Is the pen still mightier than the keystroke for anyone here?

March 26, 2015 7:09 AM

Two questions, both writing related: 1) For those of you engaged in essay and fiction writing (not academic or research-heavy professional writing), are pen and paper still part of your creative process at all? What is your workflow like?; 2) Will publishing an essay on one's own personal, special interest website (with a potential reach of less than 100) first preclude ever having it accepted for publication (not just linked) in some form or another on an online magazine platform?

For question #1, I've seen this but my question is specifically about the literal writing process--if longhand writing (not just notes to yourself) is something you have worked into your process, or if you've skipped over it entirely at this point.

posted by these are my travel socks to Writing & Language (9 answers total)

I only write with a pen when I'm away from my computer and a thought or phrase comes to me. Otherwise, it's so much faster to type that a pen just seems like a hindrance.
posted by three_red_balloons at 7:20 AM on March 26, 2015

My first drafts of poetry or fiction are often hand-written. I like to transition to word processing when I start paring things down. I've always done this automatically, but recently I read an article about Lynda Barry that talks about how using your hands can kickstart creativity.
posted by millions at 7:22 AM on March 26, 2015

Before hitting the computer, I like to take a piece of paper and write my ideas all over it at random angles as they occur to me. Sometimes I detail and link them mind-map style but often, for essays, I just circle and number them. It frees me from the tyranny of linear processing that accompanies typing specifically and outlining in general.
posted by carmicha at 7:22 AM on March 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

For question #1, I have the same approach as millions - I always like to write things down first. Recently I've started every writing session with 10 minutes of total stream of consciousness free writing in a notebook, and that's been really helpful - sometimes I'll come up with a cool image or phrase that I wind up integrating into the poem.

For question #2, it really depends on the publication. Especially if you're editing it between posting on your site and submitting for publication, I think you can make it work. If you have specific online magazines in mind, it's probably worthwhile to send their editors a quick note and check.
posted by torridly at 8:23 AM on March 26, 2015

I usually write my blog posts in my journal first, then a day or so later, I type them out on the computer, editing as I go. For fiction, I have used Scrivener but I may go back to longhand for that as well. For poems, outlining, lists-- always handwriting. I sometimes use a mind-mapping process like carmicha mentioned, always with pen & paper.

Regarding your question#2, it seems like some places will not be worried about prior publication on a personal blog. I occasionally see something on HuffPo or wherever with a note stating where the piece was originally published. So I think it would be worthwhile to look at your potential markets and check into their guidelines for contributors.
posted by tuesdayschild at 8:42 AM on March 26, 2015

I compose fiction longhand - it's the only way I've really gotten it to work. (Which sucks, because I hatehatehate transcription.) I've written three novel-length pieces that way, and maybe a dozen short stories. My process is a little odd - I start in a notebook, usually, transcribe a day's work, then print that out and write on the backs of the printed pages; rinse and repeat. It saves paper. When I'm revising, which I also do by hand, I print out a clean copy, and if I need to add anything substantial I do that on the back, too.

I also keep a notebook with plot and worldbuilding notes, and I'll usually start a project by sketching out some details in bullet-lists there. For bigger projects these are entire sections with many pages devoted to different topics - short stories usually get a page with some notes and a scene-by-scene outline.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:29 AM on March 26, 2015

I'll outline in longhand and occasionally that will turn into the entire piece longhand, but that is rare. It helps me a LOT with the whole blank-screen syndrome, because now I know there's something there and the process has already begun.

2) Will publishing an essay on one's own personal, special interest website (with a potential reach of less than 100) first preclude ever having it accepted for publication (not just linked) in some form or another on an online magazine platform?

Nope. Nearly 100% of the time you'll be asked to incorporate edit notes from the publication or to otherwise expand on the post, so the article in the publication will tend to be different than the original blog post anyhow.
posted by greenland at 11:29 AM on March 26, 2015

For me, the answer to both questions is "it depends."

I'm starting to look into mining my own travel journals for story ideas - those are always in longhand. The first draft of something "for print," though, will be on the computer. And yet - the last trip I took I had a journal and wrote in longhand, and always prefer that. There are some cases where I just like to do it that way.

As for "if something's been on your blog will a market consider it to have been 'published'," that also depends - some do, some don't. I'm probably going to just pay it safe - something I write for my blog is usually a wholly different piece (the nuts and bolts of what happen, if I tell the story in both places, will be the same, but the phrasing, length, word choice, etc. will be different).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:18 PM on March 26, 2015

Neal Stephenson famously uses a fountain pen these days.

If you are going to hand-write anything of length, a fountain pen is much easier on your wrist than anything else because you're not constantly applying pressure on the tip and clen. Look for a $10-$25 dollar japanese-made pen like the Platinum brand desk pen or the more expensive but transportable Pilot Prera. The Pilot Varsity disposables are available in every stationary shop and art supply store. They write quite well and comfortable; they're a excellent way to see if you like fountain pens.
posted by sebastienbailard at 8:04 PM on March 26, 2015