The Writers Circle: Handwritten or Typed

TWC
One of our goals here at Today’s Author is to help all of the writers among us to do what we love to do: write. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by talking to each other and learning from each other. Our Writers Circle series is designed to do just that – provide a chance for us to discuss writing, editing and publishing questions.

This week’s topic is:

When you begin working on a new project – be it to start the actual drafting or to start building an outline – do you have a tendency do this with pen and paper? Or do you tend to do this on a computer? Do you find your level of productivity with the initial work on a new project to be better if you write it out by hand or if you type/draw it on the computer?

Let’s discuss this in the comments and see what our community thinks.

8 thoughts on “The Writers Circle: Handwritten or Typed”

I have to use a computer. My handwriting is so bad that I can barely read it.

I’m more of the pen and paper type. It just puts me in an authentic mind frame.

I hand wrote my very first book on lined paper student paper, then typed it at a library, 30 minutes at a time, then traded babysitting for a friend who typed it well. Now I am so grateful for computers and my ergonomically comfortable keyboard. I do understand those who begin longhand, the intuitive creativity connection for some. But for me with hands that ache and cramp after writing – scribbling – three sentences, the computer is essential.

I always write my outline and first draft using paper and pen. I then type it into Scrivener for edits etc.

My initial bare-bones outline is usually in paper, then I go to the computer to flesh out the beats. The first draft is in a word processor, too, but the first round of edits takes place on paper. Then back to the computer. I think the back-and-forth helps keep the writing process running smoothly. It’s interesting to learn all the different ways people get started!

For me it somewhat depends on how much of a hurry I’m in. I type really fast, but even so I still (hand)write faster. Of course, my handwriting is terrible so sometimes I end up with an illegible mess, but if the ideas have to come out they have to come out, so the paper and pen quite often get used.

But when I do that I usually will get onto a computer as soon as possible to transcribe whatever I wrote down. That way, if my scribbles are unreadable I may still remember what the thought was but more importantly it’s because I will inevitably lose the scrap of paper I wrote on or leave the notebook outside in the rain or something. Getting it on the computer makes it ultimately better and more useful.

I write in longhand or on the computer, depending where I find myself when inspiration hits. I have just learned about Scrivener and am about half-way through the trial period. I will probably purchase the program because there are features in it that beat keeping a million small scraps of paper all over the house! At least with Scrivener, one can keep everything on the computer in different projects.