Do you miss 'hard' copies?

[Guest]

As I write this, my five year old is sharpening a pencil with the electric pencil sharpener. She has been doing this for the last eight minutes.

Rather than be annoyed, I was struck by how much I miss good old hard copies. The joy of having a half dozen freshly sharpened pencils and a stack of paper for scratching always got my creative juices flowing. Either that or the adrenaline of doing an exam.

So, my questions are: how many of us write "hard" copies; how many of us only do electronic now; how many of us do a combo of the two; and how does the format impact your writing/editing process?

*the pencil sharpener is still whirring away*

b

 

[oggbashan]

Printouts and notepads

I printout my drafts for editing and review.

I write notes on a reporter's shorthand notebook when ideas come to me which isn't easy to do lefthanded when driving a stick shift Volvo at 80 mph.

I do not write hard copy. I would get writer's cramp if I tried to produce more than an A4 page. A handwritten letter from me is a rare event, reserved for engagements, weddings, funerals and celebrating divorces. Everyone else gets a hand signed printout.

I find it easier to read hard copy than on a screen - and faster. 200 A4 pages takes me about 15 minutes but much longer on screen.

Og.

 

[Wantonica]

To jot down ideas, there is always a notebook handy nearby.

For editing purposes, I usually print a hard copy.

When I'm actually writing, a piece of paper (or 50 pieces) can do me just as well as the computer. The worst part is the transfer onto the machine.

I share the computer, and it is often during my "off" time that I am most compelled to play with my thoughts and stories.


Happy day,
Lascivious Wanton

 

[karmadog]

I much prefer the computer for composing. I can type far, far faster than I can write, so my fingers can keep up with my brain.

But I agree with Og. Hard copy is easier to read. So for editing purposes, I always print out a copy. I also think for editing there may be a psychological edge, a feeling of power, knowing that I hold the story literally in my hands.

The computer seems to seperate me a little from what I'm reading.

 

[sirhugs]

how's the pencil?

I work for a supplier to the forest industry. I like the idea of using lots of paper, and chewing pencils up gratuitously in electric sharpeners.

For composing, I save paper and work on screen. For non-Lit writing, I do a hard copy edit. I have no shredder, so wouldn't leave the Lit pieces where the kiddos might mistake them for scrap, and do math homework on them. I jest. My kids never do their math homework. Like father like sons. I recycled lunch bags in high school for my math work.

 

[Pookie]

I only use my computer. I have yet to even print out a copy of any of my stories. I enjoy the ability to copy, cut, and paste. Spellcheckers have saved my butt many times. Plus I can use things I find on the internet so easily with school projects.

Pookie

 

[pop_54]

Hi all

Stories and long winded stuff all on the PC these days I'm affraid, since the advent of the PC my hand writing has degenerated into a lazy can't be bothered scrawl.

I do have to do a lot of writing in the real world with issuing reports and certificates and the like, but as I say nothing like the ornate careful script of years before the puter was invented.

Yes kids I was about when they hadn't been thought of, and we had to do our maths without the aid of a calculator, they still hadn't been invented when I left secondary education.

 

[TheEarl]

I type probably 5 times faster than I write, so 90% of my work is computer written. However, every now and again, curling up with a notepad and a pen produces some good results. It's something about the way my mind works; sometimes slowing down my writing allows the ideas to ferment into something better. I may think faster than I can write, but when the words choke up behind the pen, they may get the chance to evolve.

Might actually try writing with notepad and pen again tonight. Thanks BK.

The Earl

 

[DurtGurl]

Altruism

When I do my weakly volunteer work at the Senior Center, I always print out a few copies of my latest opiss to pass around. Been a remarkable increase in the incidence of stroaks since I started doing that.
DG

 

[Madame Manga]

I write in a different style when I'm using a pencil. Unlike you, Earl, I seem to lose nuances of thought when I slow down too much. At any rate, when I get to the computer and type the words from the scrawled page, I change all sorts of things--I may even rewrite the scene from scratch instead of transcribing.

So, I usually resort to pad and pencil only when I can't get to the keyboard and something just has to go down in black and white. When I learned to use a word processor, I was able to finish stories and essays in half the time it used to take me. Years ago, I would use reams of yellow legal pads, smear my writing with my hands, make lots of numbered and asterisked corrections and additions, cut the pages up with scissors and put them back together with tape, then type hunt-and-peck on an old Underwood manual. I would never go back to that. WordPerfect was a godsend for me.

I have heard some pro writers criticize the computer editing process as artificial or too easy, and I have no idea what the hell they are talking about. I'm a professional artist--traditional training, lots of computer experience--and IMO it's not the tools that matter, but the results. I've tried it the hard way, and I'm not a romantic any more. ;-)

Sometimes I make printouts for editing, but not routinely. I usually get good results from reading a story aloud and listening for problems. If I need a fresh visual look at a piece of writing, I change the font size and face, and all sorts of things jump out at me.

MM

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I ALWAYS write my stories with the old-fashioned pen-on-paper method. When I'm finished, I place the pad next to my keyboard and type the finished story into a Word-document, and then copy and paste it into the submit-box at Lit.

I can't write stories at the computer. Too technical, too uncomfortable, too boring. Grey plastic is not very inspiring...

The only times I write original stories on my computer, without a handwritten draft, is when I have about 20 minutes to jot down something to enter a Theme Contest.
I usually don't like those stories, but I've had nice feedback about my latest, Hot Engine.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I generally write on the computer, but have a notebook around for scribbling at all times, just in case.

 

[Guest]

double work

Like many of you, I prefer to do my editing on hard copy, but as SH pointed out, I really don't want the kiddos to come across the pages floating around. I also have a hard time motivating myself to do the actual changes on the computer once I have worked them out on paper.

The engineer in me rebels at doing something twice.

Or perhaps I am just lazy.

Nahhh, it must be that I am environementally conscientious.

b

 

[OT]

I mostly write within the comfort of my PC. I've half a dozen word processing programs laying around, but much like a favorite pen or place to write, I'm drawn to my "favorite" for serious bouts of writing.

Maybe a little odd, but I always have a pen and paper nearby. When I'm stuck -- nothing beats doodling words and phrases in longhand to get the muse involved.

I've heard pencils mentioned a few times... yikes. Can you really write with a pencil? I need (and love) an extra fine, smooth flowing pen.

For a serious edit, a printed page is the only way to go. I usually get about half way through the edit before the scribbling in the margins reach critical mass and need to be transferred to type whilst they are fresh enough in my mind to decipher.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Pen? Pencil? OK, let's see if I can figure out the difference.

Ink pen.
Ballpoint pen.

Pencil.

The latter is the one you can use an eraser on, no?

 

[MathGirl]

Hiya, Svenska, you Swedish cutie.

Better not try to use a pencil. You know you're not good with machinery.
MG

 

[KillerMuffin]

Prose with a PC, poetry with a pencil.

I think too fast to write prose with a pencil and write too fast to write poetry with a PC. I rarely print anything. I'm one of those recently poor folks and I couldn't afford to buy the reams of paper needed let alone the cost of the ink. I learned how to do it all on the PC and I haven't noticed any real difference between the editing on paper and on PC. I can write prose of any sort on paper, it just takes me entirely too long and isn't as easy to read.

Oh my God, I just started watching my fingers type for some stupid reason and now I can't spell without hitting the backspace key every third letter.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Hiya, Svenska, you Swedish cutie.

Better not try to use a pencil. You know you're not good with machinery.
MG

Ah, but that's where you're wrong, my little mathematician! See, while you guys fimble with calculators all day long, not even getting close to a pencil and a plaid to do old-fashioned long-division, I've spent my entire life writing down endless lines of verb-endings and word-lists.

"Aimer = to love.

J'aime
Tu aimes
Il aime
Nous aimons
Vous aimez
Ils aiment"

 

[Guest]

save trees

Maybe a little odd, but I always have a pen and paper nearby. When I'm stuck -- nothing beats doodling words and phrases in longhand to get the muse involved.

I've heard pencils mentioned a few times... yikes. Can you really write with a pencil? I need (and love) an extra fine, smooth flowing pen.

I have the thing with the pen also. No inky glob medium points.

I write both on the computer and longhand. My poetry has always been written with pen in hand and many scraps of paper. The scraps usually had one or two lines on them then I would put them together on a single clean sheet of paper—Had been—Someone was kind enough to point out that two-column spread sheet and copy/paste worked just as well.

Ah, laziness wins out, but I still have the fine tip flowing pen if the power should go out.

|neonurotic|

 

[TheEarl]

Ugh, pencils are horrible to write with. You have to keep breaking your stride to resharpen them and the words get all smudged and smeary. I use a biro so I can write really untidily and have loads of crossing outs, additions and addendums. That way it doesn't matter if someone finds it cause they won't be able to read the thing.

The Earl

 

[Vincent E]

Pencil? What's a pencil?

 

[wildsweetone]

Hiya BK! *hugs* nice to see you around, hope you're feeling awesome these days

I write stories on the pc and any attempts at poetry are with a pen and paper. Usually because my poetry (I'm no good at it yet) is less than 10 lines.

Having said that, if I'm doing one of my middle of the night stints, it's always with pen and paper no matter what I'm writing. A certain Domestic Unit would have a big problem if I fired up the old pc at 1am. ...Man but it's tempting sometimes

You know, I was laughing about the electric pencil sharpener... In the schools I work in, we have those things that are nailed to the teachers desk... The kind that the kids brings pencils to and within one minute of handle turning, they're up to their fingers with no pencil in sight. Gotta be quick to catch them!

My son bought one that runs on batteries, he can sit there for half an hour trying to sharpen his pencil during homework. I reckon he's making an art out of it. Wonder where he got that trait from...

 

[Guest]

to the point

*hugs, WSO*

Okay, I admit that I have a pen fetish. I have had to limit my ventures into Office Depot and Staples because I have absolutely no control when it comes to pens. My current favorite is the Pilot VBall Grip pen- black, extra fine. The problem I have is that my four daughters tend to make them evaporate. There now is a huge penalty if you are found in possession of one of Mama's pens.

Alas, it hasn't worked with the pens anymore than it works with combs and brushes.

Pens definitely make tracking changes easier.

I love the tactile process of writing with a good pencil on an engineering pad. My universe just seems right.

Love the idea of using Excel for poetry, neoneurotic!

b

 

[Wantonica]

Until recently, I had never owned a mechanical pencil.

A young co-worker teased me relentlessly about being "behind the times". She tried to explain that regular, sharpenable pencils were soooo old-fashioned. Since I was unwilling to give up my old tools of the trade (my job requires pencil use), this young lady bought me some mechanical pencils, hid my others, and left me to fend one morning.

I sat at my desk and stared at the strange creatures. They were rather pretty; the bright, translucent colors could definitely be called cheerful. Picking one up, I learned that the eraser was not only covered by a cute snap-on cover, it was replaceable!

My first attempt at writing caused the slender lead to break. Hmmm, I could not figure out how to get more lead. There was plenty more in there, but it wasn't coming out. Watching me from across the room, the girl told me to try pushing the little button on the side of the apparatus. Wow, fresh lead! No sharpening!

It is my confession that I now adore my mechanical pencils. They make a fine line and are always ready to go at the click of a button (huh, sounds like a toy I have). If you don't push too hard, they last a long time before you have to replenish them too (please Wanton, stop thinking about that toy).

Happy days and better nights,
Lascivious

 

[Guest]

Re: to the point

*hugs, WSO*

I love the tactile process of writing with a good pencil on an engineering pad. My universe just seems right.

Love the idea of using Excel for poetry, neoneurotic!

b

Watch it... Excel is the root of laziness in writing poetry.


|neonurotic|