HANDWRITING VERSUS COMPUTER
I haven’t handwritten my stories or books for many years but I am old enough to remember what it was like not to have a computer.
I used to always hand write my stories in notebooks then had to face in to typing them up on a manual typewriter – what a pain in the neck this was.
When computers became more common I couldn’t afford one.
I used to have to take my handwritten stories to the library, or the computer room in college to type them up.
I actually hand wrote my entire first novel Piggy Monk Square on the two x hour and a half long bus journeys I had to take daily when I returned to college to study script-writing as a mature student in the mid-nineties
PEN TO PAPER
I am very glad to leave those times behind and these days I love using my laptop and my Scrivener software to write.
At this stage of my life I am now lucky to have lots of great writing resources that I find really useful.
But recently, as I was recovering from surgery with my leg in plaster I began to put pen to paper again.
Mostly I wrote simply to record my thoughts and feelings about the events of the day but I then found that this activity began to expand and I wrote some stories by hand as well.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAND WRITING AND COMPUTER?
The difference between hand writing and using my laptop quickly became apparent. I wrote faster and without editing as I was going along.
Editing as I go is a habit that formed gradually when I switched from pen and paper to computer and for me it is one of the most difficult habits to stop.
I realise that the reason I cannot stop is because in reality I don’t want to. I enjoy rereading and changing yesterday’s work before I start my next writing session. There are many writers who say this slows down the process but I don’t find that.
I believe that editing as I go reduces the time spent rewriting and correcting at the end and it also saves my mistakes from being carried through from chapter to chapter.
FASTER?
But, when I began hand writing again I discovered that there is a difference. I was forming my sentences faster and without conscious regard to their structure.
EXPERIENCE CREATIVE WRITING FLOW
This gave my writing a more fluid and natural rhythm, plus there was a very enjoyable feeling of freedom in the process. I also experienced a more natural flow to my work which is really enjoyable.
However, there was also a bit of a downside. My hand writing is so fast that is almost unintelligible and I know it will take a lot of time to type up – when I finally get around to it.
DISCOVERING THE SHORT STORY
So, am I changing my process from typing on my laptop to writing by hand? Well, no, certainly not for books or scripts.
However, I did rediscover my love of short stories. I used to write many of these but as I expanded in to larger works I stopped.
I am not sure there is a market for my short stories so I may have to keep short story writing as an enjoyable habit although I am aware that with Amazon publishing shorter stories and novellas now there may well be opportunities.
THE MARKET – UNPREDICTABLE?
I will try publishing one of my short stories to Amazon in the coming months. Maybe nobody will read it. I don’t know, as with all things writing it is very difficult to predict an outcome. Still, I will give it a try to keep you posted as to the outcome.
In the meantime, whether you write by hand or by computer – the very best of luck with your writing.
Grace
P.S. If you have any comments or questions or indeed, if you have any experience publishing stories on Amazon I’d love to hear from you in the comments box.
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