Do you normally write by hand or type? Did you find this task difficult or easy?
If I am writing a longer piece, I primarily type. I usually write short notes or tasks by hand, and I also often “write” on my iPad using my Apple Pencil to take handwritten notes.
I found this task a little tricky at first because I was worried about legibility. However, once I got into the story, I realized that writing faster makes my letters flow together more naturally.
Lately, I have been teaching my daughter how to write, and it has made me realize just how tricky handwriting can be, and how important it is as a life skill. Over time, I have noticed that I no longer write letters in a conventional way, but rather in my own “font.” Many years ago, I had a student who struggled with certain letters. His parents were worried about his penmanship and wanted him to practice, but he said, “We all have our own font. This is just my font.” That idea has always stuck with me.
Writing can be deeply personal and even defining. As a teacher, I can often tell who wrote a piece of work just by their handwriting. I can also recognize what has been written by my mum, dad, or husband. Handwriting carries personality in a way typing rarely can.
What did you do when you made a mistake or wanted to change your writing?
When I made a mistake, I would either adjust the way I wrote the letters to make the word look right, or I would scribble it out and start again.
How did you edit your work? Did your choice of media play a part in how you edited your work?
I did not edit my work. I wrote down a creative story that I had already made up and told my daughter at bedtime. Since I had already recited it that night, I didn’t need to change the story details. Of course, I could have edited it for grammar, punctuation, and flow, but I also didn’t leave myself enough room on the page. I consistently tell my students to double-space their writing so they have space to edit, and yet I didn’t follow my own advice this time.
What do you feel is the most significant difference between writing by hand and using mechanized forms of writing? Which do you prefer and why?
I feel the most significant differences between writing by hand and using mechanized forms of writing are time, editing, and quality. When I write by hand, I tend to get my ideas down quickly, often in a messy way that sometimes only I can read. It feels more like a stream of thoughts. I usually free-write by hand, getting all my ideas out without stopping to edit or refine them. Handwriting also feels more personal and connected to me.
Mechanized writing, on the other hand, is faster and more efficient. It allows me to quickly edit and refine my work, and it is much easier to share with others.
Overall, I prefer writing by hand when I want to brainstorm or capture ideas freely, because it feels more creative and personal. I prefer mechanized writing when I need to organize, polish, or share my work, because it is faster and more practical.
Disclaimer:
This task has been refined with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, to improve clarity and sentence structure. I used AI to assist with refinement, but all ideas and reflections are my own.
OpenAI. (n.d.). ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/