"I don't think the computer necessarily means the end of the stream of consciousness novel. Some of the best soc stuff that I've done has been typed from start to finish. However, I do think that writing longhand produces far more effective writing, especially in the creative realm. My best work usually starts from a lengthy longhand piece, then gets edited and tweaked as I type it up. On the other hand, if you're right, at least we'll see less wanna-be Beatnik writers who want to tell people that they're a writer more than they actually want to write."

"I don't think the computer necessarily means the end of the stream of consciousness novel. Some of the best soc stuff that I've done has been typed from start to finish. However, I do think that writing longhand produces far more effective writing, especially in the creative realm. My best work usually starts from a lengthy longhand piece, then gets edited and tweaked as I type it up. On the other hand, if you're right, at least we'll see less wanna-be Beatnik writers who want to tell people that they're a writer more than they actually want to write."

Anna writes:

"Can I just say how excited I was to see you cite Paul Auster? He's my favorite author. I didn't know about his writing method until now, but it makes sense, given his preoccupation with notebooks in his work.

And I agree. Writing by hand is so important to forming a relationship with words. The words are more permanent when you're writing on paper–so you have to be careful with your choices.

In my creative writing classes in college, I always wrote poetry on paper rather than directly into the computer. It's so important in that genre to think before you write, and as you write.

There are definitely huge advantages–as you cited–to writing on a computer. But there are just as many advantages to taking part in the older methods of recording information :)."

And Scott M. makes a good point, as well:

"You know, it's just 'different strokes for different folks'. I much prefer taking notes and writing on the computer, because I can type as fast as I can think.

For me, writing slowly does not make me think more slowly. It interrupts my thought process, since my mind is aleady 10 steps ahead of my hand by the time I get my thoughts on paper."

Anna writes:

"Can I just say how excited I was to see you cite Paul Auster? He's my favorite author. I didn't know about his writing method until now, but it makes sense, given his preoccupation with notebooks in his work.

And I agree. Writing by hand is so important to forming a relationship with words. The words are more permanent when you're writing on paper–so you have to be careful with your choices.

In my creative writing classes in college, I always wrote poetry on paper rather than directly into the computer. It's so important in that genre to think before you write, and as you write.

There are definitely huge advantages–as you cited–to writing on a computer. But there are just as many advantages to taking part in the older methods of recording information :)."

And Scott M. makes a good point, as well:

"You know, it's just 'different strokes for different folks'. I much prefer taking notes and writing on the computer, because I can type as fast as I can think.

For me, writing slowly does not make me think more slowly. It interrupts my thought process, since my mind is aleady 10 steps ahead of my hand by the time I get my thoughts on paper."