Keyboard, Lead, Ink, Recording Device?

I write at the computer. When I have a pen and paper in hand, I tend to get stuck, because I tend to edit as I go along (and refuse to budge until I am happy with what I have just written). (I'm not saying I'm the best writer in the world, or that that is the way to do it; that's just how I do it.) The computer helps because it's easy to type a line, copy and paste it, fiddle with it, delete a word, replace a word, fiddle some more until I am finally satisfied, and then move on. Paper just doesn't seem to facilitate that method - because soon you reach the end of the sheet and have to turn the page... and then you have to copy whatever it was that was worthwhile from the other page onto your new sheet to be able to keep the thoughts in front of you and running... What I will say for the pen and paper method, though, is that it is certainly more portable... and can be taken to places where the muse is more likely to strike, whereas the desktop is one big ball and chain, where the writer must sit in a room with piles of straw that will hopefully be spun into gold... What I will say for my desktop, though, is that it does put me in close touch with my reference materials and other resources... What most people tend to say is: "Write! Get something down - Anything down - and then edit." That is a technique that I have not yet mastered... Thanks for your reply! (What kinds of materials do you write?)

I do agree with you that you have a bit easier time with editing when it comes to using a compter vs pen and paper. I enjoy editing on the computer using the methods you mentioned. When I use pen and paper, I usually skip a line in between, so there is room to jot down extra ideas, scratch out words and replace them, or just make a note or two. As for reference materials, I seem to have a dictionary and a thesaurus in every room of the house, lol. If I need to research something, I will go to the computer, look it up, and generally print out what I am seeking. I think that it doesn't really matter how the process (of writing) get done, as long as it gets done. I find it interesting how different writers go through their own individualized procedures when it comes to actual writing. This is a really great topic, btw.

I had friends in school who used to take notes using a keyboard adapter for their palm pilot, and I have often wondered if a simple set up like that for writing on the go would be worthwhile to purchase? I think that not having "distractions" is part of the reason that I like to type in Notepad... Thanks for your reply!

The speed of transfer from head to screen is a definite plus when it comes to typing (for me) over writing out long-hand. A number of writers do seem to carry some sort of notebook with them for collecting ideas as they may come. When I write, I tend to type it out on the screen - using a simple program like notepad (don't ask me 'why notepad'; I don't know... I started somewhere along the line and that's how it has been ever since...). I will type... and then sometimes when I get stuck, I'll hit the enter key twice and start typing on a new line. I'll do this several times until I get something that I like, and then I'll go back and patch it all together. Quicker, easier to edit, etc. tends to be the reason that I write more with my keyboard than long-hand, although as I mentioned elsewhere, a desktop can be a rather uninspiring place to write (unless you have a beautiful location for your study...) Thanks for your reply!

I also use Notepad on my computer all the time, from first draft to final draft, and for keeping notes, references and other bits of information.

As I thought about it, I think I got started using Notepad because the files take up literally no space whatsoever on my hard drive. Also, because my computer tends to crash (or slowly stop working) because of programs that are running that take up RAM or whatever it is that keeps things going, the Notepad program takes up so little that it never causes a crash (and I can keep it up without worrying too much while I have other programs running...) Thanks for your reply!

I've heard that many writers use this technique - carrying a notebook and pen - so that if they should become inspired, they will not lose their thoughts. I've even heard of people who keep a notebook by their bed, so that if they have any thoughts in the night, it will not cause them trouble for sleeping; they may simply jot their thoughts down in the notebook and then forget about them (knowing that they are safely written down). ^_^

Its the oddest thing, but whenever I try to write on paper, (most of the time) I find myself staring at a blank piece of paper. I can doodle. But starting to write... there's just something about a keyboard and a computer screen that makes the process easier for me. I'm not as afraid of producing garbage (because it can easily be deleted) --- and it's easily revisable, too! Cell phones are great - with all sorts of capabilities. My favorite part of my new cell phone is the calculator - to price out stuff at the grocery store for the best deal. (I think it has a voice recorder/memo function, too.) I think that if I didn't have a computer handy, I'd take making an audio recording as a second choice... Thanks for your reply!

Thanks for the reply! I've gotten so used to writing on the keyboard that I find it hard to go back to pen and paper... I'm so used to writing something out, not liking it, going back and deleting and re-writing - and you just can't do that with pen and ink! I have lines and lines of scribbled out text, only to get to the bottom of the page and have something that I like... Which I then copy over at the top of the next clean page... I need to develop better techniques for when I use pen and paper (no strikethroughs!) vs what I do at the keyboard...

That is a gift (memory) I'm sure that many writers wish that they had... I often find myself thinking at night about something that I want to write, and sometimes I will remember it in the morning, sometimes not. Scratch that. I'd just be happy to be able to sit down and type 80 pages! LOL Thanks for your reply!