This is my May contribution to Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure
Writers Support Group, where it's all about writers helping writers.
To read more posts, click here.
Life and stress play havoc with writing goals and sadly, I’m
not immune.
But in the way you can never
know what will inspire, there’s this.
I’ve
had a temporary change in routine.
On Fridays now, I find myself in a place with no computer, lots of time and a
notebook.
Before leaving home, I print
out the last pages I’ve written, and once I arrive in my destination, I sit and
write the next scene longhand.
Somehow,
hand-to-pen-to-paper connects me to the piece, and words flow.
In my not so perfect world, I want to average
five-hundred words a day on my manuscript.
I’m not sure I’d be close except for those blue ink pages, white-lined
paper dotted with with scratch outs, my black, spiral bound notebook taking me places I’m struggling to see.
16 comments:
Liza - what an excellent idea! Absolutely brilliant. And I agree that something different happens. Can't wait to see how it goes.
Smart to take your last page and a notebook. Once a week, it's a change of pace and just might send you in a new direction with new ideas.
Long hand, huh? I haven't done that (for a scene) in a while. I like the computer because it can capture more thoughts quickly, but when I'm in the daydreaming stage, really toward the beginning, I jot down ideas in a notebook too. It definitely brings you closer to the story.
Have fun with it!
I like that idea of taking your last page and going off to write with pen to paper in solitude. I'm not sure I could write longhand, I'm so used to the keyboard getting things down quickly. Though I can see using pen to paper could make me slow down and spend more time thinking about it and that would be good--might cut down on all my revisions :).
Keep it going! I do a lot of the beginning stages of my work in notebooks, and I do find it freeing to take breaks from the screen now and then in general.
I try to take writing materials with me everywhere. Studies have proven that writing by hand is better for our brains than using a computer so you're helping yourself doubly.
Yes, returning to the written page is helpful, isn't it, a different way of seeing things and very freeing.
I think that's great, Liza! I can't even remember the last time I wrote out anything longhand in a journal or notebook...
Good for you! It brings us back to an age before computers and helps us really BOND with our words....
Sometimes it takes going to places we never thought we'd go in order to reach a destination. I love that this is working so well for you.
I enjoy longhand (I have Moleskins notebooks everywhere), but I wrote about 5-6 pages the other night out in the "Hotel" and the next time I looked over the work, I couldn't read half my writing.(I get started and write too fast) But, yes the flexibility of not having to lug a computer around is great...Glenn
Ms Liza, just saw you comment on Rocking Chair Writer. The video finally rendered, but you can go directly to YouTube here,,,I think lol...
https://youtu.be/nHyrtdojBlA
going old school works. Sounds like you are doing well with this new time opportunity - no computer, no distractions. Keep it rolling - pen and ink
It's nice to unplug. I always plan a new novel/story with pen to paper.
I love this idea. It was how I used to write on my coffee and lunch break before the phone apps and tablet. It does feel different.
Here's my link if you'd like to drop by :-)
Anna from Elements of Writing
Writing longhand can be very rewarding. But you're right, it does seem slow compared to a keyboard!
Good for you! Sometimes doing it "old school" or changing your routine really can get you out of a rut and more inspired.
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