Handwriting vs Typing for Creative Writers: How I Plan to Write My First Book

Is there a reason that one feels most creative when using a pen and paper versus a keyboard or some other form of electronic typing?

When I have an idea, it’s as if my mind works too fast for my pen to keep up. Everything flows so naturally. But when I try to type the same musings into my laptop, my mind goes blank and my inspiration immediately collapses.

(In fact, I wrote these very words on paper first.

But when I put my pen down to research whether a reason for this increased creativity while handwriting could be explained with scientific or psychological reasoning, my own words stopped coming.)

Anyways, all I can figure is that handwriting–scientifically–is a sort of meditative practice that allows you to enter into a deeper realm of focus (and maybe even your subconscious). Psychologically, writing by hand is a prime example of romanticization of the writing process. By simply feeling like you are a “true” writer with beautiful creativity, you are able to release more emotions onto paper.

No matter the reasoning, I vastly prefer handwriting over typing. Because of my opinion on the matter–and my deep-seated desire to be a published author–I plan on writing the first draft of my first book entirely by hand. I will write each section in my special, little notebook–as many sections as I want and as I feel inspired. And then, as I go, I will type up these prewritten sections into my laptop. This will allow me to look over the words I wrote in my (possibly) subconscious state and edit/revise everything from grammar to plot structure.

And this blog post is here to hold me accountable.

If you are reading this in the fall of 2025–or even later–feel free to reach out to and ask how my novel is coming along. I hope I will be able to answer that it is going great and that I am still just as much in love with my project. ♡