Becoming Jane was on television the other night. I caught bits and pieces of it because I was doing other things and not really paying attention. But, I did see a scene where she was writing a portion of one of her novels. She dipped the quill in ink and began writing on parchment. She paced about the room a bit, as if contemplating a scene or dialogue, and went back to writing. She then crossed out some lines. That is when it hit me. All of her novels started off in longhand and before being sent to the publisher were edited and rewritten in longhand again. I wonder how many revisions the novels went through before it was perfect, or how much parchment and ink.
I’ve written in longhand before and gone on to type it into the computer. I considered the typing the second draft. But, I cannot imagine all drafts and finals being in longhand. Goodness, I am not sure an editor would be able to read my handwriting past chapter 2. I tend to start of neat, but the more I write, the more it becomes indecipherable.
Have you ever written an entire novel in longhand? Have you written partial manuscripts? If we did not live in the day of computers, would you give up writing because of writer’s cramp?
Years ago, of course...but now my hand cramps up and I get all irritable and the muse does not want to hang around me --
ReplyDeletehow spoiled we are.
I write everything out long hand first. I consider when I type it up the first round of edits.
ReplyDeleteI write my extended outlines longhand, but only because I like the creative freedom my sloppiness gives me. When I start "officially" writing my first draft, I need my keyboard under my fingers - both for speed and legibility.
ReplyDeleteIn middle school I wrote my first "book". About 150 pages. My hand did cramp, but not all the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful for computers. LOL
I've written a novella in longhand - that was in junior high or 6th grade, I believe. And then I transcribed it onto the computer before I even learned how to type. Now I feel old!
ReplyDeleteI actually bought a quill pen, ink, and parchment paper last year and started writing letters with it. It is an artform, no doubt about it, because my pages are all very messy with blobs of ink and some letters lighter than others. It's a skill. I can't imagine writing an entire novel that way, but I really would like to try and write a short story with this method. Maybe we should all challenge ourselves to do the same so we can be "just like Jane", too!
My first novel was written in long hand on legal pads because I would write anywhere, and it was before I had a laptop. Those papers are stored somewhere, but now that I carry my laptop everywhere, I cna't imagine handwriting anything.
ReplyDeletewe are spoiled. I remember the days of writing my thesis in college on paper, then having it typed with carbons...talk about the dark ages-no computers or COPYING machines back then. lol!
ReplyDeleteI've written several manuscripts out longhand and I am so glad for computers so I don't have to do that anymore. I type way faster than I write, too, so it's more convenient all around!
ReplyDeleteI wrote my first one longhand - I think I was seven at the time. I'd hate to go back though.
ReplyDeleteI have never written one in longhand. But to be sure, it would probably be a "short story." :)
ReplyDeleteyears ago I wrote some long stories in longhand--then bought a typewriter.
ReplyDeleteI saw that movie and enjoyed it!
I have trouble writing a bunch of thank you notes in longhand. When we type all the time, we aren't practicing good penmanship and then it is almost difficult. Even though I don't write books, I do like to keep notepads everywhere so I can write down things as I think of them - - whether blog ideas or letters to people or presentations I might need for work. However I prefer a keyboard. It can put my thoughts down "on paper" much faster than an ink pen.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy -
ReplyDeleteLonghand is way to slow for this girl. Give me a computer any day.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Amy -
ReplyDeleteA P.S. to my previous post. This is the first time I've been able to comment on this format. Yahoo! I think my problem is solved.
Susan
I do a lot of writing longhand, especially in the summer. I take yellow legal pads to the pool and write while the kids swim.
ReplyDeleteI haven't used paper in about 15 years. But yes, in high school I did. We had an electric typewriter and I used that a lot. I didn't have the greatest penmanship.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
Uggh! I can barely write a letter in longhand! I never would have made it! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteFor me there is nothing like the hitch of a pen as it flows across a page. I love writing long hand. Unfortunately, time constraints have forced me to the computer. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHi, Amy
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. Yes, it's great to be finished with Southern Comfort.
As to your question, when I first started writing back in 1994, I didn't own a computer, but I had one at work. For a few months I did go to the library, write pages in long hand, and then type them on my work computer during lunch. Didn't take me long to get a used computer, and from there, everything was ALL TYPED. It befuddles my mind when I meet people, and they sometimes think I write my first drafts in longhand!! I have to patiently explain that I don't do that, I type everything. People tell me they can't type very well. I tell them when you start writing books all the time, you're gonna learn to type. If computers were gone, I'd still write. I'd just assume my hands would get used to writing longhand and they won't cramp up as much!
My first story was written longhand and I have to say I cursed every page as I was typing it out. Now I only ever hand write a small section and only because either the computer is off or I'm away from home. I always carry a little notebook in the handbag and its filled with snippets of dialogue or description.
ReplyDelete