I used to write my tweets in a notebook. That was a very interesting experiment. Especially ironic as I was making permanent artifacts that were going to be become ephemeral when they are published.
Tweets in a notebook isn't a bad idea if you are going to continue on the platform. Makes your focus shift to creating actual aphorisms (an ancient and noble genre of writing) versus posting hot takes and reactions to the zeitgeist.
It's the difference between actually writing and merely typing.
Love this piece. It's one of those that very likely to nudge me doing something.
>Just me, myself and I. And the pencil and the page.
This reminded me of a scene from The Sound Of Metal, where Ruben was forced to sit in the morning in an empty room with a pen and paper and write until he gets "a moment of stillness". I wanted to try it myself but have been postponing over and over again. But I shall say I am one step closer: I have been practising proper cursive handwriting because it is how I am used to writing in my language and it feels wrong drawing words taking a pen off paper (yes I'm weird). The other thing I must mention, after all these years typing feels natural and writing by hand is effortful. I don't want to reverse it but I want to "master both ways". Really want to see how it is to write without autocorrect, copy/paste, putting cursor wherever I want, etc. So, wish me luck.
Still need to watch that film. It’s on my list. Everything I’ve seen Riz Ahmed in I’ve enjoyed.
And I’m glad you liked this one as according to the metrics- opens, likes, signups, comments- it has been a notable failure. Hahaha. Which is usually a sign I am on to something. Or I am really not.
But yeah, getting rid of autocorrect and the ability to copy and paste is huge. Also a visible word count too. It’s certainly an experiment I would recommend everyone try at least for a while. I mean, what have you got to lose?
In my teens I started reading a book on graphology without knowing exactly what it was about. Well, now I don’t remember a single thing about it, but not rarely I am amused by other’s people calligraphy. I still try to make sense of them intuitively.
When the pencil hits the pages, its intensity, form and the spaces between letters speak almost as loud as the author’s content. But often not about the same things.
I wish I could make sense of that scientifically.
Well, that’s why manuscripts and written letters should never die. A silly “I love you [insert heart emoji]” in Arial is sooo different from an IIII LLLLOOOVE YOUUU written flamboyantly in a single A4 sheet of paper. You can reapeeeat some letters, capslock it all - it’s just not the same thing.
Same as for journaling. You know it was a chill day if the page is easy to read, the letters are a little more round or digressive. When the words are all spilled, carving the page below, you know you were in a hurry, anxious, or at least, demonic possessed (“this was a fun day” - you may remember).
I don’t know if you thought of that while doing this essay/experiment, but I am glad you took a photo of the finished work.
And thanks for the flâneuring on modern day people. My lower back ached a bit, and my myopic eyes glimpsed behind my 9 degree glasses as I laughed my way of relatability.
Glad you enjoyed it Mauro. You have to look up from your screen to notice that everyone else is glued to their screen and slowly, slowly damaging their health as a result. It’s an unpopular observation to make but I believe you have to call things how you see them.
I used to write my tweets in a notebook. That was a very interesting experiment. Especially ironic as I was making permanent artifacts that were going to be become ephemeral when they are published.
I enjoyed this. It's making me want to try it.
Tweets in a notebook isn't a bad idea if you are going to continue on the platform. Makes your focus shift to creating actual aphorisms (an ancient and noble genre of writing) versus posting hot takes and reactions to the zeitgeist.
It's the difference between actually writing and merely typing.
Cheers, Craig.
Love this piece. It's one of those that very likely to nudge me doing something.
>Just me, myself and I. And the pencil and the page.
This reminded me of a scene from The Sound Of Metal, where Ruben was forced to sit in the morning in an empty room with a pen and paper and write until he gets "a moment of stillness". I wanted to try it myself but have been postponing over and over again. But I shall say I am one step closer: I have been practising proper cursive handwriting because it is how I am used to writing in my language and it feels wrong drawing words taking a pen off paper (yes I'm weird). The other thing I must mention, after all these years typing feels natural and writing by hand is effortful. I don't want to reverse it but I want to "master both ways". Really want to see how it is to write without autocorrect, copy/paste, putting cursor wherever I want, etc. So, wish me luck.
Cheers,
John
Still need to watch that film. It’s on my list. Everything I’ve seen Riz Ahmed in I’ve enjoyed.
And I’m glad you liked this one as according to the metrics- opens, likes, signups, comments- it has been a notable failure. Hahaha. Which is usually a sign I am on to something. Or I am really not.
But yeah, getting rid of autocorrect and the ability to copy and paste is huge. Also a visible word count too. It’s certainly an experiment I would recommend everyone try at least for a while. I mean, what have you got to lose?
In my teens I started reading a book on graphology without knowing exactly what it was about. Well, now I don’t remember a single thing about it, but not rarely I am amused by other’s people calligraphy. I still try to make sense of them intuitively.
When the pencil hits the pages, its intensity, form and the spaces between letters speak almost as loud as the author’s content. But often not about the same things.
I wish I could make sense of that scientifically.
Well, that’s why manuscripts and written letters should never die. A silly “I love you [insert heart emoji]” in Arial is sooo different from an IIII LLLLOOOVE YOUUU written flamboyantly in a single A4 sheet of paper. You can reapeeeat some letters, capslock it all - it’s just not the same thing.
Same as for journaling. You know it was a chill day if the page is easy to read, the letters are a little more round or digressive. When the words are all spilled, carving the page below, you know you were in a hurry, anxious, or at least, demonic possessed (“this was a fun day” - you may remember).
I don’t know if you thought of that while doing this essay/experiment, but I am glad you took a photo of the finished work.
And thanks for the flâneuring on modern day people. My lower back ached a bit, and my myopic eyes glimpsed behind my 9 degree glasses as I laughed my way of relatability.
This was a beautiful peace.
Glad you enjoyed it Mauro. You have to look up from your screen to notice that everyone else is glued to their screen and slowly, slowly damaging their health as a result. It’s an unpopular observation to make but I believe you have to call things how you see them.