The Artful Pen: A Handwriting Workbook

Master Flourished Cursive Penmanship by Tracing Letters and Poe’s The Raven

Front and back covers of The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe, with an open sample page and pointed calligraphy pen on purple background

Master a flourished cursive handwriting style inspired by Spencerian penmanship. This workbook includes clear, traceable examples with arrows that show how each letter is formed. Once you’ve practiced the alphabet, you’ll apply your skills by tracing the full text of Poe’s The Raven, building fluency through full words, phrases, and lines.

Open workbook page with tracing paper and calligraphy practice from The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe, with a pointed calligraphy pen and a pencil, on a purple background

Centered around tracing—a proven method for building muscle memory and refining technique. The Artful Pen guides you through each letter’s stroke pattern to develop the fine motor skills needed for smooth, consistent handwriting.

Exemplars of the Spencerian inspired alphabet that is taught in The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe

The workbook includes practical tips on pens and ink, a clear introduction to essential calligraphy terminology, and plenty of room to practice. It’s structured for beginners but detailed enough to suit experienced calligraphers looking to refine their style.

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An array of sample pages from The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe

How to Use This Workbook

Pointed calligraphy pen with wood handle, white gel pen, and purple brush marker

Use a pointed calligraphy nib, a fine-tip brush marker, or a smooth monoline pen.

  • Start with the Basics: Begin by learning the complete alphabet, using practice pages with traceable examples and helpful arrows to guide you through each letter.

  • Progress to Complete Words: Bring your skills to life by tracing verses of The Raven to master letter connections and writing complete lines of text.

  • Use the Right Tools: Follow the included tips on choosing the best pens and paper for better handwriting. Use tracing paper over the pages to practice each exercise as many times as you need.

  • Take It Slow: Focus on one letter or verse at a time—don’t rush. Mastering a new script style takes patience and practice, but with each stroke, you’ll see improvement in your penmanship.

  • Enjoy the Process: Embrace the meditative nature of tracing and writing. This workbook is designed to make learning beautiful script rewarding and enjoyable.

“Once upon a midnight dreary” calligraphy sample from The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe
Calligraphy exemplars of uppercase A, B, and C with stroke direction arrows from The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe
Cover of The Artful Pen Handwriting Workbook by Molly Suber Thorpe

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A 38-page printable workbook of Spencerian-inspired practice sheets is available as an instant download in my shop—a preview of the full book’s style and structure.

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