm