Posture and Penwork

Hand lettering — or "practical writing" as it once was called — demands good posture. The same is true of flourishing, which is the art of making even loops in one continuous motion.

Daniel Ames, one of the early masters, says "It is only when in a correct position that the pen, even in the hand of its skillful master, is capable of producing the smooth, graceful line, shade, and curve so essential to good writing."

It's true. You really need to have a straight back, an erect head, a rear end square in the chair, and both feet flat on the floor.