Writing by Hand

In a world inundated by AI generated content, I am increasingly grateful for my brain’s insistence that I write all the first drafts of my stories by hand. There’s something about the feeling of the paper under the pencil. The sound of the lead moving over the page. The way my Muse channels through my hand and the story pours out.

When I began my writing journey back in 2018/2019, I attempted to write all my drafts in a writing software. My brain rebelled against it, strongly. I learned quickly the best way for my Muse to come through was to pick up a pencil and a notebook.

I love the fact that, most of the time, I have no idea what is going to come out on the page. I may have a general starting point, character names, and possibly a setting; but the magic happens when the Muse takes over. The words on the paper come alive and I can see it all like a movie in my head. That doesn’t happen when I try to write straight to a screen.

Writing is a whole-body experience for me. I am using all my senses, especially the sense of touch, to weave a world, make the characters real, and travel beyond the confines of what we perceive to be reality.

I value this aspect of my creative process. Even on the difficult days. Even when it takes more time for me to get something written. A little piece of me goes into every story as the words fill the pages. My soul, bleeding onto the paper. A blessed sacrifice I’m more than willing to take on for whoever reads the stories my Muse cooks up in the ethers for me to transmit.

A version of this, tailored to fit, has been cross-posted to Substack.
It shouldn’t have to be clarified, but this is the world we live in now: this article is written by a human.