"...Whenever I try to type, I get distracted by the internet...." I hear you there! *looks at the other tab with a google.doc he was working on* Short of disabling internet on a computer or taking a laptop to a wi-fi dead zone, it's just going to take practice. Maybe you could set goals of one or two or three hundred words before checking in with your favorite sites and such. Personally, I use the computer whenever I can. Sometimes things come to me while I'm driving, at the store, etc so I'll jot on a bit of paper. Like to get it on the computer asap though. I just like moving things around, editing, un-editing, etc. -Frank
I have horrible hand writing. I don't think my handwriting has changed much since I was in like third grade. So I type whenever possible. I also feel that I can generally write better when I type instead of hand writing it. Everything flows better for me. Its also nice that I can actually read what I type.
Insofar as typing whilst getting distracted by the Internet is concerned, I know and use a program that leaves the screen blank, save for the text you're typing, which is fantastic for getting rid of said distractions. It's JDarkRoom, or something-or-other, and there's versions for Mac and PC both. Just a thought, as I've faced the same problem myself in the past.
Depends what I'm writing. Song lyrics, always on paper first. Same thing when I used to write a lot of poetry. Anything longer, I use the computer.
To get started, using a pen and paper can get that really powerful, creative opening out in ways that a word doc [often] never could. There's no "Great Blank Staring Word Doc" when you get your first paragraph or two onto paper with a pen. Typing has its advantages though..obviously, it's much faster, but you can also get more in...when you're transferring your handwritten stuff to the screen, it kind of expands on its own because typing is physically easier/faster. You might not be inclined to spend an extra whole page or two solely building tension if you have to write it all out with hand cramps.
I use longhand to put down my general ideas because they don't seem to strike when i'm sitting at the computer waiting for inspiration. When I am actually writing the story, I type. No hand cramps and less paper for me to lose (which I inevitably do). I just make sure to unplug the internet so I can get something done.
I really like writing with pen and paper. I frequently write rough drafts of short stories by hand and parts of novels. Any time I get stuck, it helps me to pull out a notebook and pen and start scratching. Right now I am doing the second draft of a short story by hand (the rough is on the computer.) as it is supposed to be the last handwritten account left by my MC. I am finding actually doing it by hand is helping to bring out my voice in the story.
I do both. I find writing out a section of my novel gives me a chance to do a quick edit when I type it up, plus I have a hard copy of what I've written. Although my collection of notebooks is getting rather large...and confusing.
I prefer typing because I like to imagine what my writing would look like if it was published. It gives out kind of a formal vibe, sort of making my writing look 'official'. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Writing by hand is nice every now and then, but I find that it's easier for me to lose focus that way. I don't know why, it just does. Everyone's different.
Does anybody here write out their work in pen? Over the past couple of months, with practice and the acquisition of some nice, quality fountain and calligraphy pens, I've turned my sloppy, illegible handwriting into beautiful script, and to be honest I really enjoy it. That image of writing out a beautiful story in handwriting that matches is quite appealing it seems to an aspiring writer, like the writing itself is an art form as well as the words. This is something MS word on a pc doesn't really give you. Whenever I see that "banner" at the top of these forums of the fountain writing I feel inspired to start writing myself for some reason. The problem is it's pretty much obsolete. As far as I'm aware publishers don't accept handwriting manuscripts, not to mention the fact that it's pretty difficult to "edit" handwriting, and writing out an 80,000 word novel entirely in pen is a pretty difficult thing to do especially if you're being creative while writing. For this reason it's much more of a personal thing. However it's pretty nice for things such as poems or short stories. Writing out a poem/story for family, or having them framed etc seems to be the best use; it was pretty nice during the summer time sitting next to my big garden pond writing poems in handwriting while my dad did garden DIY as we listened to football (Soccer) on the radio :L Anyway how do you feel about handwriting in a creative or non-creative manner? On the non-creative side, my college teachers now love my new handwriting; it's much nicer on the eyes too
I'm with you. There is something intensely personal and lovely about reading something handwritten. It connects you with the author in a way that Word Documents just can't. I find it sad that schools are beginning to eliminate teaching handwriting. It will be one more way in which the next generation is cut off from the last. During a trip to London I visited the British Library. They've got many treasures there, including the Magna Carta and an original, handwritten draft of Jane Eyre. Imagine entering and not being able to read those documents? It's just another example of how we are disconnecting ourselves from the personal in favor of the easy and mass produced. I like to handwrite at least one of my drafts. It forces me to slow down and really immerse myself in the process. There's also something comforting in knowing that there is a handwritten copy of my novel out there somewhere. So, I'm with you.
If handwriting is dead, then I confess that I probably helped kill it. I used to scribble down ideas when they struck me, and have even written some fairly long passages by hand. But it was always frustrating in the end when I tried without success to decipher exactly what it was that I had written. I must confess that writing via computer is faster, easier and neater. I am a traditionalist in many things, but not this.
Funnily enough I'm usually a non-traditionalist and I tend to embrace modern advancement, but this is not one of them ^^
I enjoy handwriting and I do it often because I take notes. I also like to sit at Starbucks and drink a yummy coffee and brainstorm. Brainstorming is easier done by handwriting than computer. Computer asks for a more formal look, but handwriting is made for brainstorming. It feels natural and better. I do not have great handwriting. I try, though. I use to write a journal. But I do that on the computer. I do, however, write a sentence every few days in a notebook I was given about the day. I also writing "wisdom" in a book my cousin gave me...to give back to him when he graduates high school. I still use handwriting, but not for writing my novel.
^^ I changed mine by literally finding a font I liked on MS word, printing that alphabet as well as some sentences in the font, and then just tracing it out repeatedly, before attempting to replicate the writing without tracing. Eventually it just took hold. My handwriting was literally disgusting. My parents were illegible but at least kind of neat, but mine was just a mess of conflicting sizes and shapes :\ But not anymore
I write out some of my work in pen. For example, I am writing my novella entirely in pen. People say I can write like a typewriter. Handwritten work just seems endearing to me, especially the parts where I cross out or leave marks. It also allows me to take the work to more places and environments. I get sleepy writing in my house all the time, so I often take a notepad with me. I actually have more handwritten materials than I do electronic materials.
I am too easily distracted if I try to write with a computer, so yes. Though my writing is illegible to everyone but me.
That's interesting. That's something I never thought of doing. Not that I'm going to, but that's very creative.
I'ed like to get into the habit of at least note-taking for my novel in handwriting, like you and others have said it's easier to brainstorm with and is more portable. The only trouble is organizing all my notes properly; it's easier to use a PC's folder system, so if I want to make that change I'll have to get into the habit and come up with a better organisation formula
To each their own methods. Despite having so much written work, I do not have a means of organization for them. I have to look through piles of the stuff when I need to find something. I only maintain the most recent or ongoing works, such as the small notepads in which I write my novella. Fortunately, I can easily recall the majority of my work because writing things down by hand also helps me to remember them.
^ unfortunately I have a terrible memory, which is why I'm usually very efficient at organizing things so I can access them as easily as possible; particularly for studying college work or things like that. I kind of have to be, but I suppose it's a good thing
Jotting or mapping down ideas. That is the only thing I do on paper. I do have a really nice handwriting, but I don't really put it to use that much. I feel writing it on Pages (Mac) is more organized.
I write on computer, but I keep two journals (one a prayer journal and one a regular journal) and in both I only use a pen and I only use cursive writing. I am trying to get better and better at it.
I rarely use the computer to write. Usually everything is handwritten because I believe it's more personal when you do so.
Possibly writing down ideas with pen and paper if I don't have a computer or mobile anywhere near. I don't write stories by pen.
