The digital age of iPads and Android phones offer writers a quick tool to get their thoughts down when inspiration strikes. But does a pen and paper still trump the keyboard when it comes to creativity? AYLAY MURRAY weighs up the benefits of both media.
While there are many benefits to using digital tools for writing, research shows that writing by hand sparks creativity and is a more efficient way to process information.Rina Plumbo, author and co-founder of Third Street Writers in Laguna Beach prefers a pen. She explains,
“The pen itself has a weight that is perfectly balanced in my hand, linking ephemeral thought with the mechanics of cursive writing. Writing by hand is the most intimate form of creative connection I have ever felt.”
Benefits of writing with a pen and paper
- It prevents you from being distracted. Technology can be very distracting; you often find yourself going onto social platforms or other forums. The simplicity of a pen and paper means you must concentrate on the task.
- It inspires creativity – writing with a pen and paper is a slower process, therefore inspiring the creative process.
While a keyboard and computer is the instrument at the office for getting work done, if you find yourself stuck on an idea, grab a pen and paper.
Benefits of writing on a keyboard
- It’s harder to lose work. With external hard drives cloud backups, it’s much harder to lose writing on a device than it is on a piece of paper.
- It’s easier to edit – you don’t have to squeeze edits into the margins making it hard to read. The ability to edit with ease means the pressure of having to get it right the first time is gone.
- An idea can be worked while it’s fresh. Writing on a page means it stays on a page. You can see the development from start to finish.
Technology provides us with a more convenient way to write, edit and revise on computers, tablets and smart phones. But writing with a pen on paper makes you slow down and let the creative juices flow.
If you’re still convinced keyboard is king, I’ll leave you with this. J.K Rowling wrote mainly on scraps pieces of paper when writing the first drafts of her Harry Potter series.
About The Author
When she is not working you can find her traveling somewhere outdoors, in the bush or up a mountain.
