Should You HANDWRITE or TYPE OUT Your First Draft? (Writing Advice)

[@himbolable]

I handwrite my first draft. It helps so much with the creative flow. Also it’s much easier to write wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. You’re not always going to have a laptop with you, but it’s really not hard to always keep a pen and paper with you. A good middle ground between writing and typing are devices like the Remarkable. It’s essentially an eBook reader but one you can write on. So it’s much harder to lose your work. It also has a handy convert-to-text function so you don’t need to manually retype everything. Similar apps also exists for tablet computers

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

I'll have to look up Remarkable. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@johannemontvgue702]

I used to write so much by hand when I was younger. My school friend and me would exchange our notebooks and read our stories and wait for the next „episodes“. I miss that!

[@Disgruntled_Dave]

I can now see why some people still use typewriters. They offer pretty much all the advantages of handwriting that you mentioned (especially separating drafting from writing and removing internet distractions) while still allowing the advantages of a keyboard.

[@blaustein_autor]

Great video! I wrote a whole book on squared paper, both sides, no lines left free. Bot also I did that with large parts of my university papers and my first novel. As you said: No distractions, less perfectionism - but what you kinda left out or brushed over a bit is the benefit that you have a very thorough first edit. Of course it can be frustrating to type up a vast amount of pages, but at the same time you can immediately cross out bad choice of words, you will have far less copy+paste-mistakes and you can retroactively apply new things you learned. For example, if you only used "said" and "asked" in your manuscript and you now wanna mix it up with "wondered", "inquired" et c. - you can do that without having to browse through the text.

[@Drademdar]

I always handwrite my first drafts because if I do it on my PC, there's a 99% chance I'll get distracted by something else. I used to only type on a computer before because of wrist issues when writing by hand. But after I began using fountain pens and quality gel pens, I can now handwrite several pages without pain. The reason is that when you use ordinary ballpoint pens, you have to press the pen down on the paper to get the ink flowing, which is often the cause of hand cramps and why some people (like me) develop carpal tunnel syndrome. But with fountain pens and gel pens, you only have to put the pen on the paper and write without the need to press it down. You also forgot the biggest positive reason to handwrite the first draft. Because writing letters by hand is considered a form of drawing, it will automatically activate the creative part of your brain. When writing on a computer, you have to turn on the creative part yourself, which can be problematic for some, and possibly why it's easier for people to get writer's block when drafting on a PC.

[@brianedwards7142]

I just bought a Kaweco Sport Brass. I bought it because the brass body is more durable than my Lamy Safaris but it's pretty substantial so gravity supplies all the pressure I need.

[@brianedwards7142]

I've been hand writing some of it but I've been typing it up as I go so I don't lose it and so I don't have a daunting typing job later on. Sometimes though the typing up segues into a direct typing session which is good because I type faster than hand writing and spell check is on hand with the squiggly red line to keep me from ie/ei or missed double letters etc.

[@aruthymahalingam]

Google docs voice typing is the best for typing up handwritten notes - might help here

[@brianedwards7142]

@@aruthymahalingam Ta, mate.

[@TheLonelyCosmonaut]

I read that Neil Gaiman handwrites all of his first drafts using a fountain pen.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

That's the most Neil Gaiman thing imaginable. I'm not at all surprised

[@OldManMoko]

Random Fact. Neil Gaiman makes a point to hand write his first drafts, he sees it as you tend to write better quality words

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Probably because of the more personal touch, I guess

[@agdhani]

I use pen and paper for all of my plotting and brainstorming...and notecards...before it ever gets to the computer.

[@rogeras5966]

I do prefer Typing, and I got used to don't have the internet distractions and Edit-as-you-go problems to it works for me. And i also have a Docs document where I write tips like these.

[@chelseyummali]

Im all for it. Plan on doing now actually.

[@PuppetMaster-Blade]

Ayy thank you for the video, Helped alot! I always edit as i go because of my "perfectionism" 😅 and always end up redoing it all later. Imma try using a Pen and Pad from now on. Thank you again 😃

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Glad the video helped! Thanks for requesting it, and best of luck with shaking free of perfectionism

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

How do you feel about handwriting a first draft? Let us know!

[@brianseay8242]

I use to handwrite my first drafts but as the internet became more prominent I used that but it got in the way of me finishing my drafts, jumping from story to story but not getting anywhere in completing them or improving in my skills. I think I'm going to return to handwriting my first drafts. It allows me to slow and draw out everything I can out of a scene, not to mention it prevents me from editing as I go.

[@desertgecko4549]

I'd never consider writing by hand. I'm so used to a keyboard I get writer's cramps signing my name.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@@desertgecko4549 Haha! I'm more likely to get a blister than a cramp, but you've got a point

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@@brianseay8242 Yeah, editing as you go is a killer. When I first starting writing back in my last teens I once wasted an entire Saturday writing 4 (over-edited pages) pages

[@melissajill6174]

I had a bad injury when I was 20 to my right hand, and I just can't write by hand more than a few lines before my hand hurts to the point that I can't think about anything other than the pain in my hand. Typing, on the other hand, I can do for hours at a time--and my typing is fast enough to keep up with the speed of my thoughts.

[@meganewing5936]

Jacksonville Jaguars, lol, I used to live on Amelia Island nearby, if you know where that is.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

I'm actually from PA. That's how screwed up I am... I could've gone with the Steelers or Eagles but went with the Jags.

[@crippsverse]

I've ordered a reMarkable so that I can handwrite the first draft then use the handwrite to text feature to save having to re-type it.

[@Ayaforshort]

I hand write my outlines and then type my draft.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

How detailed are your outlines? Just curious

[@josephrowlee]

Good video! I personally rather typing the first draft out.

[@RoxiVazz]

Thank you for your insight. It was very helpful.

[@jeweetzelf1379]

You could also buy an old or new typing machine. This works faster but has all the benefits of handwriting but not the cramped up fingers hahah

[@johnsenunas2258]

I prefer using a quill

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

So does Pete Alonso

[@PoptartWrites]

Personally, I prefer to handwrite my first draft. However, when you said "Theres no pressure to edit as you write." BULL!! I'm still working on my first draft and trying NOT to go back and edit it AGAIN! LMAO!

[@bhagawanpatro976]

Heyy I am a teen writer can u help me giving some tips on traditional publishing and explain the shit of having a literay agent please I am just frustrated a lot !!! By the way love ur content

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Thanks for watching! If you want to traditionally publish a novel, you'll first need to query (submit your book summary and opening pages) to a literary agency. Make sure your novel is complete and polished before you start querying

[@bhagawanpatro976]

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty where can I get an agent ??

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

@@bhagawanpatro976 Querytracker.net is a good tool for searching for agents

[@bhagawanpatro976]

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty thanks a lot I asked for help to many people no one helped this much.... Thanks a lot sir !!!

[@R232dds]

What is a program that you can type into that formats your draft into the proper format as you type. I have trouble with knowing if my formatting is right, which I'm pretty sure I have alot to work on. What is your email btw?

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Vellum does an amazing job at formatting a story. You literally just drag a DOCX file into the program and you have everything neatly formatted in seconds. Then you can tinker with things until everything's formatted the way you want it. Only downside with Vellum is that it's only on Mac. I had to buy a used Mac Mini to run Vellum.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

And you can email me through the contact form on my website: brandonmcnulty.com/contact/

[@georgiapayne2945]

I always hand write the outline and first drafts. I feel more life comes into the story, like straight from my fingers and through the pen onto the paper 🤷‍♀️

[@jesusromanpadro3853]

To be sincere, I would not have started writing if I didn't have the advantage of writing it on a computer. 📰