Author Paul Theroux On Writing With A Pen

[Michael_V]

Interesting recent article in the Wall Street Journal by author Paul Theroux on his preference for using a pen (Lamy) and Docket Diamond paper to write his manuscripts in longhand.

 

"Writing by hand is part of my creative process. The speed at which I write with a pen seems to be the speed at which my imagination finds the best forms of words."

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304192704577404013057351378.html?mod=WSJ_Books_LS_Books_5

[empyrean]

Interesting recent article in the Wall Street Journal by author Paul Theroux on his preference for using a pen (Lamy) and Docket Diamond paper to write his manuscripts in longhand.

 

"Writing by hand is part of my creative process. The speed at which I write with a pen seems to be the speed at which my imagination finds the best forms of words."

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304192704577404013057351378.html?mod=WSJ_Books_LS_Books_5

Hear! Hear! Great article! I pull my thoughts together so much better with a fountain pen on paper. It may be the digital age, but I cringe when hearing how a new class in school will not use paper and pen, just ipads and text messages. But that's another thread....

[dalliance]

Thanks, an interesting piece. I'm sure it works for him but, to put the other side, I know authors who type because it has the speed they need to capture the words tumbling out. Whatever works best for you, I guess.

[brunico]

Neat article. My old college supervisor always said she could tell who'd typed and who'd written longhand when students read out their essays.

[rwilsonedn]

Thanks, an interesting piece. I'm sure it works for him but, to put the other side, I know authors who type because it has the speed they need to capture the words tumbling out. Whatever works best for you, I guess.

They must be very gifted. When words come tumbling out of me they aren't worth capturing. I too use a fountain pen for composition specifically because it slows down the recording process and allows me to think twice but cut once.

ron

[tomgartin]

I love this article. It's good inspiration for me as I'm currently working on a book, and it's always nice to be reminded of how other authors approach the art of the written word.

Thanks for sharing this

[humblescribbler]

Thank you so much! One of my favorite travel writers (and fiction, e.g. The Mosquito Coast.) Wonderful sentiments and wisdom.

 

His work inspired me to (attempt) writing while travelling, but my forearms on airplane trays never can fit, and I can't squeeze the elbows enough to avoid fellow passengers. When I tried on a modern train, the rocking (I'm in the cheap cars) made hash out of my already incoherent scribble!! I resigned myself to keeping a pocket notebook when I journey and stealing one or three words that would -- with luck -- help me remember anything noteworthy (heh), and try to capture the experience in a journal later each night. It does make one (sometimes naively, I guess) wish for slower motion in one's life. :embarrassed_smile:

[max dog]

Thanks, an interesting piece. I'm sure it works for him but, to put the other side, I know authors who type because it has the speed they need to capture the words tumbling out. Whatever works best for you, I guess.

They must be very gifted. When words come tumbling out of me they aren't worth capturing. I too use a fountain pen for composition specifically because it slows down the recording process and allows me to think twice but cut once.

ron

When words come tumbling out with speed, it's called mediocrity.