The Sunday Session…What Are Your Thoughts On….

September 30, 2012 by Virginia 18 Comments

…your writing implement. Is it a computer/laptop/iPad/tablet/whatever else people are typing into these days or a good ol’ fashioned pen/pencil?

I’m not too sure if you are aware of this but I am obsessed with pens. I have so many I can’t even begin to tell you. One of the things I really want is a quill pen. But I can only physically write so much before my wrist starts to hurt. I can’t actually believe this as once upon a time I could write all night (and often did) – so much so that my pens would run out mid-story/poem and my right hand would have smudges of blue/black all over it.

Now, I can’t go anywhere without my laptop. I type quickly, my fingers are able to keep up with my thoughts – it’s all good.

I still want a quill pen though 🙂

18 Responses to “The Sunday Session…What Are Your Thoughts On….”

liamodell1 Reply September 30, 2012 at 19:55

For me, I always carry a notepad. I bring it everywhere. But when it comes to getting it published, agents and publishers like it Word Processed, so I also have to use a computer. But for me, it’s the notepad!

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- Virginia Reply October 1, 2012 at 17:03
  
  I used to always carry a notepad as well but now that the kids are older and I don’t need to carry the kitchen sink with me, I can get away with a small bag so these days I only carry a pen. It’s easy to find a surface to write on (usually it’s my hand!).
  
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  - liamodell1 October 2, 2012 at 00:23
    
    Haha! On the rare occasion where I forget my notepad I usually have to write on anything before my idea goes. I used to do it on napkins!
    
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  - Virginia October 2, 2012 at 10:18
    
    Ah yes, the napkins. The random shopping dockets found at the bottom of the bag (or smooshed into the depths of a mans wallet). When all else fails though, the back of the hand is always reliable 🙂
    
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  - liamodell1 October 2, 2012 at 16:24
    
    Agreed, you’ll never lose it! 🙂 Thanks for the tip, will have to use that if I ever have an idea and don’t have a notepad in hand.
    
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  - liamodell1 October 3, 2012 at 03:00
    
    Just found something in a magazine I’m subscribed to and it said about how famous children’s author Derek Landy (author of Skulduggery Pleasant) and when he had the idea for the book, he had no notepad or anything to write it on, so he had to write it on the bed in his hotel. Haha!
    
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sfbell09 Reply September 30, 2012 at 22:14

I rough out ideas in a notebook, but the actual story goes together in a computer. There is a lot of control over the words on a computer screen. Of course I am eagerly awaiting the hybrid notebook-to-digital by Evernote and Moleskine.

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- Virginia Reply October 1, 2012 at 17:02
  
  How will this new hybrid work?
  
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  - sfbell09 October 1, 2012 at 21:50
    
    I discuss the hybrid here: http://talesfromxira.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/dawning-of-a-digital-era/ In a Nutshell: It is a notebook with special lines, and a smartphone app from Evernote. You take a picture of the page and upload it to your Evernote account. The app digitizes text/sketches etc.. Which means it can be manipulated with a computer. b(^_^)d
    
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Julie Israel Reply October 1, 2012 at 09:37

I do like longhand writing with pen and paper, but I think I’ve become dependent on the many conveniences using a computer has to offer: speed, ease of editing (though perhaps this actually slows me down!), a thesaurus, the ability to access other documents or copy / paste / delete / move…

How spoiled we are! And now that I write all that down, I wonder if writing longhand would ultimately help me write more quickly. Certainly it has less distractions! No Internet, for one 😉

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- Virginia Reply October 1, 2012 at 16:59
  
  You’re right! When Im on the laptop writing, I know facebook and twitter are only but a click away…. 🙂
  
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justinwriter Reply October 1, 2012 at 11:26

Be careful, Virginia, buy one quill pen and then you may want more with different feathers! 🙂 Swan, Ostrich, Snowy Owl …

I use a computer mostly. However, when I’m away on holidays I use an exercise book and an Artline 200 Fine 0.4 black pen, so if I need to write upside down I can. I also use my smartphone for those times when I’m not near a computer or laptop etc.

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- Virginia Reply October 1, 2012 at 16:58
  
  I thought I’d be using my smartphone too but I don’t find it practical. The keyboard is so small, it annoys me that I’m unable to type on it fast enough.
  
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  - justinwriter October 1, 2012 at 22:18
    
    Yeah, the keyboard is tiny. Have you tried dictating to your phone? On mine, I go to Google docs, press the microphone on the keyboard, start talking and text magically appears.
    
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  - Virginia October 2, 2012 at 10:16
    
    Yes, I’ve tried the dictating too but somehow it always gets the words wrong! Maybe I have slurred speech, who knows….. 🙂
    
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Vikki (The View Outside) Reply October 1, 2012 at 15:39

I prefer to write with a pen (I have a passion for ink/fountain pens) but, the idea of having to then type all that up *slump* 😦

Xx

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- Virginia Reply October 1, 2012 at 16:57
  
  I do love a handwritten note – but I don’t mind the typing 🙂 xx
  
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Ileandra Young Reply October 23, 2012 at 06:22

I have a quill, but it’s made out of foam rubber so I can use it while LARPing. Great fun even though it has a sneaky biro in it. Lol!
I use my computer. Its only in recent weeks that I’ve felt able to write on my laptop as well as my desk top, but it’s the only way I can keep up with my own thoughts. Writing by hand just isn’t fast enough and, as you say, I get wrist ache!

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