If you think that in this technological era hand-writing is absurd, let me enlighten you. Studies have shown that when you hand-write more areas of your brain are activated than when you type.
French neurophysiologist Jean-Luc Velay and Anne Mangen, an associate professor in the Reading Center at the University of Stavanger in Norway wrote a research paper published in "Advances in Haptics" on the differences between learning letters by hand-writing and doing it by using a keyboard. Based on a study done on a group of adult volunteers, they concluded that the process was more efficient in the group who learned by hand-writing. This efficiency correlated with more activated areas of brain activity.
Berninger, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, found that kids in grades 3, 4 and 6 who wrote their essays by hand expressed more ideas and used more words than those who used the keyboard for the same purpose. There are other studies that showed similar findings.
Now I understand why I need to hand-write all my short stories and essays before working on the keyboard.
Go ahead! Grab a pen, get that old note-pad from your drawer and let your thoughts run on paper. You may end up making interesting discoveries...
Hi Julia .. I do both - but actually I find I work better on the machine ... but I do write out personal letters and make notes/drafts of things by hand - so this place has notes all over the show and Word has acres of notes typed up!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the brain is extra activated by using handwriting ...
Cheers for now - Hilary
Hi Hilary. Yes, I only write my first drafts on paper and then I use the keyboard. But I can't start on the computer from scratch.
DeleteGood to know. I usually write first drafts by hand, and revise printouts by hand.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good method, Richard.
DeleteOh I have the most atrocious penmanship! It is truly so awful my manager at work has made it part of my contract that I type anything up as we have a pen and paper work diary and my jottings are not appreciated. LOL! So I do envy those still able to scribble legibly! What an art form!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
Hi Old Kitty. I never said my writing was neat and tidy when I write my first drafts. But I understand it, so it is good enough for me. Then I use the keyboard to go through the different phases of editing.
DeleteJulia: What a lost art! I actually still write drafts and thoughts into journals long before I get to a computer. It really does something to the thought process.
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DeleteI agree, JJ. I need to let the turmoil in my head out on paper before I sit in front of the computer.
Deleteinteresting. Good to remember. Sometimes handwriting will unlock a poem or a scene for me, but for the most part, I'm so trained on the computer...
ReplyDeleteYes, Emily. I wouldn't be able to edit on paper because I'm used to the computer, but my creative thoughts flow better on the paper.
DeleteI would write by hamd more often, but being a lefty, it's rather hard to decipher :)
ReplyDeleteI used to write letters for my mother and daugther by hand writing. I love hand wrting due I can express with all my energy what I am creating in my mind.MS
ReplyDeleteI usually begin a story, or article with hand written notes and then type them up later. The only exception to this is nanowrimo, I would find it impossible to produce 50,000 words in a month, long hand.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm left handed my right brain dominates while hand writing which must help the creative process!