October in Cursive

Start with the capital O: a large oval closed with a small loop at the top. The O does not join: lift the pen after it and start the c with its own entry stroke. The c is a small open curve that starts just below the midline and swings down to the baseline; it runs from the baseline straight into the t. The t is a short upstroke and a downstroke back to the baseline, with its crossbar added later; it runs from the baseline straight into the o. The o is an oval closed at the top with a short exit stroke at the midline; it hands over to the b with a short bridge at the midline, so the b starts high instead of from the line. The b is a tall loop up and back down, then a small bowl that closes at the midline with a short exit stroke; it hands over to the e with a short bridge at the midline, so the e starts high instead of from the line. The e is a small loop drawn from the baseline up through the midline and back down; it runs from the baseline straight into the r. The r is a short upstroke to the midline, a tiny shoulder to the right, then a downstroke to the baseline, and its exit stroke finishes the word.

When the word is finished, go back and cross the t. A common slip in October is skipping the shoulder of r, which turns it into a stray upstroke.