Writing on Different Things
@belindayhughes (1096)
United States
February 17, 2013 3:22am CST
I like to write on all kinds of things. My works have begun on paper restaurant napkins, index cards, steno pads, spiral notebooks and sticky notes. I used to carry a spiral or steno notebook with me wherever I went, so I wouldn't miss an idea. I've been through manual, electric, electronic and word processing typewriters, as well as the TRS-80 and other early to modern desktop PCs. For the last two years, most of my writing has been done on laptops. They're so much thinner, lighter and quieter than every last one of the typewriters. The sad fact is that, because I started on manual typewriters, I still pound the keys a bit too hard. And because I used to make my living typing 100 wpm, there are times when the laptop cannot keep up with my typing. I still use a spiral for my National Novel Writing Month (November) initial notes, but my professional writing is largely on the laptop. While the laptop is more efficient, pen and paper still hold a certain charm for me, so I guess I'll keep writing on both.
1 person likes this
15 responses
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
17 Feb 13
I have this friend who is a song writer. Would you believe that most of his good songs are written on the most unexpected medium? Like one time while he is in the toilet he got inspired and wrote a song on the toilet paper. Then while he was baby sitting his nephew, he suddenly got an idea and wrote something on his nephews write and wipe blackboard. He just transferred everything and finalized it on his computer. But I guess whenever the muses and inspiration hits an artist, they just have to heed its call lest it get lost.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Feb 13
Hello, Raine, thanks for sharing your songwriter friend's story. That's pretty cool, how he writes on different things.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
22 Feb 13
Has anyone ever written on a gum wrapper for lack of anything to write on?
@Laurenlynn (715)
• Canada
22 Feb 13
I would say he is a natural, I too have had those moments when something comes to me, I write it down right away or I may forget. I will bet his songs have been the best,what a great story.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
19 Feb 13
I am also a collector of anything one can write on, be it notebooks, spiral, sticky, or whatever! My favourite are those they give out in hotels, although some are very thin and not quite upo to my standard! The small ones are good for some things, while the bigger ones are better for other endeavours!
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
19 Feb 13
Thanks, sylvia, for a great response to this discussion on writing on different things. I used to collect those hotel notepads, also. I notice some writers get ahold of pharmaceutical companies' promotional pads and pends from doctors' offices. I notice that hospitals don't provide pads in their nightstands. I guess they expect patients to either lie there watching TV, sleep or be too busy with tests, surgery and round the clock nurse checks to do much writing. lol Maybe I should start a writers' mission to place journals and pens in every hospital nightstand.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
22 Feb 13
Have you ever written with erasable pens? I wonder if they still make those.
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
Wow! I really have high regards on people who love to write may it be for a living and/or for passion. I like to be a writer but it seems like I don't have the quiet time to write a decent article. I want to harness my writing skills. I want to write the moments of my life in a manner that make them interesting. And yes, I want to write on all kinds of things too. I hope I get back the passion to read more, research more, and write more. I should stop spending my time on other things and start making improvements in my ability to write since it is my passion.
1 person likes this
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
I used to write by hand but since I am a computer programmer I became used to typing using a computer. And my handwriting is becoming more non-readable. So probably it's best for me to type using a machine. 
1 person likes this
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
The Writer Magazines is kinda cool to me. But now, I am more of looking for an online writing job. I don't know where to begin though. Poor me. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation. And you're pretty good with remembering computer stuff huh? 
I think there are already smartphones apps that will make you write what you say. I am still looking for one but there are already apps for computers though. Will try them someday. Or soon. Thanks for reminding that that thing exists.
I think there are already smartphones apps that will make you write what you say. I am still looking for one but there are already apps for computers though. Will try them someday. Or soon. Thanks for reminding that that thing exists. 1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
LOL Heya lloyd. I took WATFIV, DOS and HTML in college, so I know what computer programmers write on their computers. I'm just not up on the latest languages. I would like to get a smartphone and learn to use apps to do my writing on that. It sounds like fun.
I recommend Writer's Market and The Writer magazines for great articles that give you quick bursts of information and inspiration. They also offer writing courses, books and, while I haven't looked into it yet, probably some killer apps. Good luck on improving your writing skills.
@axlrate7 (1398)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
You that's great, I also have a desire to know more about writing because I have a lot of stuff inside my head playing around waiting for me to convey them in writing but the problem is I can't express it in the right way. You know I need to practice a lot and read a lot and know a lot of things, specially the grammar when writing in English(by the way this is my second language). To be really great in expressing something I guess you need to know a lot of great words and terms, experience every of it, acquire it and then use it. I'll definitely be a writer...
@axlrate7 (1398)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
Yeah I agree with that, every application today can help you with your skills, like a programmer with intellisense capability. But of course I want to learn more deeply than just to relying with the program events, you know just to know when should I use comma or other things regarding that or this, everything about writing. I want to practice first in paper, then will apply in software afterwards. I actually wonder how the novels created, I mean how you writers can write like that, the words and terms are very profound. I think I need to start to memorize more of words.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
In truth, all you need to write a novel is the desire. From there, you just write down your ideas, and you can write these on different things, like coffee shop napkins, spiral notebooks, index cards, sticky notes, etc. After that comes the sorting into plot, character and setting, and other techniques.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hey axl, thanks for chiming into this discussion on writing on different things. Actually, with the spelling, grammar and style check built into the most popular word processing software, all you need is your ideas. The computer can help you the rest of the way. That's another reason it's important to write on different things, to learn our way as a writer.
@Tamosree1993 (1525)
• India
20 Feb 13
Hello belindayhughes ,
I am love to write on different things. I like the parts are make extra money, love, friendship, relationship, life, reading, mylot etc.
Have a nice day.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
22 Feb 13
I have a musician friend, Amanda Palmer, who writes on her body with Sharpie markers. It's pretty cool, one of the things I like about her.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hello, Tamos, writing on different things is part of every writer's life. Technology will continue to change the different things we write on.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Feb 13
Hello, myatha, what do you like to write with: paper and pen, laptop, smartphone?
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
3 Mar 13
Even when I learnt to touch type I still preferred to write all my journals in pen, all through when I had a manual, electronic then onto the computer I chose to pen all my journals and never changed the habit. I still actually prefer to write letters in pen and ink rather than type them, although of course it's far easier to delete mistakes and typos when on the computer than pen and paper! I could never go back to a typewriter however, not now that I have a laptop. Using Mylot does help me keep up my touch typing speeds but sadly I am not as fast as I used to be.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
4 Mar 13
Hey there, wolfie! Thanks for contributing to this discussion on writing on different things. I think many who started out with pen and ink will cling to that modality for personal writing, despite the ever-forward march of technology and its conveniences. Writing on different things can be an adventure over the years.
@Jotomy (6322)
• India
18 Feb 13
Hi belindayhughes, well what kind of things you mostly like to write? I used to scribble when i get bore with my lecturers used to sit at the back bench with friends and used to scribble something like art and some designs.
Now a days i started writing some articles not with the pen but in some sites. Some people will get so many ideas to write but i didn't not.
Have a wonderful day.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hello Jotomy, and thanks for contributing to this discussion on writing on different things. Have you ever tried writing on rocks with paint pens? I went camping with friends of a friend once and they started doing that to relax and get their thoughts out from their busy lives. That's just one of the different things we can write on.
@kourdapya (924)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
Hi belinda, writing is something I'd really love to learn. I write in my blog, but I don't really think I'm a good writer. I really wish I could learn to write creatively. That's my frustration.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Greetings, kourdapya, and welcome to the discussion about writing on different things. We are all creative writers inside, it's simply a matter of bringing it out. One way to do this is to write on different things, such as paper, wood, rocks, plastic and so on. Try getting a sheet of Yupo from an art supply store or site and write on it with colored pencils or paintbrushes. That simple act of writing on different things can bring your writing abilities to the forefront.
@luisadannointed (4171)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
Wow! 100 wpm... that is so fast!!! I would love to have that speed in typing... hehehe.
You're a novelist, is that right? Awesome... hope to get some pointers from you in writing... Sometimes I have a lot of idea to start writing the problem is I can't put them on words... as if I am always run out of words. Hope to get a piece of advice from you.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Greetings, luisadannointed, and thanks for joining in. Sometimes I still can't believe I finally achieved 100 wpm, because it used to be so hard for me to even do 40. I have tried writing novels during National Novel Writing Month (November), but I haven't completed or published any yet. I'm hoping to change that soon. Any information I can offer to assist you, I am pleased to share. What do you need help with or what is something you would like to do in writing? Writing on different things is good advice for any writer. For instance, if you normally write only on your computer, scribbling a rough draft of a plot, character or setting in a spiral notebook can give you some new insights.
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
23 Feb 13
wow that's really good habit. Not all people can do that. I prefer a book and pen to write. Its more comfortable.Sometimes i prefer computer too. But not that much.
we should continue writing on what we feel comfortable. Ideas pour up when i write with pen and paper but its not the same when i use computer.
Every person has the comfortable level. But yes many people developed this interest as the computers are used widely these days.
1 person likes this
@ladyeaglefeather (228)
• United States
18 Feb 13
It's cool that you use all kinds of things to write on. I personally, like the computer. But, I still prefer to use a pen and paper. It's easier for me to keep track of things that way.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hello, lady, nice to meet you. Thanks for joining in the discussion on writing in different things. Pen and paper are just one of the different things you can write with. I'm fascinated that there are so many software programs and apps for writers these days, to make writing easier and better. But I'll always return to pen and paper, as with you.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
18 Feb 13
Hi belinda!
I usually bring with me a notebook where I could write at any time. Yes you are right, there are times an an idea slips off if we don't write it down so it is a good thing to have with us anything that can write on whenever new idea/s comes in.
I am new on this field but I can see a great fortune with writing and I think I can do it as long as I continue practicing and love what I am doing. The most important thing in order to gain success in whatever we do is the fact that we love it. Other things will just follow.
Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hey ARIES, hope you had a nice Sunday. It's a very good idea to have different things available to write on so we can take advantage of ideas when they occur to us. It's very hard to wait for them to return, once missed.
I agree with you, that if you are not enjoying your trade, you shouldn't be doing it. Granted, all professions have their ups and downs, but if you truly love what you're doing, that passion will carry you through the challenges, including deciding what different things feel best to you to write upon or just using whatever is most readily available.
@LearnToEarnMoney (90)
• India
18 Feb 13
Its one of the easirest thing in life we cando. remember when kids start writing when they have pen or pencil in their hands. They dont even care where they are writing on. Wallsa, floors, important documents etc.
having a charm of writing is a good habbit and that will only make you a better hand writer. keep doing it. Feel your childhood in your young age
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
18 Feb 13
Hi, Learn, and thanks for your kind response. I know very well how children enjoy writing on different things, such as those you described. It doesn't seem very funny at first, but later you see what an early indicator that is of creativity, an open mind and interest in writing. I think you're right that we should take a break and write on differnt things as in childhood, to regain fresh energy in our writing.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Feb 13
Hello, Janurmas, thank you for replying to my post on writing on different things. Computers are very handy for writing and publication.
