One of the things to try when you’re in a writing rut is to change your routine or process. Always be open to try new things.
Most of my days are spent in front of the computer working on geeky software stuff. I type really well and fast—I even tried typing with my eyes closed. That worked for awhile, but I was still in a rut.
So I went back to the very basics: Writing with pen and paper.
When I was in 5th grade, I wrote a soap opera screenplay in longhand. In high school, I wrote in longhand cursive. It wasn’t until I took that typing class that I gave up my pen and paper.
Now I’m finding that it has helped me get out of this rut. It’s taking a break from the computer. It’s giving me time to think a little more since my left hand can only keep up so much with my brain. It gives me a change of pace. It also keeps me away from the Internet. And I can take my pen and paper anywhere—no need to scout out great places near outlets.
Plus, I get the perk of when I do transfer the pages into my computer, I can do some more tweaking and think about the scene again.
So I think longhand my be my change to jump start my writing routine.
If you’re stuck in your writing—try something different. It just may be the one thing you may need to get that spark.
great post! i always write longhand first — i think my brain does more work that way.
Gbemi, I’ve been really resistant to longhand for awhile but I think this is just what I needed to get out of my slump.
I’m definitely going to do it for this second round of revisions. Writing the scenes in longhand is providing me with a whole new insight.
I agree completely. I find it not only gets me out of a slump/rut, I also find I go places I don’t think I would have before. It’s very freeing. For me, it allows me to brainstorm as I’m scribbling, too. I don’t think as fast as I can write on a keyboard.
Another option I’ve found useful is typing on an old typewriter. I know, it’s still keyboarding in a sense, but there’s something about it that also works for me. I can keyboard fast, but typewriters are slower than keyboards so, like writing longhand, I’m able to go at the same speed as my brain works.
Hi Andrea, thanks for stopping by.
I can type so FAST so I thought I was “saving” time by using the computer.
But you’re right, writing in longhand slows down my thought process and it allows me to immerse in the scene better and instead using overused phrases, I can find better words to get to a deeper meaning.
Long hand is it for me. It frees me from my inner critic so I don’t spend time revising each paragraph I just wrote. That happens when I transcribe the long-hand to the computer. Like a second draft it cleans up the messy first-draft longhand. Good luck on this kick starting your writing!!
Hi Nelsa, thanks for visiting.
Yes! Inner critic is the devil when trying to write. But transcribing the longhand to the computer is sort of like a doing a second draft.
Looking forward to reading ILLEGALLY BLONDE. Heard some good buzz!
somehow I dont know how to write long hand anymore. My hand cramps after a few minutes prob b/c I type too much now. ) Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I think I will be at Springmingle so find me!!!
Just stumbled on this site. I find writing in longhand first is more creative as well. My first three screenplays were all written longhand first draft. I have been working on two new ones and have gotten stumped. I have been writing on the computer using my software. I sat down and thought one day, “What’s the problem” and then I realized it was the computer, so I stopped and printed what I had for an outline so far and sat down and started writing long hand and it worked. You right. It slows you down and you are not thinking about the keystrokes and format, but the story. Going back to the basics for me. Once the first draft is written then I will go back to the computer and type it in. Also, in doing that it gives me time as well to think of more stuff to tweak it as you said. This way I find I can write for longer periods of time.