Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers
Pen or keyboard: where do you start?
The decline of cursive is happening as students are doing more and more work on computers, including writing. In 2011, the writing test of the National Assessment of Educational Progress will require 8th and 11th graders to compose on computers, with 4th graders following in 2019.
I think that's a step in the wrong direction. Although we need keyboard skills these days, there will always be times you need to be able to write neatly and properly. Filling in a job application form you've been sent, composing a handwritten letter when you're far from a computer, a thank you note: the list goes on.
As for creativity, I would pick up a pen before I'd sit down at the keyboard. Nine times out of ten I begin with handwritten drafts. I'm curious how many of you do the same thing. I hate to think that the elegance of cursive writing will disappear over the next generation or two.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Kunz on
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I'm one of those students that spent more time doing work on my Computer than I did with a pen and paper, unfortunately. I'd like to have learned how to write neatly, but from as far back as I can remember, we learned All The Right Type at School. My Mom tried to help my penmanship at home, but my addiction to Computers had become too much and she had a hard time teaching it to me, I guess it was too late at that point.
I spend a lot of my time on my Computer, so a lot of my Work I just start typing up, but whenever I go somewhere, like on Vacation for example, I don't have a laptop, so I bring one of my many notebooks that I've been given over the years from Birthday's and Christmas, an array of pencils and work that way. I find it easier to write on paper than on a Computer, though I may be better at typing it. I would love to make my writing more legible so when I do write I take my time and attempt to make it as readable as I possibly can...
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Permalink Reply by Viviana Arteaga on
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I write before I type. Most of the times what I write never makes it to my computer. When I see written paper it seems more elegant to me, more personal then typed. My writing is always in cursive because I was never really good at it until a couple of years ago and my print is hideous. It would be a shame if cursive or any kind of writing had to be on computer instead of paper in schools. In school I didn't like to type my papers the only times I did was when it was an odd day and writing on paper didn't feel right. But then again it just shows how much more technology takes away from the personal.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on
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Poetry I write on paper first. Articles and blog posts I don't very often. It's funny that I make a division, come to think about it. Perhaps because the latter feels more like business than pleasure.
I learned cursive writing from a teacher who would accept nothing less than perfection. Those lessons have stayed with me and stood the test of time overall. My handwriting has deteriorated, the less I use it. I noticed that myself. My son, who's used computers since he was barely big enough to reach the keyboard, has the most atrocious handwriting and I'm sure that's why. If you don't use it, you lose it.
Viviana Arteaga said:I write before I type. Most of the times what I write never makes it to my computer. When I see written paper it seems more elegant to me, more personal then typed. My writing is always in cursive because I was never really good at it until a couple of years ago and my print is hideous. It would be a shame if cursive or any kind of writing had to be on computer instead of paper in schools. In school I didn't like to type my papers the only times I did was when it was an odd day and writing on paper didn't feel right. But then again it just shows how much more technology takes away from the personal.
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Permalink Reply by scribbler on
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Andrew it's never too late to learn. I can see why you'd not find it that useful at your age. I still think it would be worth the effort though. :) Good luck with the job hunting.
Viviana and Kay it's nice to know I'm not the only one that will be using a pen for awhile yet. Viviana that was an interesting closing remark you made about technology. Would you like to expand on that?
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Now a days people use technology more to speak with people instead of face to face conversations. I'm gonna admit that I'm guilty of texting my friends more then talking to them in person but I don't have all I need to see them as much as I want. And sometimes when people say I love you or I miss you over a text or email I feel it sounds kind of hollow because I hear a computerized voice in my head. I myself like to talk to people I know face to face so I can see their emotions run across their face and see if they re telling me the truth or not. I want to see the person or the handwritten letter with their own wonderful penmanship that says they love me instead of a screen that has an ILY on a instant message window.
scribbler said:Andrew it's never too late to learn. I can see why you'd not find it that useful at your age. I still think it would be worth the effort though. :) Good luck with the job hunting.
Viviana and Kay it's nice to know I'm not the only one that will be using a pen for awhile yet. Viviana that was an interesting closing remark you made about technology. Would you like to expand on that?
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I know where you're coming from. I was thinking about the diary of Anne Frank. Will we never see the likes again? The day will come when children can hardly write and I think we're talking years, not decades.
Hard drives get wiped, disks get corrupted, crashes happen. You can't save them the way you can a cherished love letter. I don't even like getting an e-card much. It doesn't give me the same feeling that getting a paper card in the mail does. Hollow is an apt description.
Viviana Arteaga said:Now a days people use technology more to speak with people instead of face to face conversations. I'm gonna admit that I'm guilty of texting my friends more then talking to them in person but I don't have all I need to see them as much as I want. And sometimes when people say I love you or I miss you over a text or email I feel it sounds kind of hollow because I hear a computerized voice in my head. I myself like to talk to people I know face to face so I can see their emotions run across their face and see if they re telling me the truth or not. I want to see the person or the handwritten letter with their own wonderful penmanship that says they love me instead of a screen that has an ILY on a instant message window.
scribbler said:Andrew it's never too late to learn. I can see why you'd not find it that useful at your age. I still think it would be worth the effort though. :) Good luck with the job hunting.
Viviana and Kay it's nice to know I'm not the only one that will be using a pen for awhile yet. Viviana that was an interesting closing remark you made about technology. Would you like to expand on that?
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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on
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This is an interesting discuss from before.
For me my penman ship leaves a lot to be desired. My writing was never the best, having won an award for spiderlike writing in primary school and subsequently having damaged my right hand doing silly things over the years.
With a keyboard, I can now write as fast as I ever did with a pen and the bonus is others can read it too. Plus these days, particularly with books, it will have to be typed up anyway so why not use the keyboard from the outset?
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Permalink Reply by Stacy Eaton on
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Scribbler - this is a great topic. Amazing to thing about the fact that teachers don't care about handwriting. I remember being in high school having to hand write reports that were a 1000 words. We weren't even allow to type them - they had to be handwritten and if the teacher couldn't read it - you got an F.
I carry a notebook with me - and at times will sit and write notes, but I am one of those that feels much more comfortable writing by pushing down with my fingers. I keep my notes typed - and I think that is mostly because I can keep them organized and also because I can't read my own handwriting these days. That of course would be because I don't write anymore. Sad... but true.
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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on
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i respect and adore the essence of a pen. ;) a keyboard doesnt stand a chance. lol against such a inspiring utencil
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Permalink Reply by Dora Achieng Okeyo on
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I definitely write things down before typing-I tend to get sidetracked by Facebook,Twitter worse off Mahjong,when I sit down to type. MY writing comes easy when I use my pen.
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Permalink Reply by Geoff Hall on
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Hi Scribbler,
I take a pen and notebook with me everywhere I go, as I find it a more tactile and immediate way of recording those moments of inspiration. Writing on a keyboard at those times I find rather cumbersome, what with formatting etc.
There is something IMO a little more personal and intimate about paper and pen and dare I say it, more controllable!
After rendering my thoughts on paper, I can translate it to the PC and work on it further.
Best Wishes,
Geoff
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Seems like I am in the distinct minority as far as keyboards goes...
Ah well I always did like to be different. Plus my liking is practical for me as I can actual read what I write on the keyboard. I do like pens though and have a special one, just for signing books! Always blue and a floating ink ball for that smooth action.
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