It is sometimes suggested that writing by hand offers a creative experience unmatched by composing on computer, but that’s not an argument you’ll find Ruth Rendell mounting. Defying stereotypes about computer usage, the 79 year-old author of more than 60 titles has been using a PC for 23 years.
In a talk at the Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Rendell explained how she had gradually shifted from writing by hand — her practice since her first published novel in 1964 — to embrace the word processor:
I used to write by hand and put it on the computer, but I don’t now because I think it makes no difference.
Rendell emphasised that using the PC was a personal choice, a point underscored by her co-presenter P.D. James, who writes her novels by hand and then dictates the contents to a secretary before making corrections. Both models clearly work, though James’ obviously isn’t a practical option for most unpublished writers.
Does creative writing come more easily to you in front of a keyboard, or would you still prefer a pen? Outline your ideas in the comments.
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