Creating on a Typewriter
Getting started, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, I offered my thoughts around manual controls, stiff keys, and proper technique — as it relates to newbies and their transition from the modern-day laptop to a typewriter.
Today, in Part 2, I’ll discuss patience, mistakes, and focus. Let’s get started.
PATIENCE
At first, you may find yourself slow going on your typewriter, but that’s okay. Remember that typewriting is NOT keyboarding, but rather its own skillset; one requiring the development of new muscle memory. The idea of starting with the two-finger typing method is recommended to quickly get over the initial period of adjustment and to let those difficulties slip into the background in order to quickly enter the creative flow state.
Forgive yourself for not initially touch-typing with ease; this isn’t a competition and no one is judging you. Just two-finger the keys and make plodding, pedantic, careful marks on paper, as you let your mind ease into a creative state.
MISTAKES
Many people find typewriting is most successfully employed during those early, rough-draft phases of the writing process. In order to not interrupt your creative flow, it’s best to ignore any typographical/spelling errors or awkward sentence structures. These can be fixed later, during the editing phases of writing. For now, your goal is to let the ideas flow onto paper, through your fingers.
FOCUS
With a typewriter, it’s just you and the machine; there’s nothing else to get in the way. Your fingers quickly strike the keys, one after another, as words appear on paper. You keep going until the bell signals the end of a line. Return the carriage and keep writing, line after line, until you reach the bottom of the page. Remove that page, insert a fresh sheet, and continue — just you and the machine. Keep going, there’s no stopping you now!
Once you’ve adjusted to the new technique, there’s only your fingers on keys and words inked on paper. Your mind is free to enter into the world of your story, distraction-free.
Up next — Part 3 is where I’ll go over some final things to consider when creating on a typewriter including making words tangible, voice, and choice.
Thanks for reading,
Joe and the ABQwerty Type Writer Society
P.S. Thanks to all of you who have already RSVP’d to our private event on Sunday, December 10 from 1 to 3 pm at Cherry Hills Library. If you haven’t, please do so by directly replying to this email or sending a message to abqtypers@gmail.com by December 3, 2023, so we can get an idea of how many folks will be joining us that day. Thank you!