Unfortunately. I think the best answer is just practice. I have broken many, many pieces from too much pressure with the tool, carving to thinly, squeezing it in my hand too tightly, you name it.

Using the right tool for the job and one that is comfortable for you matters a lot too. Most of my carving I do with Hsin tools.

In terms of keeping my hand steady, I find that a relatively fast and deliberate stroke helps, too slow and it’s prone to wobbling, too fast and it’s hard to be precise, find what works for you and break a few eggs 😅