I've done stenotyping! I trained as a court reporter for a while--didn't graduate, though, in large part because the "school" I had signed on through was actually a big moneymaking/tax dodging scam (as I found out when I began getting notifications of the bankruptcy proceedings a few years later, heh). I love being able to type quickly, and stenotyping was--difficult to learn, but once you got the hang of it, just mindblowing. it takes a lot more memory than touch-typing, but once you get the basic patterns down you start being able to type entire phrases like "ladies and gentlemen of the jury" with one combination of keystrokes. my current job is medical transcription (I have experience with the other side of voice-to-text software!), and I sometimes really miss being able to stenotype when I'm typing out long reports. I do use an expander program, so for example if I type "taot" it will expand it out automatically to "to the," or "ausc" to "auscultation," or even "rrr" to "regular rate and rhythm." I've thought about doing that for my writing projects, but first you have to identify what phrases you use often enough for an expander to save you time, then you have to make each entry into the expander, then you have to remember all the phrases... ultimately, as many people have said, being able to get your thoughts on paper faster doesn't always help. I prefer keyboarding to handwriting because my handwriting is awful, ink and graphite usually smudge, and my hand cramps up after I've been writing a fairly short amount of time--which I know is because of disuse/lack of practice, but I've never wanted to handwrite enough to push that barrier. I grew up having to use "cursive" for all my reports in school, but once I learned how to touch type, I never looked back.
Writing with keyboard is faster than utensil. Writing with utensil is a very tedious job. Today each and every person become expert in writing with keyboard.
I'm beginning to realize I'm much more creative, write with better flow, and feel less of a block when writing with pen on paper than typing. This is something I haven't done in length for some time. A paragraph here and there is all I've done in years. Back in college--well to be honest I can't recall what happened in college with too much detail, heh--I wrote some of my short stories first on paper and then typed them. When it came time for edits, I'd have to print the pages off and write notes in order to do it. I don't think this is a case of not being used to computers, because I'm young (20s). I grew up with computers, chat, and texting. I do think part of it is how are minds work on the computers. The brain of a frequent internet user is different from the brain of someone who's not. Which is just one bit of proof that shows we think different while using the computer. So it's my conclusion that at least part of this phenomenon is from how my brain is trained to function with a computer and an inability to completely overcome this while typing stories. Though, I do wonder what else is the cause for this. Maybe staring at a screen robs my senses and this stifles my creativity. Maybe words typed are different than words written. Maybe it's mindframe, longhand is more like art. Maybe it feels more personal. What do you guys think? I'm going to begin writing by longhand much more often. Does anyone else do this?
What I do is type out my story on a computer. Then I will print out a hardcopy and bring it into class with me. My teacher and I will then sit down and together we'll discuss the story. My teacher will write down things I can edit on the page with his pencil. I will go home then edit my story on the computer. People tell me I have fantastic handwriting, but even though I'm told that I still use the computer to type up stories. I find it easier, less stressful, and quicker. Of course this is just me I'm sure a lot of people have different perspectives on the topic.
Writing by hand allows you to write while you think, at least for me, because your mind is several words ahead of your hand (unless you're writing in your head like a child : p). This enables you to think more about what you're writing as well. The tactile involvement in handwriting may also help you remember what you wrote. Not to mention the investment of time and energy in handwriting seems to imbue more value in the work. In a few key strokes you can destroy weeks, months, years of work, but it takes a fireplace/pit or sidewalk, and a lighter, to properly destroy your handwriting (for those who want to do so conscientiously). I wrote a book across notebooks and notepads, post-it notes and scraps of paper, so many at work I devoured everything in the office, but beware of the copying! I never finished and it's all sitting in a box somewhere. Handwriting has its pro's and con's.
I've always found tactile writing with a pen or pencil to be more enjoyable and productive than typing. Typing on a computer is better for me than typing on a typewriter, because I tend to make too many initial spelling mistakes that distract me from the content of the writing itself. I write much faster by typing however, so I've come up with the system of writing my short chapter summaries and synopsis on the computer and then exploring them more deeply and at length with my tactile writing, then I'll go back and re-write/copy my hand-writing onto the computer during my first editing process.
I'm the same way, especially when i get started. When i get struck with something amazing, I'll grab a pen and notebook and go to town. It helps me get the ideas down and make that basic foundation that will be my story. Then ill put it on a computer and write the whole thing out later, but I always get started tactile.
I know several people who write long hand in a notebook. Then transcribe to PC. I was surprised, but then, it gives them a chance to do a little revision and validate their product. So why not? Plus, it looks so damned cool to have a manuscript written out by hand....
I can probably type at least twice as fast as I can write (mostly illegibly) in longhand, if not three to four times. I cant imagine writing things out by hand.
I don't care about the speed. When I'm using a pen and writing on paper, I get better flow of story, and I'm more creative. There's actually some interesting science to back this up, because the process of drawing words on paper with a pen requires different areas of the brain to fire. I thought it was just me, but some time ago I read a scientific article that backed it up.
mmm i write mainly on the computer though i always have a pen and pad in my bag to hand in case of any flash ideas come into my head its good for making random notes, characters or scenes you can then embellish when you get back to your computer
It's easier to make rough notes by hand, and easier to write more polished drafts on the computer, for me. I edit myself heavily in both mediums - it's just by hand it's a lot messier cus you can see space running out and things being crossed out. I find it hard to write anything of much value by hand - for that, I have to type. However, I find it much easier to make notes and brainstorm ideas by hand, because of the freedom to use space and not write/think in a necessarily linear way.
I think there's some considerable value in creating using physical objects and tools. When working on a computer screen you never get a feel for the weight or length of your project. You can't physically rearrange it as easily as you might a tangible object, and there's no record or trace of the changes you have made. If nothing else, it's a lot more satisfying to work with pen and paper sometimes - which in itself makes it worth doing.
I started off writing in longhand as I was trying to snatch brief moments during my shift to write. I think much faster than I can transcribe by pen, so handwriting is really only of use to me if my brain is on a go-slow, otherwise much of the initial detail gets lost in the mix and is hard to bring back to mind again. Really? I actually find it's the polar opposite for me. Using a processor helps me to keep everything nice and tidy, and the snapshot facility means I have a records of every single amendment I have ever made, as well as keeping a remnant folder where I place all the scenes that are well enough written but have been rejected for whatever reason. There are no messy scribbles, strikethroughs or notes in the margins, just little virtual Post-Its reminding me why I came to make the decision I did. (I have a seriously crappy memory.) I always have pen and paper if all else fails, but I can only get a flow on when I'm typing.
I sat down to write today. Usually I do all my work on a laptop, but recently I found myself stumped when looking at a blank Word page. I switched to writing in a notebook and felt that things came easier to me. Not that my writing goes to absolute crap when I type, but I find it easier to "zone in" on my work when writing with pen and paper. The downside to this, of course, is the amount of work I could get done, in say, an hour. It remains to be seen whether the quality is better, but I can already see that quantity may be less. What do we think? Pen and paper, or typing on a computer? A mix of both? I'll attach a poll if I can figure out how. Apologies if this has been asked before, I wasn't able to find anything recent. Cheers
I find typing on a computer is easier for me. I can type faster than I can think (coherently, anyway) so when I'm writing I prefer a laptop. However. When it comes to planning and/or mapping, I prefer to use pen and aper for the exact same reason. It slows me down and makes me think exactly about what I'm writing and how it would work. Also, for some reason while I write it's nice to have my roadmap in front of me and tangible. Now that I think about it, that's probably connected to the reason I suck as using Google Maps (unless they're telling me which direction to go) on my smartphone. I think it just depends on how your mind works, and the amount of effort you're willing to put in (transcribing handwritten documents is a lot of work... Trust me. I transcribed an entire book for an older gentleman once..and fixed his grammar...).
I personally find handwriting easier. I tend to get distracted when I make mistakes and can't continue if I don't fix them straight away, but I don't notice them when writing things with a pen. I find I can focus easily as well. I also use it as a first editing stage when I type out what I've written. I also find it easier to take my work where ever I go, as well as having that added piece of mind since I've had a few HDD's crash on me in the past.
This is what I do. I devote the majority of planning, mapping out the story, and jotting down character traits to handwriting in a notebook. For actual prose I prefer a keyboard because I can type faster than I can write, and it makes the editing process easier and I can make more content at a faster pace. I typically print it out and note corrections by hand, then go back to the computer and add the edits. So I do a hybrid, I guess.
I use both. I write better, generally, with a pen precisely because it slows me down and forces me to think about how to phrase each sentence. I write faster with a keyboard (as does everyone). Either way, I really enjoy the process.
If I'm not at home I write using pen and paper, though since I write as fast as possible my handwritten drafts are barely readable, grammatically incorrect and in general terribly written. At home I almost exclusively write on my PC, though while it is faster (and results in higher quality) it doesn't feel as nice as shaping the words by hand.
I go through stages where I am more proficient at writing on my laptop (or my PC) or writing with pen and paper. I also find that my writer's block can sometimes be alleviated by switching how I am writing (either pc to pen or pen to pc). I always carry a pen and notebook with me whenever I am out of the house or even downstairs cooking dinner just in case any ideas pop into my head and I need to jot them down. Overall, I think it depends entirely on the individual person and what helps them
With paper I found myself being able to disconnect much more easily. I get a better flow as it seems more like a stream of consciousness. However my hand writing is atrocious so I have to use a PC if I want anyone to see it or be able to read it myself.
Almost always on keyboard, but if I'm totally stuck and need to brainstorm/loosen up my creativity I switch to pen and paper. I don't write so much as just jot down random words and arrows and things.
