Q&A with Chris Orcutt discussion

I consider myself an unusual hybrid writer between the old and new technologies. I write most of my first drafts without a computer (I am very picky about my tools), using one of the following three methods:

1. In pencil (my preferred pencils are the Palomino Blackwing 602, the California Republic Palomino, the Mongol 482, and the Musgrave HB).

2. In pen (either my Mont Blanc 4810, my Waterman, or a Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen).

3. On a typewriter (I have 5: a Royal Quiet Deluxe, an Hermes 3000, an IBM Selectric III, an Olympia SG-3N and an Olympia SM-9).

When the first draft is finished, after it has sat for a while, I type or scan it into my Mac, where I work on the next drafts using Apple's Pages program.

As for working habits, I am like W. Somerset Maugham, who said he only wrote when he was inspired, but luckily inspiration came to him at nine o'clock exactly every day. In other words, I write every day, usually VERY early in the morning, when there are no distractions.

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I am open to any questions about my working process, as well as the process I employed when writing A REAL PIECE OF WORK.

In case any readers don't believe that I work on a typewriter, here is a short film entitled "Equipment Test: Typewriter" in which you see me working on my Royal and my Hermes. The "equipment" referred to is my filmmaker friend Jason Scott's new film equipment, *not* my typewriters. Anyway, through marvelous editing Jason manages to make a great short film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pdTz6...