Writing makes my hand ache!!

I've just been taking notes for my ECA (End of Course Assignment) by hand and noticed that I was acting like a petulant teenager asked to write an essay... writing three words, then shaking my hand because it ached and throwing myself across my notes like it was the end of the world.

I need some tips on how to write for a fairly long time without my hand/wrist aching because I have to write constantly for an hour for this ECA and since the dawn of the computer (and investing in a laptop), I've not handwritten an awful lot - mainly diary notes in a space 1.5 inches by 4 inches in my filofax and a few notes for work in my day book.

I've noticed I write better with either a pencil or a fountain pen BUT, for this assignment, pencil is not allowed and I'm scared of blotting with my fountain pen PLUS we're not in the Victorian era any more!!

Sooooo.... any hints AT ALL???