I write almost purely on keyboards. Recently I've been forced to make a lot of hand-written notes, and I've noticed that my lack of real handwriting is showing in my script. They're barely decipherable.
im a pen and paper writer, ive tried on numerous times to write on a computer, but i freak out after a while and go back to pen and paper...
If the computer is not at hand I will write something down and maybe be able to read it later. I keep a little digital dictaphone in the car as sometimes I am on the road for 5-7 hours. I keep one by my bed too but it is more for things I need to remember to do but don't want to get out of bed or turn on a bright light to go write it down. Mine are a bit old but were not expensive, hold hundreds of hours, and a pair of AAA's last for months. I am sure fancy phones can record memos too but never had one of those.
It depends on my mood, if I want to write and the words aren't coming easily I will often swap between pencil and paper, and my laptop. I don't know why but the change helps me to focus.
Usually, I'll write a few pages here and there on paper, then switch to computer. I do like swapping, especially because I'm in the car a lot, and that's the only way I can write.
I'm really glad you dug this up for those of us who hadn't a chance to see it before. I used to only use my laptop when writing. Since reading this I decided to give the old pen and paper another chance and I find it much easier to write. My inner critique is still rearing its ugly head and making it difficult to get that crappy first draft down, but without the distractions of a computer I find it much easier to focus. Thanks for sharing!
Paper and pen for the win. I only use a laptop when I am writing a final draft... and I haven't finished ANYTHING for years now...
I take notes and plan my stories with pen and paper and then I write the ms in Word. it took me a while to learn to think and type at the pc simultaneously, but now it works just fine.
When I'm doing notes or research or brainstorming, I'll usually use a pen and paper. Because I think visually, it makes it easier for me to make sketches and doodles, and map ideas out this way. Sometimes, though, when I'm brainstorming, I'll fire up Microsoft Works or even just Notepad, lean back in a comfy chair, close my eyes, and start typing, anything that comes to mind. I do all my actual writing on the computer, using Microsoft Works Word Processor. For the pen-and-paper portions, I've recently become addicted to Sharpie Pens and these awesome graphing paper composition notebooks our store started carrying for back-to-school.
Hi all I am a huge fan of writing my drafts with fountain pens and different coloured inks, even though I know it bucks the trend in this digital age. Imagine my joy when I found, not only are fountain pen sales increasing, but that Neil Gaiman does it 'my way' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18071830 Are there any closet fountain pen users among you? Now is the time to stand up and be proud! ;-) TTFN ILF
I never go anywhere without a fountain pen (and a spare) and an actual paper notebook. Battery power may go down but as long as you've got paper and pen, you're never without resources. And I love the fluid motion of a real fountain pen - not to be confused with a ball point pen. Just the look of the ink on the page is so completely unique and even comforting. Even if you've got crappy handwriting, it still looks nice when laid out on a page with real liquid ink. I once worked for a judge whose last name is Waterman. His first day on the bench, he gave everyone in the office a Waterman inkpen - kinky plastic cases but in gift boxes with cartoon and movie characters on the boxes. I still have even the box mine came in - Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. And the pen is bright yellow. He's no longer on the bench, but he's still giving out those lovely and fun fountain pens. Many times I have been found to abandon my laptop in the office and go out to a park or just the picnic table in back of the building and sit and write the "old fashioned" way. Sometimes I absolutely have to do it that way just to slow my brain down enough to form coherent thoughts! (ADHD you see. Mind tends to go faster than I can keep up sometimes and I have to remind it to slow down!) Now, of course, that means I have to go back to the keyboard to input everything I've written longhand. But that hiatus from the keyboard sitting in the peaceful quiet of a shady tree seems to help me to write more and better once I do get back to the keyboard. So, yeah, I'm in your camp on this one. And, not only do I have a large collection of antique typewriters (some dating back to the 1800's, but I have a large collection of fountain pens and even a few old calligraphy pens as well.) And, did you know, a broad nib in your fountain pen makes for a lovely medium for calligraphy writing. (And stupid U.S. schools are actually eliminating cursive writing in schools, can you believe that?!? Continually shortcutting education.)
I write with fountain pens as well. I don't switch up the ink colors during a draft, but I prefer using a fountain pen to another writing instrument, or to typing initial drafts on a computer.
You guys are making me want to try fountain pens. I've never used one before. I think I was always under the impression I'd have to hunt down and kill my own goose, or something. But it turns out that people manufacture these things!
@minstrel Mont Blanc made some really nice 75th anniversary fountain pens. I think I saw one of them on ebay last week for about $60,000.00. No need to kill a goose, just get out your credit card.
Dahlink, Not only am I a user, I am a collector and refurbisher of vintage writing instruments. Long story, short: I worked at an antiques auction house during university. The auctioneer, David, did not like consigning vintige pens because they were never in working order when brought to the auction house. I taught myself to refurbish them and get them in working order for auction. I get all my parts and sundries from The Fountain Pen Hospital in New York. Here is but a small example of what I own:
Yikes! Sixty GRAND?? Must be made of unobtanium! Either that, or the $20 one I just ordered is made of worm shit. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.
There's another from the series going for $88K: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONTBLANC-SKELETON-75th-ANNIVERSARY-FOUNTAIN-PEN-GOLD-MINT-COMPLETE-DISPLAY-/370571120153 Apparently, they only made 75 of these pens to begin with, and each one is unique.
@minstrel - what kind did you order? The only one in that price range I've ever had didn't write consistently, and also had a tendency to leak a bit. But that was years ago. I have a Cross pen for around $40 that writes nicely, and a Waterman Hemisphere series pen that I really like a lot (it ran about $70). I've heard you can get some pretty good ones on the low end of the price scale, but if that $20 disappoints you don't let it taint your view of fountain pens
I am absolutely drooling over your collection! HOW PURELY AWESOME! (And now I understand my fascination with the instrument. My mother's maiden name is Conklin. Maybe I come by it honestly.) Of course, now I'm hungry to go out and buy another fountain pen. Flea markets watch out!
I've always wanted to try my hand at writing the old feather pen and ink bottle, but I always figured I would struggle with ink spots and such. Maybe I should practice with the fountain pens first?
Ha! Thank you. That last picture is a jade green, laminated celluloid, Parker Vacumatic from the early half of 1932. You can tell easily because the end of the cap has a "jewel" made from the same laminated celluloid. Earlier and later models were made with a monotone "jewel'. What you are describing is referred to in the trade as a quill or a standard.
I ordered a Lamy Safari, $22.10 from Amazon. It had some good reviews there, and the price seemed reasonable.
Nice, @minstrel . Let me know how it works for you. The cheap one I ordered some time ago was from China. A pretty pen, but the quality wasn't very good.
