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Pen and paper or computer?

Discussion in 'Fanfic Discussion' started by f77, Jun 29, 2006.

?

How do you write?

Poll closed Jul 9, 2006.
  1. I write my story chapters on pen and paper

    7.7%
  2. I write my story chapters on computer

    38.5%
  3. I write my ideas and plot points on pen and paper

    23.1%
  4. I do everything on computer

    53.8%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. f77

    f77 Backtraced

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2006
    Messages:
    128
    Location:
    Canada
    Do you write your fan fiction stories on pen and paper, and type it/scan it onto the computer or do you just do a type fest? I am curious about this.
     
  2. Verse of Darkness

    Verse of Darkness Denarii Host

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    642
    I do both sometimes. Its amazing when ideas pop in my head when I'm in school, but when I get home... I can't even make a sentence (and I still can't).
     
  3. Master Slytherin

    Master Slytherin Headmaster

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2005
    Messages:
    1,157
    Location:
    London, England
    I did 4 chapters by hand but then I realised that I wasn't motivated to type them out. However writing by hand, I find, gives a better quality to the writingbut for efficiency, I just type straight onto the computer. However I write all my plans out on paper and not on the computer.
     
  4. ip82

    ip82 Prisoner

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2005
    Messages:
    2,921
    I do it all on computer, because:
    1) I can't write in latin cursive
    2) I can't write all that well in any cursive
    3) I hate writing
     
  5. Sepanto

    Sepanto Groundskeeper

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2005
    Messages:
    325
    Location:
    ISRAEL
    Pen and paper! Because sometimes ideas spring in the middle of (say) class, and i want to catch the details before it escapes me...
     
  6. Cervus

    Cervus Raptured to Hell

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2005
    Messages:
    849
    Location:
    Manchester, England.
    I write of the computer all of the time because my handwriting is so bad I can't understand what I've written.
     
  7. Olfrik

    Olfrik Seventh Year

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    Messages:
    229
    Location:
    Berlin
    I write everything in a notebook first and then just type it into the computer. At that point I do most of the correcting. If find myself unable to write on my desk directly into the computer.

    I cant concentrate what I wont to write, when I allways have this spellcheck and stuff going. So I write in the park, in the train or in a pub. And then I kind of rewrite it in poper english in the computer.

    The plot however I have on the computer, because as the story goes it gets more detailed or changes some.
     
  8. nonjon

    nonjon Alumni Retired Staff

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2005
    Messages:
    2,129
    I have a tiny sketchbook I carry around in my free time. Wrote out one plan for a fic once on it. All the key post-OotP events, the outline for the 30-odd chapters it was going to take, etc... And just scrapped it because it sounded like too much work and too similar to every other semi-decent post-OotP fic out there.

    Haven't written a thing on pen and paper since.
     
  9. Yarrgh!

    Yarrgh! Pirate King

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2006
    Messages:
    1,052
    Location:
    Purdue University, Indiana
    I write only on the computer. I don't bother with plot outlines and stuff, i can usually rely on myself to remember good ideas, etc that pop up. Most of the time, i don't have the time to ponder over my fics, so when i do, i'm always in a relaxed situation/working on my fics, so i don't lose any ideas.

    Writing fics on paper is a waste of time. I have noted down a random idea before, but i'd never write chapters and stuff. Why double your work and waste paper? I'm no hippie, but still. :p

    On the computer, i can edit anything at any time, and i can type in the right format. I type faster than i write in any case, so it just akes sense. Writing out 11,000 words, and then retyping them is a waste of time that i'm not going to bother with.
     
  10. Naga's Shadow

    Naga's Shadow Seventh Year

    Joined:
    May 24, 2006
    Messages:
    211
    Location:
    Miami
    I use a computer. The first bit of original fiction Iever wrote is writen on papper and after four years I still haven't gotten around to atempting to deciper my handwriting and type it out.
     
  11. Myst

    Myst Headmaster

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2006
    Messages:
    1,188
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Glassboro, NJ

    For me it is the same as him.
     
  12. Olfrik

    Olfrik Seventh Year

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    Messages:
    229
    Location:
    Berlin
    I think it helps me mainly because english is not my mother tongue. So I do the correcting and concentrate mostly on the language when I type it into the computer and concentrate on the characters and the interactions when I first write it in my notebook. I wouldnt do that in my mother tongue - too much work, you are right, but in that case my concentration wouldnt be on the language itself when I'm writing it for the first time.
     
  13. Nullify

    Nullify Seventh Year

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2006
    Messages:
    270
    Location:
    Hong Kong
    While there may be rare, rare cases when I'll take out some scrap piece of paper (a computer is out of reach and I have a sudden strong urge/motivation/idea), I mostly use my computer for everything.

    Why? I hardly plan, I type faster than I write as well, my handwriting's barely legible, my hand aches when I write too much, and it's relatively easy to edit. Oh, and it's easier to go back and find a particular word (CTRL + f) on the computer than scanning the whole page. And I have no idea why, but more ideas pop into my head when I'm sitting in front of the monitor and staring at the blinking icon, or whatever it is called. :p
     
  14. f77

    f77 Backtraced

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2006
    Messages:
    128
    Location:
    Canada
    English is not my native tongue either, but I think I have a better grasp of it than most 13 year olds. I write my plot bunnies on paper, if my computer isn't within reach, and whenever I feel like writing, I type out my story on computer. I rarely do much planning for my story, I just have a small idea of where it is going and build up on it. My eyes burn after using the computer for extended periods of time. Does this happen to you guys?
     
  15. Fuegodefuerza

    Fuegodefuerza Minister of Magic

    Joined:
    May 6, 2006
    Messages:
    1,364
    Location:
    Texas
    Two words: Spell-check.

    I write down plot bunnies on paper, but do everything else on the computer.

    Typing pwns writing. :)
     
  16. Inexistence

    Inexistence Seventh Year

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2006
    Messages:
    276
    Location:
    San Francisco
    I do everything on the computer.

    Is it just me or does it seem that computing for as long as we have has ruined our handwriting?
     
  17. Cervus

    Cervus Raptured to Hell

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2005
    Messages:
    849
    Location:
    Manchester, England.
    Certainly has mine. I'm willing to bet that I've only picked a pen up five times this year for when I've had to send letters to some stupid catalogue I've never heard of (their trying to charge me for two settees I never bought). Everything else, like my CV and covering letters, are done on the PC.