Anyone else still write their first draft in ink or am I the only weirdo?😄 #writing #writingcommunity
Replies
I had to learn how to write stories on a typewriter in college journalism classes (which switched to computer quickly), so I write on the computer because it is easier than longhand writing.
jul 6, 2025, 4:50 am • 1 0 • view
It's my dream. But once a notebook went missing and with it the dreams of the novel... so now I'm reluctantly an "idea in turquoise ink in a nice notebook; actual draft on a cloud backed-up doc." kinda guy.
jul 6, 2025, 3:34 am • 1 0 • view
A missing notebook is the stuff of nightmares! But I started writing before cloud storage existed, and back then computers were malevolent pixies that could disappear your files.
jul 6, 2025, 7:54 am • 0 0 • view
Pat Conroy wrote all his novels in ink on 8"x14" legal pads. You're in good company.
jul 5, 2025, 11:37 am • 0 0 • view
It feels like the most natural way to write.
jul 5, 2025, 12:04 pm • 1 0 • view
I did this once when my laptop broke and actually really enjoyed the experience of writing with pen and paper again. I still haven't got round to transcribing the hand-written draft, though 😅
jul 5, 2025, 11:33 am • 0 0 • view
That’s the problem! It is laborious to type it all up…
jul 5, 2025, 11:35 am • 1 0 • view
I do! And I write a number of successive drafts in pen until I feel it is strong enough to enter an electronic screen without getting sapped!
jul 15, 2025, 10:59 am • 1 0 • view
I’ve tried. Unfortunately I have a doctor’s handwriting and I’m unable to read like a pharmacist.
jul 5, 2025, 9:14 pm • 1 0 • view
Longhand first drafts help me think. They're kind first and a half drafts since I can work out kinks while getting from my head onto the page...& the whole iterative bit of rereading and revising sections in progress before I ever type them up. Also Lauren Groff does all her first drafts longhand.
jul 6, 2025, 8:15 am • 1 0 • view
That’s exactly it for me. Writing longhand feels more naturally connected to thinking and inspiration; typing up is good for re-evaluating and editing.
jul 6, 2025, 8:21 am • 2 0 • view
I did in high school, but eventually I moved to only keeping notes in ink. That said, it’s a very romantic idea to write it all out in ink~ Just not for my left handed self ;p
jul 6, 2025, 1:24 pm • 1 0 • view
I used to only be able to do that, but I trained myself to work on the computer to save time. Now, I can't write without a keyboard :/
jul 22, 2025, 2:16 pm • 1 0 • view