Comments on: Handwriting vs Typing: The Showdown

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:04:04 +0000

Although the creative process is much more involved when you physically write, there is a point that might well have profound consequences for the majority of those who are trained on and become simplified to the email, text, tweet, etc. form of communication. That point is the ability to think. A problem or idea that needs more than a few seconds time to evaluate is avoided when ever possible by the majority of individuals I interact with. The ability to look at data and think about its meaning or to consider if there are any cause and effect relationships simply takes too long. Take a bit of time and watch a group of young people. Often, when they don't receive an input every few moments from their phone or computer you cant help but notice many of the individuals begin to have trouble paying attention to their surroundings. They will often initiate a message to ease the "tension. What does this mean to those of you who wish to communicate for a living?
I believe that both forms of communication, written as well as digital, are critical to the future of our society. We all have our preferences and there are huge benefits to sharing typed material but we need to insure there is an intelligent mind on the other end of the thoughts we wish to share.

By: 10 reasons to keep a writer’s notebook « Write Livelihood

10 reasons to keep a writer’s notebook « Write Livelihood — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:01:29 +0000

[...] Writing your ideas down by hand is different than typing them in on your [...]

By: Matthew Kyle

Matthew Kyle — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:33:42 +0000

Writing V Typing seems to say either/or. For me they are complementary. It would be difficult to write a reply to your article and my writing is so bad, you couldn't read it if I did. But, writing notes or diagrams on a piece of paper, is still essential for me. It comes down to horses for courses.

When I am thinking through a problem or using any mind training technique a computer simply gets in the way of the process. When you can't or don't want to use a computer such as when you are in the country, on the beach or traveling, then you need some other way.

However, when producing an important report, it is essential to me, to use word processing, even at the planning stage (or outline stage as M/S Word calls it).

We should use the most appropriate tool for the job. The computer is very important to me, but making handwritten notes or letters is also essential some of the time. And I don't forget the best tool of all - my brain. Taking time out just to think around the problem or relax works wonders.

By: Rob Mac

Rob Mac — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:55:47 +0000

I am of the "before computer" generation; as I progressed academically through technical training on to masters and post-grad levels, I gradually transitioned into writing through my computer. One habit I have never broken though is to have my notebook always with me (my laptop most of the time). It has been only in the last year or so that I began to realize how much more creative I can be writing by hand in my notebook, by just letting the words and ideas flow, and then organizing by computer.

By: HealingMindN

HealingMindN — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:23:41 +0000

I come from an academic era when there was very little if any computers. As a result, I have a bad case of writer's cramp. Of course, I don't allow this from stopping me from writing in my personal journal. I do most of my work on the PC, but I allow my writings and drawings in my personal journal to inspire me. In fact, my most important notes, drawings, and calculations are in writing. Why? It's not only important to my work - that writing is a true expression of who I am, how I feel, and what I'm thinking at any particular moment. Even when I don't actually write a thought, the way I write it down says "a lot." (Are you proud of me, Don?) According to Stewart Swerdlow, stressors and tensors on certain letters of the alphabet express our inner personalities.

By: Don Groves

Don Groves — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:07:43 +0000

If you are going to write, no matter the method, learn to spell! "Allot" instead of "a lot" for God's sake?

By: Mathieu

Mathieu — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:12:33 +0000

Being visual, it's easier to think when not in front of a computer screen. Also, when hand writing, I can concentrate more on content than formatting. That' why I prefer to write my draft by hand.

By: Will

Will — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:22:27 +0000

Good article. Under "The Right Method" you wrote allot, when you need to write " a lot".

By: dras

dras — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:03:51 +0000

fine! i agree with all said, but what if you can't use your hands? (eg. i type with my head, cannot speak either - my pc is my only means of intermediate bidirectional communication with the rest of the world (outside of my home))... i surely take care to personalize my e-mails, actually - *everything* i type (write) and i guess that we, hand-disabled folks, must meditate a bit prior to writing (typing) anything of some importance, in order to tap the right side of brain! or even better: train ourselves to go into alpha state (see silva, goldman) right before wri-typing...

By: Matilde

Matilde — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:30:24 +0000

I've been unconsciously conflicted about this very issue for the last two weeks! I've been "toggling" back and forth between MacBook and journal, wondering why I can't just streamline the process by doing everything on the computer. But for some reason, my "gut" is telling me there is something very powerful about my handwritten musings. I just cannot disregard that for whatever reason that journaling seems to be a direct link to my Higher Self.