Pen/Paper or Computer?

Sometimes I find it hard to pick which to write with: pen/paper or a computer. Ultimately, everything ends up in the computer. It has to be typed up. I can't imagine having to write a book on a typewriter.

Believe it or not, I do remember using a typewriter. When I was in elementary school and wanted my homework to look nice, I typed it up. The funny thing is that it was on colored paper, because for some reason, that was the only blank paper we'd have. And I wasn't a good typist, so I'd use the correction key and have little white-out spots where I made mistakes. Still, it was better than my handwriting - which I always seemed to get bad grades on back then.

Now, I bounce between typing my laptop or writing in my notebooks. Yes, that's notebooks - plural. I keep two of them.

I quickly realized that I needed to keep something on my nightstand, so when I had ideas I had some place to write them down on. It didn't take me long to get into the habit of writing every night before I went to sleep in that notebook. Sometimes, it would be pages. Sometimes, it would be a paragraph or two. Often, it was a continuation of a scene that I was working on in my computer, but not always. In the morning, I would take my notebook with me to my computer and type it in. The only time I wrote in that notebook would be at night.

Last night, I used up the last page in it. It's weird because it's its own sense of accomplishment. I don't ever remember the last time I used up an entire notebook - even in school. I would start a notebook, but never have the need to use every page (front and back). Well, I think once in math class in high school, I might have done that. But, through all the years of college - undergrad and grad - I never have. When I think about it, why would I? Back then, classes would be 10 weeks or 15 weeks long, then a new one would start. This would mean a new notebook. Or, to be honest, I'd lose one and have to get a new one. It was never all that important for me to hang on to one specific one so I could see my progress. Now, it was. Tonight, I'll start a new notebook and I'm looking forward to it.

My second notebook I carry around with me, all the time. It's smaller than your standard piece of paper - ie, not 8.5" x 11". But not quite half that size. It fits easily in my purse - granted I don't carry around small tiny purses. I keep various notes on my characters and their backgrounds in it. It's my reference. It's where I jot down the flashes of ideas or feelings I get about an upcoming scene. Just lke my feeling of accomplishment when I finished my nighttime notebook, I had a similar thing happen with my daytime notebook. My daytime book has different colored sections. When I completed one colored section and started the next one, I was proud. Again, I couldn't really remember the last time I had done that - except that same high school math class.

Last school year, some of my students asked me to come to one of their games in the gym. I went. I had fun watching them and I wanted to remember cetain things about the experience of sitting in the stands. I took out my notebook and started jotting down some things. Things I didn't want to forget. After that, I made sure I had it with me wherever I went. When I go out to dinner, I have it out. I'll write when we're waiting for a table or for our food. You never know when inspiration will hit.

At home, my laptop is always within reach - although, I have drawn the line at bringing it into the bedroom with me. So, I'll type directly in it. It's nice to do that. To be able to hit the backspace key to delete dialogue that doesn't work or edit a scene quickly is nice. Especially, when you compare it to physically writing it in a notebook and you have to cross out the words. It's also a heck of a lot easier to insert text anywhere. When you do that in a notebook, there's lots of arrows and symbols you have to use. Well, I do.

My writing, more specifically, my writing in notebooks have sparked an interest in colored pens. I don't like to write in black or blue ink. There's something formal or standard about it. It doesn't feel creative. Now, I wouldn't sign a letter of recommendation for a student or a grant with anything but one of those colors. However, for my writing I'll use bright, fun colors. For instance? Well, my daytime notebook has a turquoise, bright green and bright red (not the kind you would correct papers in) attached to it in the spiral binding. In my nighttime notebook, I use bright orange and mellow green pens. I like to alternate between the colors when I write. So, one day it's orange, the next is green. Besides labelling the date on the top of each new entry, it's easier to see the new thoughts because the colors change. That's my logic at least. So, with the back to school sales, I got carried away getting new colors of ballpoint pens. But, to my surprise, I've used up a few pens already. I've never done that - even in school - used up all the ink in a pen.

So, do I have a preference between pen/paper and a computer to write? Depends. Sometimes. But, overall? No. I can write just as easily with either. I'm just happy to write.

Starting anew...

So, it's the third week of school and I've started my second book. Don't I have a lot to do? Sure. Aren't I supposed to make time for myself? Sure. That's what writing is for me. I love it. I'm having fun with my characters. So, I'm having a blast.

It's strange because this time, compared to the first book, I'm writing from the beginning. At least right now. During the first book, I actually wrote the scene/chapter that's more of a third of the way in first. I wrote what came to me and that's what came to me. I had been thinking about that scene for quite awhile before I finally wrote it down. I jumped around and wrote other "major" scenes, loosely connecting them on paper (okay, in the computer and on paper - more on that later) and in my head. But now, perhaps because it feels like I still in the middle of the story, I feel the need to start at the beginning (the continuation of the previous book?). I don't know if I'll continue chronologically like that, but for now, I'm focused on a particular time frame in it.

I liked re-reading my book for editing and making sure everything is smoothed out. I crack myself up sometimes. So, if I’m the only person that’s amused by certain things in it, that’s okay. I made at least one person laugh. I’d read my book and it would be time for me to go to sleep – I do have a day job, after all – but wouldn’t want to put it down because “I wanted to find out what happened next.” Of course, my husband would look at me like I was nuts because I wrote the thing and I did know what happened next. Only, as a reader, I was enjoying the journey. Again, if I’m the only one that enjoys the journey, at least I’m proud of what I did. I never like putting out junk. If my name is on it, I need it to be the best it can. Can the final version be better. Probably. For now, after a couple reads, I know I have to step away and get some perspective on it before editing it again.

I am glad to be back to writing, though. It’s like a euphoria or something. It makes me smile. Could I be getting more sleep (or should I)? Yeah. Heck, I’m teaching a brand new class this year – one that I’ve lobbied for, got students to sign up for and is new to the school, so there’s no book for it – but making time to do write for me, and not just my lessons, is important to me. Happiness for the soul. Sounds corny, I know. But it’s true.

Educator. Engineer. Writer? Huh?

Yes, I'm all three. I see myself as all three. Can I make up my mind and pick a career or passion? Do I have to? I don't think so.

How did this happen? Well, contrary to what others who know me might think, it wasn't out of the blue. I've been writing in my head and on paper for years. Since when? Well, around sixth grade. When I was in college, I wanted to double major in computer engineering and theater. That didn't happen because every engineer class I had was at the same time that every theater class I needed. It was like they didn't think someone would ever be in both! So, I had to pick one.

Then, I thought that when I was ready to go back for my Master's it would be for my MFA. When I did go for my Master's, I had decided to change careers to teaching. So, I winded up getting my Master's in education. Why did I switch from the well-paid career of engineering to the not-so-well-paid career teaching? The short answer? I had done volunteer work with an organization that I was involved in as a junior/senior high student since college and wanted to continue to work with high school students. So, I became a high school math teacher. I love it. Some people are meant to teach kindergarteners and elementary school. That's not me. Whenever the thought of teaching crossed my mind it was working in a high school. Teenagers are great!

All the while, writing was there. Through junior high, high school, college, my engineering career and teaching. My writing took on different forms. I've written scripts. Short stories based on script ideas I had. And now? I've written a book. The first in a series.

Now, it's not like I have immense amount of free time. I do a lot. I'm involved in a lot. Those that know me would be shocked that I wrote a 120,000 word novel. But, they wouldn't be surprised that I completed it - only that I found the time to do it. It was important to me. I wrote every day - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. But I wrote. And now, aside from some editing. It's done.

What's next? Well, I'm now looking into the process of getting it published. And I've started the second book. So, now it's become two projects, instead of just one. And, of course, I'm still editing the first one.