Pen versus Keyboard: A Pros and Cons List

One of the most prevalent dilemmas in the world of writing involves the method used to compose novels, short stories, essays, blog posts, poems, and scripts. Should you write your project out on paper or type it up on your computer? Fitzgerald and Wilde didn’t have much of a choice. Stephen King most certainly has a computer, yet he chooses to draft his pieces by hand first. Some people judge other writers by the method they use to write their first drafts. In this article, I’ll be listing the pros and cons of writing longhand versus writing shorthand. It’s up to you to decide which method works better for you as a writer.

Let’s talk about good ol’ fashioned pen and paper. The majority opinion of writers everywhere is that writing longhand allows you some freedom for pretention. Practically-speaking, there are several things to consider about writing your first draft on paper. It increases your focus, removes a majority of Internet- and computer-based distractions, cannot crash or freeze or be lost as easily, and is much more thoughtful on the whole. At the same time, writing on paper is hard work, can be time-consuming, and is difficult to search through when looking for a specific passage or scene.

Typing your draft may seem like the better solution for most writers, but there are two sides to this idea. Writing on the computer allows you to edit as you go along, backup your work, save it to access remotely when away from your computer, write more quickly and easily, search documents with ease, and automatically calculate word count. Some problems with writing longhand include the possibility for distractions, losing data to crashes and freezes, and less planning and forethought.

I’m writing this article on the computer—not because it’s better, but because typing my work is easier for me. I type much faster than I write. I’ve written this article hoping that you’ll use it to make your own educated decision about which method to use. Ignore people who try to judge your talent as a writer based on whether you write or type your work. Those people are silly. Content matters more than method.

The Nifty 350

In a previous post, we discussed the importance of daily writing. Like athletes, we writers need to exercise our creative muscles in order to improve our performance. You don’t have to write much, but you need to write something.

I write at least 350 words each and every day, no matter how tightly my schedule is packed. Even if I don’t get anything down past the 350, I feel accomplished. 350 for 365 days ends up to be 127,750 words–which is nothing to sneeze at, if you ask me.

I refer to this technique as “the nifty 350.” I’m not sure who coined this term, but I’m going to borrow it. Basically, before your day has time to completely derail your creative consciousness, you sit down with your notebook or laptop and hammer out at least 350 words. That’s all there is to it.

You may write more than 350 words. Those morning pages may be the initial spark for a dozen more pages. The only rule is that you have to put down your nifty 350. And it’ll pay off–I can promise you that.

The Beginner’s Guide to Daily Writing

When I first started writing on a semi-regular basis, I wondered why I didn’t seem to be improving any. Eventually, I realized that if I wanted to get better, I had to put in the extra effort. Practice makes perfect and all that jazz. It’s only by writing every day that we can become more talented writers. If you don’t write every day, I want you to start. Honestly, it doesn’t take much. All you have to do is:

1. Pick a specific time to write. Try to make this the same time every day. For example, I write in the mornings before I go to class, while my brain is fresh and I’m feeling dreamy. Some people work better at night, though, so keep that in mind. Choose the time of day that works the best for you.

2. Get comfortable writing in bite-size chunks. Daily writing isn’t about getting finished–it’s about making progress. You don’t have to write for three or four hours in order to move forward in your growing draft. Start by committing fifteen minutes to your work. If you think you can handle it, increase your time limit.

3. Consider writing to meet a word count. Again, this method doesn’t work for everyone. Personally, I’d rather write on a time limit than trying to meet a word count. Try both methods and see what works for you. Set your word count low, but not too low. Make it challenging.

4. Reward yourself. Every time you complete a daily writing session, bake some cookies, buy a new shirt, or watch an episode of your favorite show. You’ll be surprised how much these simple treats can motivate you.

5. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Forgive your mistake and move on to the next day.

Basically, all daily writing requires is time, goal, and reward commitments. It’s so easy to get started with daily writing sessions, so seriously, what are you waiting for? Get out there and write!

What are your methods for writing every day?

A Post from Smart, Pretty and Awkward

“How to be Smarter: The only way I have found to conquer writer’s block is by following a simple rule: don’t get up from the chair until you have written something. You can always go back and revise what you wrote later, but you must write something before you can get up. And usually the something is better than you think it might be.”

–Molly Ford; Smart, Pretty, & Awkward