Hand-written First Drafts?

[DrRita]

When I started writing (a million years ago;) ) I used to write in longhand. I would then rewrite, scratch, scribble etc and finally would type the edited pages.

Then I got an electric typewriter and began composing on the typewriter. After a few years of this, I finally bought my first computer and was on my way to doing it all on the computer. I found it to be easier in terms of editing, rearranging, copying, pasting etc . . . no more scribbling, scratching and making a mess. Computer writing was all so . . . . tidy.

One day I was going through some old notebooks of my first/second/third draft long-hand manuscripts and discovered something very enlightening. There was more actual creativity, (scenes, description, dialog etc.) in my long-hand stuff than my computer generated drafts. Lately, I've been revisiting writing in longhand for first drafts. That led me back to the notion that perhaps there is something to this phenomena about long hand and creativity. I suspect that's why the older classics were much more prosy and prolific. Anyway, I googled the subject and found a couple of interesting insighful articles.

http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/04/page-numbering-question.html

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/phenom.html

I think that there is something to be said for creativity and writing longhand. What say all of you? What are your experiences??

[mbeachbum]

You may be right about the creativity of writing longhand as opposed to writing on computers. I have done both. Often, my computer writing seems to be more "sterile" than what I have written longhand.

Also, I have found myself typing furiously on the computer, printing it out, making additions and corrections longhand, and then going back to the computer to make the changes there.

Years ago, when I worked at the local newspaper, I tried writing everything out and then typing it into the computer. How laborious! Yet, I still do that occasionally.

[I think I just went around in a circle! Sorry!]

[TanyaSue]

I can't write longhand. Maybe it's because I have never really had to. Maybe it's because I'm dyslexic. I do my notes by hand; keep a notebook with me always, but if I have to do long sections, longhand is completely ineffective for me. My penmanship becomes illegible with my desire for and lack of speed. My thoughts are then distracted by how awful the page looks. I always "write" on the computer, but do my edits longhand. I have to print it out and write my corrections in ink before committing any sins of the delete key.

[dulcigal]

I had to switch to longhand in order to write while I was relearning to type Dvorak, but now that I can type again, I'm still going to write in longhand. I found that, sitting at my desk with my pen I can daydream without a blinking cursor to taunt me, I can scribble a bit and not be as tempted to read it all over or delete what I don't like at the moment (and ofen I'll re-read and like those elements that would have been deleted) and most of all, I can feel TANGIBLY the process of writing.

Since this all happened, I've been all but shunning my computer except when it's necessary--and even in edits, I'll print it all back out again and edit by hand. But writing by hand just seems to me so much more organic. And I LIKE that I'm forced to slow down, as it gives me room to consider things more readily. And for me, I can feel and savor my words alot more, and the dream-state of fiction writing is alot easier. It's actually easier for me to concentrate. I've even come up with a surefire system for counting words quickly!

The only draw I've found so far is that, of course, it's more messy. Less readable. But then, there's also less of a desire to MAKE it perfect and readable on the first pass. And my handwriting would be illegible to anyone but me--it's actually morphed into sort of a pseudo cursive where certain letters will run together and others omitted entirely, but usually I can make it out! I count this as a good thing--it forces me to read and not skim my work!

[paulchernoch]

My laptop has a battery life of about 90 minutes. If I am in a spot where I cannot use it, I use a notebook.

For the initial outline, I use a notebook.

For map sketches, I use a notebook.

Occasionally, I will write a whole scene out in a notebook, then transcribe. When I write on paper, my posture is different, and I am in a different location than my usual table in the dining room. There is a lot to be said for not writing in the same spot all the time. If I had more battery power, I could do that with my laptop, but it is heavier.

One place I enjoy writing is the Kids Playground, an indoor playground in a warehouse. Lots of kids (including my three) and noise, but I find I can tune it out. I feel an energy there that it is impossible to duplicate anyplace else.

- Paul

[kriswrite]

I used to do all first drafts in longhand. But at some point it became much less effective for me...I think because I can type faster than I can write. Today, I do sometimes write drafts by hand, but usually only when I'm somewhere without a computer.

I find that my longhand first drafts tend to be less well written than my typed first drafts. Strange, eh?

Kristina

[Tarin]

I used to do all first drafts in longhand. But at some point it became much less effective for me...I think because I can type faster than I can write. Today, I do sometimes write drafts by hand, but usually only when I'm somewhere without a computer.

I find that my longhand first drafts tend to be less well written than my typed first drafts. Strange, eh?

Kristina

That's pretty much the way I feel too. Due to my sloppy handwriting and the frustrating conflict between my desire for perfection and the ball-point pen's lack of a delete feature, I don't tend to write my best longhand.

However, on occasions when I just want to ignore my inner perfectionist (such as when I'm sketching plot ideas, characters, or outlines), I will write longhand. I tend to fill up one or two notebooks before I ever go to the computer with a story. But when I do get the to the computer, the neatness and ease of formatting makes me write that much more efficiently.

On the rare occasion, when suffering from writer's block, I will also dig out a notebook and try to loosen up my creativity before going back to the computer.

[cpbookworm]

I mostly write on the computer, now. However, I wrote the first several drafts of a book I am working on longhand, before I had a computer. Sometimes I still do some idea work longhand, but then will expand on my ideas when I put them on computer.

[tlm]

If I have a notebook, I can write outside on the deck, when I am traveling, at the doctor's office, or anywhere. The keyboards on the laptop are so small, that the hunting and pecking is frustrating and destroys my creativity.

Then I edit as I put the MS into the computer. I can type about 75 words a minute, so the process (typing and editing) is not too laborious.

I have tried it the other way, but there is a lot about writing on a notebook that is refreshing, like that warm cup of coffee in the morning, or a relaxing bubble bath. I actually like to use a pencil, because I like the scratching sound it makes on paper. There is something about that little noise that helps the creative process. I know, it sounds insane!:D

[DrRita]

I actually like to use a pencil, because I like the scratching sound it makes on paper. There is something about that little noise that helps the creative process. I know, it sounds insane!:D

I like to use a pencil too!! I use the click ones as I hate having to get up and sharpen them, even if I have a whole passel sharpened, the click works better. I think being able to erase helps me to settle down and not have to worry about scratching out mistakes.

It's amazing how different we are when it comes to the creative process. Each of us hammers it out in our own way.

[melw]

I write longhand most of the time, mainly because i don't have a laptop. But i also re-write as i type. Sometimes i can't think of the right word. So i edit as i type it in. If i got a laptop i am sure there would be less longhand work, but working in longhand has and advantage, if somehow you lose your work. Or it gets scrambled you have a brief outline of what you have written and you don't lose too much.

MEL

[dulcigal]

I like to use a pencil too!! I use the click ones as I hate having to get up and sharpen them, even if I have a whole passel sharpened, the click works better. I think being able to erase helps me to settle down and not have to worry about scratching out mistakes.

This is funny because I love a pen! And not just any kind of pen, either, but those black 10-for-a-dollar papermates. I love the way that their ink feels gliding over the paper, like silk! I avoid pencil most of the time because I really hate the over-write print it leaves when you write front and back of a page (which I do).

[Lookin^Up]

In years B.C. (Before Computer), I would always keep a spiral notebook beside me and write out my story while I was away from my typewriter. Often I would complete the handwritten first draft before it ever saw a typewriter, or if I get stuck in the middle I would type what I had and go from there. Impatient with longhand, I invented a kind of alphabet shorthand for myself so I didn't have to doggedly write out words like "throughout" or "manufacture". Character and place names often became initials.

These days, however, I rely mostly on the computer to do my first drafts, editing, and re-editing. If I have plot points to settle, I'll make notes in a yellow pad I keep nearby, but it rarely extends past a page or two before I'm back at the computer, tip-tapping away.

For awhile I was using Notepad to hash out plot points, but now I only use it to keep charts and rosters. That way, no one character winds up being in two or three places at a time. (That has actually happened from time to time, even with the charts!)

[ProfessorAlan]

I like writing the first draft by hand, because: a) I find it easier to edit, cross out, draw arrows to move sentences around, while I'm first getting the words down; and b) I can edit when I type it into the computer, so the first printout I read is not really a first draft anymore, but is a little more polished than that.

[cynthiahickey]

If I'm somewhere without my laptop, and know I will have some time on my hands, I will write in longhand. At one of my booksignings, a man saw me writing longhand. He was astounded. Said he thought he was the only one left who did that.

[Ransom v. Unman]

I write whenever I get the chance, and often that is not in front of my computer at home. So, with my first drafts half of them are usually in longhand, and the other half is done on the computer, and I edit them together and fill in the blanks at a later point.

But that can take a while sometimes. :rolleyes:

[DraperJC]

Once I got a laptop, I never went back to longhand. Whenever I tried, I found that my hand got tired much faster than before.

I have sketched out some free thinking bubble chart things a few times but beyond that it's all computer.

[writegirl1949]

I learned to type at a very young age and it became second nature to me. My first job was creatively writing classified ads -- via the phone, more typing. That's really helped me be more creative simply because I, like many of you, can type much faster than I can write.

Recently, arthritis prevents me from writing for any length of time.

If I'm out and unable to use my PDA with it's portable keyboard, I'll take copious notes --- even if it does hurt my hand. I love to describe what I see around me and don't mind the sacrifice.

While I'll make notes and even do some outlining and scene descriptions in longhand, I can't imagine NOT using the computer for my writing.

Blessings, Francine

[tlm]

This is funny because I love a pen! And not just any kind of pen, either, but those black 10-for-a-dollar papermates. I love the way that their ink feels gliding over the paper, like silk! I avoid pencil most of the time because I really hate the over-write print it leaves when you write front and back of a page (which I do).

That is funny! I used to only write with a felt-tipped marker. I liked its gliding motion. I'm not sure when I switched to a pencil. Now, I hardly use anything else. Oh, and I have to have a package of extra erasers, too.!thumbsup!

[righter1]

When I was a teen and had to fight 3 other people for computer time, I would write in longhand. Now, the only thing I really write in longhand is my outlines. Sometimes, I wish I did do more of my stuff in longhand because it would be less cumbersome than carrying my laptop everywhere, and having that urge to write but being unable to because I didn't bring the laptop! Maybe I'll eventually find a happy blend when I get my printer situation figured out and can print EASILY and from anywhere in the house. :) I guess we'll see.

[dulcigal]

That is funny! I used to only write with a felt-tipped marker. I liked its gliding motion. I'm not sure when I switched to a pencil. Now, I hardly use anything else. Oh, and I have to have a package of extra erasers, too.

What I find kind of ironic is that until a month or so ago I had myself convinced that I couldn't think unless I was at the computer. Now I have different habits, out of necessity and discovery. Go figure.

We writers have habitual quirks...

"It's nervous work. The state you need to write in is the state that others are paying large sums to get rid of." - Shirley Hazzard

:D