Every week inside my Patreon community, I share a set of calligraphy practice words for my students to work on – and while I usually don’t write them out myself, I decided it was time to change that. This week, I’m walking through each word on camera, writing it in real time, and – here’s the fun part – critiquing my own lettering as I go.
Yep, red marker and all. 😅
It’s a really powerful way to improve your lettering, and I wanted to show you exactly how I do it, what I look for, and how I work through decisions like spacing, balance, bounce, and style. Let’s dive in!
Supplies Used
- Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
- Tombow Dual Brush Pens
- Rhodia Paper
- Beginner Course + Workbook (Show Me Your Drills, of course!)
Rather watch than read? Check out the full video by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
As I mentioned above, I post a new lettering challenge inside my Patreon each week. Here’s what this week’s challenge looks like.
Word #1: unnatural
Let’s just say… lesson one: don’t talk and letter at the same time. 😅 I added an extra letter on my first try, but once I rewrote it, I could critique it properly.
- The two “n”s looked too similar – I’d prefer to bounce only one.
- The “a” felt too small compared to the rest.
On the plus side, I loved the cross on my “t” and the overall bounce.
Word #2: magnitude
This one flowed better. I liked how the bounce on the “m” balanced the “g,” and the “n” and “t” felt cohesive.
Still, overall? Pretty happy with this one!
The “i” and “t” angles didn’t quite match – I’d align those better next time.
I wasn’t a fan of the dot on the “i” or the tail on the “t.”
Word #3: overcast
Accidentally used a more formal “s” here, and it didn’t vibe with the rest of the word. I’d go for a loopier “s” to match the “v” and “r.”
Other than that, I liked the subtle bounce and balance – especially that the “r” was the only letter to dip, sitting right in the middle. Nice little anchor point.
Word #4: fragments
This word felt off to me. Lots to fix here:
- The “e” was too small compared to the “n.”
- The “s” came up way too high.
- The “g” had a curve, while the “m” was super straight – those didn’t pair well.
- Also, the “f”? Not my fave letter. I played around with different ways to connect it to the “r” and finally landed on a combo I liked better.
Word #5: optimistic
The biggest issue here was the “t” crosses – I didn’t like either one! I also forgot to dot one of the “i”s (whoops).
- Would’ve liked a loopy “p” to better match the vibe of the other letters.
- That said, the middle of the word felt well-balanced, and the “m” and “s” worked nicely together.
Word #6: discomfort
I brought some of the letters down way too far here, which messed with the x-height and threw the spacing off. The “m” bounced too much and dragged everything else down.
Still, I liked the first half of the word and would just widen the “o” a bit. Overall, not terrible.
Word #7: vibrantly
I liked the playfulness of this one! The “b,” though, felt a bit squished – probably needed more room to breathe.
Still, I think it turned out super cute. One of my favorites of the batch.
The “y” could’ve been bigger if I’d had more space.
Why Self-Critique Matters
This exercise wasn’t just about showing you my process – it’s also how I keep improving. By stopping after each word to reflect, I catch little things in the moment that I might miss if I waited until the end. It trains your eye to notice alignment, angles, and spacing as you work – like building a muscle for self-correction.
It’s also a great reminder: lettering is personal. What works for one person might not feel right for another. The key is getting clear on your style and making thoughtful decisions about it.
Ready to Go Deeper?
If this kind of practice sounds fun to you (and honestly, it is!), I share a new word list challenge every single week in my Patreon community. You can practice alongside me, share your work, get feedback, and keep growing your lettering skills with an amazing group of creatives.
And if you’re feeling excited and want to dive deeper into modern calligraphy, I’ve got you covered. I’ve created a completely FREE step-by-step course called “Show Me Your Drills” – it has everything you need to start with confidence. It includes a giant guide, supply tips, traceable practice sheets, and step-by-step videos to walk you through it all. You can grab it right here.
Happy lettering!
And finally, your dad joke…
Why did the knife get dressed-up?
Because it wanted to look sharp!
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