Lately I've been taking a notebook with me to work. People cancel their flute lessons all the time and I get a half hour here and there to write. What I've noticed is when I go back home and type my writing into the computer it's not as good as I thought it was on the paper. There are holes in the sentences, or the structure/flow is off. It's not as polished!
Why?
I've thought of a few possible reasons:
1. The computer screen makes my writing look more official, hence I'm more picky about what I put down there.
2. The notebook is more of a stream of consciousness, because that's what I used to use for my diaries growing up and I can't get the habit out of my head.
3. A note book feels more like a rough draft whereas a screen reminds me of a final draft.
Has any else noticed this? Do you type or handwrite your WIPs?
20 comments:
I only handwrite if there's absolutely no other way, and I do find it's not as polished.
Of course, some part of it is I'm a lefty, and if I use pencil - and I'm not comfortable writing fiction in pen - it smears terribly and leaves my hand black.
But honestly, I'm also just not that good at the mechanical act of handwriting, so the drudgery of it takes away from the fun of creating.
Very interesting, Lindsey. I'm glad I'm not alone :)
I mostly type. If I happen to be to and about and only have a notepad, I tend to write thoughts and phases to get it down so I don't forget.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Definitely type. Typing all the way - even for poetry! For one thing, I've terrible handwriting. For another, I find it unnatural now and it seems so slow. I really like to look at the words, all neat and orderly on the page.
I think I've been brainwashed by Microsoft.
Hey Aubrie, I understand your dilemma and you're right on all three accounts.
When you try writing in your notebook, do it as if your writing it on screen. I always do, but when I start typing it into the computer, I always change things around anyway.
Just think of your notebook writings as a first draft.
I create on the screen. Give me paper, and I doodle. But I edit hard copy printouts. I don't know why that is. I can brainstorm on paper, write bits and pieces about scenes or characters, but not write.
I outline in a notebook, but 100% of my writing is on the computer. That's an interesting dilemma though.
I've only written a couple stories by hand, but I always ended up changing them a bit when I typed them up. I suppose writing on paper does feel more like a rough draft and typing makes it more official. I do occasionally brainstorm by paper, though, especially if it is late at night and I don't want to get the laptop out.
I only handwrite in my journals. I type everything else on my laptop. Love Word! But I've noticed an odd thing. I can't really tell if it's "right" until I print it out and read it on paper. Boy, do I go through the paper...
(Here from Jemi's!)
I think the difference in polishness (lol, I just made up a word) comes from the fact that most people can type faster than they can write by hand. So we try to write my hand as fast as possible to keep up with our thoughts, and that's where the discrepancy comes in.
Personally, I love to write by hand but it takes so much longer and is more time consuming (because you have to type it eventually) so I normally just type everything. The only time I write by hand is when I'm stuck. For some reason, it helps to keep my creative wheels turning.
When computers first came into widespread use, for college papers I'd write first and then type. Over time, I got used to typing first and now can't go back. I have a laptop that I take with me everywhere, so when I have free time I still am able to "write" that way.
I split down the middle I think. I do a lot of writing on scrap pieces of paper, napkins, my hand when things come to me. And I have pages of notes jammed into all kinds of places. And then I type and it all looks different. I like being able to copy and paste and rearrange on the computer.
This is so true. I tend to handwrite poetry and dialogue, but type chapters because of the pace.
Great entry and lovely blog!
I never hand write any more. It's all on the laptop. And it couldn't be because I'd lose the notebook or the paper! :)
You have a terrific blog here!
I'm the same way, the rare times that I do hand write, it is definitely not the same quality as my typed writing. You're right about the screen making our writing look more official. It has a different feel to it.
It's been so long since I've written on paper it's hard to say!! I did some writing on my first novel this way and I didn't really see a difference. Interesting, you work better on the computer.
These are some great points! I find the same thing - my handwriting is much less formal and more stream of consciousness. I think that's why I plan on paper and do my actual writing on the computer.
I do a lot of freewriting in longhand in cheap spiral notebooks. I do my most free and loose thinking this way. What I get are truly rough drafts.
I do sometimes compose at the keyboard, but I find it hugely helpful to get over "blank-screen-itis" by first typing up freewriting, then transforming it into a smoother draft.
This is an interesting post. I use a computer to write everything.
My thoughts come too fast and too sporadic to handwrite everything.
Writing by hand is difficult because I like to hop around -- sometimes I'll write chapter nineteen before chapter one! But sometimes when I'm writing by hand, I find it turns out somewhat artier. Curiouser and curiouser!
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