Technology. Is it good or is it bad for writers? Does it help us or hinder us?
Writing has come a long way from simple handwriting. Typing has sped up the writing process exponentially, given you are a good typist. The use of computers has also made writing easier. Let’s say you forget where you used a certain word in your paper. If it is written on a document on your computer, you can easily search for it versus having to manually flip through your handwritten pages.
For some writers, however, technology has greatly hindered the writing process. With the use of computers comes many distractions, ranging from advertisements to messing with font size/color/etc. For myself, I find pre-writing, at least the initial brainstorming, to be a lot easier through handwriting. I can flow easily from one idea to another, circle the ideas and draw arrows to lead to the next idea, etc. This is a lot more complicated via typing. Essentially, typing allows a more structured platform for writing, whereas handwriting provides a more creative outlet for writing.
Handwriting also keeps writing personal. With computers, anything that is written can easily be erased with the click of a button. Handwriting, on the other hand, is much more real. Readers can look through the author’s writing process, see what they crossed out and what they tried to erase. To me, handwriting is a lot more tangible.
The same feeling can also be found with paper copies of writing versus online versions. Having a paper copy of a novel in your hands is so much more special than just simply having a Kindle version. With the paper copy, you’re able to make it your own through annotating, bookmarking, etc. This can also be achieved through online versions but only through certain platforms that allow it.
So to answer the question if technology is good or bad for writers, my answer is both.
