I use a journal for my first poetry drafts and for random thoughts (I keep a little notebook in my bag at all times). I type almost all prose, essays etc. I type much faster than I can handwrite, but I still find something more intimate about poetry that requires a pen in early stages. I used to journal incessently as well, but that's worn off a bit in recent years. I'm not sure why...maybe the fact that I now have a laptop that I take most everywhere with me takes away my need to also keep a written journal.

I am very jealous of Deb's photographic memory. My memory is not so good, alas.

Kristin, no envy, bebe, or jealousy either. I can abrely remember what I wore yesterday, and have severe trouble from year to year remembering whether our anniversary (21st comng up soon) is 13 or 15 August.

The one thing I remember, with or without writing them down, are my own words.

sj, I love blank books, notebooks, sketchbooks etc. and I have many of them. Actually, a friend of mine is doing that "Artist's Way" thing and talked about doing the "morning pages" on her computer instead of handwriting them, so I thought I'd try that this morning. And I'm not sure, I think that I like the physical process of writing for this purpose. Plus, that sort of typing (it took me like 50 minutes to get my three pages) is very tiring and I type all day at work. On the other hand, I like typing and my handwriting is v. illegible. But my journals are mostly personal journals, not for others to read so I don't worry about it.

sumi, one of the things that brought about this question is the fact that I started doing morning pages again today. This is my third or fourth attempt at them. I usually go for long stretches where I do them, and then I will skip a day because I am being lazy or don't wake up early enough and then I get disgusted with myself and stop. I think writing with pen and paper is a very important for the morning pages, although I am not sure if I can describe why. I know that it is highly recommended in the books that they be done longhand with pen and paper.

Kristin, no envy, bebe, or jealousy either.

No worries Deb, it was a warm snuggly kind of envy. :)

I try to keep my typing to a minimum while I'm working, as a result of my messed-up wrists. So, for me, getting it all down on paper first saves me a zillion backspaces and some serious aches.

Plei, I've got the exact opposite problem; writing by hand is excruciating with the MS. Not that typing is All That, mind you, but it gets really iffy when I have to do long dedications in books. Ouchy.

Yeah. In many ways, I'd rather type (it is faster, and I can search for files by lines I know I've typed instead of having to tear my room apart looking for the RIGHT notebook when they all look alike), but handwriting is much less painful. However, I wish it weren't an either/or situation, for either of us.

(Curses healthstates in general)

(Curses healthstates in general)

(nods like a mad thing)

Hey, bebe, on topic: likely to have a spare couple of minutes next weekend? Depending on what time you and Paul and arriving (and what day), I can maybe feed my Seattle contingent some elegant simple food.

Hey, bebe, on topic: likely to have a spare couple of minutes next weekend? Depending on what time you and Paul and arriving (and what day), I can maybe feed my Seattle contingent some elegant simple food.

We're getting in Friday at some point. We may have a couple, but I'm not sure yet when and how many.

Yep, that's useful of me.

'tis no problem. We talk closer to time, oui?

And speaking food, we're off to dinner.