Writer's block :(

January 14, 2007 5:16 PM

I am having problem writing more than 6 lines at a time. Any pointers: is it writing style, the pen, or something wrong with my wrist?

I stopped writing anything more than a couple lines for the last 5 - 6 years. Now that I have gotten enthusiastic about writing more in my moleskine, the inability to write anything more than 6 - 7 lines at one stretch without my wrist hurting is depressing me. The pain is more like a tensing of muscles than in bones - but can't be sure. I seem to do better if I mind how tight my grip is and relax a bit, but it's still there. Tried a bit of a variety of pens - right now the free-flow of a Faber-Castell PITT artist pen seems to be helping slightly.
Don't know if this helps, but I have noticed a shake in my hands after semi-vigorous exercise that seems to last for hours, and in general I feel a weak shake all through the day.

What are my options here: should I look for a better more comfortable pen (and what would they be)? Should I research proper way of holding a pen and writing styles? Or look up on possible CTS?

posted by raheel to Grab Bag (11 answers total)

I think, like any other muscle, it's just the inactivity you're feeling. Do some exercises for the hands (squeezing a tennis ball, that kind of thing) and keep writing and it'll probably improve.
posted by loiseau at 5:25 PM on January 14, 2007

I agree with loiseau above. But posture, grip and similar factors will often make my hand hurt too.

I use a pocket moleskine, and I find that if I'm writing on pages towards the front of the book, on the right side of the centerfold, this happens often, because the book is too small for me to rest my wrist at the same level as my pen. (Does that make sense? Because the book is so tiny, my wrist is usually on the table while my fingers and the pen are elevated.) I find this really hurts my wrist after a while, and so I slip another book or something about the same thickness as the moleskine under my wrist to rest on while I write.
posted by Brittanie at 5:37 PM on January 14, 2007

I find writing in a small book like a moleskine uncomfortable. You might switch to a larger notebook for a while until your hand and wrist muscles are stronger. Writing larger might also help with the strain. Exercises are an excellent idea, but consider switching to a more comfortable writing environment as well.
posted by MadamM at 5:39 PM on January 14, 2007

Whenever I sit down for a marathon grading session, I make sure I'm using a Uniball Jetstream 1.0 pen. These are sold quite commonly and produce a really smooth line, which is a big deal when you're writing for hours.
posted by washburn at 6:32 PM on January 14, 2007

You can buy ergonomic pens. For example, this guy. There are many variations on this theme–just google "ergonomic pen" and you'll find heaps. At first they might seem weird but they're more comfortable than they look! Go to a pen shop and try one out. Or just order one online; they're not very expensive.
posted by mjao at 11:00 PM on January 14, 2007

My experience: Writing big is relaxing; writing small is tiring. Moleskines are cute, but they might not meet your needs there. Also very tiring is a pen, like a ballpoint, that forces me to press hard. Roller balls, gel pens, or, yummiest of all, fountain pens lay down ink on a light touch. If you have doubts about going straight to fancy-schmancy archaic stuff like the fountain pen, by all means try gel: convenience and cost like a ballpoint, ease of writing like a fountain.
posted by eritain at 1:37 AM on January 15, 2007

Another good option for free-flowing ink are the Pilot Razor Points — sort of a felt-tipped pen for grownups.

(Mind you, if the pen does turn out to be the problem, you're sure to find your own One True Pen, and when you do you should probably ignore all us fanatics yammering on about ours. But since I'm a fanatic, let it be known — the Pilot Razor Point is the One True Pen.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:29 AM on January 15, 2007

If the shape of your grip is right, it shouldn't need to be the slightest bit tight, at all, ever, and it shouldn't hurt after six lines.

Some of the ways I see people gripping pens make my hands hurt just looking at them :-)

If you're doing something other than this, and you're having wrist pain, retrain.
posted by flabdablet at 6:32 AM on January 15, 2007

Response by poster: I just realized that I tense my whole body when I write: my wrist, chest, stomach, even my legs. I am gripping the pen a too hard as well. Loosening up consciously let me write for at least a whole page without much of a pain. I think it is the newness of writing after a long time, which has me stressed out how my writing will come out - some of my letters flow out well, there are other times (mostly) when I miss half a letter or mutilate it completely.
posted by raheel at 6:36 AM on January 15, 2007

i have the same crampy feeling if i write small. so i write big in a large-size moleskine cahier. you get the same nice paper in a more manageable size.
posted by twistofrhyme at 11:29 AM on January 15, 2007

Hang on a minute, raheel,

You're experiencing shaking/tremours Hours after writing¿

Plus, you haven't written more than 6 lines at a time in more than 6 years¿

If this is true...I'm thinking it's more than just the pens. Way more.

I sense trouble between the brain and your writing hand, the act of writing.

Have you discussed this with your GP ]general practitioner[ doctor¿¿

I'm serious. Do a show and tell for your doctor. What was the doctors reaction¿ What was the recommendation¿

You may need a second opinion.

Writing style, the flow, the shape of letters are directly connected to the brain.

Where's your head at, is what I'm asking. Seriously.

What of typing on a keyboard¿ What's that like. The symptoms...any shaking, does your wrist hurt...any carpal tunnel syndrome¿

What about the writing style of your immediate family. Have you discussed this with them¿

Don't ask me why I'd ask these questions, it's just a guess, of sorts.

Your thoughts¿
posted by alicesshoe at 7:54 PM on January 15, 2007