image: pen on a page of handwritten words.

I love writing on paper. Few things spark joy in me like a brand-new spiral notebook—and that’s been true almost my whole life. Writing a novel longhand, at least for the first draft, is my personal preference. I don’t write the whole thing by hand before typing it: I transfer it to Word document on my computer now and then as I go.

Every writer is different, and I’m not going to claim that writing a novel by hand is right for everyone. I know that writing on paper isn’t even an option for everyone.

Besides, writing a novel longhand does have its disadvantages. It’s slower, since you’re going to wind up typing it on the computer later, anyway. And if you’re unable to decipher your own handwriting, which is true for lots of people, writing on paper for your first draft is pretty much a non-starter.

Here are a few benefits of writing a story longhand, though. If it’s doable for you and you haven’t tried it, you might want to give it a go, just to see if you like it![spacer height=”20px”]

THE BENEFITS OF WRITING A NOVEL BY HAND versus on a computer #writing a novel longhand #writing on paper

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1. Writing on paper eliminates the distractions of the internet.

I know I’m not the only person who struggles with this. Of course, the other solution is to install an internet blocking app that allows you to block the whole internet…or just the sites you waste time on most often. I’ve found those to be pretty effective as I’ve typed a scene into the computer or as I’ve dived into a round of edits. (I use them to help me focus in my day job, too.)

2. Writing the first draft by hand may make you feel freer and more creative.

The act of writing by hand makes me feel less self-conscious, as if I’m just having fun and writing for me. This may vary from writer to writer, though!

3. Writing longhand helps you remember what you’ve written later.

Have you ever had to read back over a previous chapter to remember what your characters said? Writing the first draft by hand can help with this, because it engages the Reticular Activating System (RAS.)

4. Writing by hand may reduce stress and strain.

Again, this probably varies from writer to writer. For me, the act of writing in a notebook is calming. I like the physical sensation of the words flowing over the page. As someone who spends a lot of her waking hours in front of a screen, it feels good to be away from it. I’ve sometimes suffered physical strain from typing too much: a pinched nerve in the neck, a mild bout of carpal tunnel syndrome. Getting off the keyboard has meant less pain.

5. Writing your first draft longhand means you have a built-in first round of editing.

When you type a chapter you’ve written on paper onto your computer, you naturally do some revisions and edits as you go. That means that even the first typed version of the draft is a little better than it would’ve been otherwise.[spacer height=”20px”]

 

open notebook, pen, coffee, writing on paper

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There may be other pros and cons of writing first drafts by hand versus writing them on the computer. Which do you prefer, and why? Let us know in the comments! There’s no right or wrong here, of course. Everyone’s going to use the method that works best for them.

If you’re writing a novel or you’re just thinking about writing one, I hope you’ll check out Blank Page to Final Draft—it’s a step-by-step guide from brainstorming to doing the final copy edits. It might help you reach your writing goals!

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cover of the book BLANK PAGE TO FINAL DRAFT: How to Plot, Write, and Edit a Novel Step By Step, by by Bryn Donovan

 

Thanks so much for reading, and however you do it, happy writing!

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