Since starting doing Kanji and sentence writing a few months ago, I've once again developed a pretty strong callous on my middle finger that I haven't had since I was in grade school.

If you have one, take a picture and show your Kanji battle wound.
http://imgur.com/n0SUz.jpg
^^ Here's mine. I don't know if you can see it, as the webcam isn't of the best quality.

I use quality writing instruments so that I don't mangle my wrist/hand/fingers

Well, I usually use my middle finger to write Kanji during reviews.. but I also use it to play bass guitar, so that would be kind of like cheating.

Jarvik7 Wrote:I use quality writing instruments so that I don't mangle my wrist/hand/fingers

Can you recommend any? I've been using mechanical pencils with finger cushions but it doesn't seem to help much.

Switch to fountain pens, or at least softer lead in your pencil (I use 2B).

Don't grip your pencil so hard.

I would use pens instead of pencils for kanji. I particularly like the BIC Z4+ 0.5mm pens:

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Needle-Roller-...000OZOV1U/

(I wouldn't order that unless you want 6 packs of 4!)

Smooth, easy, and they make for pretty good kanji.

Oh! Haha I definitely have one, I might take a pic and post it later, it's great for writing I think though. My finger never hurts even after a 10 hour day that I sometimes put in. I always have had a problem with an iron grip on whatever writing utensil I use. I am also fine with the callous so I wish for no advice on which type of utensil to use as I have gone through various option and found some nice pens that I strongly prefer.

Wow man take it easy!

Yeah what jarv said, but i think pencils are much softer than any pen.

I have a indent/shinny spot on my ring finger from where my middle finger presses on it, but I recently switched to a Uniball Gel pen when I started doing sentences and it's made a huge difference, my hand doesn't get tired anymore, nor does it feel stiff for the first few minutes until it 'warms up'. The pen writes very smoothly and I hardly have to press down at all, very enjoyable to write with.

Lol, ya'll haven't been writing for ages or something?

And I thought I did a lot of studying ...

*Bows to you guys*

Musashi Wrote:Lol, ya'll haven't been writing for ages or something?

Nope, been using the computer all the time. lol