Writers, a question

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tomarin

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If you write as a hobby, whether it be fiction or essays, how do you go about it? That is, do you write longhand on a pad of paper or do you use a computer? Do you have a preference?
 
Most of the time I use a computer. When I journal at night, I prefer a pad of paper.
 
I use both. Most of the time I’ll use the computer so I don’t have to type what I’ve written into a word processor later anyway. If I’m really stuck or feeling pressured, however, I find that writing on paper is better for me. It tends to unclog whatever is blocking me from writing.
 
Computer for me. I have issues with pain in my hands and forearms from being on the computer so much for work. Using talk to text has really helped me but it took a while to get used to.
 
I have a device that allows me to do handwriting to type, and I go back and forth.
 
Annie said:
I have a device that allows me to do handwriting to type, and I go back and forth.
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I was just about to add that I hand write on my iPad with the pencil, the convert to text and edit. Are you doing something similar?
 
I just went shopping for a laptop in the hopes that I might write something using it (although it would be a lot easier just to use a notepad and write longhand). When I was a kid and into writing I used a manual typewriter, so I guess I’m torn between two technologies.
 
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tomarin said:
I used a manual typewriter,
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I still have one of those! The last time I took it out of its case was certainly before 2000, maybe longer ago than that … But I find it reassuring to know it’s still there, should I ever need it.

I use handwritten notes (in notebooks, not on loose sheets) for a note of any kind that is complete in itself, not part of something else – i.e. something that I won’t need to go back and rewrite later. Rewriting requires using a computer.
 
Computer. If I use pen/pencil and paper I spend more time doodling than writing.
 
Ah but unless you have a closet full of typewriter ribbons, where will you get those?
 
Good question. Next time I’m in a stationery store I’ll make discreet inquiries. Probably they’ll laugh in my face. Or if it’s one of the younger sales clerks, she’ll ask, “Typewriter what?”
 
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I started writing with longhand and transferring it, but I wanted to write some books so I felt it would be good to get used to using a word processing program. I started in the days of desktops, but now really, really like laptops. At first I printed out what I wrote to edit but it took too much paper and ink so I learned to edit my writing right from the laptop files.

What do you use for your comments on CAF, @tomarin ?
 
Don’t younger people sometimes fetishize old technology though, such as vinyl records? Although I’m a Gen Xer I remember when electric typewriters came around and made manuals obsolete; there was something satisfying about pounding out the keys of a manual though.
 
I had two portables, an electric and a manual. But I never really liked using the electric, possibly as you say, because pounding the keys is part of the fun and you can’t really do that on an electric. After a year or two I gave it to my brother-in-law who had always had his eye on it.
 
And here I consider myself old fashioned because I insist on a full sized keyboard . . .
 
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