I grew up writing reports for school in longhand. When I really wanted to make a report fancy, I used a typewriter.
Computers in high school and college were rare. The odd Apple IIE was in the county library or the school’s lab. The computers bombed a lot and the printers were unreliable. I stuck with my Brother typewriter that had the capability of remembering a line of text. I could look at the line and correct it on the tiny screen before it printed out.
When I was an intern at a London magazine in college, I was given the assignment to report on spring fashion. The editor wanted it later that afternoon. There was no internet then (no internet that was accessible to regular people, at least), so I looked out the window at what people were wearing and wrote it into the story. I jotted it down in longhand on paper, then typed it up.
In fact, that’s how I wrote everything—on paper before copying it over on the typewriter.
When I started novel writing, I naturally gravitated to paper. I found it very disorganized, though—I wrote out of order sometimes and there were scenes that needed to be in other parts of the story. And frequently I knew I was writing stuff that was helping me know a character better, but it was material that was going to get axed before the last draft. I used lots of highlighters and actual scissors to help me organize my scenes.
It didn’t take me long to realize that to write faster and reach the deadlines that were starting to mount up, I needed to switch over to a computer. Besides, I’d frequently lose the different pieces of paper that my story was on.
I learned how to be creative on the computer. But I kept revising on paper. I’d print out my manuscript (which is a lot of paper, if you think about 270 or so pages, single-sided) and then I’d take the manuscript with me everywhere. I’d pull it out of my huge pocketbook and edit it while waiting for school to let out, etc.
I do think that sometimes reading on paper can help find errors that reading on a screen can’t. But still—it was a really slow process. I’d have to turn pages on the manuscript, find the change on the page, find the spot on the computer, make the change…and then make sure I’d marked that I’d made the change or else I’d forget where I left off. It was also expensive and a waste of resources to print out that much paper…and I’d keep printing new versions of the manuscript to reflect changes. I switched to revising on the computer.
My struggle and eventual switch to mainly-electronic writing made me especially interested in a post on A Brain Scientist’s Take on Writing. It involved a study (VANWAES, L., & SCHELLENS, P. (2003). Writing profiles: the effect of the writing mode on pausing and revision patterns of experienced writers Journal of Pragmatics,) on typing vs. longhand. You can read the study yourself, but I’ll quote a few of the findings (directly from Livia Blackburne’s blog:
1. The computer writers took half as much time to write the first draft than pen and paper writers.
2. The computer writers wrote texts that were approximately 20% longer.
3. The computer writers had a more fragmented writing process than the pen and paper writers.
4. Computer writers made 80% of the revisions in their first draft, as compared to pen and paper writers, who made only 50% of revisions in the first draft.The authors observed that pen and paper writing seemed a more systematic and planned out process. This makes sense because it’s harder to make a change on pencil and paper. With computer writing, you can just start writing and make changes as you go along.
This was similar to what I’d found with my own writing. It might have been nicer to write on paper (in many ways, I find it more enjoyable), but it sure is a whole lot quicker to write on the computer.
My writing friend, Hart Johnson, ran an informal survey on her blog a while back. She was curious about the ages and backgrounds of writers who wrote longhand, vs. those who wrote on the computer. She found that the writer’s age was a factor (anyone who grew up on a computer was obviously going to find writing on a computer more natural) but also what else the writer did on a computer—if their day job was really uncreative, they might associate the computer with the non-creative day job and write longhand instead.
Do you write longhand? On computer? Or both?
I write longhand if I have no access to a computer, such as being at work. Then, when I get to the computer, I just transfer what I’ve written to the electronic screen. Both methods work for me at different times.
Great statistics, by the way, especially about the revision process in longhand versus writing done on the computer.
I plan on paper.
Nothing better than a pad, some pens, coffee and start scribbling: circling, arrows, cross-outs, underline, asterisks. It’s fast and furious and there’s no way a computer can keep up with the way my plans change from second to second. And the satisfaction of ripping off a page and placing it on the floor until you’re surrounded with sheets, then picking out a bit from this sheet, an idea from that sheet, and just CREATING!
Can’t do that with a PC or graphics pad.
But when it comes to writing.
The PC wins hands down in my book.
I use both. I find I think differently with pen and paper than with a keyboard. I’m strange that way :)
But I prefer to critique or edit longhand, no matter how much it costs to print.
………dhole
For me, the computer works best for writing a first draft. I do carry a notepad to record any ideas that pop up when I’m away from home.
On vacation two years ago, I did purchase an oversized notebook and write a 6000-word skeleton of a mystery for a future book.
I like to print out the completed drafts and edit on paper. The process you described of tranferring changes to the computer helps me rethink the changes.
Elizabeth – Thanks for sharing your experiences about longhand versus computer. You reminded me of how computers have revolutionized just about everything. It takes me 1/4 the time to do presentations, papers and research with the computer that it used to take.
As for my writing? I use the computer just about exclusively. Mostly I do that because it’s better organised than my notes are and because my handwriting is absolutely illegible. Really. Plus that I type much faster than I write longhand.
Most of the time I write on the computer but my least favorite thing about it is that I have to have it in front of me and I have to sit in an upright position. I love that with a pen and paper, I can lay down. I feel more open that way…sort of like at the shrink’s office. ;)
write on computer – 1st edit/revision pen and paper – second draft computer and editor checks on computer – always have notebook for the times when i unchain myself from the machine and have the best ideas!!!
Depends on the kind of writing. If I want to brainstorm something, I use longhand. I write journals as well, those are longhand. But the actual writing of the story – that’s definitely computer.
Karen
Excellent post!
I began writing longhand, but we bought our first very large & very simple computer in the mid-80s. Since then I have written papers, teaching notes and most other things on the computer, and I wouldn´t live without my new laptop.
For many years I reverted to a notebook & a blue pen when I got stuck in the creative process, but it doesn´t happen often nowadays. So now it os almost only when I want a mindmap of my setting, my characters or something like that. I also revise on the screen – not sure that is such a brilliant idea, but with the aid of my faithful beta readers, I think we manage to eradicate most of the typos.
I’ve found the words flow easier for me if I type, so it’s computers all the way! And bless, bless, bless that delete button.
Forget longhand. Computer, computer, computer. But editing – yes, a hard copy will bring up a new view. (And print it out in a different font — makes it ‘new’ to your eyes & brain.)
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Ah, the typewriter. I banged out my first attempt at a novel on one when I was 14. Sometimes I miss the sounds my grandmother’s old green and white monstrosity made.
For the most part, nowadays, I write on the computer, but when I get stuck, writing longhand usually frees me up. I also still edit on paper at least once during the revision process. You’re so right about ‘reading on paper can help find errors that reading on a screen can’t’. I need the distance that printed pages can provide so I can see my flaws.
I write everything on paper first. I can scribble much faster than type. Something about a computer inhibits my creativity – I feel the printed words must be perfect. When I’m writing by hand, there’s no such pressure.
And it is easier to catch mistakes on paper than on screen. Once I enter my work into the computer, I print it out and edit from there. Yeah, it’s a waste of paper, as I’ll do it several times, but it also gives me mobility to edit anywhere.
Oh, and considering the length of my first few books, I don’t think hand writing inhibited that!
HA! Thanks for the link! You know… I’ve written my last 3 books as a MIX–some computer, some long-hand, and I sort of like it. It is interesting to me, though, to look at this. I think the ‘more thought out’ has to do with the SLOWER. I can still write pretty darned fast via computer, and when I write fast, I NEED changes (first round of editing occurs with the typing).
I will always need to look at a hard copy to edit–I just don’t see the same stuff on a computer screen (thus the typos in my blog). I can do a couple rounds though, on the same copy–the one I am working with now has the (extensive) markings from a crit partner, then my responses in one color ink, and then the BIGGER changes that followed in another. Though now I need a clean copy to make sure it really all flows.
I find long-hand is better for me when I have emotional stuff to write, but straight-forward interaction, I can do on screen… and I’m getting better at it… (one of those people who is too old and has the wrong job)
I prefer writing on paper. Then in the course of transcribing it to the computer, my text gets refined a second time, as I am re-engaging with the words and ensuring they are what I want to say. But as I only have personal goals and deadlines at present, there’s no real pressure to produce text quickly, so the time/efficiency component isn’t something I really worry about right now.
Jeffrey– I thought the stats were interesting, too. I was also intrigued about the fragmented process involved with computer writing–because I do write out of order sometimes now…and it’s easier to do so with a computer.
Gary–The sheer visual effect of brainstorming on paper is a definite advantage.
Donna–I noticed a definite difference when I first switched over from longhand to computer. My computer writing seemed more clinical. With practice, I’ve gotten over it.
Gail–I had to write an outline for the first book of the quilting series that I’m writing (editor request)–and I wrote it in a notebook. Funny you should mention that–I’d forgotten.
Mallory–That’s too funny! I hadn’t thought of it that was, but it is like therapy, isn’t it? I have a feeling I might fall asleep if I lay down too long, though–so tired lately.
Alberta–Those revisions are easier on paper, aren’t they?
Margot–You and I are the same! I have *horrid* handwriting. I never write in cursive because it’s completely illegible and my print isn’t really any better. And I’m very, very fast on the computer.
B.E. Sanderson–That was a very encouraging sound, wasn’t it? The ding of the typewriter from line to line? Ahh…those were the days! And my kids have never SEEN a typewriter and I have a teenager. Sad how fast things change.
Diane–I’m the opposite–I type around 90-100 wpm. My handwriting is horrible (I look like I should be a doctor, my print is so illegible). I’m impressed that you were able to write your series longhand!
Hart–I like a mix, too. Actually I *prefer* paper, but it’s just impossible for me to deliver on deadline with paper.
Hmm–that’s interesting about writing different types of scenes with different tools. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I think I’ve done the same.
Karen–I love paper for brainstorming. Lately, though, I’ve noticed that I’ve done more brainstorming on computer. Might be because I keep losing my papers.
Bluestocking–That’s a good point–it’s an opportunity to revise. I think for me, though, the back and forth nature of finding the spot on the paper version and then finding it on the screen, then looking back at the original to make sure I’d transcribed it right–and having to find my place again on the screen…bleh. I ended up with eyestrain. That may be due to my astigmatism…and maybe my age is starting to factor in, too.
I’m one of the OLDER writers I know, and I could not imagine writing longhand anymore. Well, for one reason, sever arthritis in the hands makes handwriting painful – but just the overall ease of word processing – too good to not use.
I DO write down bits and pieces of inspiration, words, phrases, plot/story ideas as they come to mind – I keep a notepad and pen on me at all times. But once I start writing out a story it’s my laptop and me, lol
I can do both – Nano sure helped with that! I’m not a fast typer, so I’d probably blow the bell curve.
I like to print it out, though. Can’t stare at the screen too long. And I find my mistakes faster.
I find that, despite my atrocious handwriting, I do pretty well writing longhand. I do write faster on the computer, but I also spend more time sitting and thinking about what I want to write next, whereas when I write longhand, it seems to flow more naturally out of my brain. I guess I end up with a combination of both, and it’s been working so far.
But editing should be on paper. Always. There are things you just don’t catch on a screen.
An interesting topic – actually I think even if I had to chisel the words into a block of stone I would still persevere with writing! I just can’t help myself.
It wasn’t until I took part in NaNoWriMo for the first time that I tried writing a first draft on the computer – before that I would write the first draft in longhand while sitting up in bed! If I’m making notes, doing an initial outline etc OR a large edit with extra scenes I will probably use longhand first – sometimes because I have to think about where the new bit fits into the sequence of events before adding it to the computer file. And sometimes because I think of something on the bus and have to write it down immediately before I forget (if I had a better mobile phone I could probably records it on that).
The Old Silly–I can completely understand that. Typing is a lot easier on the hands, I think.
Dorte–This is very interesting! Sounds like most of the writers do at least some first draft writing on the computer. And almost everyone revises on paper. Which I’d be doing too, if I had more time.
Alex–I agree with you about screen time–I really am starting to feel the eyestrain.
Simon–Sounds like the perfect combo!
Elspeth–And “undo.” I must hit CTRL Z about a million times a manuscript!
Terry–Good ideas on seeing our manuscript with new eyes!
Sheila–I like that! A chisel and a rock–very Flintstones. :) And I’d do the same, I’m sure. I do like the voice record feature on my phone and I use it when I’m out and get ideas. I don’t even think about what I must sound like anymore–talking about murder into my phone. One of these days, I’m going to end up with a police officer around me!
I do both, long-hand and on the PC, but I also use dictation a lot. I like to write in my head while I walk and I kept losing that great line or perfect solution before I got home. So I got a voice recorder with a clip on tie mic, and talk as I walk.
Like you, I used to write everything longhand. Now I write everything on the computer. I do usually print out the manuscript when I feel like it’s very near “done.” Then I read it. I catch things that whizzed by my eyes on the computer.
Linda–I’ve gotten so I really like dictation. The voice recorder on my phone is being put to good use!
Helen–That’s a good idea–waiting until a near-to-last draft before printing. Very good idea. I think I might be stealing that one. :)
Thanks so much for a very thought-provoking post that brings back some wonderful memories.
I’m old enough to have written on a typewriter all through school–since my Dad sold them, I grew up typing EVERY school paper. My poems and general homework were the only things I ever wrote longhand.
Now, I write mainly on the computer and use the comments function to help edit. My printer duplexes, so when I do print a hard copy to proofread, I don’t feel I’m wasting quite so much paper.
Last year, I found a wonderful Remington Rand manual portable on E-Bay and I have it in my office for inspiration. I’d love to use it, but I’m having problems finding ribbons for it :-(
My historical notes, outlines and research are old-school: highlighted texts and notes in margins and arrows and Post-Its and index cards–and of course, composition books and pens with colored inks. I can’t seem to research any other way LOL.
I was the same when I was in school–I didn’t end up getting a computer until I was in grade 7, so I wrote everything by hand. I found it to be a disorganized process as well, since there was never enough space to edit, add scenes, etc. Though I did love my typewriter–the sounds it would make as I was writing gave me the impression I was really making progress, LOL. Now I still write my outlines by hand, I find it gives me more freedom, and it offers me a more relaxed atmosphere, but the actual process of fleshing out the ideas I write on my computer–SO much easier to cut and paste, move things around, and I don’t waste paper because I only print it out when it’s time to edit.
I use both. It depends on my flow. If I get stuck, I grab a pen and paper. The words seem to come to me in minutes.