Pen or Keyboard?
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I clicked 'mostly with a keyboard'. Before I got the laptop, I would write everything in longhand. Then I got the dekstop and still wrote in longhand, as sitting at a computer desk all day would kill my shoulders, so I waited until I finished each chapter then transcribed it.
Now, I can sit on the settee or in bed, and type on the laptop - it's comfortable, and fast. I can get the words out as fast as I think them up. For editing, I print it all out and mark corrections with a biro, then make adjustments to the saved word.doc.
Now, I can sit on the settee or in bed, and type on the laptop - it's comfortable, and fast. I can get the words out as fast as I think them up. For editing, I print it all out and mark corrections with a biro, then make adjustments to the saved word.doc.
I chose both, coz I write it out in an exercise book first, then transfer it to the computer. I know, ridiculously diffucult way to do it, but I dont have a laptop, and this way I can write wherever I am!
I used to do only longhand, because I was too lazy to learn typing. Then I had to start typing for school and learned to do it in the incorrect way. Now I can not stand longhand.
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I've typed for so long that my handwriting is no longer legible. Plus, grading has ruined my love for pens.
On the other hand, writing something in ink, for me, feels less permanent than print on the screen.
On the other hand, writing something in ink, for me, feels less permanent than print on the screen.
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I'm a keyboard girl. The thought of actually having to type in a handwritten document ... <shudder> And typo city.
Computer for reviews and other journalism, fountain pen and paper for fiction.
It's almost fetishistic - the start of a new fiction project involves finding the right combination of pen and notebook. The current novel -- the second in the current contract -- is being written with a Pelikan steno (XXF) fountain pen, loaded with Noodler's Black, in a 8.5 x 11 sketchbook bound on the short side.
The short story I just finished was written with a Pelikan Go (Waterman Havana - brown) and a Lamy Safari XF (Private Reserve Copper Burst) in a Moleskine Cahier medium.
The tip-ins I'm writing for another short story are on old, browning lined 8.5x11 sheets with a Lamy Safari XF loaded with Private Reserve Plum and a Pelikan 200 XF w/Noodler's Black.
But I've been told I'm weird.
It's almost fetishistic - the start of a new fiction project involves finding the right combination of pen and notebook. The current novel -- the second in the current contract -- is being written with a Pelikan steno (XXF) fountain pen, loaded with Noodler's Black, in a 8.5 x 11 sketchbook bound on the short side.
The short story I just finished was written with a Pelikan Go (Waterman Havana - brown) and a Lamy Safari XF (Private Reserve Copper Burst) in a Moleskine Cahier medium.
The tip-ins I'm writing for another short story are on old, browning lined 8.5x11 sheets with a Lamy Safari XF loaded with Private Reserve Plum and a Pelikan 200 XF w/Noodler's Black.
But I've been told I'm weird.
My usual method is to write with pen, then (usually later in the day) to type it out. The typing constitutes the first revision, since I often make changes as I go along.
Only the keyboard. I have a laptop that I take everywhere. I can't write in longhand, it's way too messy and not fast enough. Plus I like to look at what I wrote and change things around without ever losing what I had orginally written down.
Pen
Pen, or mechanical drafting pencil, for pretty much all first draft work. It just works better, and there's some pretty substantial scientific evidence to back it up.
I've always thought some of the main reason people give for using a keyboard are the exact reasons a keyboard is not the best choice. 1. It's faster, and my hands can keep up with my thoughts. Not, to my way of thinking, a good thing in any way. Think twice, write once works better. 2. Cut and paste. Cut and paste may help with final drafts, but I think it misses the whole point of writing fiction. 3. Using a computer is easier. Well, faster, maybe, but not easier. And since when does easier equate with better? 4. I have lousy handwriting. That's because if you don't use it, you lose it. 5. The first draft is going to be crap, anyway. Only if you want it to be crap.
Besides, it was good enough for Shakespeare, Twain, and Dickens. And it's good enough for Neil Gaiman, Joe Haldeman, J. K. Rowling, Tom Parker, Elmore Leonard, Neil Stephenson, Wendell Berry, Samuel R. Delany, Tanith Lee, Ann Tyler, and simply dozens and dozens of other very good writers, so I'm in good company.
As far as I'm concerned, the best word processor on earth is a Luddite Word Processor. It beats Word and WordPerfect all to pieces fof first drafts.
Stephen King even wrote one of his recent, and extremely long, novels with a fountain pen.
Pen, or mechanical drafting pencil, for pretty much all first draft work. It just works better, and there's some pretty substantial scientific evidence to back it up.
I've always thought some of the main reason people give for using a keyboard are the exact reasons a keyboard is not the best choice. 1. It's faster, and my hands can keep up with my thoughts. Not, to my way of thinking, a good thing in any way. Think twice, write once works better. 2. Cut and paste. Cut and paste may help with final drafts, but I think it misses the whole point of writing fiction. 3. Using a computer is easier. Well, faster, maybe, but not easier. And since when does easier equate with better? 4. I have lousy handwriting. That's because if you don't use it, you lose it. 5. The first draft is going to be crap, anyway. Only if you want it to be crap.
Besides, it was good enough for Shakespeare, Twain, and Dickens. And it's good enough for Neil Gaiman, Joe Haldeman, J. K. Rowling, Tom Parker, Elmore Leonard, Neil Stephenson, Wendell Berry, Samuel R. Delany, Tanith Lee, Ann Tyler, and simply dozens and dozens of other very good writers, so I'm in good company.
As far as I'm concerned, the best word processor on earth is a Luddite Word Processor. It beats Word and WordPerfect all to pieces fof first drafts.
Stephen King even wrote one of his recent, and extremely long, novels with a fountain pen.
Ditto. And I just [today, not an hour ago!] finished my first red-pen editoral pass on a printed version of my MS. I wanted to write notes that I could see easily, and I wanted to get away from the computer for a while. Also, I think the reading experience is better on paper, and more akin to what someone else experiences when reading your work. So I would have to go with pen and print for editing, but laptop for writing anything more than a few sentences.My-Immortal said:
I agree that speedy expression isn't always the best source of quality. I think the main reason that I use the computer is that, having spent years doing so on the job, it's the method with which I am now most comfortable.Jamesaritchie said:
Mostly with a Keyboard
I said mostly with a keyboard because, for the earliest parts of my manuscripts, I like to write them out with a pen.
Generally, I write my outlines with a pen, my first draft with a manual typewriter, and I do all my rewrites on the computer.
My handwriting is pretty decent, although I do have a nasty tendency to push down on the paper way too hard. In fact, I have broken ballpoint pens in the past because of how hard I press with them onto the writing surface.
Also, I don't write with a pen nearly as much as I do with a keyboard because, along with the hard pressing onto the pen, comes a hard grip that makes my hands constantly cramp up.
So like I said, I mostly use a keyboard, but I don't use a keyboard exclusively.
I said mostly with a keyboard because, for the earliest parts of my manuscripts, I like to write them out with a pen.
Generally, I write my outlines with a pen, my first draft with a manual typewriter, and I do all my rewrites on the computer.
My handwriting is pretty decent, although I do have a nasty tendency to push down on the paper way too hard. In fact, I have broken ballpoint pens in the past because of how hard I press with them onto the writing surface.
Also, I don't write with a pen nearly as much as I do with a keyboard because, along with the hard pressing onto the pen, comes a hard grip that makes my hands constantly cramp up.
So like I said, I mostly use a keyboard, but I don't use a keyboard exclusively.
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I write in keyboard because sometimes I type a sentence I don't really like, and changing it in a notebook is messy, there's no delete key in a notebook 
I do it for cleanness and organization, because what I'd love to do is write with a quill (I've got my eyes on one, as soon as I have the money it's mine!!) on parchment (or recycled paper (by me!!) that looks just like parchment)
I do it for cleanness and organization, because what I'd love to do is write with a quill (I've got my eyes on one, as soon as I have the money it's mine!!) on parchment (or recycled paper (by me!!) that looks just like parchment)
While home, defnitely on the keyboard. I can't imagine it being simpler any other way.
but when I'm away from home, I always have a notebook and pen in my purse, car, etc. And I am known for just taking it out and writing wherever I am. If I'm somewhere and bored, I'll write. I love making lists about writing - story ideas, character traits, future possibilities for my WIP, etc.
Last year I got a laptop but I rarely have it on me - unless I'm traveling. And then usually I end up writing in a journal more than on the laptop.
but when I'm away from home, I always have a notebook and pen in my purse, car, etc. And I am known for just taking it out and writing wherever I am. If I'm somewhere and bored, I'll write. I love making lists about writing - story ideas, character traits, future possibilities for my WIP, etc.
Last year I got a laptop but I rarely have it on me - unless I'm traveling. And then usually I end up writing in a journal more than on the laptop.
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Typing feels good
Laptop only.
Firstly I am left handed so pen leaves marks on my hands and the paper.
Second I am dyslexic – word corrects all the spelling as I go. Being dyslexic I learnt to write with extremely messy handwriting to make it difficult for teachers to pick up my spelling errors (is that an e, an a or an o?). Now days I do a bit of public speaking and still write extremely messy on whiteboards to hide any potential spelling errors. Luckily doctors’ writing is scrawl so people simply assume that if they can’t read your writing it is because you are very smart.
And I actually love typing, it is like playing the piano, I love the feeling of my fingers flying over the keys.
I plan out my book in excel. I have a widescreen Acer laptop so can have word open on the left and excel on the right.
Works for me.
Laptop only.
Firstly I am left handed so pen leaves marks on my hands and the paper.
Second I am dyslexic – word corrects all the spelling as I go. Being dyslexic I learnt to write with extremely messy handwriting to make it difficult for teachers to pick up my spelling errors (is that an e, an a or an o?). Now days I do a bit of public speaking and still write extremely messy on whiteboards to hide any potential spelling errors. Luckily doctors’ writing is scrawl so people simply assume that if they can’t read your writing it is because you are very smart.
And I actually love typing, it is like playing the piano, I love the feeling of my fingers flying over the keys.
I plan out my book in excel. I have a widescreen Acer laptop so can have word open on the left and excel on the right.
Works for me.
I can't believe the timing of this thread ...
I just discovered that the specific refill for the specific pen I use has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I've spent hours searching the internet in effort to buy some if there are any still around.
If I can't find any, at least I'll have an alibi as to why my book is not yet completed!
Anyway, I write with a pen because ideas flow better for me that way. I never officially learned to type, so, even though I use the keyboard all d**n day at work, writing with a pen is more natural to me.
I also think that most of my keyboarding is geared toward "left-brained" activities, so being at a keyboard in front of a monitor seems to stifle my creativity.
The computer is the best way to go for re-writes/editing, though!
I just discovered that the specific refill for the specific pen I use has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I've spent hours searching the internet in effort to buy some if there are any still around.
If I can't find any, at least I'll have an alibi as to why my book is not yet completed!
Anyway, I write with a pen because ideas flow better for me that way. I never officially learned to type, so, even though I use the keyboard all d**n day at work, writing with a pen is more natural to me.
I also think that most of my keyboarding is geared toward "left-brained" activities, so being at a keyboard in front of a monitor seems to stifle my creativity.
The computer is the best way to go for re-writes/editing, though!
I write with both - and sometimes use a voice recorder to capture ideas.
My ms is typed on computer, but I use the flipside of discarded ms print copies to write notes, ideas and outlines on and to sketch characters, towns, etc. You know, the creative stuff... (Along with saving to hard drive and disc, I hardcopy all changes to my ms - for review, sight and audible editing, and in case of computer failure.)
I keep track of chapter names, lengths, etc. in longhand, including future plot points/paragraphs to include later. With my handwritten notes, I cross off or tick information used, or highlight/ring stuff I've yet to use, and keep all of it for future reference. I also have sheets of "future ideas" written in longhand (for subsequent books) and scribblings of wisdom picked up from internet forums jotted between relevant notes.
Why do I like doing it this way? Experience. I love to type - and I love to write - and I love to articulate! My handwriting can be a work of art or rushed scribble, and my typing can be book-neat or a jumble of cut-and-paste misfits. All serve the purpose to express my ideas. (I only wish I could tape spontaneous "brainstorming" moments with my hubby, kids and friends! I can never remember everything!)
I find that I can only hand-write poetry, though... then type it up.
My ms is typed on computer, but I use the flipside of discarded ms print copies to write notes, ideas and outlines on and to sketch characters, towns, etc. You know, the creative stuff...
(Along with saving to hard drive and disc, I hardcopy all changes to my ms - for review, sight and audible editing, and in case of computer failure.) I keep track of chapter names, lengths, etc. in longhand, including future plot points/paragraphs to include later. With my handwritten notes, I cross off or tick information used, or highlight/ring stuff I've yet to use, and keep all of it for future reference. I also have sheets of "future ideas" written in longhand (for subsequent books) and scribblings of wisdom picked up from internet forums jotted between relevant notes.
Why do I like doing it this way? Experience. I love to type - and I love to write - and I love to articulate! My handwriting can be a work of art or rushed scribble, and my typing can be book-neat or a jumble of cut-and-paste misfits. All serve the purpose to express my ideas. (I only wish I could tape spontaneous "brainstorming" moments with my hubby, kids and friends! I can never remember everything!)
I find that I can only hand-write poetry, though... then type it up.
I really had forgotten I used to write all my short stories with a pen till this thread (I haven't written a short story in a while). But my novel I type.
Occasionally I still write in a notebook for my freelance work. And certainly when I have an idea. But I'm a 'mostly keyboard' girl now.
Occasionally I still write in a notebook for my freelance work. And certainly when I have an idea. But I'm a 'mostly keyboard' girl now.
I voted both. It's a little complicated on what I use and when but to oversimplify, I use a pen for whenever I'm working on something new, and I use a keyboard when I'm reworking it. But there are exceptions to both rules.
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I write in long hand and type it up on PC when I get stuck. If I had a laptop I would probably still write long handed.
I'm left handed. I learned how to write sideways.
I'm left handed. I learned how to write sideways.
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