The last story I wrote longhand was “Rain” & then I quit working that way for years. Yesterday I went back to the pen & it was such a pleasure I wonder why I stopped. But I know why: I told myself it was faster to begin on the computer. Only it’s not true! It takes exactly the same amount of time.
This happened to me at the beginning of this calendar year! A nice reminder that it always takes a Gandalf amount of time (arriving precisely when it means to)
I gave it a try because @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com suggested I give it a whirl. I wound up writing all 900 pages of The Fireman in longhand. 9 great big Leuchtturm journals.
I had to write some character background for a game and I found the rhythm of alternating handwritten and computer-typed to work well for that project. Handwritten notes to typing to printouts to physical literal cut and paste and hand edits and rewriting to more typing really worked for me.
But how does one make the leap from longhand to type text actually WORK; I'd love to go back to longhand for everything but the transcription process is soul sucking even IF it provides the transition from zero to first draft.
The transcription process is another opportunity to reconsider each line, each moment—it’s a chance to rewrite as you go. It’s actually kind of magical.
While I've never published, this has long been my favorite way of writing. I kept a notebook at work that I would write in during any free time. When I would transcribe not only did I do simple editing, but it would also serve as fact checking and help me see where I needed to bulk up thoughts.
That kinda clicked into place as I was typing that reply but if you don't ask, especially pros like yourself or Neil, you don't know. I'll start shopping for the big journals ^_^
That was the main reason I dropped my creative writing class at university. The professor was trying to make everything formulaic and inflexible. My brain doesn't work that way. I felt that the point of creative writing was to be an art and necessarily flexible, with many paths to a desirable end.
Lynda Barry talked about how she wrote her novel, Cruddy, with a brush and ink, because it deliberately slowed her down and made it feel more like illustrating than writing.
Was it?? I used to do that! Stacks of legal pads. Then I didn't have to be chained to my computer except to type like the wind. And soon enough I'd print a new draft and scribble on those pages anywhere but my desk, and then later enter those edits on computer... I should start doing that again. 🙂
There are notebooks that will upload what you write, I have one somewhere. My wife said it would be handy. Clearly it’s awesome as I have no idea where it is. Rocketbook maybe?
Nah, I like how writing longhand is a draft, entering it is another draft, printing and writing on it is another draft, etc. Tricks my mind into thinking the typing is mindless work (it isn't) and there are fewer drafts (there aren't). 😀
If it takes the same amount of time but feels better, you gotta trick your brain into doing it more. Get out of the go-go-go-computer is-more-efficient-mode and go for the sensory satisfaction of pen & paper. Maybe trick yourself with treats!
Do you have a specific pen you like best?
I sometimes still write longhand and occasionally illustrate the margins. Very fast at it, as well as at typing. The only problem is that my handwriting is famously terrible! So much so that it became part of the plot of one of my books.
Whenever I get stuck on a project I go and work longhand for a while and it never fails to snap me out of whatever was holding me back. The pen in the hand has power.
I'm convinced it taps into a different part of my consciousness, so a few years ago I started writing the first draft of every scene or story longhand.
Oh, I like this idea. I might give this a shot. I produce first drafts faster by hand, but then typing them feels like a waste of time, and I end up trying to edit in the process. This might be a good middle ground for me. Thanks!
Yeah, I’m having the issue where my editing as I type is changing the structure to a degree the first draft is basically an outline now. It’s become more like a ground up rewrite, whIch isn’r what I wanted.
I wrote the first draft entire of my current short story in longhand. I stopped writing this way many years ago, for efficiency. Turns out I write more efficiently this way. I think it’s because that’s how I started, and how I always journaled. My brain dials right and focuses in w/ a pen in hand
For those reading this and thinking of trying it yourself, a recipe holder or music stand (depending on your setup) is your friend when it's time to transcribe it to the computer.
I go back and forth depending on mood, but I've found my most consistently productive methodology is write by pen (I use a tablet to keep everything in one place) and transcribe to PC for editing. My brain seems to like this best, though sometimes I just want to type on a clacky mechanical keyboard.
