Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part 1: Finding Your Everyday Pen
- Part 2: Your First Project—Slowing Down
- Part 3: Sincerity Rules Everything
- Part 4: Getting Practical—Writing in a Straight Line
- Part 5: Keeping Your Letter Sizes Consistent
- Part 6: Giving Your Letters Room to Breathe
- Part 7: A Few Little Things Good to Know
- A Quick Recap
- Moving Forward—Your Grip Changes Everything
Part 6: Giving Your Letters Room to Breathe
The magic of uniform spacing.
Now that we know how to write in a straight line and keep our letter heights consistent, there is one last spacing trick that pulls everything together: the distance between your letters. When letters are squashed too close, they become hard to read; when they drift too far apart, the words lose their shape.
The goal isn't to make your spacing mathematically perfect. Instead, it is simply about creating a consistent rhythm across the page so your words have room to breathe.
Here are two simple things to keep in mind as you write:
• Imagine an invisible letter: A great trick when writing print or block letters is to imagine a tiny letter o or an invisible bead sitting between each letter. Try to leave just enough empty space for that invisible bead to fit comfortably every single time.
• Watch your word gaps: To make sure your sentences don't run into one another, leave a clear space between each whole word. A good rule of thumb is to make the gap between words roughly the width of a lowercase letter w.
Your Next Project: A Note for a Hard Day
To practice giving your letters room to breathe, your project is to write a short note for someone in your life who might be going through a stressful or overwhelming time. It doesn't need to be long or complicated—just a few gentle words to let them know they are on your mind.
When someone is stressed, a crowded, rushed note can feel overwhelming to look at. By slowing down and using our spacing tricks, you are creating a note that feels calm, peaceful, and incredibly easy to read.
Grab a piece of neat, lined paper or lightly sketch single straight lines onto a blank card. Write out your comforting words slowly, focusing on that steady, rhythmic pacing. Let each letter have its own distinct space, and leave a clear gap between your words. Once your ink dries and you erase any pencil marks, you'll have a beautiful, soothing message ready to bring a bit of peace to someone who really needs it.