Being a writer means that you’re sitting down for most of the day writing. Or, at least, trying to write. This also means that you’re most likely sitting down at a computer staring at the screen all day too.
The Computer Age
I don’t know about you, but I do the majority of my writing on the computer. Typing is faster, I can Google research right away if I need to, and… well, there are other distractions of the Internet. It’s not ideal, but still fun.
My point is, I spend probably about 80% of my day on the computer. I’m writing, blogging, researching, or doing other work. Or I’m mindlessly scrolling through various social media sites. The latter isn’t exactly good and I’ve cut back, but still. I do it. We all do.
With all that said, we can really strain ourselves from being on the computer all the time. Which is why it’s not a bad idea to pick up a pen once in a while.
Pen & Paper
It sounds like it’s more work, I know. Handwriting takes longer than typing and, to me, it tires my hands out faster since one is doing all the work. However, I love writing by hand once in a while for a few different reasons.
1. It Gives Your Eyes A Break
This is obvious. You’re off the computer and aren’t staring at a bright screen for a long period of time. Not to mention it’s easier to pick up a pen and notebook and bring it anywhere and everywhere with you. Yes, you can do that with a laptop, but notebooks are easier and lighter to carry.
2. It’s Great For A First Draft
I’ll admit that I haven’t done this in a while, but I used to love writing my first drafts on paper and then transferring it to the computer. I know this seems like an extra step, but by typing it up on the computer after it’s already written is kind of like the first round of edits. You’re typing up the second draft and editing as you go because you’re writing and reading the first draft at the same time. You’ll catch errors and also come up with a few new ideas as well.
3. It’s Satisfying
I know I’ve said this before, but writing by hand is satisfying. I’m not sure what it is about it, but it just feels good once in a while after you’ve been typing for so long.
Do you write by hand often? Let me know in the comments below. If you liked this post, please share it around.
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