Technology has given writers the ability to easily type out their works. However, some writers still prefer a pen over a computer.

Which do you like? Do you indulge in the romance of pens and quills? Do you like the feel of typewriter keys against your fingertips? Are you addicted to the light of a computer?

Do you find pleasure in it all?

I have to use a computer. I can't imagine writing for very long in longhand. I do make notes in a notebook that I carry around in my purse so that I can 'work on my story' while sitting in the doctor's office, or waiting for someone somewhere. What about you?

I usually use the computer. Sometimes, I like ink and muscle when I write poetry. It really just depends on my mood. However, blogging has gotten me into the swing of using a computer. I would have never guessed that I could type so fast. Lol.

Your idea to carry a notebook is a good one. Something small that you can use to jot down ideas. That's the problem. Sometimes a good idea can escape like a moth through shutters.

Also, if you ever decide to try a quill pen, I recommend it. Just the novelty is enough fun to keep a writer occupied =)

I love the feel of a pen in my hand, the scratch against paper, the smell of the ink. However, trying to redecipher those scratches of ink into something I can transcribe onto the computer can be more trouble than its worth. My handwriting is horrible, but I type 75+ words per minute.

So, if the muse just won't come, or I just can't stand it until I feel that pen in hand, I use ink and paper - but if I'm on a roll, don't get between me and that keyboard!

Hello W.L. Elliott! Thanks for participating.

My handwriting isn't the best either. Therefore, I totally understand why you might have issues with pen and paper. However, I do agree that there is no real substitution for a pen.

Wow, 75+ WPM? That's great! I have no idea how many words per minute I type. I know I'm fast. However, I've never taken a proper test. I wonder if there is a website that tests a person's ability.

Sometimes a keyboard is just amazing. At times, I find myself thankful that many writers today can acquire a computer. Plus, creating submission packets and cover letters is a breeze thanks to our trusty keyboards!

http://www.typingtest.com/

There is a link to a typing test for you.

Thanks! I appreciate it!

I wrote my novel The MoonQuest longhand because, at the time, I associated typing with the deadlines and pressure of my previous career as a freelance writer. Writing longhand -- and away from my desk -- helped me connect with what I felt called to write not with the expectations of others that had marked my freelancing. In fact, I wrote the first two drafts entirely with pen and paper

My book on writing, The Voice of the Muse (where I talk about this very topic), was written partly longhand and partly on the computer. By then, I had largely broken my old patterns and associations. But my lifestyle was such that writing in the car was very convenient. Using a laptop in the car wasn't convenient, so I wrote longhand.

As I work on a sequel to The MoonQuest, I'm writing mostly on the computer. But if I feel stuck or just need a change, pen and paper is a great fallback.

I hope this helps.