helpfulsnowman's picture
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helpfulsnowman from Colorado is reading But What If We're Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman August 19, 2018 - 3:39pm

I was using an IBM Selectric II that I came upon, just for kicks. It's kinda fun. It's probably not the most practical thing, but it's certainly different. Writing on it feels a little different.

Anyone experimented with typewriters at all? What'd you find?

Max's picture
Max from Texas is reading goosebumps August 22, 2018 - 9:36pm

A couple years ago I was really big on using typewriters for first drafts. I even wrote an article about it! I haven't used it too much lately mainly because I'm too afraid the noise is bothering folks in my house, even though they've never once complained. They're fun!

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Thuggish from Vegas is reading Day of the Jackal August 23, 2018 - 9:26pm

I was trying to find a youtube link of Ron Swanson getting one but couldn't. Apologies for my failure...

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Andrew Koury from Ohio is reading We Cast A Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin August 23, 2018 - 10:52pm

I just got a typewriter a couple of weeks ago. I love using it to brainstorm and to take new ideas out on a test drive. It keeps my self doubt down since I can't delete anything. I just have to push through and because of that I end up discovering something new while I write. So I find it's best with experimenting with a different style or story and that it's good for brainstorming because you can't delete the prose or open a new tab. This also helps with the 'revising the opening of your story or book indefinitely instead of moving on to the rest' problem.

helpfulsnowman's picture
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helpfulsnowman from Colorado is reading But What If We're Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman August 26, 2018 - 8:47pm

Nice article!

I tried it out. I DO like the lack of distractions, and you're right, Andrew, with no delete option, you're motivated to just charge through. 

It is pretty fun. Adds nice variety to the writing task. 

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KevinDamen from Sittard, The Netherlands is reading The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks August 30, 2018 - 4:26am

I find writing on a typewriter changes my state of mind. I sometimes use one that doesn't have correction ribbon, so every mistake I make and every sentence that I think is just too cringy, that's a reason to start over. For me, the typewriter made me think ahead two sentences, like you would plotting out chess moves. "What does this lead up to?" It made me more deliberate. 

Also, the sound of it is soothing.

helpfulsnowman's picture
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helpfulsnowman from Colorado is reading But What If We're Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman September 7, 2018 - 9:53am

There is something to it, isn't there? It feels mechanical, like you're getting something done. Like you're being more productive somehow. 

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stewart_jas from Dallas, Texas is reading 'The Misfits Manifesto' by Lidia Yuknavitch February 8, 2019 - 9:56am

I just bought a manual Royal Caravan. I spend so much time in front of a computer for work, I dread going home and doing something I enjoy in front of my laptop. I feel it will give me a break and I can finally break the doldrums and finally F'ing finish something.