Reason Behind Your Wobbly Handwriting in Calligraphy

In the world of calligraphy, one of the most common questions asked by beginners is "Why is my calligraphy so shaky?" The author of the popular online course, Show Me Your Drills, has provided a practical, step-by-step checklist to help figure out why strokes are shaky and what can be done to smooth things out.

The cause of shaky calligraphy is often a combination of physiological and technical factors. For beginners, lack of muscle memory, improper grip, and insufficient control over pen pressure and motion can lead to unsteady lines. External factors such as stress, hydration, and grip issues can also exacerbate the shakiness.

To improve their technique and reduce shakiness, beginners should:

Use the right materials: Smooth, high-quality paper like HP 32 lb premium helps pens glide better and prevents frustration from paper texture or pen damage.
Practice consistently: Gradual muscle memory development through regular, deliberate practice is essential. Even short sessions are beneficial, as the hand learns the required motions over time.
Check physical conditions: Avoid excessive caffeine and maintain good hydration and nutrition, as these influence hand steadiness.
Adjust grip and posture: Ensure a comfortable, firm grip without tension; sweaty hands or discomfort can cause instability in strokes.
Focus on slow, controlled strokes: Starting slow helps build confidence and precision before increasing speed.

When it comes to tools, the author suggests using a small-tip felt brush pen like the Tombow Fudenosuke for better control. Large or super flexible brush pens can be harder to control, especially for beginners.

In addition, the course offers step-by-step videos, printable practice sheets, and a beginner-friendly structure. The author provides a free course, Show Me Your Drills, to help build confidence in strokes and make smooth lines.

Shaky calligraphy often happens when one is rushing or going too slow. A slow-but-steady pace with consistent speed is recommended. Light upstrokes can cause the pen to skip and lines to look wobbly. To fix this, the author suggests holding the pen farther from the tip, loosening hand and wrist between strokes, and taking breaks to shake out the hand or relax the shoulders.

Bristle-tipped pens and paintbrush-style tools should be avoided at the start, as they're harder to control. Rough or "toothy" paper can make strokes look jagged, so the author suggests using smooth paper like Rhodia or marker paper. Too much caffeine, lack of sleep, or general stress can make hands shaky and affect calligraphy.

If all tweaks don't work and strokes still feel shaky, it might be due to early stages of muscle memory building, which takes time. If the shakiness persists, patience and continued practice are key to improving over time.

Beginners in calligraphy may find issue with their shaky work, but the course Show Me Your Drills offers a helpful checklist to address this problem.
The shakiness in calligraphy is often caused by lack of muscle memory, improper grip, insufficient control over pen pressure, and external factors such as stress, hydration, and grip issues.
To improve technique and reduce shakiness, beginners should use high-quality paper like HP 32 lb premium, practice consistently, maintain good hydration and nutrition, adjust grip and posture, and focus on slow, controlled strokes.
For better control, the author suggests using a small-tip felt brush pen, such as the Tombow Fudenosuke, and avoidance of large or super flexible brush pens for beginners.
Show Me Your Drills offers step-by-step videos, printable practice sheets, and a beginner-friendly structure to help build confidence in strokes and make smooth lines.
To prevent light upstrokes causing pen skipping and wobbly lines, the author advises holding the pen farther from the tip, loosening the hand and wrist between strokes, and taking breaks to shake out the hand or relax the shoulders.
Bristle-tipped pens, paintbrush-style tools, and rough or "toothy" paper can worsen shaky calligraphy, so it's best to avoid these or use smooth paper like Rhodia or marker paper.
If strokes continue to feel shaky despite making adjustments, it may be due to muscle memory building, which takes time, and patience and continued practice are necessary to improve over time.