tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post1482099671402016065..comments2024-03-10T05:06:25.309-04:00Comments on Livia Blackburne: Typing vs. Longhand: Does it Affect Your Writing?Livia Blackburnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-57941382205994865412019-02-12T19:35:33.010-05:002019-02-12T19:35:33.010-05:00I found out that when I write with paper and pen, ...I found out that when I write with paper and pen, I write in more details. On my kindle, practically none at all. On my computer, it's a mix. I think I write better on pen and paper, but using a computer can be more convenient. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13151214835645909082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-64025742163909582172016-04-13T05:19:17.622-04:002016-04-13T05:19:17.622-04:00Hi, I never really thought about it seriously. Alt...Hi, I never really thought about it seriously. Although it has a long period of time only write on the computer, most of my work related to the essay on the <a href="http://paidpaper.net/" rel="nofollow">best online paper</a> But pen and paper use since looking for some information not in typewritten sources. But the only writing on a computer, it takes my specificity of work and saves time.But I would be interested to know that it is better, I will wait for the new posts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06776415913592601694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-23389061516500335552014-04-07T09:25:10.113-04:002014-04-07T09:25:10.113-04:00Since I began to use the computer to communicate (...Since I began to use the computer to communicate (early 1990's) I observed this phenomenon. Initially, it was difficult to express my thoughts typing on the computer. Also, I found it laboring to switch from writing work to computer work....as though I was using 2 seperate thought pathways. Now I write primarily on the computer....I find the assistance the computer offers more expediant (spellcheck, syntax, format etc). I have also observed, my spelling has become atrocious....I love the feeling of pen in hand with a clear moleskine palate before me, yet often stare at it with empty thoughts as though my brain is stuck, with frozen pen in hand. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-15930924874615274842013-11-30T12:19:02.890-05:002013-11-30T12:19:02.890-05:00I too am a late comer but what you are both descri...I too am a late comer but what you are both describing is the Ziegarnik effect, when the brain remembers unfinished work but drops it from memory once it is finished. It is fine if you're studying, to stop midway, or writing, and then pick it up again when you come back. I do not see how that connects to revising a sentence midway - as I often do when working on the screen - or coming back to it after the sentence is finished. What I find is that revising that way, on the trot, leads to carelessness as the brain presumably fills in words in your head that your eyes fail to see. Finishing a sentence, a paragraph of the work and then coming back to revise it is a more productive way favoured by writers/translators. You also have the benefit of seeing your work afresh. I do not know if one writes or types a better piece of work on the screen, but there are studies done on the haptics of writing, for example by Anne Mangen at the University of Stavanger's Reading Centre that shows that writing by hand improves learning through the involvement of the sensorimotor with memory. Broc's area of the brain also reacts to verbs of movement. All very interesting for writers to know. Perhaps, as I have written elsewhere, one day neuroscience will be a required subject for creative writing courses.Awang Gonenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893937987435850954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-53111506305908704922013-11-30T12:18:43.936-05:002013-11-30T12:18:43.936-05:00I too am a late comer but what you are both descri...I too am a late comer but what you are both describing is the Ziegarnik effect, when the brain remembers unfinished work but drops it from memory once it is finished. It is fine if you're studying, to stop midway, or writing, and then pick it up again when you come back. I do not see how that connects to revising a sentence midway - as I often do when working on the screen - or coming back to it after the sentence is finished. What I find is that revising that way, on the trot, leads to carelessness as the brain presumably fills in words in your head that your eyes fail to see. Finishing a sentence, a paragraph of the work and then coming back to revise it is a more productive way favoured by writers/translators. You also have the benefit of seeing your work afresh. I do not know if one writes or types a better piece of work on the screen, but there are studies done on the haptics of writing, for example by Anne Mangen at the University of Stavanger's Reading Centre that shows that writing by hand improves learning through the involvement of the sensorimotor with memory. Broc's area of the brain also reacts to verbs of movement. All very interesting for writers to know. Perhaps, as I have written elsewhere, one day neuroscience will be a required subject for creative writing courses.Awang Gonenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893937987435850954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-13694922025783733312013-06-25T23:19:33.189-04:002013-06-25T23:19:33.189-04:00I used to do the 3 pages a day writing exercises t... I used to do the 3 pages a day writing exercises that Julia Cameron teaches in her book The Artists Way. I both typed and used pen and notebook, although she says to use a notebook. I also used to do Pms instead of the AM's like she suggested to do….first thing in the morning. I just recently 'mind scanned' some of my journals and realized that my best writings were done when I used notebook and pen as well as when I did them in the morning. <br />I know that the teacher that I used to work with and I often discussed how the fine motor use of the hand and fingers tend to stimulate the brain in different ways than a typewriter. I personally love to type, but in regards to what I wrote, and have often written, I think that the ideas, if they are there at all, tend to be stronger and more subconscious type thinking when done with a pen a and paper, because….I am guessing, of the extra stimulation. I have to admit, i do a lot of revisiting regardless of my writing module, this tends from some aadd, but it was the realization that my two favorite journal entries that surprised me the moststarrduskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12349781098084759478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-90200646260237904042013-04-05T12:12:19.181-04:002013-04-05T12:12:19.181-04:00Hi Daniel,
I'm new to Livia's blog so I&#...Hi Daniel,<br /><br />I'm new to Livia's blog so I'm a little late replying to your response regarding writing longhand vs computer, 2011 post. <br /><br />Anyway, what you said is true, your brain does hold on to unfinished sentences and thoughts - to complete them. As I was reading your response, I instantly recalled the numerous times working on a piece and having to stop midstream (jump off the train or my turn came in a long waiting line) yet I was able to come right back to the last place I was at in the piece and pick up the previous thought pattern that was going on. <br /><br />Thanks for your observation and input. PJ Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11535668457623763534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-90208027962758066542012-03-19T00:25:08.914-04:002012-03-19T00:25:08.914-04:00I find that my outline and flow of ideas is better...I find that my outline and flow of ideas is better on paper...this is always my starting point. I can go to a different place of the house (no laptop) and get away from distractions. Then I fill in the gaps until I can't stand it and feel that I have to get it on the computer so I can later do the major revision and tweaking. The major revision is also done on paper--the Times New Roman printed out version is scratched over with blue pen until nearly unrecognizable. <br /><br />I loved reading people's comments and will come back again for inspiration. Thanks for writing.CMDoranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16032151240110643419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-24373255577604665252012-02-12T12:10:05.777-05:002012-02-12T12:10:05.777-05:00I am going to try my 'hand"--hee hee--at ...I am going to try my 'hand"--hee hee--at longhand writing. I've hit a roadblock with the Mac, and it's labyrinth of "save as" and "file" commands, nevermind the lugging it to the library every few days.<br /><br />Many other famous writers, such as John Irving (Cider House Rules, Garp, etc.) write longhand. Many have hired typists to enter the longhand into the computer. Heck, some--like the late Sidney Sheldon--transcribe their novels. Yes, he literally dictated them. Barbara Cartwright, romance queen, used to have a courtroom stenographer write down her novels. Barbara sat on a couch and stroked her cat and dreamed up the novel No joke!<br /><br />And should we forget about all the fabulous authors--JD Salinger, Gertrude Stein, FS Fitzgerald, Hemingway, some of the best ever--who had to type directly into a Smith Corona typewriter, one peck at a time. That was before White Out! No wonder the few modern typing writers, like Cormac McCarthy and director Woody Allen, savor their typewriters so divinely: they're almost irreplaceable.<br /><br />Longhand, by pen, is slower, but more thoughtful. Longhand can be input with Dragon Naturally Speaking v.11, and even if it gets one in 20 words written like alphabet soup, we are going back and editing the entire thing again, right? If you've not tried it, at about $60, it's much better than prior versions, and one can read their longhand into a desktop $20 microphone and save boatloads of keyboard time. That is one tip I might suggest to you, my fellow free-hand writers.<br /><br />John Irving writes his first drafts in fancy $35 Boorum and Pease bound journals. For the rest of us, stenographer's pads--the kind with spiral bound at the top and flippable for a flat lay on the desk--work wonders, and can easily poise on a monitor side stand for easy transcribing. Try that with a leather bound journal.<br /><br />Many, from my online search this morning, espouse freehand writing as a remedy for computer snags and viruses. But, don't forget, although computers get the sniffles with a virus and might lose our hard work in one massive "ka-choo", paper is not forever.<br /><br />Just ask my neighbor down the way whose house is now cinders after their cat, Jinxy, kicked over a tea candle.Coolkayaker1https://www.blogger.com/profile/16480679419271233314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-77459651694922256402011-12-13T18:48:00.880-05:002011-12-13T18:48:00.880-05:00I'm really curious to know how reflexes play a...I'm really curious to know how reflexes play a part in the process. For example, just today I used pen and paper to write on my to-do list "Tommorrow" (spelling it wrong and clearly lacking sleep), and noticed that it didn't look like it was spelled correctly. I then went to type that word into Google so I could find the correct spelling, and here I typed "tomorrow", spelling it correctly this time. Does this mean typing was automatic and unconscious, is it always, and if so, what was the explanation for spelling it incorrectly with pen and paper?Laina Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-76056234290861738522011-11-06T21:01:43.010-05:002011-11-06T21:01:43.010-05:00I scribble Haiku thoughts down with pencil and pap...I scribble Haiku thoughts down with pencil and paper, but a computer is used to write everything else.<br /><br />Twenty six years ago, I was inspired by Natalie Goldberg's book, "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within." At the time, I use to write with a typewriter, and her advice about using a fast-writing pen, because your thoughts are always faster than your hand...<br /><br />Comparing those long ago methods of writing, pawing through an unabridged dictionary, tissue paper copies, and the horrible eraser and brush that preceded white-out - I would put up a fight if I had to give up, my computer, electronic dictionary, spell checker, grammar checker, Scrivener App, cut and paste, find and replace - you can all add to this list of attributes you all may take for granted in this high-tech world. The speedy fountain pen may be as fast as the wind, but I'll take the convenience of my computer!<br /><br />Enjoyed this interesting post and all of the comments - I’d would have loved to see the comparison between writers using a computer and the older generation of writers that never knew about personal computers or seldom used a typewriter.<br /><br />Does anyone remember the feel of a wooden fountain pen or a leather moleskin? I loved the feel of certain books, but I'll never trade my Kindle either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-3535061340696157432011-09-21T17:15:46.411-04:002011-09-21T17:15:46.411-04:00I know quite a bit of research has been done on ki...I know quite a bit of research has been done on kids and the effects of writing on the computer versus paper and pen. Here is a summary of some of it: http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/ed-tech-and-student-achievementJennifer Rolandhttp://jennifer-roland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-33708267779323281882011-09-18T23:41:34.029-04:002011-09-18T23:41:34.029-04:00Yes well what about poets, hm?
I work in rhyme an...Yes well what about poets, hm?<br /><br />I work in rhyme and meter - iambic pentameter mostly. Computer or pen, it doesn't matter really, because I write by first reciting it into the air. And pacing.<br /><br />On a good night, say, 140 words in 3 hours. The researchers may have noticed that I pause a lot.Christian Hegehttp://open.salon.com/blog/divorce_bardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-81798254017220838942011-08-15T22:15:43.041-04:002011-08-15T22:15:43.041-04:00I fell instantly and irretrievably in love with th...I fell instantly and irretrievably in love with the word processor when we met in 1986; at last, here was an instrument that would allow other people to read my writing!<br /><br />I can't call myself a Writer, as I only do it when the Muse visits - which is an infrequent occurrence. However, in my amateur dabbling, I might write something in the notebook I always carry, if I am away from home, but feel that the proper 'knocking into shape' occurs back at the computer.<br /><br />One thing that annoys me about handwriting is when the hand writes something other than what the brain was thinking; for this reason, I almost never handwrite a letter, personal or otherwise. The thought of trying to write a novel longhand, and then transcribe it to electronic form later, just gives me the shivers.<br /><br />I doubt whether taking a break mid-sentence would prove beneficial for me; I reckon there's a great chance the thought would be gone. This, of course, could be a good thing.Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12573730243954350196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-73528166987499016482011-07-31T20:49:55.577-04:002011-07-31T20:49:55.577-04:00I keep thinking the word fascinating every time I ...I keep thinking the word fascinating every time I read your blog. And from the looks of it, I am in very good company. I suspect we all love writing so terribly much, and find your dissection of it so thought-provoking, that we have to ooze a little at first just to unburden ourselves of joy.<br /><br />I’m a latecomer to your blog, but this may be the best segment I’ve read yet. Longhand has always been constraining for me. My mind would race ahead as my writing hand struggled to keep up. Handwriting played havoc with my timing and stripped my sentences of life. By the time I’d caught up, my mind would be off onto some other track and I’d lose or reevaluate the thread altogether. My first correcting Selectric helped some, but, so far as I’m concerned, word-processing is the miracle that truly split the atom of writing. <br /><br />You mentioned voice-actuation. I, too, would love to have gotten some glimpse of its effects. Because of Parkinson’s, I can no longer type (or handwrite), so I am heavily dependent on Dragon 11 – and not to mention, very grateful. That gets the first 80% into print, and I do three-finger keyboard corrections from there. This latter part is very slow. But it could be much worse. There are so many new adaptive technologies for writing, most of them in their infant stages. Along with the liberation they bring, they will also have their own particular limitations and frustrations. So the mechanics of the creative-writing process is apt to become more diverse than ever.<br /><br />penelopegurl<br />AKA @penelopetaylorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-41367734110966505942011-07-31T11:34:01.674-04:002011-07-31T11:34:01.674-04:00In commenting on your blog, I’ve made a pact with ...In commenting on your blog, I’ve made a pact with myself not to say the words interesting or fascinating. Hmmm. Some handicap, that. I guess I’ll just have to call this little segment delicious then. But, indescribably delicious? Oh, heavens no. Discovery and insight this titillating, and for most of us on one of our favorite subjects -- tada, writing and the writing process -- is worth its weight in description. But I’m going to be difficult and pose another possibility instead. <br /><br />You mentioned the voice-actuation variable that was not in the study criteria. Well, that’s me. I can no longer type because of a movement disorder, so I have to rely on Dragon 11. And that’s not good, because Dragon’s not even close to being ready for prime time. But it gets it 80% right, and I can do three-finger corrections from there. And just by coincidence, Dragon-Nuance is doing its weekly analysis exactly as I write this, so instead of dictating, then polishing, I’m having to do this entire comment with three fingers getting neurodegenerated messages from the brain. Oh, my. Wouldn’t I love to have seen that little comparison in the criteria. Well, you betcha. <br /><br />Still, it’s quite enough just tuning in to your blog. No matter what, I just love it. It is always so fascinating. I mean -- er, so, uh, titillating? Titillating. Oh yes, titillating. So very.<br /><br />penelopegurl<br />AKA @penelopetaylorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-20003893653970380932011-07-09T15:28:49.643-04:002011-07-09T15:28:49.643-04:00I am very interested in the connection between lon...I am very interested in the connection between long hand writing in fountain pen on decent paper and attention. I encounter a great number of people taking up fountain pens as a way of slowing down their scattered thought processes.Geoff McInneshttp://www.archytasgroup.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-81862590145916493782011-06-28T06:08:29.144-04:002011-06-28T06:08:29.144-04:00I write long hand when beginning a story, usually ...I write long hand when beginning a story, usually the first page or more. Then the computer takes over. I've written entire stories long hand too.<br /><br /> I just switch from one modality to another whenever I'm stuck or want to renew my writing inspiration. Now that I think back, I've almost never begun a story directly on the computer.<br /><br />This is interesting research....thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-21109093078359619932011-06-27T15:46:29.643-04:002011-06-27T15:46:29.643-04:00I imagine the responses of both groups would also ...I imagine the responses of both groups would also hinge upon whether or not, growing up, they were conditioned to write in longhand, as many of us were in the 'pre-computer' days.In which case, longhand becomes a more natural process and the brain would process thoughts at a more regular and rapid pace.Tony Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18181734766704815175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-77575683160664711752011-06-24T10:15:18.966-04:002011-06-24T10:15:18.966-04:00Marion -- sorry about that. I don't see it an...Marion -- sorry about that. I don't see it anywhere in blogger or in the spam filter.Livia Blackburnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-58191418775546215832011-06-24T10:13:02.858-04:002011-06-24T10:13:02.858-04:00My post disappeared before manking it to print in ...My post disappeared before manking it to print in the thread--very disappointing in view of the time and length of my first post that disappeared.marion ds dreyfusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-87168465479546747562011-05-08T15:23:25.751-04:002011-05-08T15:23:25.751-04:00I came specifically on the Internet tonight to loo...I came specifically on the Internet tonight to look for this particular topic and found my way to this blog. I switched to computers some 10 years back and have been typing since. My typing speed is quite good but I have found that I am able to write "better" when I use pen and paper. My take on it is that using pen and paper slows you down and makes your brain spend more time on the particular thought you are writing down. Typing, because of its faster speed, leads to a rushed feeling which I don't enjoy personally. I like to dwell on individual thoughts and think them through. This might be a reflection of how my own brain works best. But there are certainly people who enjoy working fast and I wonder if they are the people who work best when they type. Another thing I find liberating about writing as opposed to typing is that it is freeform. I can place in symbols I want, draw connections etc. which will be difficult to do when typing. Typing is linear which makes me feel constrained while thinking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-36644983704847052322011-04-30T01:02:47.420-04:002011-04-30T01:02:47.420-04:00see Anne Mangen's research on this in Norway. ...see Anne Mangen's research on this in Norway. !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-41716047842490642032011-03-17T13:21:54.987-04:002011-03-17T13:21:54.987-04:00As I write longhand in pencil for my first draft, ...As I write longhand in pencil for my first draft, I found this a very interesting post. When I write straight onto the computer I'm more superficial & don't "connect" with my writing. If that makes sense :/<br /><a href="http://judycroome.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Judy (South Africa)</a>Judy Croome | @judy_croomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455755011354905278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-37982015819039603862011-02-12T02:38:41.345-05:002011-02-12T02:38:41.345-05:00Interesting. I always wondered if I was the only o...Interesting. I always wondered if I was the only one noticing the difference between writing on a PC and with a pen. For me, writing on a computer requires some knowledge about what I want to write about, where on a paper I can freestyle more easily. Maybe it's because of the monitor brightnes or something, I don't know, but it's like my thinking process is freer when looking at the paper. Writing on a computer is so much easier and faster though. Maybe it is just about habits and what you're used toBorishttp://about.me/Fletlajnnoreply@blogger.com