It's no big secret that here in the United States, reading and writing cursive is classified as threatened and on the verge of becoming endangered, if not totally extinct. There are moments when I am signing a book for someone, especially if they appear to be younger than 30, I try to remember and ask if they can read cursive, which is typically the form I use to inscribe a book. I've made the mistake of quickly signing and, as I handed the book back to the reader, realizing they may not read cursive and I slapped down my John Hancock in cursive without a second thought. Doh!

But, is writing, as a writer, better for your creativity and storytelling? Technology certainly makes things more convenient, but does it make the writing better? worse? equivalent?

Many studies have been done with colleges and scientists testing the theory of paper vs. computer. The results vary, but it seems that when subjects/students type (normally verbatim) what is being lectured about, it's almost a mechanical process and they seem to retain little of the information. On the other hand (rim shot), taking notes by hand is something that the student/subject puts in their own words because they can't write as quickly as someone speaks. They tend to make their own notes to the side and write the subject matter in a shorthand that makes sense to them. They also tend to have better retention skills when they handwrite. Then, when the test results come back to see how the students/subjects did on a test regarding the given information, the ones writing by hand tend to have better test results than the ones who input information on a keyboard.

According to an article, a 2010 study found that putting ink to paper stimulates a part of the brain called the Reticular Activating System, or the RAS and that this area of the brain, which is associated with learning, “lit up” much more when subjects were asked to write words like “spaceship” by hand versus just studying the word closely. (SOURCE)

Other studies have found that writing uses both sides of the brain, whereas typing doesn't. A screen is rigid as is a keyboard. Many writers like the feel (and smell) of paper. Writers are creative types, so writing outside the lines, or having no lines at all and writing freely across the page, is liberating.

I still write some of my material in longhand, especially if it's a stormy night and I don't want to risk my computer getting hit by lightning (or the power has gone out and I just have to get the idea down on paper so it'll quit driving me crazy). Also, if I am on a road trip and I'm not driving, which is rare, I will take a notebook and a couple of pens with me if it's someone's driving I feel I can trust to some degree and we're driving through areas that have little to no appealing scenery—such as through the panhandle of Texas. Of course, it's a bit of a pain to transcribe it to a computer later on, but it beats trying to hold a computer in my lap, sitting in very limited positions to operate said computer, and hoping that the battery doesn't die. With a notebook, I can move around freely, write outside the margins, scratch through notes and add new ideas, and with a couple of pens, I rarely have to worry about running out of ink. If I bring my small flip light that can be attached to a book or notebook, I can see well enough when it gets dark without turning on the overhead dome light and blinding the driver or disturbing the other passengers that might want to sleep.

A lot of well-known authors and screenwriters still write using longhand:

J.K. Rowling writers her early drafts using longhand & doesn't do her first edit until it's typed into computer.

George Lucas writes his screenplays, typically using a yellow legal pad, then hands pages to an assistant to type up later on in the proper format.

Quentin Tarantino has stated he fills up a single notebook (no more than one) and makes notes all over the page.

Joyce Carol Oates would put in eight hours each day writing by hand.

Neil Gaiman does his screenplays on a computer, but he still writes the first and second drafts of novels in longhand. He has mentioned that he will often utilize two pens with different colored ink so he can tell visually how much writing he did each day.

Like his father Stephen King, author Joe Hill writes with pen and paper quite frequently.

James Patterson not only uses paper, but he reportedly chooses a pencil as his writing utensil.

Amy Tan has said she writes her early drafts in longhand.

The recently departed Tom Wolfe wrote his last fiction novel Back to the Blood (2012) by hand. He said he got tired of trying to find parts for his typewriter and the difficulty of having to re-ink the ribbons.

George Clooney claims to be technically inept when it comes to computers and such. He writes in longhand then passes the pages off to his partner to input into the computer.

Jhumpa Lahiri writes in longhand and keeps a notebook by the bed in case she needs to get up in the middle of the night and jot down some thoughts. When she types the handwritten work up on the computer, she uses one without Internet.


Why without the Internet? For Lahiri, I'm not certain, but for many, it's because we are too easily distracted. Any little noise to alert you to a text, e-mail, event, etc. takes you away from your writing. It's too tempting to jump online to see what you might have missed or to watch a funny cat video. I turn off all the alert sounds on my computer anyway from the day I first set it up because I can't stand listening to the sounds. I'd rather hear music that inspires what I'm writing or simply listen to nature.

Other writers who use technology beyond pen and paper, but still steer clear of distractions aforementioned include:

George R. R. Martin types his lengthy novels up on an old word processor using programs such as Wordstar 4.0. Believe me, anyone who has ever used the program know there are no frills to it. Think of the modern WordPad or Notepad applications on modern computers and no access to the Internet, dictionaries, or social media.

Danielle Steele uses a 1946 Olympia manual typewriter and writes her books during a 20-hour writing shift.

P.J. O'Rourke uses a Selectric typewriter for his novels.

My buddy Lou Antonelli, who comes from a newspaper and journalism background (he and his wife Patricia now own The Clarksville Times newspaper in Clarksville, TX), uses a typewriter. Many times at sci-fi and literary conventions, the easiest way to find Lou is to listen for the distinctive clacking of typewriter keys echoing across the room. He has something like 12+ short stories published since 2003 in some very major science fiction and fantasy publications.


There are many others, but this should provide a good idea of the big names using low tech.

As a matter of fact, when I do use my computer to write early drafts, I turn off the editing notifications and auto-correct capabilities. Why? Because, as a writer, I want to get my ideas, stream of consciousness, or train of thought down without interruptions. A red line for a misspelled word, sentence fragment (which I purposely wrote the dialogue that way but the computer wants to correct) or whatever other grammar rules may have been broken as I typed as fast as I could, messes with a writer's head. The eyes keep being drawn to the red line. The mind keeps thinking, what does that sentence need? What's wrong? Is it misspelled? How about a better word; let's open the Thesaurus.

Don't get me wrong, I write a lot of historical fiction and I utilize the Internet, as well as really, physical books, for research. I answer my e-mails daily (most of the times) and I get on Facebook to promote a product or event about once a month. My point, the Internet is handy, but learn how to stay focused and not let every little thing distract you.

The Red Line has effectively slammed the brakes on the writer's train of thought, possibly causing the writer to forget what he/she was going to write next (derailed?). Even worse, giving them an excuse to go search online for whatever the Red Line distraction has now allowed. Look, Amy and David went to eat and are ruining their diet. There's the picture of their overpriced dinner. I need a snack. There's my needy cat and the laser pen to distract the kitty.

Get the story written first. Worry about the edits and revisions later. If you write with a pen and have the budget, there are new devices out there such as the Lernstift Smart Pen from Germany that corrects your spelling as you write in longhand.

I have discussed editing. I mentioned before that after I do my initial spellcheck using the computer's tools, I prefer printing out my work and editing with pen and paper. For some reason, it works better for me. I'm also someone who prefers a real book versus reading a story or book online, so perhaps that has something to do with it.