I’ve found myself, during the last year, writing manuscripts more and more often by hand. I scrawl page after page of my story into notebooks, the words flowing as fluidly as the ink.
It’s not, perhaps, the most practical way to draft a book. Like most people, I don’t handwrite as fast as I type. Then all of those pages have to be typed into the computer, forcing me to write the same pages twice. I console myself by using the typing-in phase as a first editing draft. It’s still a fairly inefficient process, and sometimes I wonder how I regressed to the method I used so many years ago when a pen and a notebook were all I had.
A while back I blogged about blogged about my choice of notebook after reading similar posts by Alison Kent and Susan Wiggs. Ann Wesley Hardin made the following comment:
I love the sensual qualities you describe. Of loving the paper, what type of pen. Even as a kid my favorite stores were office supply stores where I’d spend hours fondling paper and looking over the choices like most kids did in candy stores *gg*
Makes me wonder if half our love of writing has to do with the implements. Also makes me wonder if that’s what I need for more inspiration. It’s interesting that ya’ll have returned to pen and paper lately. Perhaps we’re suffering from sensory deprivation.
I totally agree. Most writers I know could spend hours in Staples, playing with the notebooks and pens. But it was the last sentence I’ve been thinking about: Perhaps we’re suffering from sensory deprivation.
I can only speak for me, of course, but I totally agree with that. Not only is the computer pretty sterile as far the senses go, but it has stopped speaking to the creative side of my brain. Years ago, during the time of the Smith-Corona typewriter and the Brother word processor (remember those?), writing was the only thing I did at the keyboard.
Now? Besides all of the non-writing but writing-related activities (forums, groups, blogging, friends on IM, etc), there are personal emails, and—for me—ATV forums and snowmobiling forums and more. My husband’s company is also run from the computer—typing invoices, etc. I even read books on computer screen now—the laptop and the iPaq. Is it any wonder the muse is choosing not to connect with the keyboard anymore? (A notebook is also extremely portable and allows me to write on the run.)
It’s also fun to go back to back to those teen years, when school notebooks were almost as full of stories as they were homework—to remember writing before Microsoft Word. Before the internet brought the online world of romance writing—the good and the bad—into our home offices.
I’ve heard many readers express similar feelings about reading e-books. They spend so much time working on the computer, they don’t care to use it for their leisure reading as well. So I’m left wondering, for those of us who prefer writing and/or reading the old-fashioned way, has the computer become such a workhouse it’s no longer a tool of creativity? Or do we, as writers and readers, have an emotional bond with the sensory appeal of paper?
No related posts.
My family buys me gift cards to Staples and Office Max because I do so love to fondle the paper, pens, blank journals, stationery, … *twitch* But that was a fetish long before I spent the bulk of my life working online.
Other than poetry, I’ve never been able to write longhand. Good thing the writing fetish didn’t strike until a few years ago.
Ditto everything in your post, Shannon. (It always amazes me when I’m not the only one!) The creativity just flows more freely from hand to pen to paper than from fingers to keyboard for me. I’ll tweak a word here or there as I’m transferring from paper to ‘puter, but I find even editing works better for me when I have a paper copy in front of me. I feel more connected to the story if I can get in there and scribble and draw arrows and write snarky comments!
Plus, my day job consists of 8 hours staring at a computer screen, so I’ve had just about enough of that by the end of the workday.
I also have the paper fetish! I have drawers full of pretty stationery and shelves filled with empty journals, most of which are too pretty to write in, but I do, um, fondle them from time to time…
I collect fountain pens, too, but they seem to demand a more leisurely writing pace than the Muse allows, so I do my scribbling with cheap ballpoints and rollerballs in my own personal shorthand.
A friend of mine once postulated that it was an age/era thing, as she had been using a computer as long as she’d been reading and writing (and longhand was anathema to her), except I know you’re closer to her age than mine, so not sure it’s that at all! I know it’s not for me, because I have no problem composing lengthy emails and blog posts at the keyboard, heh.
For me, what handwriting does is totally unloose a stream of consciousness that typing does not. It’s the tactile flow of the nib over the page, and I write at a speed that is perfectly in sync with my thoughts. Yes, there are times I might wish for a keyboard because my brain gets ahead of my hand, but that’s rare. Karen Templeton just did a post about typing speed and thinking speed, and I’m one of those who types too fast for my head. With handwriting, I’m always a few words ahead, and I’m never left looking at a blinking cursor waiting for the thoughts to catch up. Plus, with handwriting I know I have to move forward. On the screen, I’m compelled to stop and edit. And edit. And edit. This way, I get the words down a lot faster, and then edit like you do, as I type in what I’ve written.
One thing I haven’t yet done and plan to (that Susan does) is activate my voice recognition software to read in what I’ve handwritten, saving the wrists and fingers and elbows as much as I can!
I almost had a heart attack seeing my name here, Shan. Thanks alot! No really *gg*.
I hadn’t thought of your angle–about using the computer for so many other things that there’s a disconnect. It makes alot of sense! Getting a laptop helped for a while because the environment became fluid, but even that got old.
I’m convinced. Today is the dread errand/chore day anyway. I’m getting a good pen and a notebook!
Transferring handwritten notes to the computer IS an excellent editing technique, I find.
I work mostly from the computer. I’ve gotten to the point where I love the sounds of the keys clicking, because it means I’m being productive. However, I still fall back to pen and paper – especially when I’m working out a plot problem or I’m stuck in a scene. Somehow jumping to pen and paper shocks my brain out of its current rut and into something more creative.
I find pen and paper are best for brainstorming and early drafting and then move to the computer for later drafts and editing.
I’m not obsessive about paper but I am about pens. I will fondle a bunch of them until I find the most comfortable grip. Anyone watching might think I’m nuts.
Totally get what you’re saying and 100% agree. My day job is medical transcription–try wanting to sit a computer after 8 hours of that and have to be creative on top of it? I’m thinking the notebook and pen are going to be my best friends once again, just as they were in high school.
Great post, Shannon.
When I first tried my hand at writing, I used a yellow newsprint pad and fine felt-tipped pen. I remember the feel of the pen sliding across the paper. Lovely. But I’m such a slow typist (hunt and peck) that the trnascription killed me…so now I write on the laptop.
I too spend too many hours at the computer and have a paper/notebook/good pen fetish…:razz:…however, I still prefer the keyboard. I used my Alphasmart or sit at my desk and use my desktop — and I love being able to type as fast as I can. I edit by hand, and I write notes by hand. For each project I have a notebook in which I write my plans, notes to myself about editing, etc. But I write best on a keyboard. My hands don’t get as tired and I can accomplish more. Thinking about it, it could be because though I’m right handed I have a problem with my right thumb that doesn’t allow me to hold a pen/pencil “correctly” and so my hand aches and gets tired far faster than if I’m typing!
I still love paper and a good pen, though. And the smell of ink, oh, gosh, I LOVE the smell of ink!!!!!!
M
I’d never in a million years be able to read what I handwrote. Plus I’m so used to typing now, even handwriting for a few minutes makes my hand cramp up. Amazing the art I’ve lost over the years.
But I just went through galleys on my latest book, and having it in printed form really allows a different perspective. I think just stepping away from the book on the computer in any form gives it a different look, a different ‘read’, at least for me. I was able to absorb it in a completely unique way.
I do all my writing and editing on the computer. I think it’s time to try something different on the next book.
I write by hand now. I cannot remember who got me started, and I cannot decide whether I would kill that person or crown that person King/Queen of the world.
I’m not yet at the point where all my first drafts are handwritten, but I see that day coming… *groan*
But I do use the first type-in draft as my second draft, like you do, Shannon.
Being a half decent keyboardist, when I write the first draft of anything (email, blog post, novel), I tend to type with my eyes closed. I don’t even think about typing, it just flows.
But when I’m stuck for ideas, I break it up a bit by writing long hand, maybe in color, whatever it takes to jar the senses.
Hey, Anne, I’m in the MT trenches, too!
Jaci has a good point about looking at the same words in a different format offering a different perspective. When I’m at the point in a story where I think I’m “finished,” I’ll actually print it out single-spaced with book-sized margins so I can see what it would look like in book form, which helps me view it from more of a reader perspective, and issues that weren’t apparent the last 20 times I read the thing jump right off the page.
I’m surprised-and pleased-to find so many people still working the “old fashioned” way of pen to paper. Lately I’ve been doing a good mix of both typing and handwriting and it seems my production is definitely more positive when I hand write.
I’ll totally admit a pen fetish, but I prefer to write on loose leaf, colleged ruled paper and I *gasp* throw away the pages after I’ve typed them in. I tend to edit as I go, so the written rarely matches the typed anyway.
I do both. I find it helps my creativity to switch back and forth.
Deciphering my handwriting — more akin to an arthitic spider than anything is part of the fun and challenge!
I definitely think with the ‘added’ chores associated with the computer that the joy has diminished. I still don’t tend to write on paper, unless I’m stuck or charting out a book. Paper seems to breakthrough blocks.
As much as I love longhand for first drafts and letting it flow and turning off the internal editor, I type 80+ wpm, so when the flow starts really flowing, I find myself frustrated by the slowness of longhand. On the other hand, with longhand, my hand rarely catches up with my head, so I’m not left staring at the blank screen, waiting for the next sentence to come to me.
The other advantage I find with longhand is that by entering the written draft into the computer, I can give it a light first polish. I go back and forth, but they both have their advantages.
(oh, and if you’re utterly bored, check out http://www.typingtest.com/, which is where I went to double check that my typing speed claim was accurate.)
Love paper. I agree it breaks through blocks and I think better on it. I love Staples like a magpie likes shiny things.
For me, the computer is necessary. I have a hard time writing by hand for anything longer than writing out checks for the months bills, and even that will leave me with stiff fingers. I can type quickly, but more importantly it takes several days of long writing for my hands to feel it (mild arthritis, but hand writing hurts more than typing by a long shot).
So, for some it’s not an aesthetic thing, but a practical choice. I don’t feel any loss of imagination or creativity, probably the opposite — if I handwrote I probably would lose my thoughts before I caught up with them. I’m very comfortable with everything online, and wish all my book edits were, as well.
I do enjoy reading ebooks on the Treo, and find that’s easier at the gym than trying to hold a book.
My freelance editing work (magazine) is all online as well, and I love that, it’s fast, gets the job done — in contrast to having just finished a huge job of going through my galleys for my August book, which were sent at the same time with the line edits because of a production back-up. Ugh. All that paper. I wish I could do all of my editing online…that was such a pain, finding all the errors and then having to type them into a long list of fixes. Now someone else has to take them and put it all in the ms, and hopefully won’t miss things or make more mistakes.
If it feels good, I say do it. So to each their own, but I’m a computer user all the way, for several reasons.
Sam
But when I’m stuck for ideas, I break it up a bit by writing long hand, maybe in color, whatever it takes to jar the senses.
I’m with Kimber (again!). I do most of my writing on the computer, but I pull out the pen and paper when I’m stuck, or for key scenes where I really want some extra focus.
Writers definitely have a thing about paper, I love stationary and can always justify buying a new notebook.
With a two year old who is well versed with the Wiggles website and a husband who is addicted to online chess, there are times when I am curled up on the sofa with a fresh spiral notebook working on a character sketch or a particular scene and it is a nice change of pace from writing on a PC.
Last weekend I was in my garage putting together a box of things for the annual neighborhood yard sale and I stumbled upon a few notebooks with stories written in them, its always fun to sit down and read what you were writing back then and to see where your head was at and how much your writing has grown.:razz:
Paper? Notebooks? Pens? No way, Jose. I love my keyboard, and I can’t read my own handwriting. Writing by hand is tedious and makes me shiver with dread. And I’m an old broad who loves her computers–both of them. Yes, I’m one person and I have two computers–desktop and laptop. When I’m at the keyboard, it’s like my ideas flow directly from my brain to my fingers. When I write, it’s like–uh uh uh. And don’t even talk to me about dictating. My brain isn’t wired that way.
Yea for technology. I only write on paper when I have no other choice.
Can’t write by hand, other than jotting a few notes. I managed to get repetitive strain injury in such a way that an ergonomic keyboard hurts my hands a lot less than using a pen does for writing anything more than a couple of hundred words at a time.
What *does* make a difference for me is taking the laptop off its port replicator and taking it Somewhere Else. Anywhere else, so long as it’s out of reach of the DSL cable.
That way I can’t check just one email…
Nevertheless, I can’t go past one of the big stationery shops without going in. Paper. Parchment. Pens. Post-it notes in so many colours and sizes. *Shiny*.
I agree with this blog on the appeal of writing on paper. I have this cute journal of kittens whose only purpose is to contain story ideas and rough drafts!
I still love pens. I bough a pretty one that has holes to clip on pretty charms, but I don’t use it very often.
Even when I had major research papers to write, I did most of my initial work by hand. That way typing it up later sometimes gave me more ideas of what to add while I was going over it a second time.
How interesting.
I couldn’t do this. My handwriting has turned to scribbles over the years as I’ve written more and more via keyboard, and even in the days where I wrote timed essays for college exams, my hand would cramp after about twenty minutes.