If you managed to stick around this far, you've read my post for the letter H and my wonderful extremities that are my hands. Today's post is a companion piece to the letter H.
Back in early 2009, I was suffering from major hand fatigue, which was directly due to the fact that I was using a computer up to 14 hours a day, both at work and at home. To rectify that situation, I started writing my blog posts by hand. At first, it was very cumbersome and time-consuming, especially since I was still trying to find my groove with not only holding a pen but making sure that my printing was up to snuff. Ya see, my penmanship sucked major moose testicles and over the years it has deteriorated to the point where the only thing I write in cursive is my signature. Beyond that, I print everything, and I mean everything.
So thus, I began writing out my blog posts by hand. The beauty of writing by hand is that you can do it almost anywhere, and you need just a few items to do it. I have at my disposal a neat mobile cube. Basically, it's a large clear zipper folder that holds the following items: four to five pens; about a half package of loose leaf notebook paper; a clipboard and because I'm trying to do something with my writing, business cards and postcards feature both of my published books. With this thing, I can write anywhere I so choose to.
I can write outdoors, which I often do from the late spring through the early fall; I can take it with me and write in public places like the mall or the library, and most importantly, I can do this at work, because it's one of the few things I can do without getting into trouble. I originally started out by writing blog posts, but quickly branched out to other things like short stories (more on that later), my novel (parts of five chapters were written with pen and paper before being transcribed to the computer), and my novella.
At the moment, I've hit a lull with using pen & paper. The myriad of reasons include work (short staffed since November) and lack of time (see first excuse). Having time is very critical to me, because even though it takes me about 15 minutes to type out a blog post, it takes two to three times as long to hand write one post. Lack of time is why I've done all my posts on NotePad first, before copying/pasting it to the blog.
For those of you who might suggest Dragon software to cure my ills, I do have an old version on my old computer that I did acquire for that purpose back in 2010. However, I have major mental block when it comes to writing with voice software. So until that happens, it shall be used for transcribing prewritten stuff to a Word document or blog post.
Pen & Paper: the simple and most effective way to get the job done.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
I just wouldn't have the time to write it once, and then write it out all again. I find my iPad amazing for mobility and as I can even take it into the loo with me. :D
ReplyDeleteI like the experience of writing with a pen. Unfortunately, although my writing is neat, I have a terrible habit of holding my pen so that my wrist is all cramped up, which means that it's quite uncomfortable to write this way for any length of time. Once in a while I make an effort to relearn my writing style, but it never sticks. Good thing I can touch type and don't have any issues with carpal tunnel syndrome or the like.
ReplyDeleteMy hands cramp if I do that. I don't know how I got through high school writing things out!
ReplyDeleteJoey: I can understand that. I've gone through that point as well. There are times where I'll get halfway through, then put it aside for when I need a blog post and finish it while I'm posting it.
ReplyDeleteS.R.: Strange that your writing style has reverted to something that can be uncomfortable. I don't touch type nowadays, as mine is more like blunt force trauma, but it gets the job done.
M: I've gotten a lot of hand fatigue over the years with my writing style, especially if I have to do a lot of it in one fell swoop. But we persevere when we can.
I heard some shocking news the other day. It was told that cursive writing will no longer be taught in the classroom. Children will only be taught to sign their names in written signature and the rest of their writing will printed. We better start saving all the penmanship books we can find so we can hold private courses for persons wanting to learn the dying art.
ReplyDeleteG.A.: That kind of bites. My penmanship has always been horrible. Back in elementary school I was really never properly taught how to writer. To this day I basically muddle along with my writing.
ReplyDelete