The value of physical writing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2024
- Be sure to look for Sarah's books on Amazon! www.amazon.com... In this video, author Sarah A. Chrisman talks about the value of writing things out physically, and why she drafts all her manuscripts by hand.
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I write my stories by hand and write weekly letters to my friends and family. It just makes me feel grounded and thoughtful.
I used to teach a class on letter writing, to kids ages 9-14, and I remember their horror when I read them this Lewis Carroll quote: "I have proved by actual trial that a letter that takes an hour to write takes only about three minutes to read." 😂😂😂 One little mathematician exclaimed "but that's a ratio of twenty to one!"
After horrifying them with that factoid, we then brainstormed about why the "wasted" time of writing by hand might be worth it in the end, and I gave them many of the reasons you've mentioned, and they always managed to come up with several more on their own.
It was a surprisingly popular class. I think even the virtual generations have a hankering after real, tangible things.
So true! Notebooks are so much a part of my life. Thank you for your thought provoking talks, helps my brain stay alert while I do chores.
Hi Sarah, I don't know if you will read my comment, but I just want to say you are a solace in this crazy tech excessive world. And I love writing by hand as well. Take care, princess Sarah 💗
Thank you ♥
Handwriting captures the essence of your spirit. I was shocked and dismayed when I discovered that schools are discontinuing the teaching of cursive, what a tragedy for humanity!
P.S. You have very pretty handwriting!
Thank you Sarah. I agree, I have felt so disoriented when reading ebooks but didn't know why until I watched an earlier video you put out on a similar topic. I am a pastor and will often hand write my sermon outlines - but I do type it up for final use. I was challenged when I read an essay by Wendell Berry, "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer." Convenience always seems to come at a cost. Blessings Sarah.
Really interesting way of looking at writing and hand writing.
I agree with everything you’ve said. Being physical creatures, it makes sense that communicating our abstract thoughts in physical writing is beneficial. It’s especially helpful for those times when you may be overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings or even just daily tasks; writing them down is immensely helpful. And, I love what you said about how it encourages linking and connecting through a sequential process-I notice how I don’t have the same capacity to do so with a computer. This video further inspires me to spend more time being thoughtful about my digital writing.
Great video. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
Writing out the draft by hand forces you to slow down your thinking process, to look at each word, and evaluate whether it is the word you want to use. Even so, I type up that first draft on the computer, print it out, edit and re-edit - adding paragraphs here, taking words out there, and often changing the order of paragraphs and sentences within those paragraphs. Judging by the paper and ink i go through, I must be editing each page at least 60-times.
The idea of where and how to write down the info for your characters is very clever. For sure important to keep them all figured out. Lol. Thank you. ❤❤❤
I find it much easier to think when writing than when typing (I have SO MANY A4 notepad that I have scribbled through over the years - not as an author, just for working things through). And I only use fountain pen too. Biros are awful *shudder*
My late father had absolutely beautiful handwriting, and I treasure the letters I have that he did longhand. However -! He worked overseas, and one of his pieces of luggage was his manual typewriter. Sometimes even his postcards were typed! My mother had loopy leftie writing, and she didn't really use margins, so it a bit of a trick to read, as you can imagine. I a guilty of using the computer as you describe, although I am a heavy editor. I learned script in school, unlike my son's peers, but I have hand issues which make handwriting difficult now. This leads me to do the exact opposite of you - first I type up a note, then I will hand write it on notepaper. Weird, I know. Of course, I have several favorite pens, so that will draw me back to the physical activity of writing. P.S. I HATE predictive text in word processing. I don't like having mental flow disturbed.
You helped me understand why I dislike predictive text; it really does interrupt my mental flow.
Before my daughter's generation, many schools stopped teaching cursive writing so many of her age, 37, say they cannot read it. I've always written out my stories. 😊 Not everything is text
That makes me so sad. I'm 35 and write in cursive and have taught all my children cursive. My 7-year-old has beautiful cursive if I do say so myself. :)
I would feel very sad if all my diaries were stored on a piece of plastic. I can flick through the pages and tell what sort of day I was having. By the way I underlined something,carefully,or with an angry slash. I was so angry earlier in the week I wrote "just dont talk to me!" and filled in the rest of the page with scores where the ink went through to the other side. A typed page is sterile in that respect.
A very enjoyable video! Also, your cats are adorable!
I also love writing by hand, but I often use a pencil, rather than a pen, for my drafts. Is there a reason why you choose ink throughout the process?
For me, ink is the best way. There is something too tentative about pencils, the fact that you can erase things makes me feel that I am not committing to the statement or thought. The same applies to drawing. Ink also looks great on paper, and if I make a mistake or change my mind, I can cross it out or otherwise add to it - I don't mind, it still looks great, and the thinking process is there on the page. But it is a personal thing, this is my approach..
❤❤❤
I LOVE handwriting. I have a few fountain pens and it is my favourite medium for writing. I want to try out pencils again - I was always a pencil hater as a child but I wonder if it would provide a nice writing experience now as an adult?
Pencil history: th-cam.com/video/H-55XOnilKY/w-d-xo.html :)
@ haha thanks! I have already watched that one which made me think about wanting to try a pencil again 😁