Writ large

Micrographia (small handwriting) is yet another weird niggle for people with Parkinson’s to add to their collection. I’ve been working at writing bigger shapes and adding to my pen collection.

Once upon a time I had near-perfect handwriting, although some people have cheekily observed that the woodpecker wears yellow underpants.

I crafted this with an Osmiroid 65 fountain pen like this one, with its little lever on the side to slurp up the ink from the Quink bottle.  

Some of you may recognise the influence of Marion Richardson on my early work. Many teachers used her cursive drill sheets to teach ‘joined-up’ handwriting in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Getting lazy

When ballpoints became commonplace, I became lazier and lazier. In blue and black ink at least. I only wrote neatly in red when, as a magazine sub-editor, I marked up copy for the typesetters. As a proofreader, I learned all the little squiggly conventions of standard mark-up. A serious business, er, most of the time.

And so it went till the 1980s, when I was early to adopt Microsoft Word and Aldus PageMaker, and most of the publishing work moved to my computer. I still liked to make the effort to send handwritten thank-you letters, but that was pretty much it for handwriting. Robin, my hunter-gatherer husband, always has to check the shopping list before he sets off for Sainsbury’s, and bless him, he has never come back with an inappropriate substitute.

Tiny writing

Fast forward to the spring of 2019, just before my diagnosis. I was taking minutes in a meeting. They looked like this:

I hadn’t worried about my writing getting smaller. My brother has always had small, barely legible handwriting, and it didn’t stop him reaching the top, academically and professionally. My daughter’s brass teacher once wrote ‘Slug Bananas’ in her practice book – to this day this is how we start the chorus to ‘Give me oil in my lamp’.

It turns out this ‘micrographia’ is a thing for people with Parkinson’s – another weird niggle to add to our collection.

Bigger shapes

With medication and practice I have worked on bigger shapes. I make sure letters fill the boxes in crosswords. When the meds wear off, I quickly revert to the little squiggles.

And my minutes are just a little more readable:

Creative Neurology

If you are troubled by small writing and can’t write the big shapes, Creative Neurology may have the answer. Since 2014, they have helped more than 1,500 people worldwide to reconnect pen with paper through the Let’s Combat Micrographia® programme.  They offer workshops and interactive materials such as wide-lined notebooks and indented paper to help people practise writing larger and more legibly.

Saba Shahid, who describes herself as the Chief Smiling Officer of Creative Neurology, says:

“Acceptance is the first step to improving micrographia. When you can accept the frustrations that come with small handwriting and can change your attitude towards it, you will be more receptive to making improvements. It is important to take ownership of this symptom and try your best to write as much as you can. When opportunities are present, such as signing your name on a check or filling out a doctor’s form, do not depend on your spouse or care partner to write for you but take the time to complete it yourself. Our resources and course offerings help a person with Parkinson’s regain confidence in their abilities and the writing process. Participants are able to see improvements in as little as 3 weeks!”

The right pen

I can’t pick any old pen out of the pot and I especially curse biros. I touch them to paper and they may or may not respond. I have neither the patience nor the strength to find out which. I can’t give them the pressure they crave. So gel pens it is. My current choice is the Pilot G-2 07 – smooth running, retractable, a dream to write with. The ink doesn’t dry quickly on shiny greetings cards – but there is always blotting paper.  

My favourite pen people are  Cult Pens.   Once upon a time they put smiley paper clips in a conference goody bag, and I was hooked. I love their huge online emporium. 

Offers

Today’s blog comes with offers! If you love pens, pencils and stationery, head over to Cult Pens and enter the code PARKYTRACKS10 for a 10% discount  – valid now until midnight 31 Dec 2021.

The same code will also secure 10% per cent off a copy of the second edition of the Let’s Combat Micrographia® workbook.

Play > Writ Large > Everything in Pen