Guest Post by Christina Q
Sometimes the old ways of doing things are better.
I began my writing journey when I was in the third grade, and back then we didn’t have computers so everything I did was handwritten.
Once computers came around writing became a breeze. No more hand cramps, or swollen fingers. No more tennis elbow!
However, something strange happened recently. As I was editing my novel for submission, I noticed those annoying red, green, blue, and yellow lines!
I was hit with an AH-moment.
The lines highlighting my mistakes are distracting!
When I realized this, I did some googling, cause that’s what you do when you are distracted and you need to do something while you’re in front of a computer, right? It was then I discovered something revolutionary.
And it was simple.
And it was something I had been doing since I was a little girl.
Handwriting out my work.
Here are three benefits of writing your work using pen and paper:
1. Distractions
The moment I opened the notebook, picked up a pen and began writing three hours flew by. There were no lines, no distractions just me and the words. And it was liberating. I understand those things are meant to help our writing, but it also hinders the writing process.
Of course, you can turn those lines off but what about the internet? Sure, you could download a bunch of apps and do some fancy stuff but hey, you know how to turn that off.
2. No pressure
Writing with a pen left no pressure. If I made a spelling mistake or forgot a something, I wasn’t filled with the pestering feeling that I needed to go back and rework the sentence or fix anything.
3. Plot builds naturally.
The inspiration I subscribed to was the Four Notebook Method, which you can google about and take the course. In general, you use the four notebooks in an organized way to build your story like so:
· Notebook 1: This is where your problem starts. Things are so bad that by the end something has to give!
· Notebook 2: Here we create the challenge that our problem in Notebook 1 caused, but by the end, things start looking up.
· Notebook 3: In this notebook, things go from bad to worse. This is where your characters ask themselves, can we ever solve this issue?
· Notebook 4: Big finish! This is the confrontation or the change that happens. You know where everything comes together or leaves on a cliffhanger.
I know convincing someone to ditch the computer and return to the Stone Age is a hard nut to crack but trust me. But the freedom to create and explore your imagination is worth the callus returning on your finger (in my case my ring finger), and the hand cramps.
Since adopting this method, I’ve never felt more refreshed and excited about writing. Bringing back the love I had when I first discovered story writing in the third grade.
So, what are you waiting for, go get yourself some notebooks!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina is the Friend-obsessed creative behind Christina Q Writes. As a full-time freelance writer, she helps clients in need of fantastic content. Christina Q Writes is where she tips on awkwardly getting through the day, with or without a good glass of wine or a good cry.
Instagram:@Christinaq.Writer
Links: Website: https://www.christinaqwrites.com
