Jul 1, 2012

Pen&Paper Vs. Computer

From time to time people who are getting to know me and my passion for writing ask a very simple question. Do you prefer writing by hand or in Word processor? But the answer is never simple for me, because they each bring me something unique!

I like pens. I really do. I've got all sorts of them and I keep buying them until I find the one who is just perfect. If you've found one let me know :) And I really, really, and I mean really, loooooove papers and notebooks. All those sizes, from the smallest to the biggest, colorful, even mysterious prints...they're just waiting for me to open them and discover their lines, which I then fill with text. It's a wonderful experience. I could spend hours in a bookstore and take each notebook in my hand, turn it in my hands until I get to know it by heart. Yeah, I love notebooks *blush*. 

But what I love even more about them is the effect they're providing while I'm writing. My mind spills ideas at the speed of light and I'm not a fast writer. So the lines and the pen guide my words from the first one to the next, forcing my brain to focus on the particular line or the word. That way I can control what I write, and I can revise in an instant if that particular piece of writing is good, or if it needs some tweaking. I am not complaining, I love the feeling of slowing down, and focusing on what's right in front of me, rather than fast forwarding to the end or the middle of my writing. I am being in the moment. 

And then we have the Word, a genius idea that someone's came up with. I couldn't imagine writing without it. It is so easy to use. It is entertaining as well - I can change the background color to my liking, depending on the mood I'm in. And, let's not ignore this, there are no lead or ink stains on your hand once you stop writing :D Tony Buzan said that a blank paper, and here I mean completely blank paper, without the lines, is excellent for the free flow of ideas. And since I've finished a fast typing course I can put my ideas and words out there really quickly. Which, rarely, calls for a quick grammar check to make sure my fingers aren't too quick for the grammatically correct words. 

And, of course, the biggest advantage of the Word is that I can easily jump in between lines and words, and detract and add whatever I want. But, of course, I can't use it when I'm at the airport waiting for my plane or at a public transport. That's when a pocket-sized notebook comes in very handy. 

Are you a classic or a Word type? 

10 comments:

  1. I tell people all the time: You can trust me with your credit card almost anywhere but not in a bookstore or the stationery department. Like you, I love books, paper, pens, notebooks . . .
    I never used to be able to "create" using my computer. In fact, I wrote the first draft of my mystery novel, "Mixed Messages," longhand. Of course, I then had to type it into Word where I worked on - and finally completed - subsequent drafts.
    In the process of all that rewriting, I discovered that I could actually write in Word. And I did! I wrote the second novel in my Malone mystery series almost exclusively on my computer. It was sooooo much easier that way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you balance between the two worlds too. Isn't it nice how we can take the best from each one?

      Delete
  2. I am a pencil girl myself. I can erase at will and not leave crossed-out places. Once I got to the place where I could type a little faster without looking at my fingers the entire time, I switched to the computer, but there is nothing quite like curling up with a mechanical pencil that always stays sharp and a glorious blank page.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I love pen and paper too. For year's, I always wrote my novels long hand then typed unfortunately, I have many time ontrainsts now with kids so typing is the only way to go. But I still stockpile pens! Enjoyed your site.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm here from LinkedIn and now following your site.

    I long resisted computers and was a wholehearted pen and notebook guy. Then, when started getting used to using a computer back in about 2003, I realized the efficiency of Word programs and using a computer. Now it's my choice for most writing.

    I still like to keep pens and notebooks around to scribble ideas when I'm away from my computer. Either way my mind always seems filled with more ideas than I can ever keep up with.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lee for your subscription! I absolutely agree with you on the notebook subject. It comes sooo handy when your computer is not around, because that's usually when ideas come flooding into my head.

      Delete
  5. Mostly I use the computer for my writing unless I am writing solely for myself, in which case I use a journal. But my journals help me when I'm trying to write something to share. I go back to them to find out exactly what I was feeling and thinking in a certain situation. What was the truth for me back then?

    ReplyDelete
  6. yes, Susan, journals are excellent because most of the time you write your emotions into them, and then you can go through it and extract the bits and pieces that are so valuable for your writing!

    ReplyDelete