I prefer typing because its easy to just grab my laptop and get the words down as quickly as I'm thinking them. Plus, I can start moving stuff around and editing right away. But, I have written some of my best work with good 'ol pen and paper. I think its all a matter of personal preference
I almost always type. I type a lot faster than I write and I can read my typing a lot faster than my handwriting. It also lets me revise more easily as I write when I want to slightly rephrase or add a line or something.
Typing is much more convenient, because you can rewrite and tweak as much as possible before printing, which saves paper, so everyone wins.
I personally always try to write it out on paper because, like you said, it's more mobile (then I can write during a boring class ^.^). Sometimes I type it up but I don't do that a lot for two reasons: 1) If I write it out first then I can re-read it while I'm typing it up and fix grammar mistakes and reword sentences then if I wish. 2) I have yet to get a flash drive for my writing so if my computer dies then I don't have anything. Writing everything out on paper is better cause then you know you have a backup copy (unless of course you lose it so I dedicate a binder or notebook to writings and keep them in a safe place).
Speed! Legibility! Editable! Duplicability! Inevitability! (Powers combined, etc.) I usually write poetry on paper, though. Some combination of habit, it being easy to quickly jot down a few lines for later, and a love of redirecting arrows, scribbling outs and notes / reminders ALL OVER THE PLACE that just can't be replicated (well, easily) with a word document.
I used to write on the computer first, until one day I couldn't sleep and instead of going over to my computer I pulled out a notepad and just wrote. Well..I just kept writing and writing..and it felt good. I also like the freedom you have with hand writing...take it anywhere just like S-wo said. Yes there are laptops but I don't like having a computer resting on my lap all of the time..a notepad is much more comfortable! After each chapter or so I will then type it up and organize it that way though..I definately agree with the organization factor. When I'm typing it up I also have a chance to do quick revisions which help out a lot too.
I think it depends on where you are. In some settings it just feels more natural to write on paper, and others a computer is nicer. I write better on a computer because, in my opinion, it's much easier to read, organize, and edit. However, you should write in a way that works best for you... everyone's different.
when i have my own place, i like to have the computer for the actual writing, and then a wall of post-it notes with my little scrawlings and ideas
I prefer to write out "maps" of information with a pen and paper then type my writing. I have terrible hand writing so writing out a draft on paper is a waste of my time. However, I too like the feeling of a pen in my hand so I use that to take down random notes I have as I think about stories and then I sort through the notes later. I'm experimenting with writing scenes and characters out on notecards randomly and that way I can organize everything later.
Paper. I hate re-writing, so putting it on paper forces an extra draft out of me since I have to re-write as I type it up.
I prefer to type, it's faster and I have carpal tunnel from doing hair for a lot of years. When I write by hand, it's usually notes in bed or short ideas. When I really want to flow, it's done on the computer.
Have to go with the computer. Having broken my wrist as a young kid my handwriting is horrid to say the least. Not only that, but I sometimes can't read it.
I do my rough drafts in pencil, then type them up later. Probably because I was taught to do it that way.
I write out the bare bones of my stories on any paper that's at hand with any pen I can grab. As you can probably guess my notes look very strange. Then I type it up and flesh it out once I know what I'm doing.
So I wrote my second novel longhand last summer. About 550 notebook pages. It was a great experience, loved writing longhand, etc, etc, but typing it up has been a b! I can't scan it because I wrote in cursive and I don't think a computer will come along in the next 100 years that can decipher it. Also couldn't pay someone else to do it for the same reasons. I went about the arduous process of typing it up, but I'd be doing it just about at the same pace it took me to write it. Recently, I got Mac-Dictate (voice-recognition software) and a headset. That has been working so-so, but about 10% of the words come out wrong. This may not seem like much but it is when I have to go back and look for every mistake, then look to my notebook to see what the correct word is (because it's not like a regular typo--it's an actual word that the computer thought I said, usually totally different). I like writing longhand, but typing it up is a real pain. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or just share your own experiences?
Whatever works for you. If I were to write a novel in longhand, I may as well feed it directly into a shredder. It might even make it more legible.
i try to do both i often write longhand whilst i am away from my desk and try to type it up later, but the typing up is a long process and doesn;t always work out the way i planned
hah, I have tried longhand while i was away from my computer. Typing it up was so terrible! And I only wrote 2 notebook pages. Now I have a laptop. Never ever thought it would be of any use to me, was just a HUGE bargain. I now have this huge gaming computer sitting over there doing nothing as I sit all comfy on my recliner typing away on my laptop... it's so convenient! I want more laptops! I think your only other option might be one of those writing pads - I haven't ever tried them, but I hear they exist. heh. Not sure how well the work, but if you can't scan in your handwriting and have it legible to the computer then it might not work for you either. So get a laptop with a decent battery, and never put it down!
I write longhand when I'm not home and feel the need to write, and I enjoy the type up afterwards. It allows me to go through and give the writing a second look for editing purposes. Of course I make changes while I'm typing, so it's always better the second time around.
When I don't have a computer handy I may write bits and pieces long hand, but I don't write entire stories long hand any more. I find I can do much more with the story when I type it on the computer, because I can edit it much easier, change things around, etc.
When I write novels, I prefer to write longhand and then type it up, but with short stories I don't bother. I just type them straight up.
I prefer to write longhand as well. It feels more hands-on (bad pun, I know, but that's also the best way I can think of to describe it). Something about writing the words physically helps my creativity keep flowing. But I'm gradually trying to get used to doing everything on the computer, because typing things up afterwards is so annoying. That is, everything except poetry, which is generally short enough that it's not too annoying to type up the finished product. I wish I had good tips for you. If you come up with any, I'd be interested to hear!
I always liked it when I wrote up smaller parts and then typed it up. Whenever I would type it up, I would always find some kind of typo or a better way to say what I wanted to say. Unfortunately, that also meant there were many times where almost everything I wrote that day became useless after further analysis.
