In the course of many centuries a few labor saving devices have been introduced into the mental kitchen – alcohol, coffee, tobacco, Benzedrine, etc, – but these are very crude, constantly breaking down, and liable to injure the cook. Literary composition in the twentieth century A.D. is pretty much what it was in the twentieth century B.C.: nearly everything still has to be done by hand.
That’s W.H. Auden in his essay “Writing” in The Dyer’s Hand. I don’t need drugs to fuel writing, but a nice cup of java on a Saturday afternoon while reading sure is nice.
Writing tools old and new
Do the tools we use change what and how we write? No doubt a good pen and decent paper helped many a Victorian writer speed through creating their hefty serialized novels.
In 1874 Mark Twain bought a “newfangled” typewriter for $125. He typed just two letters on it before deciding to give it away. He was sure it was somehow ruining his morals. His friend William Dean Howells ended up with it. Twain quipped, “He [Howells] took it home to Boston, and my morals began to improve, but his have never recovered.” Of course Hemingway famously said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
When computers came along many a writer refused to use one and a number still claim to write without one. They change the way we work, but do they change the way we write? Computers have definitely allowed some interesting experiments in writing with hyperlinks and unusual formating. Still, I don’t think typewriters or computers or other writing aids change writing as much as culture and taste and the world as a whole being so much closer to us in the everyday than it has ever been before. Really, when it comes down to it, Auden is right. Writing is still pretty much the same as it has always been.
You might be interested in this comment:
http://marksinthemargin.blogspot.com/search/label/Handwriting
Agreed, although I think there’s a mindset people have about how they write that can affect what they produce. Handwriting, or working at a typewriter versus a computer, a laptop or desktop … in a sun-lit room or a closeted office space … in big, fancy lettering or a pristine typeface … that all puts people in a different mood, if you ask me. But that only puts them in the right creative state—the rest comes down to thought and talent. So I agree—writing is writing, whatever the platform.
After working with the students, and having been through my own son’s problems with writing (he is slightly dyslexic), I have come to the conclusion that there is a big difference with using a computer – although not to do with morals, lol! (Loved that bit!) Many of my students find that their syntax and grammar become much worse when typing on a computer. There is definitely a link between brain and hand that produces a better rhythmic flow of composition. Of course, not all people will even notice this – those with good to excellent writing skills probably won’t mind what medium they work in. But when composition doesn’t come quite so easily, returning to a pen is certainly a way to break the blockage and to get language flowing more elegantly and easily.
I love that Hemingway quote. Interesting what Litlove has to say above in her comment–I’m not sure I could write out a blog post by hand anymore (and my handwriting has suffered greatly by typing–I can barely write a legible letter anymore–need more practice!). I wonder just how most writers work–whether they compose using a computer of if anyone still writes by hand or typepwriter–it would be fun to find out who and how they work.
Richard, yes, aren’t there some fairly recent studies showing that writing by hand aids comprehension and memory? From personal experience I know they do. But in original composition, I’m not certain that it matters all that much.
Stephanie, oh agreed. Every writer is idiosyncratic on the creation of their writing space sometimes down to the brand and color of paper and the kind of lightbulb in their desklamp. But yeah, when it comes to the actual writing part, not much has changed.
Litlove, that’s very interesting. I wonder if the speed at which a computer allows us to compose is too fast for some people for various reasons, either because of skill or experience or a situatin like your son’s? Writing with a pen forces our thoughts to slow down to the speed of the pen. Plus it isn’t easy to erase pen so we tend to be more careful and thoughtful than when writing directly on a computer.
Danielle, can’t you imagine Hemingway sitting down and dripping blood on his typewriter keys from working so hard? The only thing I write by hand these days are letters, grocery lists, and my diary (which I’m getting back onto doing regularly thanks in part to your diary enthusiasm!). I think there are a number of writer who still compose their works longhand. Stephen King claims to as I believe does Philip Roth, Orhan Pamuk, Katzuo Ishiguro, and Margaret Atwood moves between pen and computer. Whatever works, right?
Yay for your diary. Imagine writing a whole book (especially a S King novel) by hand. I can barely manage a card these days. Still, I need to get back into it and limber up those fingers!
I know, thinking back to high school when most all compositions were handwritten makes my hand tired! I’m very glad to be getting back to my diary again. I’ve got so many different colors of ink for my fountain pen(s) that I need to find ways to write more!
Though I’m a writer, I had never thought of this. Leave it to Auden: and he’s right. All the new technological stuff can’t change writers.
Sadly, though, it might change (some) readers. Or their attention spans.
I have to agree with sshaver’s comment.
One sad side effect from computer input is that my handwriting had deteriorated alarmingly. Not illegible, worse luck.
sshaver, Auden is rather perceptive, isn’t he? I agree, technology might change some readers, but I think there are still plenty of us around for whom technology simply allows us more reading options.
Carrie, heh. My handwriting has not deteriorated so badly. I still write letters to a few people. But I have noticed that me and my hand get tired of writing a lot faster than they used to!
I love what Auden says about people enjoying their own handwriting. He also mentions that although he loathed the typewriter, it was helpful in a critical analysis of his own poetry.
To digress — I find it distressing that schools nationwide are eliminating cursive writing in favor of key boarding. Both should be included in any curriculum; they each have benefits. I wrote a post on my other blog about discarding cursive writing…what a loss.
Thanks for reminding me that I loved these essays and encouraging me to find my copy of The Dyer’s Hand.
Jenclair, I’ve not come across Auden’s words on handwriting yet but I look forward to discovering that now! I do like my own handwriting and the way it feels though when I’m in a hurry it gets sloppy. I agree that it is unfortunate that schools are removing cursive writing from the curriculum. It would be so much better for student to be taught both cursive and keyboarding as you suggest. One day when we rule the world we’ll institute that policy
It is in one of the first chapters, and he makes a rather crude comparison!
I do want to rule the world sometimes, but it would be so time consuming, and I’m pretty lazy! If I could be a consultant, you could rule, and I’d just offer opinions.
I’m still early in the book so maybe haven’t gotten to it yet. I’ll be sure to l ook out for it! You’re right, ruling the world would definitely cut into toe reading time. Maybe we could rule by committee or take turns?
I find those coffee-table-styled books that show writers at their desks, or in their workspaces, just fascinating; I like to see who is still using pencil-and-paper and who has the “latest technology”, which, if the book was published in the 1980s is, of course, quite different from what might be sitting on that same writer’s desk if they were to have a snapshot taken today.