Writing is for Thinking

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Comments

[Ken Partain]

Hi Rosa - I have found, over the last few years, that writing long-hand, with pen and paper, is much more effective for me than typing, whether its an article, blog post, or a comment like this. It truly does help me think and organize my thoughts in a way that sounds true to me. Thank you for sharing.

[Rosa Say]

Really Ken, even to draft a comment? I need to try that!

I too sense a difference between when I hand-write and when I ‘keyboard it,’ however it is subtle, and something I am often experimenting with. There is a definite tactile pleasure with hand-writing, and I especially like the doodle and drawing freedoms of a notebook -- especially when I'm sitting in a coffeehouse somewhere! No laptops there unless I happen to be traveling.

However I do appreciate my keyboard at other times, especially when there is a lot of cut and paste which will save time for me, and when I am truly on fire with a certain idea and want to get everything out of my head quickly, for I am a much, much faster typist.

Alas, I'm also a very noisy typist. My poor laptop keys get their letters worn off very, very quickly.

[Rosa Say]

This short talk-story with Ken triggered a memory for me of an earlier post here:

Paper: Peeves and Pleasures
http://www.sayleadershipcoaching.com/talkingstory/2007/04/paper_peeves_an.html

[Ulla Hennig]

Rosa,
my process of thinking-writing-thinking is:
1.I've got a very general idea in my head. I know, it might be important / interesting.
2. I sit down - with pen and paper - and write down what I've got in my head.
3. I take those jots and go to my laptop. And then I write down the blog post. Funny way of doing it, isn't it?

[Rosa Say]

Ulla, I think many who write will read your comment and say to themselves, “Oh wow, I do that too!”

Had a conversation with my friend Aaron about this yesterday, how it seems I can get some of my best blog ideas when I am relaxing offline and somewhat forced to reach for paper and pencil because my laptop is off and I must handwrite before the though escapes me completely. In those times, I outline as you say you do “those jots” whereas if I was at my laptop I would expound on one thought, and not capture all of them. Definitely pros to being sensible about my offline time!