I had to blog last semester for a class, so I have some experience participating in a public blog. I, like many, use email and sites life Facebook to write electronically. I don't really like this kind of writing particularly, I find it hard to think when just staring at a screen. So typically my thoughts come out really jumbled.
My writing changes drastically when I use electronic media. I am the type of person who likes to write everything out, review it, then revise if necessary (and it usually is). Pen and paper can be a pain, simply because I think it is more time consuming and, for me, really sloppy and disorganized. However, it is easier for me to go back and revise what I did/was thinking when pen and paper are involved. Electronic media, especially if I am just talking on IM or Facebook, even emails sometimes, makes me lazy; I don't capitalize letters, punctuate properly, spell things correctly. etc. Typing is quick and easy so paying attention to all the grammatical rules just seems to slow the process down.
I think the process of writing, whether blogging, journaling, academic, etc. is really important. Unfortunately, and I am to blame too, I think it is largely misguided these days. I know I grew up and continue to live in the age of computers and everchanging technology, but I still think pen and paper are the best way to go. I think that writing should always be a respected form, treated so in every medium and situation. It is an aspect of language that makes humans so unique. But I suppose the idea of writing is often to get a message across. . . so maybe the process isn't so screwed up.
Some thought-provoking notions about what writing fundamentally is (or should be), Kylie...
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you find pen and paper more conducive to revision - most people seem to think the opposite.