Locate calligraphic italic lettering samples and position them so they are easy to see during your writing practice. These samples are included with most lettering pads and other styles and sets are available online and in calligraphy lettering books.
Remove a sheet of calligraphic paper from the pad. The paper should have horizontal lines indicating the base line of the letters and slanted lines angled to the right as a guide for italics or angled letters.
Fold a piece of scrap paper in half to act as a wrist rest. Most calligraphic hand writing is executed on expensive writing papers. The skin of the hand releases oils that will stain papers. By learning to use a wrist rest you will become comfortable writing with the extra paper and your finished writing will be free of oil stains.
Locate the capitalized version of the first letter of your name on your reference guide. Often the guides will include the start point and directional movement of the pen and the angle of the nib.
Select a fountain pen or calligraphic pen with a flat nib. This means the tip of the pen may be 1/8 inch wide instead of a round tip such as is found on most ink pens. The nib is often two pieces of metal touching and some pens must be inked by dipping or through other inking mechanisms. When you press down on a nib the metal pieces open slightly and ink passes through the nib to the page.
Hold the pen between the first finger and thumb with the shaft of the pen resting on the knuckle of your second finger of your right hand. If you are left handed your grip may vary somewhat or you may choose to pivot your paper to correct the extreme angle of the lettering.
Place the nib at the angle indicated on the reference guide, on your paper at the approximate location where the letter starts. Press down with steady, even but light pressure to open the nib. Move the pen according to the guide to replicate the letter. Practice the letter across the entire width of the page until the shape improves and the letter looks smooth. Repeat this process for each letter in your name.
Combine the letters you have learned into your name as a consistent group. The spacing between each letter should appear to be the same. This will cause some letters to touch if they have tails out to the sides. Play with the positioning and adjust the tails to look the way you want. When you have a sample of your name that you like a lot, use that sample as your guide when practicing your name.