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Step 1
Repeat your strokes. Unlike English, Arabic is always "cursive" in that one letter flows into the next (with few exceptions). Arabic relies on flowing, rounded characters to form words, therefore practicing the different letters, especially "Jiim" "Haa" and "Khaa," will result in a more smooth and legible script. Letters should be of appropriate size and shape; the letter "baa" will never be as tall ad the letter "dhall," while the letter "dhall" will likewise be smaller than the letter "Laam." Refer to a guidebook or reliable online resource (see Resources, below) for more information on letter height and style.
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Step 2
Practice your alphabet, both orally and on paper. Letters change form slightly in Arabic depending on their position in the word; frontal, medial, ending, or stand-alone letters all vary slightly--much like letters in English cursive do. Reciting your alphabet, especially out loud, while writing the letters and numbers of Arabic will help you understand the symbols involved in the Arabic language. Practice interconnecting letters, even if they make nonsensical words, as the flow of the script is as important as forming the correct words.
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Step 3
Play with your style a bit. There are several ways to denote the diacritic marks which make up the symbols, letters, and numbers of Arabic. Instead of double dots over the "ta" or under the "ya," try a short, straight line or small reverse "N." Also, instead of three dots over "tha" or "shiin," a triangle or reverse "N" with a dot over it is also optional--these are regional variants and are widely understood, often eliciting praise for penmanship.
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Step 4
Fight the urge to take shortcuts. Many students learning Arabic for the first time have a hard time letting go of writing from left to right and sometimes try to form letters this way. Instead, try to relax and take your time knowing that practicing your handwriting is as important as learning to speak in Arabic. Slow deliberate strokes will eventually lead to faster and more assured strokes in time--from a few weeks to several months, depending on your aptitude.
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Step 5
Remember exceptions to the rule. Though Arabic writes its letters from right to left, its numbers are left to right. This means that the order of numbers in Arabic is the same as in English. Similarly, there are some instances where angular lettering, for instance the letter "Kaaf" as a beginning or medial letter can be very angular in some people's handwriting. Similarly, the numer "Arba'a" can be either very angular or only somewhat, depending on your preference. Just as each person's handwriting in English is different, every person's handwriting in Arabic will be different--the key is to practice and find the style that works best for you and is pleasing to your eye.
