So I practiced and purchased the correct pens and despite being left handed, an additional challenge, my script became passable and I reluctantly made peace with my inner demons. This lasted a few years and I decided to give it up all together. I know it makes no sense but to my eye it detracted from the rod. As a fan of the rods of Jim Payne and the earlier H.L Leonard's I noticed they had little or no writing on the rod and used roll dies and stamps to identify their rods. Now my rods have a label on the tube with all the particulars, a tag on the rod sock and roll die logos on the hardware. I am at peace finally and while others have wonderful writing on their rods I have created a look that pleases me and hopefully others. To quote that old dead British guy, "to thine own self be true".