We recently spent a few days with Robyn from Calligraphy Joburg, and it opened up a whole world of creative writing that goes far beyond simply having “nice handwriting”. Robyn runs a variety of workshops around handwriting, calligraphy, brush lettering and creative arty writing, and what really stood out to me was her passion for helping people reconnect with writing by hand. Not just to make things look pretty, but to build confidence, slow down, use their hands properly and enjoy the creative process.
It also got me thinking about how important handwriting still is, especially for children. In a world where so much learning happens on screens, there is something incredibly valuable about putting pen to paper. Writing by hand helps children strengthen the small muscles in their fingers, develop hand-eye coordination, practise control, improve focus and take a much-needed break from constant typing and tapping.
A Beginner’s Guide To Lettering, Calligraphy & Journalling
Creative arty writing is about making words look as beautiful, expressive or personal as the message itself. It could be a handmade card, a bullet journal heading, a wedding envelope, a gift tag, a quote for your wall, or simply a page of handwriting that feels more joyful to create.
The best part is that you do not need perfect handwriting to start. Many creative writing styles are built slowly, with pencil lines, practice strokes, the right pen, the right paper and a bit of patience. Once you understand the difference between hand lettering, brush lettering and calligraphy, it becomes much easier to choose the right materials.
What Is Hand Lettering?
Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters rather than simply writing them. Each letter is treated like a small illustration. You can sketch it first, adjust the shape, thicken certain lines, add shadows, include decorative details and build a full design around the words.
Hand lettering is useful for greeting cards, gift tags, posters, journal covers, scrapbook pages, quotes, signs, packaging labels and creative displays.
The main difference between handwriting and hand lettering is control. Handwriting is usually quick and natural. Hand lettering is slower and more designed.
For hand lettering, start with a pencil, eraser, ruler, smooth paper, fineliners, brush pens and decorative gel pens. Pentel Pointliners are useful for clean outlines and fine details, Sakura Gelly Roll pens work well for highlights and decorative accents, and Pentel Brush Sign Pens are great for expressive headings and smaller brush-style lettering.
For paper, choose a smooth surface that can handle pencil sketching, erasing and pen work. Smooth cartridge paper, mixed media paper, marker paper or a good-quality sketchbook can all work, depending on the pens you are using. If you are adding wet media, such as ink washes or watercolour effects, choose mixed media paper or watercolour paper.
What Is Brush Lettering?
Brush lettering is writing with a flexible brush-style tip. The pressure you use creates thick and thin lines. Press lightly for fine upstrokes and press a little harder for thicker downstrokes.
This thick-and-thin contrast gives brush lettering its flowing, calligraphy-like look. It is popular for cards, envelopes, gift tags, bullet journal headings, place cards, labels, quote art and creative notes.
Brush lettering is often easier than traditional dip pen calligraphy because you do not need ink bottles, nib holders or a separate clean-up process.
For beginners, smaller brush pens are usually easier to control. Pentel Brush Sign Pen Twin sets are a strong option because the pens have dual brush tips, allowing for both expressive strokes and finer detail lines. They are useful for modern calligraphy, hand lettering, sketching, illustration, journalling and colouring.
Paper matters a lot with brush pens. Rough paper can fray the brush tip and make your lettering look scratchy. For practice, use smooth marker paper, layout paper, tracing paper or a smooth writing pad. For finished brush lettering pieces, choose smooth Bristol board, smooth mixed media paper or good-quality card, especially if you are making greeting cards, gift tags or framed quotes.
What Is Calligraphy?
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing using controlled strokes. Unlike hand lettering, where the letters are drawn and built up, calligraphy is usually written in flowing movements with a specific tool.
Traditional calligraphy often follows set alphabets and rules. It teaches rhythm, spacing, pen angle, pressure and consistency.
Calligraphy is used for invitations, certificates, place cards, envelopes, poems, formal documents, artwork, wedding stationery and decorative quotes.
There are many styles of calligraphy, but modern calligraphy, gothic calligraphy and italic calligraphy are three useful ones to understand first.
Modern Calligraphy
Modern calligraphy is a more relaxed and expressive style of calligraphy. It often has flowing curves, playful spacing and a more personal feel than traditional calligraphy.
This is the style many people associate with wedding envelopes, handmade cards, soft quote art and elegant journalling.
Modern calligraphy can be done with brush pens, pointed dip pens or flexible nibs. For beginners, a small brush pen is usually the easiest place to start because it teaches pressure control without the mess of ink. Pentel Brush Sign Pens are a good choice for learning thin upstrokes and thicker downstrokes because they are not too large and feel manageable for smaller writing.
For modern calligraphy with brush pens, use smooth marker paper, layout paper, tracing paper or smooth card. For modern calligraphy with pointed dip pens, paper choice becomes even more important. The paper must be smooth enough that the nib does not catch, but strong enough to handle ink without feathering. Smooth cartridge paper, Bristol board, mixed media paper or hot press watercolour paper can work well.
Once you are more confident, you can try larger brush pens, calligraphy markers, pointed dip pens, bottled inks and better-quality paper.
Gothic Calligraphy
Gothic calligraphy, also called Blackletter, is bold, dramatic and historic. It has strong vertical strokes, sharp angles and a medieval manuscript feel.
You may recognise gothic lettering from old books, certificates, tattoos, fantasy artwork, book covers and decorative headings.
Gothic calligraphy needs a broad, flat edge rather than a pointed brush tip. A chisel-tip calligraphy marker is a good beginner option. A Pilot Parallel Pen is a useful next step because it is designed for crisp broad-edge calligraphy and strong line variation.
For practice, use smooth cartridge paper or guideline paper. For finished work, choose smooth Bristol board, mixed media paper or hot press watercolour paper. Avoid very textured paper when learning because the nib can catch and interrupt the stroke.
Italic Calligraphy
Italic calligraphy is elegant, readable and graceful. It has a gentle slant and flowing rhythm, making it one of the most practical traditional calligraphy styles.
It is less heavy than gothic calligraphy and is often easier to read. It works beautifully for poems, letters, quotes, certificates, journalling and personal stationery.
For italic calligraphy, start with a chisel-tip calligraphy marker or broad-edged pen. A Pilot Parallel Pen is also useful for learning broad-edge control, while dip pen nibs and bottled ink give a more traditional result.
Use smooth cartridge paper or calligraphy practice paper while learning. For finished pieces, smooth card, Bristol board, mixed media paper or hot press watercolour paper will give cleaner results.
Glass Dip Pen Writing
Glass dip pens are beautiful writing tools made from glass, with grooves near the tip that hold ink. They are popular for testing inks, writing cards, making decorative notes, journalling, gift tags and slow, mindful writing.
They do not flex like a brush pen or pointed nib, so they are not the best choice for pressure-based calligraphy. Their charm is in the smooth flow of ink, the colour effects and the special feeling of writing with glass.
Glass dip pens work best on smooth, ink-friendly paper. If the paper is too rough, the glass tip can feel scratchy. If the paper is too absorbent, the ink can feather or bleed. Use smooth writing paper, fountain-pen-friendly paper, smooth cartridge paper or hot press watercolour paper.
Dip Pens And Nibs
A traditional dip pen uses a nib fitted into a holder. You dip the nib into ink, write for a short while, then dip again.
Pointed nibs are flexible and are used for modern calligraphy and copperplate-style writing. They create thin upstrokes and thicker downstrokes. Broad-edge nibs have a flat edge and are used for gothic, italic and other traditional calligraphy styles.
Dip pens take more patience than brush pens, but they give a beautiful traditional finish. They are a good choice once you are ready to slow down and practise more carefully.
Dip pens need smooth, strong paper. A pointed nib can catch on rough paper, especially when you are learning. Very absorbent paper can also make the ink spread. For practice, use smooth cartridge paper, layout paper or calligraphy practice paper. For finished pieces, use Bristol board, smooth mixed media paper or hot press watercolour paper. Always test your ink first.
Correcting Your Handwriting: Start With How You Hold The Pen
Beautiful handwriting starts with comfort. Many people grip the pen too tightly, press too hard or twist their hand into an awkward angle. This can make writing tiring and uneven.
Hold the pen gently between your thumb and index finger, with the pen resting on the side of your middle finger. Your grip should feel stable but not tight. Keep your wrist relaxed and let your arm help guide the movement instead of forcing every letter with your fingers.
Your pen should sit at a comfortable angle, not straight up and down. You can also turn your paper slightly so it matches your natural writing direction.
To improve everyday handwriting, try a fountain pen, rollerball or smooth gel pen because these need less pressure than a dry ballpoint. Practise slowly on lined, dotted or grid paper, focus on even spacing and try to keep your letters a consistent height.
One story that really stayed with me was hearing how some students are now struggling with the physical strength and fine motor control needed for tasks that require precise hand movements, because so much of their learning has happened on iPads and keyboards instead of through writing, drawing and hands-on practice. That is a worrying thought. It reminds us that handwriting is not old-fashioned or unnecessary. It is part of how we develop dexterity, patience, coordination and confidence.
That is why creative arty writing is such a lovely place to start. It can be practical, playful, beautiful and useful all at once. From correcting your everyday handwriting to learning brush lettering, modern calligraphy, gothic calligraphy, italic calligraphy, bullet journalling and decorative pen work, there are so many ways to make writing feel creative again.
And yes, after spending time with Robyn, I fully understand how easy it is to nerd out on pens, paper, inks, brush tips, nibs and all the little details that make each writing style feel different. So, here is a beginner-friendly guide to the wonderful world of creative arty writing, and what materials work best for each style.
Which Creative Writing Style Should You Try First?
- If you want to make pretty cards, start with brush lettering.
- If you love decorative quotes, try hand lettering.
- If you want elegant wedding-style writing, try modern calligraphy.
- If you like old manuscripts and dramatic lettering, try gothic calligraphy.
- If you want a classic, readable style, try italic calligraphy.
- If you love inks and slow writing, try a glass dip pen.
- If you want to improve everyday handwriting, try a fountain pen, rollerball or smooth gel pen.
- If you want organisation with creativity, start a bullet journal.
Easy Product Guide From The Deckle Edge
A beginner wanting to try creative writing could start with a pencil, eraser, smooth paper, a black fineliner, a Sakura Gelly Roll pen, a Pentel Brush Sign Pen or a Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen.
Someone who enjoys journalling, cards or decorative lettering could try Pentel Brush Sign Pen Twin sets, Pentel Milky Pens, Pilot Juice gel pens, Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic or Moonlight pens, and Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic pens.
A more serious stationery lover, artist or calligraphy enthusiast could explore Pilot Parallel Pens, dip pen nibs, bottled inks, glass dip pens, fountain pen inks and premium smooth paper.
Quick Paper Guide
- For brush pens, choose smooth marker paper, layout paper or smooth card.
- For fountain pens, choose smooth, ink-friendly paper.
- For dip pens, choose smooth, strong paper that will not catch the nib.
- For gel pens and metallic pens, choose smooth paper, coloured card or black paper for special effects.
- For markers and paint pens, choose marker paper, mixed media paper or card.
- For bullet journalling, choose a notebook with smooth, slightly thicker paper if you want to use brush pens, gel pens or fountain pens.
- The golden rule is simple: always test your pen on the paper before starting your final piece.
Creative arty writing is a lovely mix of patience, personality and the right materials. You can keep it simple with a pencil, fineliner and notebook, or build a collection of brush pens, inks, dip pens and papers over time.
The best place to start is with one style that excites you. Practise slowly, use the correct paper, and enjoy the process of making words look as good as they sound.
At The Deckle Edge, you can find a wide range of pens, inks, brush pens, papers, notebooks and calligraphy tools to help you get started, practise properly and create something beautiful by hand.
Want to know which pen to choose? Read our guide to the different types of pens for writing, lettering and journalling. Keep an eye on our Workshops page for different writing style Workshops and subscribe to our newsletter for news, exclusive competitions and product offerings.