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Post by thunderguy on Mar 17, 2021 16:55:49 GMT
When I write, it's usually at the computer, the back-lit keyboard helping me find my place even though I am decent at touch-typing. Do you remember the ending of some of Stephen J. Cannell's tv shows? Apparently finishing up the last line of text on a typewriter, pulling the page out and letting it fly, animated, onto a finished stack? I have an old non-electric typewriter, and every three years or so I pull it out, see if the ribbon's still good, if not hit eBay for something to respool it with. I think sometimes, that if I could carry it into the woods every day, hammer out a page, sip a cup of coffee, breathe some fresh air, that my writing might be improved. Back when I was writing comic books, there were frequent trips to a hospital a few hours away (for my mother, not me). My wife drove, and I sat in the back of the van with a yellow pad and my Sharp-OZ. Ideas were worked out on the pad, and then typed into the Sharp. I still wonder about the manual typewriter concept, but letting my wife drive me around again. Preferably not to the hospital. So I was just curious, for those who write, where do you write, and is it your favorite place? If not, where would the ideal place be? And does anyone use a typewriter, manual or electric? Look forward to your stories.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2021 17:35:31 GMT
I use the Pages program on my mac to write my stories. I use the Stickies app on my mac to save ideas. If I'm not at my computer, I will use either the BasicNote app on my phone or a small, spiral bound notebook and pencil to jot down ideas.
I haven't used a non-electric or manual electric typewriter in donkey's years. And I certainly don't miss the carriage return on the large, manual electric version that would sling back and jerk your arm out of its socket if you didn't shove it hard enough to catch. But, I do kind of miss the little "ding" sound the bell would make when the roller had reached page margin, and the hum of the machine itself.
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Post by markcbrown on Mar 17, 2021 18:25:32 GMT
I tried etching it on stone, but it took wayyyyyy too long.  I use a laptop mostly on the kitchen table. |
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Post by thunderguy on Mar 17, 2021 18:36:22 GMT
I tried etching it on stone, but it took wayyyyyy too long. I use a laptop mostly on the kitchen table. You gotta admit though, stone writings sure do last!  |
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Post by thunderguy on Mar 17, 2021 18:37:09 GMT
But, I do kind of miss the little "ding" sound the bell would make Yeah, me too! |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 17, 2021 20:28:22 GMT
I use a desktop now though I've used a laptop in the past. Once upon a time I used a word processor with a builtin printer and floppy drive. Long long ago in a galaxy far far away I used an antique manual typewriter.
Most ideas just perambulate around in the vacuum between my ears and behind my eyes until I can get them writ.
Serious writing happens at those times der kinder aren't constantly up my six, so not regularly at this point.
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Post by thunderguy on Mar 17, 2021 21:06:05 GMT
I use a desktop now though I've used a laptop in the past. Once upon a time I used a word processor with a builtin printer and floppy drive. Long long ago in a galaxy far far away I used an antique manual typewriter. Most ideas just perambulate around in the vacuum between my ears and behind my eyes until I can get them writ. Serious writing happens at those times der kinder aren't constantly up my six, so not regularly at this point. My der kinder are long grown, so the house is fairly quiet except for the Bailee dog letting me know that UPS is here, the mail is here, there's a fly on the window...
I recently upgraded an old laptop. It ran (sort of ) the ridiculously slow Windows Vista. I put a small SSD drive in it, got a faster Wifi card, and installed a compatible version of Ubuntu, with Office Libre. Got a new battery. I think all in all it was less than $100. I tell ya, these old things still have power for the basics... like writing! Maybe I should take it to the woods instead... I wonder how many people have a laptop thinking it's too outdated to use, when a few dollars and a little patience could make all the difference in the world. Plus the older laptops had CD/DVD which aren't as common these days...
There is a flash (spark?) of genius that hits just as you're about 20 seconds from falling asleep. I used to keep a notepad by my bedside, but when I was too tired to deal with that, I wrote the idea on the sheets with my finger several times. Sounds nuts I know, but it has to do with how the mind transfers information from short-term to long-term. Writing, apparently, is something the brain takes seriously!
Thank you for your reply! |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 17, 2021 21:45:29 GMT
My oldest is 41, my next oldest is now 7 while my oldest granddaughter is I believe 12 now [never met her, but life is what it is].
Ideas I get while drifting off play out in dreams, which I can use to write. The horrific schtuff, I tend not to write down.
My old laptop has a dead keyboard, and all I need is the hard drive.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2021 5:51:11 GMT
I have a "Dragon" program on my computer which i use. So much easier now, no more typing!
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Post by Ken on Mar 18, 2021 9:05:29 GMT
Cameron may find this interesting: The only type writer I ever used was one I electrified with Ledex solenoids as a reporting device for a Feedback Classroom.
I also spent many hours with teleprinters but not for writing stories.
All my publications created in my Study using first Pagemaker and now InDesign on Apple iMac.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 18, 2021 12:32:36 GMT
In the lead up to WWII, the USAAF technical training for my father was teletype maintenance, a task he never actually performed during his time in uniform [September 1941 through December 1945].
The manual typewriter I pecked on while doing a few reports in high school was one a company he worked for was tossing since it had no resale value; as far as I know he never used it.
Perhaps when we can get a two-room addition built we'll have a library / study.
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Post by cadbob on Apr 2, 2021 23:52:13 GMT
I generally write sitting at my desk using Word on my desktop computer. However, when it comes to editing, I'm a bit old school in that I print the material out in hardcopy and do a hardcopy edit of the material. I then go back into Word and do a redline (some people call it a blueline) edit of the soft copy, save the original file as an edited version, and I send that back to the writer. My own work, depending on what it is and what its for, I get my publishing partner to do an edit.
I originally learned to type on an old IBM Selectrek typewriter. It's been many many years since I used a typewriter, and I find I can't type very well on a laptop. Much prefer a separate keyboard. On occasion, I have used a separate keyboard plugged into my iPad to type, but generally prefer to use my desktop PC & keyboard.
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Post by thunderguy on Apr 3, 2021 19:36:12 GMT
I generally write sitting at my desk using Word on my desktop computer. However, when it comes to editing, I'm a bit old school in that I print the material out in hardcopy and do a hardcopy edit of the material. I then go back into Word and do a redline (some people call it a blueline) edit of the soft copy, save the original file as an edited version, and I send that back to the writer. My own work, depending on what it is and what its for, I get my publishing partner to do an edit. I originally learned to type on an old IBM Selectrek typewriter. It's been many many years since I used a typewriter, and I find I can't type very well on a laptop. Much prefer a separate keyboard. On occasion, I have used a separate keyboard plugged into my iPad to type, but generally prefer to use my desktop PC & keyboard. I agree that hard-copy editing can for some be a bit more effective. I edited an anthology a couple of years ago, and after reading it multiple times, running it through Grammarly.com, finding and correcting a hundred errors, I ordered a print copy through Lulu for proofing. Went through a pack of post-it notes and did a lot of highlighting. I think the brain must function differently between digital and tangible
Tangible. I love it.
I learned typing in high-school. I honestly can't remember if they were manual or electric; but I had a leg-up since we had two typewriters at home and my older siblings taught me finger placement, so I did pretty well. Still have the old family manual Royal around here. I also don't do as well on a laptop. My wife treated me to a back-lit keyboard earlier this year as I'd worn the letters off half the keys of my old one. Spent about $6 for a two-pack of stick-on keys and refurbished it.
Still love the back-lit one though.
Thanks for sharing!
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