I love both for different reasons. There is nothing to compare to an hand written letter or card sent in the actual 🐌 ✉️ and I have a beautiful journal that I write in. Sometimes those are scribbles and sometimes something more slowly considered. When we were children, my sister and I tried so many different creative things, including calligraphy- for which, my dad bought me a left handed calligraphy pen! But it’s been years since I’ve used those skills. I adore pens, I love to feel them heavy and smooth in my hand and I’ve collected many over the years. But I also adore the way my fingers fly over the keys on my keyboard, the sound and the feel, the way my thought can pour freely through my fingertips in a way that my handwriting just can’t keep up with. When I’m writing by hand I often can’t get the words down quickly enough and my writing degenerates into a rushed scrawl lest I lose my train of thought!
I totally get you on all of the above. Have you ever tried using a fast writing fountain pen? And yes there is such a thing. Basically the ink is released from the pen considerably quicker than a normal pen. I find the Kaweco pens brilliant at this. There are times whereby I’ve found the flow of the ink from the pen onto the paper so cathartic. It’s my perfect kind of meditation.
I haven’t heard of them but I’m going to have a look now! Although I’m not sure the speed of the ink flow would make a huge difference when I need to get my thoughts down fast - I can type at 50-60 words per minute.
But I do love hand writing letters and cards and the flow of ink is so important to enjoying writing. I spent a lot of money on a Mont Blanc (not fountain) once, but although it looked and felt amazing, it didn’t write that nicely!
Very true. Interesting that you feel the need for pace when writing. One thing I’ve learnt and benefited from is taking my time to write. Unless there is a deadline of course 😂
That’s the problem in our society today, the pressure we put on ourselves to do things fast. Sending you go slow vibes from a the beautiful coast of West Wales 😎🌊
I resonate with that. It’s particularly challenging when I wake up in the middle of that night with a cool idea or statement but too tired to write it down 🤪
I can relate! My best writing drafts have been done on a keyboard. I sometimes feel like I'm racing my dopamine supply on a given topic. Writing by hand would just mean it doesn't get done in some circumstances.
I prefer pen and paper, it adds to the special ‘me time’ feeling of journaling. I am not keen on my handwriting and I want to have a go at calligraphy at it looks such a mindful beautiful activity.
I had been writing quite a bit of poetry (new to me) and daily thoughts in a small paper notebook. It fits in my scrubs cargo pocket, so I was able to jot down anything, anytime, even at work..
This year (ironically in correlation with poetry month) I picked up a Kindle Scribe. It was really exciting and I loved being able to write long form, by hand, and be able to instantly share it w loved ones.
What I noticed is I completely stopped writing poetry on it. It never inspired the metaphor and deep thought the paper did. And it took too long to flip back to a first draft to revise. Really strange! I still love the purchase and the feel of it, but it definitely cemented in my mind the importance of methodology to meet the mood.
Thank you for your kind comments and for sharing your pen writing experiences Brandon. I’ve never been able to sit patiently to write poetry but I discovered a book by Natalie Goldberg Three Simple Lines all about the beauty of Haiku. I wish I’d found it sooner 😀
This is such an interesting article - thank you Tanya. 🙏
Totally agree about children probably losing the skill of handwriting as everything is digital. It's a shame. I use a mix really. I love to type away on my Mac (it's a beautiful tool in my eyes) but I also have notebooks in which I either journal or write my lists, notes from meetings, things like that.
I always handwrite notes for slides and training sessions, then transfer them into digital later. Maybe I can think better when I write? I always take notes from training courses I watch straight into my notebook, again, there; something about the writing that helps you to retain things and also not get distracted.
And you're so right about receiving something handwritten in the post. What a joy! So many people don't do this that I make it a practice in my business to send little cards to favourite people. 💜
Oh I love a handwritten note or letter. I sent quite a few in lockdown. Maybe I’ll take it back up again over the Christmas break. But I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the cost of stamps 🤪😬
I love both for different reasons. There is nothing to compare to an hand written letter or card sent in the actual 🐌 ✉️ and I have a beautiful journal that I write in. Sometimes those are scribbles and sometimes something more slowly considered. When we were children, my sister and I tried so many different creative things, including calligraphy- for which, my dad bought me a left handed calligraphy pen! But it’s been years since I’ve used those skills. I adore pens, I love to feel them heavy and smooth in my hand and I’ve collected many over the years. But I also adore the way my fingers fly over the keys on my keyboard, the sound and the feel, the way my thought can pour freely through my fingertips in a way that my handwriting just can’t keep up with. When I’m writing by hand I often can’t get the words down quickly enough and my writing degenerates into a rushed scrawl lest I lose my train of thought!
I totally get you on all of the above. Have you ever tried using a fast writing fountain pen? And yes there is such a thing. Basically the ink is released from the pen considerably quicker than a normal pen. I find the Kaweco pens brilliant at this. There are times whereby I’ve found the flow of the ink from the pen onto the paper so cathartic. It’s my perfect kind of meditation.
I haven’t heard of them but I’m going to have a look now! Although I’m not sure the speed of the ink flow would make a huge difference when I need to get my thoughts down fast - I can type at 50-60 words per minute.
But I do love hand writing letters and cards and the flow of ink is so important to enjoying writing. I spent a lot of money on a Mont Blanc (not fountain) once, but although it looked and felt amazing, it didn’t write that nicely!
Very true. Interesting that you feel the need for pace when writing. One thing I’ve learnt and benefited from is taking my time to write. Unless there is a deadline of course 😂
That’s the problem in our society today, the pressure we put on ourselves to do things fast. Sending you go slow vibes from a the beautiful coast of West Wales 😎🌊
It’s more that my pen can’t keep up with my thoughts than a desire to rush. if I’m not quick enough to catch them, they evaporate!
I resonate with that. It’s particularly challenging when I wake up in the middle of that night with a cool idea or statement but too tired to write it down 🤪
I can relate! My best writing drafts have been done on a keyboard. I sometimes feel like I'm racing my dopamine supply on a given topic. Writing by hand would just mean it doesn't get done in some circumstances.
How do you go when writing with a pen??
I like pen if I'm not writing about grief or depression. A lot of my short form is w pen.
I prefer pen and paper, it adds to the special ‘me time’ feeling of journaling. I am not keen on my handwriting and I want to have a go at calligraphy at it looks such a mindful beautiful activity.
Ooh now that’s taking it to another level. Very impressed 👌🙌👏
I really like this article.
I had been writing quite a bit of poetry (new to me) and daily thoughts in a small paper notebook. It fits in my scrubs cargo pocket, so I was able to jot down anything, anytime, even at work..
This year (ironically in correlation with poetry month) I picked up a Kindle Scribe. It was really exciting and I loved being able to write long form, by hand, and be able to instantly share it w loved ones.
What I noticed is I completely stopped writing poetry on it. It never inspired the metaphor and deep thought the paper did. And it took too long to flip back to a first draft to revise. Really strange! I still love the purchase and the feel of it, but it definitely cemented in my mind the importance of methodology to meet the mood.
Thank you for your kind comments and for sharing your pen writing experiences Brandon. I’ve never been able to sit patiently to write poetry but I discovered a book by Natalie Goldberg Three Simple Lines all about the beauty of Haiku. I wish I’d found it sooner 😀
This is such an interesting article - thank you Tanya. 🙏
Totally agree about children probably losing the skill of handwriting as everything is digital. It's a shame. I use a mix really. I love to type away on my Mac (it's a beautiful tool in my eyes) but I also have notebooks in which I either journal or write my lists, notes from meetings, things like that.
I always handwrite notes for slides and training sessions, then transfer them into digital later. Maybe I can think better when I write? I always take notes from training courses I watch straight into my notebook, again, there; something about the writing that helps you to retain things and also not get distracted.
And you're so right about receiving something handwritten in the post. What a joy! So many people don't do this that I make it a practice in my business to send little cards to favourite people. 💜
Oh I love a handwritten note or letter. I sent quite a few in lockdown. Maybe I’ll take it back up again over the Christmas break. But I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the cost of stamps 🤪😬
I know right?? How did they get so expensive?
Crazy prices but worth every penny 📮