Abstract: A writing guide having a paper support surface, a paper retaining clip, a stiff writing guide strip with an elongated slot and a mechanism for stepwise moving the strip from the top to the bottom of the paper. The mechanism includes a square stop bar with sets of spaced stops protruding from each face thereof. The strip carries an abutment finger. The stop bar is mounted for unidirectional rotation about an axis parallel to the direction of motion of the strip so that a set of stops lies in the path of travel of the finger. A knob at one end of the bar is manually rotated, removing one set of stops from the path of travel and moving the next set into the path, the stop sets being longitudinally offset so that the finger can move longitudinally from one stop to the next. A spring continually urges the strip and finger toward the bottom of the page. A guide supports the strip and maintains it in proper position relative to the stop bar and the support surface.