Why do you want to learn how to write straight on blank paper? Most people just want to write straight on blank paper simply because it looks a whole lot better. When you write on plain blank paper, the results just look cleaner.
For instance, if you want to try journaling, you can use a notebook with blank pages. By writing on blank paper and you notice your lines going straight from left to right, it seems to look much better compared to if you are writing on a lined page.
You might have tried doing it a couple of times, but when you check out your handiwork, you find that your lines are always going up and are not straight and level at all. In this article, you will learn how you can write straight and cleanly even without the guidelines to help.
Step-by-Step Guide
Method 1: Draw Light Guidelines
This method might seem like cheating, but then again, you are the only one who will be looking at your notes anyway so it should not even matter.
What You Need:
- A #2 or #3 pencil
- A ruler
- A kneadable eraser
Instructions:
Step 1 – Draw guidelines on the paper
Lay your paper down on a flat and level surface. Mark out where you will be placing your lines. The great thing about this method is that you can set the spacing to however narrow or wider you want them to be.
Ideally, you should use a #3 pencil as it will leave a lighter mark compared to a #2 pencil. Also, when scribing the lines, do not put too much pressure on the paper. The pencil marks should be as light as you can make them.
Step 2 – Write on the page
Now that you have the guidelines lightly drawn on the page, you can proceed to write on it. When writing, avoid rushing. Keep your strokes rather slow and deliberate. This will prevent you from making spelling errors that would make an otherwise clean page look messy.
Writing slowly will also make sure that your letters and symbols are of uniform size. If you do not have particularly neat penmanship, it is usually because you tend to rush when writing. Take it slow and only speed up after you have gotten a bit of practice.
Step 3 – Erase the guidelines
After you finish filling up the page with your handwriting, you can now proceed to erase the guidelines you placed earlier. You should use a soft, kneadable eraser because a regular rubber eraser might damage the page and fade the ink.
Method 2: Placing a Ruled Page Underneath the Blank Page
This method is a bit easier than the first one. However, you should be writing on a rather thin page. If you plan to write in a notebook journal, this method might not be that viable.
What You Need:
- A sheet of lined paper
- Blank paper – Use paper that has a lighter weight or something a bit translucent
Instructions:
Step 1 – Choose a lined paper
Choose a lined paper that you will be using. Ideally, pick a type of paper with lines that are highly visible and contrast against the white background. Also, make sure that the paper has lines featuring the right spacing that you want.
Step 2 – Place the lined paper underneath the paper you are writing on
If you plan to do the writing on a blank piece of paper, you just need to place the lined paper underneath it. If you have a lightbox, it is best to use it for this purpose. However, in the absence of a lightbox, you can just write in a well-lit area.
You should be able to barely see the marks from the lined pad underneath the paper and follow it when you are writing. To keep the lined paper from moving as you write, you can secure it on the other piece of paper using a small bit of masking tape, or use a paper clip or two.
The Importance of Regular Practice
The methods mentioned above are great for beginners but if you want to write straight on a blank page without any guides at all, then you should commit to keep on practicing. You can use the methods mentioned above at the start but you have to wean yourself off them after a while.
After a couple of months of practice writing with the guides above, you should have developed a bit of muscle memory when writing. This means you can start writing without the guides anymore despite the possibility of messing it up at times.
In case you mess up your writing, do not fret too much and just try again. In time, you will be an expert with enough practice.
Conclusion
Learning how to write straight on blank paper will take a bit of time without using the guides mentioned above. However, if you do not mind using writing guides, no one can stop you from doing what you want.
On the other hand, if you write often enough, then you can master the art of writing straight on blank paper without using any guides. Just be patient and keep on practicing this skill.