Two if by pen, one if by key.
Longhand versus keyboard. Not quite as life or death as Isosceles versus Weaver. Or Aimed Fire versus Suppressing Fire. But for scribblers, the choice between ink and digital can feel just as critical.
Why do some of us prefer the scratch of a pen on paper while others choose the clickety-clack of our QWERTY tools? Like painters choosing their brushes, we scribblers face complex craft decisions based on tradition and innovation.
TV legends Aaron Sorkin and David E. Kelly speak fondly of writing on legal pads. The pace and practice of that medium clearly foster their creativity. Writers like Stephen King find mechanical speed and digital convenience essential for crafting complex narratives quickly and effectively.
Lately, I’ve found a unique tactile connection to scribbling with a fountain pen on sketchbook paper. But I’m also obsessed with my Keychron Egro keyboards and always available cloud-based writing software like Novelpad and Milanote.
Science reveals kinesthetic and cognitive differences between writing and typing and how they engage our brains.
Handwriting stimulates our creative thinking, while keyboards can promote focused reasoning and structure. Writing by hand cultivates our fine motor skills and brain connections. Typing is stream-of-consciousness, fast, and in programs like Final Draft looks like a script from jump.
J.K. Rowling and Joyce Carol Oates prefer the tangible connection of longhand, whereas writers like Michael Chabon find digital tools more adaptable. Neil Gaiman enjoys the pen's pace and tradition. George R.R. Martin appreciates the swiftness of digital writing. He’s still found ways to miss his deadlines. But… same. ;-)
I’ll continue to jot down my initial ideas longhand, feeling the ink flow, and taking a beat to regard the words on the page, before transferring them to the digital canvas for refinement. The hardware-software combo is my rough draft turbocharger, enhancing my editing process and facilitating collaborative magic.
The dance between pen and keyboard shapes not only the art we make but also the brain of the artist. Whether you prefer the pen or keyboard, your process is personal. Remember, it’s not the tools that define us, but what we do with them.
