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Originally Posted by LauraLoo  Have you tried using those pencil grips? You know the ones that are kind of foamy and soft? Younger kids use bigger pencils (circumference) so maybe this would help. Also, if his hands get sweaty with the tight grip, this can help, too. But truly, if he does better with a pen, that's probably the route to go. You could probably even put those pencil grips on the pen.
How does your ds feel about writing? Is it something he wants to get better at? I think it would be so frustrating to be slowed down by having to write something out that is so creative in the brain. I find that ds orally tells great stories, but when he writes them, only half of the detail or less comes out on the page. Maybe he could dictate his stories, or whatever, into a smaller tape recorder and then listen to it and pause when necessary to write it out. If it were me, I'd go with total output over legibility for awhile. I'm certain that he can probably tell that his writing doesn't look great, and that's got to be frustrating, too. I think you are probably on the path of trying to figure out if it's just more practice that's needed, or if his writing is a problem that won't be solved without something else. Keyboarding can help strengthen finger muscles, so this isn't a bad thing, either.
Some kids hate writing on lined paper (having to keep in the lines -- or because the lines are jumpy which would indicate a vision problem.
I know that you are homeschooling this year, but you are eligible for OT services regardless. OT might help and be less expensive than a tutor. (Good OTs could figure out the cause, too.)
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He may qualify for OT. I will look into it.
No, he does not want to get better at writing (or at least - he says he doesn't). He really does have a block on working on this area. It could be a variety of things - both mental and physical.
Physical - something is going on. He cannot draw, either. There is a mechanical issue.
Mental: writing is too slow, frustrates him, and he finds boring. While I have never thought this before, maybe some of his giving up stems from perfectionism (he cannot do it up to his standards, so does not bother trying.)
To be fair, and brutally honest, (no flames please, I am already ashamed of this) he has not have enough practice at writing. Ds was Homeschooled up until grade 3. We did not focus on writing - he did not like it, and for the most part I believed in teaching to strengths. I did not force the issue - I really did not want a power struggle.
From grade 3-6 Ds went to school. yes, his writing was weak - but long story short the school did not care. He is bright and his strong cognitive abilities compensated for his poor writing.
Ex - math: he would get all the answers right, but lose marks for not explaining (in writing) his thought processes. He would get a "B" or "C".
The school did not really see the problem. Acording to them a "B" or "C" is just fine. He is meeting curriculum guidelines. There were kids in his class who had aspegers, behaviour issue, and a few who function across the board at really low levels. So a child who cannot write but is otherwise fine (or even academically strong)? They did not see the problem.
In any event, I am considerring getting handwriting without tears (3 grade level). I am not sure how i am going to talk him into doing it, but that is another issue
) His thoughts, though, are very cool - he is quite the oral storyteller! His spelling is quite passable.
Is it likely to get better without OT?
: I have a bright boy who can be somewhat perfectionistic, and handwriting is a HUGE problem for him. It's only made more obvious when he's doing more advanced work-- he has absolutely no trouble reading on a third grade level or even spelling that well, but asking him to write a simple sentence is akin to asking him to cut off his fingers and eat them. 
