If you've been following along with Simply Lettered, you know that 2026 is shaping up to be a transformative year for us. I'm so excited to bring you into the journey with Small Biz Chat #2, where I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to grow a small business centered around cursive, calligraphy, and handwriting education.
Whether you're a fellow small business owner, a homeschool parent, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes of a creative business, I hope this video (and blog post!) gives you some valuable insights—and maybe even inspires your own projects.
What's Coming in 2026?
I can't share all the details just yet (I want to save some surprises!), but here's what I can tell you: we're expanding our cursive and print resources for all ages. This means product development, manufacturing, wholesale opportunities, and yes—hiring a graphic designer to help bring these visions to life.
The heart of this growth centers around making traditional handwriting accessible and engaging for everyone, from preschoolers just learning to hold a pencil to adults rediscovering the beauty of cursive.
Self-Publishing The Cursive Connection: Second Edition
One of the biggest projects I'm tackling right now is transitioning The Cursive Connection workbook to self-publishing. If you're familiar with our curriculum, you know the workbook is substantial—220 pages of comprehensive lessons, practice sheets, teaching guides, and more.
Up until now, I've been handling the design work myself and having it printed locally, which has worked well. But as we grow and receive more orders, we need a solution that's scalable, efficient, and allows us to reach a broader audience—including schools and curriculum suppliers.
The Self-Publishing Research
I've been deep in research mode, comparing different self-publishing platforms:
- Amazon KDP: Great for paperback books, but they don't offer hardback options, and their ISBN is exclusive to Amazon. This means you can't sell the book anywhere else, which limits our reach.
- Ingram Spark: The most popular option, but also the priciest.
- Morris Publishing: Another solid contender I've explored.
- Lulu: This is the platform I'm leaning toward, and here's why.
Why Lulu?
After weighing all the options, Lulu checks all the boxes for what we need:
- Spiral Binding: This is a must-have. The Cursive Connection workbook is thick, and binding gets in the way when students are writing—especially for left-handed writers. Spiral binding allows students to pull out individual lessons or lay the workbook completely flat.
- ISBN Ownership: I can purchase my own ISBN through Bowker (B-O-W-K-E-R), which means I own the rights to sell the workbook anywhere—not just through one platform.
- Print on Demand: Lulu can connect directly to our shop, so when you place an order, they print and ship it directly to you. This takes a huge logistical burden off my shoulders.
- Wholesale Options: I can also order books in bulk for homeschool fairs, curriculum fairs, and to supply retailers through Lulu's network.
Exciting Updates to the Second Edition
As I work on the second edition, I'm making some meaningful improvements based on what I've learned from our first edition users:
Historical Document Replicas
One of the core elements of The Cursive Connection is the idea of connecting students to the past through traditional cursive. We've always included historical handwriting samples in the workbook for students to study.
But I've found something even better: authentic replicas of historical documents.
For example, I just received a replica of the Gettysburg Address in Abraham Lincoln's handwriting. Instead of printed samples in the workbook, students will now be able to hold and study actual replica documents as part of their cursive journey. How incredible is that?
This change will also streamline the workbook itself, removing some pages while enhancing the hands-on, immersive learning experience.
What Else Is Coming? Levels 1-4 Primer Resources
Here's where I'll give you just a little sneak peek. Remember those sticky notes in the video? They represent a whole world of resources I'm developing for younger learners.
I'm currently working on Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4—a primer series designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children (and beyond, depending on readiness). These will serve as a precursor to The Cursive Connection, building foundational skills in both cursive and print.
I don't want to put strict age labels on these levels because every child develops at their own pace. Instead, I'm focusing on creating resources that meet learners wherever they are.
These new levels will be ready for the upcoming school year, and I truly can't wait to share them with you.
Hiring a Graphic Designer
To bring all of these projects to life, I'm in the process of hiring a graphic designer who understands our vision and can help execute it beautifully. This is a huge step for Simply Lettered, and I'm so excited to collaborate with someone who shares our passion for preserving the art of handwriting.
If you're a self-published author, I'd love to hear your tips and experiences. If you have insight into product development, manufacturing, or wholesale, please reach out!
And to my students and fellow letter-lovers: What other resources do you want to see this year? Your feedback shapes everything we do, and I'm so grateful for this community.
Thank you for being here and for growing this small business with me. Let's make 2026 a year of beautiful handwriting, meaningful connections, and timeless words.