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No matter what happens...

by Dexx
14 replies
For some reason, no matter what I do, I still find myself going back to writing with pen and paper when it comes to my initial copywriting efforts.

Any time I try to start out writing a piece of copy in a word program, or in a notes application, I can't quite get my creative juices flowing.

But a blank piece of paper and a pen...the ideas just come flooding out!

Am I the only one? Or do you also still prefer to use pen and paper too?

~Dexx
#matter
  • Profile picture of the author maximus242
    For some people the physical effects of moving a pen on paper trigger a neurological pattern that activates various synapses and can result in the release of dopamine as well as activating different areas of your brain.

    This is why some people only draw well with a pencil instead of on a computer - or write well with a pen and paper instead of with a word processor. It often comes down to the individual.
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    • Profile picture of the author Pusateri
      Same here. I feel tight and constrained sitting in front of a keyboard.

      Prefer putting pen to pad sitting in my recliner or with feet propped on my desk. Foot elevation may be the key.
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  • Profile picture of the author racso316
    Me too. I have to write with a pen and paper in my hand.
    Same with reading, it has to be physically in my hands, with pages and all. Especially if it's more than 100 pages.
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    I have to write first drafts on my computer. If I don't, I find myself losing ideas since my brain works a lot faster than my writing hand does. I'm a fairly speedy typist, so keeping the first drafts on the hard drive ensures I capture more of that initial brainstorming process.

    However, I've always maintained that my real writing happens in the editing. That's when I tend to print out a hard copy of whatever I'm working on so that I can have that joy of physically marking, adding, and deleting things by hand. There's something amazing about pen and paper when you're a writer.

    Thank you for the late night smile!
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
      I do a mixture - write by hand.

      Then type it out.

      Sometimes type it then rewrite or edit by hand.

      One thing that is handy - always carry a small recorder - (most cell phones let you record).

      It's great when you have a sudden inspirational thought - how often has that happened when you haven't got a pen?


      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author KingOfContentMarketing
    Write it out by hand. Scribble and scratch to your heart's content. Then read the end result into Dragon for your first computer draft.
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    Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
    - Jack Trout
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  • Profile picture of the author 1luckyman
    Definately pad and paper for ideas and that first draft.

    Tried Dragon a while back without much joy - but like the idea. Thanks for the reminder - might just pick up a current version.

    Stay Lucky!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dreamer333
    Weird...works the opposite for me for some reason. A blank piece of paper and a pen gives me the worst writer's block but a blank screen gets the creative juices flowing just about every time. I'm a tree hugger so maybe it's the thought of wasting paper that stops me cold in my tracks. Lol!
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    • Profile picture of the author Raydal
      I would often do my planning or copy outline along with
      any brainstorming by hand but from there it's the
      keyboard. I don't want to have to write anything
      twice that I could write once.

      But there are not hard and fast rules. Whatever
      works for is what works!

      -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author alexk9
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author MissLauraCatella
    I'm actually different from the majority of the respondents so far.

    Give me a blank Word doc and I zoom! This may be because I type about 100 WPM and using paper and pen means more time, and moving far slower than my ideas come to me.

    Should an idea strike me for copy (or something creative) while I'm away from a computer, I much prefer to jot it down with pen and paper than make a note on my phone. I feel guilty for this because I feel like I should be getting all I can out of this fancy phone, and moving more towards the future of notetaking.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Ausin
    For me it's opening a new google doc > F11 to full screen (so that I don't see tabs of facebook/reddit and whatever else I've been using to procrastinate) and I let it rip.. First sentences are crap, but then slowly something good starts coming out

    However, when I analyze a sales letter.. I write out things by hand. It takes hours sometimes.. but when I'm done I feel I've learned something.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Dexx View Post

    For some reason, no matter what I do, I still find myself going back to writing with pen and paper when it comes to my initial copywriting efforts.

    Any time I try to start out writing a piece of copy in a word program, or in a notes application, I can't quite get my creative juices flowing.

    But a blank piece of paper and a pen...the ideas just come flooding out!

    Am I the only one? Or do you also still prefer to use pen and paper too?

    ~Dexx
    Personally I have to use the keyboard for everything. As soon as I pick up a pen and start to write, I get the most extraordinary painful cramps in my right hand. Had this problem ever since I was a kid.

    Very quick notes are fine by pen but no more than a couple of sentences before cramp sets in.

    And just lately the old wrist is starting to play up too. Still for a one fingered typist, I don't think I do too bad at 50-60wpm. You've never seen one middle finger fly across the keyboard as quickly as this one when I really get going up to speed. Admittedly all of my joints in my right hand these days are cracking constantly, it is what it is, just got to put up with it - it's all good.

    As for ideas, there's never a shortage of those. Almost too many for my mind to possibly keep up with. I'm forever jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to make extra notes on something.


    Mark Andrews
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