The Write or Type Debate
January 29, 2009 by Heather Goldsmith
Filed under Home & Living
While writing in my journal today in one of my favourite cafes, one of the waitresses made a comment how I am always writing. She told me I needed a laptop computer. Of course, I would love one, but not for my journal writing. I’d simply love to be more mobile about the house and my day with my work writing. I didn’t get a chance to explain all this to her, though. She was far too busy working.
When it comes to keeping a journal I’m a big fan of encouraging people to do whatever works for them. If you feel better about typing your journal entries on a computer keyboard, great news. If the feel of pen and paper does it for you, well go for it.
I do prefer to write on paper with a rich deep smooth rolling pen. For me the tactile sense of the paper beneath my hand, the action of letting words flow from my mind to my fingers to the pen to the page, is what works for me. There’s a flow of thought and ideas that not only excites me, but I feel closer to my real mind when I am writing out my hand.
I know I think differently when I write on a keyboard. I’m more business like and that personal part of my emotion and true self are safely locked away. It takes a lot more work to access those parts of myself while writing my tapping these keys.
Some authors write entire novels by hand, but they feel better connected to their characters and the story that way. Some would never write any other way than by keyboard. What about you? Do you feel journal writing is better by hand than on a computer keyboard? Why do you feel this way? If you aren’t sure, give each method a try for a week or longer. Reread your entries and see if you notice a different kind of voice or a more open expression in either method. Write in your journal about what you learn.
Perhaps you will find something useful by doing this exercise. Maybe writing about certain topics is better by hand than by typing. Be willing to try this exercise, because you might learn something new about yourself.
Heather
Photo used with permission from stockx.chang
Love this. If I need to work out a problem or come to a decision I have to write by hand. Seems the kinesthesia of movement helps my brain kick in or something. But when i’m just doing what my friend calls “spiritual vomiting” I like to type because I go faster.
Hi Zura,
Yeah, I do think there is something in that, about movement, when it comes to writing by hand. Lol, I hadn’t heard that expression before, but sometimes you do need to write fast. Thanks for your comment.