I'm asking today about how you actually get words onto a page. It's a question that authors are often asked at readings. 'How do you write?' The answer varies, from the highly technical (those who use the latest computer), to the traditionalist who writes in long hand on foolscap paper.
![[Hemingway_writing.jpg]](/sites/default/files/advice/old/Hemingway_writing.jpg)
Jane Austen's manuscripts are part of her legend, that she carved herself out a creative space in tiny words, on cramped paper, not inconveniencing anyone. She wrote, of course, in a time when paper was a luxury, and everyone hoarded their words carefully on this precious commodity.
The picture from today's blog is of Hemingway writing in his preferred method - with a pencil - which he felt improved the flow of words.
We still use terms that relate to how authors used to write - manuscript - for scripts written by hand ('manu') and typescript for typewritten scripts. Is there a word out there for a computer-written script? 'escript' perhaps? There's an image associated with different ways of writing; someone old-fashioned and charming, pondering on their muse with an ink pen and hand made paper, or a hardened chain-smoking, whisky-drinking hack, typing away, firing out words like a machine gun.
I can't really summon up an image for someone using a computer - perhaps it's too close to home. I have to use a computer to write, it's been too many years since I wrote by pen, and my handwriting is often too dreadful for me to be able to read what I've written. I do carry a notebook with me though, and it's invaluable for rough ideas, and lists.
Some recent research suggests that the different methods of writing affect how we learn, and that we lose something when using a typewriter or computer, as we are more removed from the words. How do you think that applies to your own work? And how do you write? Has it changed as technology has moved on?
(Editorial Consultant)
I tend more to work with my laptop, I find for me it comes easier, flows freer when I do this. However I do work between both pen and paper, and the laptop. I have found though that when your typing straight to screen it's rather easy to forget a word here or there because fingers fly faster over the keys than they can keep up with the mind that's churning the words out.
But then I'm a novice to writing and find it difficult to find the time, My current target is 300 words a day, but I find that difficult to achieve on certain days after coming home from work.
I find that I often flow with poetry at the laptop quicker than it flows on to paper, I find that writing to paper you have to really think about things and that often hinders the flow and movement of it.
It depends...! For rough drafting I often use Dragon speech recognition software: it is much faster than long hand or using a keyboard, even allowing for editing the errors afterwards. And as I do not have to look at anything, let alone use my hands, I can concentrate entirely on what I am trying to say - even closing my eyes if I want!
And I do not have to be at a desk - I get about 98% accuracy with a well-trained dictaphone, so I can write on a walk etc. Afterwards I transcribe the voice file through Dragon into Word.
But for editing and polishing the Word file I use a laptop, which again allows me to be completely mobile with my writing.
I write on my laptop. I used to write longhand and transfer but now find it tedious as it doesn't keep up with my thoughts. Technology is great.