Comfortable typing

The opening chapter keeps its coaching short so the story can get going: thumb on Space, eyes on the screen, a little wrist turn to reach Z. This page is the longer version, for when you want to set yourself up properly. None of it is a rule. If something here doesn’t suit your body, comfort wins.

Before you start

Sit so your feet rest flat on the floor or a footrest, with your back supported and your shoulders loose.
Bring the keyboard close. Your upper arms hang by your sides, elbows bent about level with the keys, so your forearms are roughly flat.
Put the screen in front of you, about an arm’s length away, with the top of it at or a little below eye level. On a laptop, a stand or a stack of books and a separate keyboard both help.
Cut the glare. Light from a window behind or beside the screen is easier on your eyes than light shining onto it.

Your hands on the keys

Rest on the home row. Your left fingers sit on A S D F, your right fingers on J K L ;. Feel for the small bumps on F and J: they are how you find your place without looking.
Right thumb on Space. In Keyfolk, Space moves the narrator’s lines on. Leave the thumb resting there and let the rest of your hand relax.
Reach, then come home. Each finger owns a short column of keys. For Q, the pinky reaches up a row; for Z, it drops down a row and your wrist turns a little. Then the finger goes back to its home key.
The rows are on a slant. Each row sits a little to the side of the one above it, so the columns lean. Follow the lean rather than reaching straight up and down.
Keep wrists straight and floating. Your wrists line up with your forearms, not bent up, down, or sideways. A palm rest is for pauses, not for leaning on while you type.
Press lightly. A key only needs enough pressure to register. Hammering tires your fingers sooner.

Eyes on the story

Look at the screen, not the keyboard. Every character in the story has a letter, and every letter has a finger, so the story itself reminds you which key to press. If you glance down, that’s fine. Then look back up and let your fingers find home by feel.

Take breaks

Short and often beats long and rare. A chapter is a natural place to stop: stand up, stretch, shake your hands out.
Rest your eyes. Every so often, look at something far away for a few seconds and blink.
Speed comes later. Keyfolk doesn’t time you. Getting the right key with a relaxed hand is the whole goal; speed follows on its own.

If it hurts

Stop if typing causes pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands, wrists, arms, or neck, and let it settle before you carry on. If it keeps coming back, talk to a doctor or a physiotherapist. This page is general guidance, not medical advice.