The canvas won't take my writing

Work down this list — the causes are ordered by how often they turn out to be the answer.

Nothing appears at all

Check the device can take writing. A mouse or trackpad cannot write handwriting, and we do not pretend otherwise. You need a touchscreen or a pen display. What you'll need to write.

Check the pen. An active stylus with a battery may be flat. Try a fingertip — if the finger writes and the pen does not, it is the pen.

Reload the page. If the surface stopped responding partway through a session, a reload restores it. Your finished letters are saved as you go.

Strokes break up or skip

- A screen protector or a glove can interrupt contact. Matte protectors are the usual offender. - A worn pen tip skips. They are replaceable and cheap. - A dirty or wet screen scatters contact points. Wipe and try again.

Your palm leaves marks

Rest your hand normally — your palm should be ignored and the pen taken. If stray blobs appear where your hand rests:

- Use a pen rather than a finger. With a pen we can tell hand from instrument confidently. With a finger, both are the same kind of contact. - Check your tablet's own palm rejection is on in system settings.

The line is too thick or too thin

Not a fault — weight follows the instrument. A pen carries pressure; a finger gets an even line. Finger or stylus.

Still stuck

Tell us the device, the browser and whether you are using a finger or a pen. Those three answer most of it.