The Case for Pen and Paper
Smartphones and computers abound. Why would anyone write something down on paper when digital devices are so handy and easy to use? And I ask this as I type on a laptop computer and proceed to save the file on my computer.
When trying to understand something, I find it helps to jot down ideas and even to draw pictures or graphs to portray ideas in a nonlinear fashion. Eventually it may end up in a computer file, but the initial information gathering and idea formulation is often done with pen and paper. These rough notes can form the basis of a more comprehensive work on a computer in a file stored on a disk.
Be more involved in the process
The act of handwriting is an important life skill. School curricula are going back to including cursive writing. To write something by hand is to experience it in a fuller way. It is more than keyboard strikes. By hand, each letter is formed, each word completed, and each sentence is crafted. There is no spell checker. Spelling is the responsibility of the writer. There is a high level of involvement in the writing process.
Forming each letter requires skill and coordination. The writer is focused on the text. The ability to focus on a task is a valuable life skill and not just for children and students. In a world with shorter and shorter attention spans, it is important for us to develop and maintain attention on a task.
One issue I have when writing on a computer is the sense of tunnel vision. The screen only displays a portion of the page. The information available to the eye while writing is limited. When writing on paper, the whole page is visible and, if there are multiple pages, they can all be visible at the same time. It is my experience that the global perspective is missing on electronic media.
A more personal and complete experience
Writing by hand can slow down the process, providing time to think things through. The author is more involved in the process. Each letter is formed individually. The process is personal.
The experience is more complete. The writer has a feel for the paper and for the pen. Applying the ink to the paper is a process, an experience. The creative process is intentional. The pen and paper are chosen to work together. The outcome can be viewed at different levels at the same time. The entire page can be seen at once, or each word can be reviewed, or even each letter. All of these levels are happening at the same time. It is an overall process. If the goal is penmanship, there is the satisfaction of the shapes of the letters and words. The overall structure of the text is visible on the page. The text is both information and art. Experiencing the text at so many levels enhances the experience.
Resist the urge to just go to the keyboard and start typing. Take the time to plan out what you are going to say, put it down on paper, and craft those thoughts and ideas into a cohesive whole. Enjoy the experience of the process.
