Typing! Does it undermine your brilliance?

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

I used to think I was a good typer/typist. I can pump out close to 2000 words in 90 minutes when the wind is to my back. But then I realized, no, actually, I'm a sloppy typist and I make hundreds of mistakes and I have to go back and do fairly major clean up jobs on what I've written.

This is a good example of the kind of problems I'm having. I actually typed the last line of the first paragraph twice. First in block capitals because I didn't realise I had touched caps lock. Then I deleted it, thought I switched caps lock off and then typed it in block capitals again, because I hadn't switched it off. That's the kind of thing I'm always doing when I'm typing. Another thing is for some reason my computer keeps switching to over type mode, so I look up and realise that where I thought I was putting in a clever line, I was actually over writing. So then I have to go sort that out.

That's gotta hinder your flow.

I know there was a stage in my life where my typing was so bad I couldn't keep up with my thoughts and I'd have to write out in long hand if I really wanted to create. Then I thought I had got fast enough to type straight in. Now I'm not so sure.

Are the rest of you such brilliant typists that this is not a problem? I'm a self taught two handed typist by the way. I wonder should I take lessons. It might improve my accuracy. Now I have to go spell check this and sort out the format.

scribbler1382 · Mar 19, 2007

Don't worry about the typos when you're composing at the keyboard. Just keep going. Yeah, when you get to the end you'll have to come back and fix them, but your flow will be unimpeded. If it helps, don't look at the screen.

Shady Lane · Mar 19, 2007

Have you thought about some typing program, maybe online? I learned to type from Type to Learn in fourth grade, and I'm really good now, about 80 WPM.

I actually prefer typing to longhand because I can get the words out faster and it keeps me from forgetting things. It gets the work done about a thousand times faster.

Cathy C · Mar 19, 2007

I HIGHLY recommend Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. It's good for both beginners and advanced typists (I type over 90wpm at normal speed, and it keeps up with me fine!) You work at your own speed, and there are plenty of games to keep things fun. There are versions for PC and Mac and once the program has determined your specific weaknesses, the corrective lessons really work at fixing them. I still use the program every few months to fix some of my recurring problems (switching letters around and capitalizing TWO letters at the beginning of sentences, instead of just the first one.)

The link here is for the latest and greatest program, but the older programs are just as good and can be had for a song on Ebay. I'd recommend an older one in a heartbeat if you have an older machine.

icerose · Mar 19, 2007

I don't do big mistakes like that because I have the keyboard memerized so if I accidently hit something I know right away. I am fairly accurate so that saves me a lot too. I am however writing my current WIP by hand because that will save me some major editing when I type it up. That way I can antagonize over it as it goes up rather than later.

Éclairer · Mar 19, 2007

The Lady said:
Are the rest of you such brilliant typists that this is not a problem?

Yes. *cheeky smile*

I am self-taught as well.

I started writing exclusively on the computer when I was fourteen, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, though.

maestrowork · Mar 19, 2007

Why not just not worried about typos, mistakes, etc. and just keep going until you're done for the day? You can fix the typos later on... like in 2nd draft!

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

maestrowork said:
Why not just and not worried about typos, mistakes, etc. and just keep going until you're done for the day? You can fix the typos later on... like in 2nd draft!

Maybe that's it. Maybe it's a form of procrastination for me that those red and green lined drive me so ****** craaazzyy. Or maybe I need to go back to writing long hand. I can't feel like I have 20,000 words done when there are 15,000 red and green marks on those words. Sigh. I need therapy.

scarletpeaches · Mar 19, 2007

I think you can switch off those pesky red and green lines. Not sure how though. Then you can typo away to your heart's content...or at least 'til you reach THE END of your 1st draft.

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

icerose said:
I am however writing my current WIP by hand because that will save me some major editing when I type it up. That way I can antagonize over it as it goes up rather than later.

Ah ha,. That system always worked for me. why oh why did I abandon it.
I'm going to give Mavis ago first though. It's gotta make life easier.

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
I think you can switch off those pesky red and green lines. Not sure how though. Then you can typo away to your heart's content...or at least 'til you reach THE END of your 1st draft.

You can switch them off? Somebody tell me how. That would actually really free my mind. Those lines drive me demented. Course I'd have to be able to switch them on again, God knows, I would.

maestrowork · Mar 19, 2007

TURN off the grammar/spell check in Word. Seriously. They're very distracting and I've learned to turn them off. Who cares if you misspell a word or mess up your grammar in FIRST draft... flow is the key here, to get into the zone.

Then you can go back before you start your 2nd draft, turn on the red and green, and do a sweep to fix things.

ETA: To switch off spell/grammar check, go to Tools, and pick grammar/spell check, and turn off "check grammar while typing" and "check spelling while typing."

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

I've just had a quick look at word and YES. I can turn them off. Thank you all. This is seriously going to unleash my brilliance. Expect my new book, SOON.

scarletpeaches · Mar 19, 2007

Oh, here's another tip for procrastinating when you should be working.

If you want to make a note on something you've typed but not correct it yet, highlight the relevant text. Go to INSERT, then COMMENT.

Type the note you want to make on the highlighted text, click on 'close' and you'll see the text has a coloured background. Hover the cursor over it and voila, the comment appears!

This does very little good, but looks cool and helps waste time.

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

A time wasting tip. Why thank you. I only have the 95 and I'd so like to make it to a hundred before the book launch.
I can write things like "This is sodding genius" and "Three book deal" and then laugh insanely as I run my cursor all round my red and green line free text.

I'm going to do it right now.

johnzakour · Mar 19, 2007

Shady Lane said:
Have you thought about some typing program, maybe online? I learned to type from Type to Learn in fourth grade, and I'm really good now, about 80 WPM.

80 WPM, dang. I'm proud of my little 60 WPM. Of course I only use two fingers.

Don't worry about the typos that's what editing is for.

I can't write without a computer anylonger. I will still occasionally dottle down notes but that's it.

johnzakour · Mar 19, 2007

maestrowork said:
TURN off the grammar/spell check in Word. Seriously. They're very distracting and I've learned to turn them off. Who cares if you misspell a word or mess up your grammar in FIRST draft... flow is the key here, to get into the zone.

I don't even bother to turn it off, I've just conditioned myself to completely ignore it. (Kind of like my 13 year old treats my advice until he really needs me.)

KAP · Mar 19, 2007

The Lady said:
Are the rest of you such brilliant typists that this is not a problem?

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, hpp sy rbrtyujomh zo fp/ zus ,r/

FloVoyager · Mar 19, 2007

I learned to "touch type," as we called it back in the day, on an electric typewriter. Well worth the time and trouble it took. It's a skill I've used in several jobs since then, and find very helpful in writing. I can type about 80 wpm without mistakes, and about as fast as normal conversation with lots of them (but still readable), all without looking at my hands.

My point is: you may find it worth the the time and trouble to learn to type well.

And don't worry about typos until your done with the creative part. Fixing that sort of thing is part of what editing is all about.

Judg · Mar 19, 2007

I'm a rotten typist, although that has improved since the advent of computers. But I fix typos as I go; I have a fixation with clean copy. If I'm really on a tear I'll wait till I finish the paragraph, but there's no way I will deliberately leave spelling mistakes behind. Yes, I'm anal, but I'm used to it.

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

Judg said:
I'm a rotten typist, although that has improved since the advent of computers. But I fix typos as I go; I have a fixation with clean copy. If I'm really on a tear I'll wait till I finish the paragraph, but there's no way I will deliberately leave spelling mistakes behind. Yes, I'm anal, but I'm used to it.

Yeah, you see, I have the same problem but I think it's affecting my natural flow. I love the way I write in flow, and sometimes (a lot) I think that can go missing on the computer. That's why I'm wondering what the solutions are. I'm going to turn off the spell checker and the grammar whatsit and see how that goes. If it doesn't work, it's back to foolscap for me.

The Scip · Mar 19, 2007

I can't remember the name of the game right now, but Yahoo has a good typing game. I think it had something to do with fish and sharks, but you could pick your typing speed and adjust the game as needed. I wasted a good 45 minutes of writing time playing that game so it was certainly fun.

Azure Skye · Mar 19, 2007

Can't say I have that problem. Typing has actually helped me with my writing. Longhand is very convenient but I can't write fast enough to keep up with my brain. And most typos I fix as I go along.

Sage · Mar 19, 2007

I can't leave mistakes as I type because it will drive me crazy (in fact, I would probably have to unlearn to hit that backspace automatically when I feel I've made a mistake). I'm a pretty fast typist (not as fast as some people here. Wow, 90 wpm?!) & correcting mistakes on the comp takes me far less time than when I'm writing longhand (I'm prone to "typos" when writing in any form).

loquax · Mar 19, 2007

The Lady said:
for some reason my computer keeps switching to over type mode, so I look up and realise that where I thought I was putting in a clever line, I was actually over writing. So then I have to go sort that out.

That's normally because you hit the "insert" key accidentally after over-zealously hitting back-space.

It's really annoying, I know. Learn to touch type!

Typing! Does it undermine your brilliance?

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