There was a time when every notebook I used to buy I filled it up with words. Nothing but words. There were stories, information about sports I was interested in (at the time) and a whole lot of other idiotic stuff. Whole pages and pages were drowned in words, and I used to love my notebooks.
A year or two later however, we got a new computer. I improved my typing skills (and learned touch typing). I also learned to use programs like Microsoft Word for writing. Henceforth I was using this almost exclusively for my writing. My notebooks, which were once so full that there wasn’t even space to copy down a phone number, now were empty. What happened?
The thing that happened was that I had changed my writing medium from pen and paper to the computer.
But of them is better for your writing? Which is better – pen and paper or the computer keyboard?
Pen and paper
Of course, once upon a time this was the only option for anyone wanting to write (the computer is new, after all). But now it has its rival, a competitive rival. Has it lost its respect?
Not at all. A lot of people still write using pen and paper. They say it’s faster, and that could be for you if you don’t know how to type fast. And writing with the hand is easier as well. If you don’t know how to type properly, the fingers will first find it painful, whereas writing using the pen is conventional and doesn’t add stress. This is a point to keep in mind.
One good rule of thumb is to write shorter pieces (short stories, poems, essays etc) using pen and paper and longer pieces (novels, autobiographies, courses) on the computer.
Fact: Many poets still write on paper. The older generation still writes on paper. Paper is not a thing to be ridiculed as a medium of writing. Do your fingers get tired by typing too much? Try pen and paper instead.
The computer
The computer was preceded by the typewriter, I know. But as so few people use typewriters these days I have to chosen to compare pen and paper with computer. Let’s see its benefits and disadvantages.
It certainly has some benefits:
- It’s faster for those who are comfortable typing (e.g. when writing a novel)
- The finished work looks more professional due to formatting (when you use pen and paper you have to make sure that your handwriting is excellent and legible)
- It becomes possible to share documents on the internet and collaborate
- It becomes possible to publish it (on the Internet).
But as usual, a thing which has advantages will also have disadvantages. In this case, they are:
- Long hours of typing is bad for our body’s health: the fingers as well as the eyes get tired
- For those who can’t type comfortably writing on the computer is like swimming in an ocean
- The document loses the “personal touch.” For example when you have to prepare a project for your school then printing it out of the computer is not good because it loses your credibility (one can wonder, did he really write this?) Using pen and paper on the other hand, one doesn’t face this problem.
So as you can see there are some strong points both for and against the computer and pen and paper. Which should you use? There’s no right answer to this question. Someone may feel comfortable typing for hours and someone may shudder at the thought of it. Someone will be happy with using pen and paper and someone will be discontent. Someone likes this and someone likes that.
But you have to make your own decision for yourself. Which do you feel comfortable using? Which is better for your situation? Which is appropriate for your writing? Answer these questions and you will discover which writing medium you should use.
A side note: Which do I use? Both. For longer pieces, the computer. For academic writing and shorter pieces, the good old pen and paper. These days I might use computer more, but I like both equally. Just my opinion.
Over to you
I really wish I could setup a poll so you could vote, but it doesn’t matter; just tell what you use in the comments. Do you like the computer more? Why? Is it because of increased efficiency or is it just because of necessity? Which is more comfortable according to you? When you use one over the other, what reasons are there behind that? And the biggest: which do you use more?
And I’ll be seeing you in the comments…
Liked this post? That’s great. Why not leave a comment below so that we know what are your opinions?
View Comments (45)
"Pen and paper vs computer", a timely topic to discuss. Here i'll try to put my opinion which i prefer and why? I write poems in Hindi and Urdu, sometimes short stories also. First i write on paper as it is easy,although my typing speed is far better, but still i feel writing,initially, using the conventional method is comfortable for me. While using pen and paper,we can edit the written text very easily and at any place on the entire page, with some different ink. It also gives a sense of great satisfaction seeing your own handwritten articles on the writing table.
Of course, writing any long stories,official work,or any application, i prefer using my computers. At last i must say computer 's writing can be very useful,easy,colorful but it can never replace the writings using pen and paper.
I agree with the comment. Keep commenting and thanks!
I think pens and papers are near to be rare, most of people now prefer to use technological thing as tablets and computers to write all things in there minds.
Hi all,
First of all before I begin, this is an excellently written blog.
ALSO I am part of the younger generation, whom represent and support the use of technology.
Personally I (and the rest of us) believe that technology is far easier to use as most of us don't really realize the beauty and practicality of pen and paper. We love collaborating with each other and creating online masterpieces, not to mention the fact that we also like social media a lot. All in all technology does have its minus's it is more practical for us and we enjoy technology a lot more.
(Sorry about the quickly written comment.)
I am from the younger generation (13) and I support pen and paper. There are studies that show you remember things better when they are HANDWRITTEN. Go Paper! So big M, you do NOT speak for all of us.
Listen big M,
Maybe you should whacth your facts, not everyone from the younger generation agrees with your absurd and arrogant comments about paper. Paper and pen are much more interesting then an old document by a computer. Next time you speak for the rest of the younger generation you should whacth your FACTS, your WORDS, and most importantly who YOU speak FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??
" Using pen and paper on the other hand, one doesn’t face this problem."
total bullshit
one can plagiarize just as easy with a pen and pencil
Firstly, no abusive language, please. And secondly, I think you didn't understand what I was trying to say. There is such as a thing as recognizing handwriting, from which the teacher can quickly see who wrote this. As for plagiarizing, that's an entirely different matter. Of course one can plagiarize just as easily with pens, but I'm not talking about the writing matter, I'm talking about actual writing (not researching), or putting pen down to paper.
I almost always use pen and paper to write my drafts. I just find that my inspiration comes easier if I can write wherever I like, versus being stuck at the computer. (Plus, our computer is in the living room, so it definitely takes out the privacy factor).
I do tweak my drafts, finalize them, on the computer though. The spell check and quickness comes in handy.
You wrote: "And writing with the hand is more easier as well."
"more easier" is extremely poor English.
"Easier" already means "more easy". Essentially, you're saying "more more easy", which is clearly wrong. Perhaps "easiest" is the word you're looking for.
Otherwise, it's an excellent Blog.
Keep up the good work.
-john
Mistake corrected, thanks. Be sure to point out more errors as well!
Thanks for the nice comment, and best regards
Idrees
Ironically, I am composing a speech 'Pencils vs. Technology,' and ran across this blog. For one, Webster only depicts "correct speech" and personally I believe its not the readers place to correct the writer. With that being said, creativity started with a pencil and paper. I feel that although typed works look professional, a pencil and paper gives the writer the freedom and release needed that staring at a PC screen eliminates. As well as artists drawing pictures...a pencil(or pen) allows us to truely be ourselves rather than pre-determind conformity the PC suggests.
*Truly...not truely : )
Correcting the writer in a blog about writing is constructive criticism among like minded peers. Not meant to insult but to inform. Life is for learning and we all can learn from each other.
Ah yes. Yes yes yes. I very much appreciate your comment, and all the ones who mentioned being tied up to a computer screen. I'm grateful you also mentioned visual art. There is much more ability to express in letters written directly with the hand, for example - emojis or not! And for art, that's much multiplied. And there's the idea of light. Sunlight! Simple and beautiful: quiet, peace, fresh air: healthy for body and mind. And the human hand, with its own stamp..
An interesting discussion!
Initially, I came to this page looking for a way to wean myself of the laptop for writing. I know that I have become far too dependent on it: I'm writing something longer, and the desire to just write something overtakes me several times a day - but I don't have the laptop on me, and writing by hand simply feels weird. I know it's probably (definitely) a matter of practice, but I'm too impatient and I want a short - cut :D
So, to answer your question: I'm definitely more proficient when writing on the laptop, as my thought process is more naturally composed on the screen, but I wish this were not the case! I find the laptop wonderful to use when I'm at home, but I hate being this dependent. Gah!
Yes, typing on a big keyboard is much faster than writing by hand. It is cumbersome to carry around, though! My dad, rest his soul, had something cashed shorthand, before even electric typewriters were en vogue and dictation was taken by pencil and pad. Shorthand. Ever hear of it?
I've looked at it: it's not simple, it has to be learned. But probably it's not so hard and maybe that would help you! Or just develop your own personal "shorthand" and abbreviations - like is done in texting.
I'm glad to hear when anybody writes by hand. I'm just a dinosaur, I guess.
Okay, so I write novels.Personally, I'm having a hard time figuring out what to choose between the two. I think it looks more professional if you use a computer to write a novel, but then again, I sort of lose touch with my work when I spend my time on it too much. i recently got writer's block because every time I want to write (or type), ideas don't come in my head. I think i prefer using a pen and paper....but the debate in my head is,"Will it cause trouble for me later on in case I want to publish my novel?" Because my handwriting is really small! So frustrated over here...! :(
I am right with you on that one. My writing is extremely small, and most people have to wear reading glasses to read it. Also, if I would want my work to get published, I would have to type it out in a word processing software, which would most likely take ages. However, writing with pencil and paper does have its benefits, and could possibly relieve stress, and similar topics go along with digitally as well. I have so many empty notebooks, and I want to write in them, but there's also on the computer, which I usually end up writing on.
Writing longhand is my preference but since publishers and the rest of the world prefers computers and keyboards there is not really a choice involved. I prefer pen and paper because the process allows you to think. Slow down. It's more intimate and mobile. Sitting at a computer for long hours besides not being healthy, is boring. So I choose long hand to work out ideas, drafts, etc.
The computer is for putting it all together. I will use paper and pen until they stop making them.
I love your comment. I agree that it forces us to slow down and really let our thoughts marinate before they are put into sentences. And I love that the paper can go anywhere you go, and is not awkward like a laptop is. I, too, shall use pen and paper till they cease to exist!
I wanted to write my stories using the keyboard as my new medium. But I realized that I'm not really comfortable writing in the computer. So, I strolled in the internet to find such discussions about pens vs. keyboards article. I did not just want to find things all about the keyboard and pens but because I've been wondering which is more efficient to use. Then, I stumbled into this blog which I found informative, about which is which. I'm just having a little more trouble about typing my stories to the computer for a professional-looking copy, since I'm not really good with typing.
For me, writing with pen is more comfortable than writing in the computer. It makes me feel that it's more of me when I write than type. But when it comes to paper works regarding school, I usually just type for a good presentation.
I always use pen and paper, because if I write at the computer I lose my creativity, though I grew up with computers (I'm 16). I think everyone here knows what it's like to have an idea an mind and it develops into something bigger while you are writing it; this doesn't happen when I'm writing on the computer, so I always have to write it on the computer again, when I want to publish it.
In my opinion it is also very important to feel connected with your work and I like my notebooks to be untidy and at some points are only readable to me, so it really belongs to me.
To sum up, I always use pen and paper for writing, but I copy it onto the computer when I'm done, so I don't have to worry about my handwriting and I can put it online.
I prefer pen and paper. I have always felt an intiment closeness to my writing, almost like mother and child. And for some insane reason I like to keep them "protected" in my spiral notebooks until I'm ready to type and polish them to "meet" another reader