Photo Credit: Epidemic Answers
I’ll never claim to be an expert on anything writing related, but I think it’s safe to say that just about every writer today uses some kind of word processor on a computer when it comes to getting words on paper. Technology has definitely made writing a bit easier in recent years. But perhaps a few of you are old souls and prefer a much more time consuming process to get pen to paper. Maybe you write by hand.
I’m not sure how many years we’d have to go back in order to reach a time period in which everyone had to write just about everything by hand, but I know the typewriter has been around for some time. I’m sure there was something before even the typewriter to make writing a bit easier on the writer. But we all know that one person who never wants to embrace technology for whatever reason, right? There are millions of people who don’t have smartphones or who don’t have flat screen TVs, and that’s okay. But are there writers who still write all of their novels or poetry or short stories by hand? I can’t say, but maybe you can. Happen to know anyone (yourself included) who writes by hand? If so, tell them they’re crazy and let’s come together to buy them a laptop. How about it?
Johnny Reads 
I once posted a similar question and had a few people answer that they do most of their writing with a pencil. I often will write short poems and the main ideas for longer works, but put me in front of a computer to put down much more than a couple of paragraphs.
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Writing with a pencil? Yikes. Yeah I figure a lot of writers write out their notes.
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I’m one of those old souls myself. Obviously, I have a computer and I type on it, but when it comes to my writing, I just cannot compose my work at a keyboard. I’ve tried, but everything I write on a computer is pure crap. Sometimes about the actual physical activity of creating the words by pushing a pen across paper makes the whole experience for me. I feel more directly connected with the words that way, and it shows in the writing. I’m killing millions of trees and creating more work for myself because I eventually have to type it all but, but it’s a process that works for me…and for my readers.
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So have you written full length works by hand?
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Yup, several of them, including my newly released book. Crazy, maybe, but it works. And I wouldn’t even say it wastes time, because, when I transcribe it from the written copy, I can edit it at the same time.
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Hmm. My hand hurts after writing a 2-3 page letter. It might fall off if I wrote a whole book like that.
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Well, it’s not like I write it all at once. 🙂 I usually only write a few pages at a time. If someone did manage to write a whole novel by hand in one sitting…now that would be crazy. And impressive.
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I’ve written short parts by hand when I’m on the go and can’t drag my laptop around. But it’s usually no more than a couple of pages and then I get home and type it all. But I used to write everything by hand. Everything. You’ve seen my stack of notebooks.
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I was gonna mention you in this, but I was gonna call you crazy. So I didn’t. 😉
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You should have anyways 🙂 I wouldn’t have minded. Haha!!
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Haha okay. I call you crazy everyday anyway. Might as well tell other people too.
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Lol that’s true 🙂 haha
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Hey, I almost always have my fountain pen, cartridges (green or black) and a note book or clipboard. I tend to be always thinking of stories or jotting down feelings. But with the onset of technology and the decline of teachers teaching cursive, fewer and fewer people know how to use the pen or pencil! So sad. 😦
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Well I understand little notes or ideas, I’m talking book chapters or short stories.
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I do that too! 🙂
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Then you’re officially crazy in my book. Haha your hand!
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I never claimed I was sane. 🙂
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Ha. This is great.
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🙂
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Ever since I first starting writing when I was young I wrote by hand and to this day I still write everything I possibly could by hand. To me it’s more personal, letting the pen love the paper to form something that wasn’t there before.
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I bet you have journals and notebooks and random scraps of paper with writing, then.
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Haha yea… They’ve taken over most of the house 🙂
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At least you can say you’re surrounded by your own writing. Haha
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I’ll jot notes and sometimes outline by hand, but the actual manuscript is strictly laptop if only for the fact that I can type more quickly than I can write.
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See, this is exactly what I was expecting. But others still write by hand, it seems.
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For me it’s easier to write stories and poems by hand. There’s something about writing by hand that helps keep creative thoughts flowing better than using a computer.
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Ideas and mapping/notes/outline gets written by hand. Actual stories and full narrative outlines are only typed. I don’t have the patience to transcribe it from paper to laptop.
I do like to edit by hand though. I feel like I’m much more brutal when I can physically mark things out. Digital sticky notes just aren’t the same.
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Yep. You’re pretty much me. We’re twins.
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I love writing by hand. It’s how my best stories have started. For me, there is a connection to the story and the characters that can only be gained by writing by hand. Though, I have carpal tunnel and can not write by hand as much as I would want to.
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Hmmm. My hand usually hurts after like a page or two. I don’t know.
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For me, typing straight unto the computer makes the task easier. The grammar checks on MS word is also great.
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Yep.
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Sometimes writing by hand helps me to focus, so I’ll go back to basics. I also like to write by hand when I first get a book idea and write all of my ideas down at once so it’s all in one place and can be as random and scattered as I want. Sometimes hand writing can give you more freedom, but it is definitely time consuming and makes my hand hurt haha. Definitely wouldn’t want to write an entire work like that!
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Hm. So you do it sometimes, but it’s not like you’re writing chapter after chapter. About what I’d expect.
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I took me a long time to switch from writing by hand to laptop, but once I did I was relieved. I look at it as it’s saving time, allowing for my words to be written. There’s something about typing that always seems foreign though, and I’m from a younger generation. I just love holding a pen in my hand!
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Yep. Less time, more words. And less hand hurting!
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Wow! Harsh, lol. Hey, I am still old fashioned that way. I use my pen to exctract the flow of my ideas without the distraction of always editing my typos. Writing pages means I can’t stop and delete the ink, so I don’t. It’s amazing how much I get done. When I am satisfied, then I type it all onto my laptop. I consider that my first edit.
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So how much will you actually write by hand before turning to your laptop?
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Hi John,
I will usually write until the end of the chapter, which is usually between 2 and 4 thousand words. Then I transfer to laptop, which, for me is slow and tedious, but I get to edit as I go, which helps.
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I used to write exclusively by hand. I thought the word processor/computer ruined the “magic” of writing. I was incredibly naive. But still, I didn’t convert to using my computer to compose fiction until tragedy struck. I’d written about 6 chapters of a novel, only to lose the notebook. I hunted for that notebook for the better part of six months, and I was so heartbroken that I couldn’t write during that time. The experience effectively killed any misconceptions of magic tied to handwriting.
Now I type everything, and it’s allowed me to write much more quickly, and to write just so much more. I probably write double the words I would writing longhand. Also, this allows me to create back-ups, and I also email each chapter after I finish it, so that there is always a copy of my current work in progress somewhere.
I’m a bit cautious now.
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Oooh. Not a good experience. You’re definitely cautious. I have my first book on a flash drive, that’s about it.
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For whatever reason, I brainstorm better with pen/paper or similar utensils. The ideas are more creative and fun. When I’m on the computer, I feel like my creativity is limited. Possibly because there are too many distractions on ye olde interwebs. Also, computers sometimes feel a little cold and clinical to me, and I don’t want that for my books.
However, when it comes down to the physical writing of paragraphs/chapters/books, that takes place at my laptop. I surround myself with the hard copies of all the notes I’ve made and get to work.
So… paper is for the dreaming, computer is for the doing.
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“So…paper is for the dreaming, computer is for the doing.” Do you even realize how great a quote that is?
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Not until you pointed it out.
I guess it is pretty sweet.
Who knew I could pull that out of nowhere?
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I guess it doesn’t matter what you write, it’s always pretty great. Haha
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Well thanks!
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Have you sent out any new queries since the last time you told me?
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No. I started another rewrite and it’s going to take time. Plus I’m moving in a month and that’s keeping me busy. I’m hoping to finish the rewrite by Halloween. Then I’ll send more out and do a post on queries.
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Hmmm. You better. Otherwise you’ll be headed to Florida thinking of your writing and not of having fun and taking pictures. Haha
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Oh man! Yeah, I love my writing and all, but there’s not much that’ll keep me from taking tons and tons of pics.
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And making me jealous by writing a post all about your trip.
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Sorry, Wordsmith! I don’t mean to make anyone jealous, but I’ll just have to post about it. I mean, how could I not?
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I think J.K. Rowling wrote all the Harry Potter books in long hand. My prefered method of writing is a stone tablet and chisel. It makes a hell of a mess but rewriting is not an option so I save myself a ton of time.
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Oh man. I don’t know where your ideas for comments come from. Haha
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Thanks. My brain, sometimes it is my friend, sometimes it gets me in trouble. I need to get back to writing. Now where did I put that chisel?
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Hahaha don’t let me distract you
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I just sat on the chisel. It hurts.
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Hahaha I’m trying to watch one of my shows and I keep getting your comments.
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I’ll stop. I need to go to the emergency anyway.
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I am not old fashioned at all but I write everything by hand. Granted, typing it up afterwards is awful but I can’t be creative in front of a glaring screen.
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Hmm. Well then maybe you like looking at your handwriting? Haha I don’t know. It just seems rather difficult to really write a lot by hand.
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It is sometimes difficult but first of all I love writing by hand because I love the feel of it and secondly I find I can be more creative with a pen and paper. It also means that I can carry one piece of paper around and continue writing whenever I have time as supposed to needing my laptop.
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Hmm. But wouldn’t you need notebooks or journals or something?
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Nope – just paper and a pen. And so I write everywhere that I can access a paper and a pen. Even if I shouldn’t be…
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“If so, tell them they’re crazy and let’s come together to buy them a laptop.” Hahah that is the best sentence you have ever written on this blog, in my opinion. That made me smile so hard.
I do write by hand! I am halfway through a notebook for my fantasy novel. When I type, I can’t control myself and I edit it as I go and fix every little detail. It ruins all of my flow. When I write by hand, it pours out in a rush of ideas and then I fix it later.
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That’s what you think my best sentence is? Hmm. I think I’ve done better.
How much have you written of your actual book in that notebook? If you’re talking like thousands of words then you’re insane.
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Hmmm…yes, at least 2,000. I am in progress for far more!
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I think you’re crazy. That’s it.
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Another crazy here. Child of the ’50’s – I too write by hand. Printing. All caps. Done this since 7th grade. My hand never hurts. The secret is in your grip. I’ve found the best pens for a smooth and speedy ride, barely any grip necessary = “Pilot Precise Rolling Ball – Fine or Extra Fine.” I buy whole boxes of them, then transcribe the chapters into my desktop and print them out to read out loud to myself and tweak by hand…with my Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pen!
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My dad writes in all caps. I’ve always thought it weird. Hm. Oh well. whatever works.
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I actually do all my first drafts on paper, and usually a pen, not pencil. I have a few reasons for this. 1) Especially since I’m still in school and I try not to carry my phone into classes with me a notebook is handy. 2) A notebook and pen don’t have batteries. As long as you don’t lose your pen or run out of ink you’re set. 3) On a screen (or in pencil) it’s easy to go back and change any mistakes you make. But generally my first draft will always suck, and I’m just wasting time trying to edit while I write. So I just go. I write and write until I’ve finished the first draft. Then I can type it up and do my editing; But that’s just what works for me. Everyone’s different and should do what suits them
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I journal and write letters by hand. Other things I do on the computer but since I can’t type I’m sure it takes even longer than if I had used pen and paper.
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Hm. I also write letters by hand. And type everything else.
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Letter writing is a soon to be completely lost art, I fear.
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[…] On this day in 2014 I published Writing by Hand. […]
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