Thursday 21 January 2010

The trouble with scribbles....

Throughout my Open Uni course we are encourage to ditch the pc, get a little notebook and pen and scribble things in them for everyday inspiration. We are also encouraged to write our little musings, pieces of stories and bits of poetry in longhand in our little notebook. I think it has something to do with writing each word carefully and thus thinking about their usage.

Pondering the word, so to speak.

Normally I use what's left of my brain to store these kinds of information and then tap them all out on a word.doc on my pc afterwards. But being a willing participant, I thought, hell why not??

So off I go one day doing my usual people watching and conversation eaves-dropping except this time, I become all writer-ly and every so often take my little notebook (a rather nifty little pad with embossed velvety covers from Paperchase) and my pentel biro and scribble observations, mini-stories, words that come to me inspired by the everyday.

As I walk home from a full day's creative nosey-ing, I feel quite happy with myself. I grin like the Cat when being tickled under the chin. My pad is brimming with words, words, words. My pad is bulging to half full with ink and calligraphy.

Except of course, there is a catch.

I have the most atrocious handwriting on this planet bar the doctors who write prescriptions (in the days when prescriptions were still written - yes I am that old).

When I start to write longhand, I always do so with the best of intentions. I start with the careful curve, the required slant and the florid loop of the letter but by the time I get to the end of the word, the careful script is a line, a squiggle, a doodle.

And so it goes on with each subsequent word, each sentence, each line.

I return home to my pc with a pad full of illegible scribbles.

And what is the moral of this story for me? That I ought to join a course in the art of penmanship...

16 comments:

Kea said...

I like the idea of a notepad and pen. While I didn't (and don't) write fiction, I kept hand-written journals for many years, before destroying them all for fear someone would read them after I died. As if it would matter to me then, somehow. But I think the flow of creativity can be better with a pen and paper--at least for those of us old enough to have grown up without computers.

But my penmanship now, though not quite as bad as that of a doctor, isn't particularly neat. So much of me was tidier when I was younger.

My dad, however, does calligraphy from time to time, mostly in his greeting cards. Lovely.

Good luck deciphering your writings! :-)

Kea said...

P.S. I well remember "The Trouble With Tribbles," had to do a double-take when I first read your post title. :-D

Anonymous said...

My handwriting has deteriorated from its heyday, but it beats my sister's writing, which is indescribable. My husband is a scribbler too, and his signature is so not a signature that I can just copy it when I need to cash a check.

Plain Jane said...

Absolutely. I love the "idea" of writing notes, letters, thoughts by hand but I can't spell or read my own writing. Thank goodness for computers and indoor plumbing.

SF said...

Hello Old Kitty!
I have to say I loove writing/scribbling in my notebook. It makes me feel very serious about this writing business, and there's something comforting about not being able to easily read what I've just written. It means I don't re-read and obsess over getting things right, but just keep moving on, down the page..

fairyhedgehog said...

I can see that this is a problem! Maybe you need a netbook to carry round with you instead.

Anonymous said...

I like the look and feel of a thick notebook, and they are convenient for jotting things down as they occur to you.

But my productivity has gone up since I've had a netbook. For some reason I feel ashamed admitting this - I wonder why? Getting out my computer on the train or in a cafe just works better for me than trying to find my pen (which has usually been pinched, leaked in my bag or squeaks distractingly).

Old Kitty said...

Hi

Calligraphy and longhand writing is such an art so well done your dad!

And I hope you still keep diaries? Handwritten of course!

Take care

x

Old Kitty said...

Hi theresamilstein

Oh signatures! Mine's worse than atrocious - anyone can copy it! Which is not good is it really??

:-)

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Kea!

The trouble with tribbles - my favourite classic Star Trek episode.

Tribbles rule!

LOL!

x

Old Kitty said...

Hi notPlainat all Jane!

Amen to computers and indoor plumbing!

Oh and stilton cheese too.

:-)

Take care

x

Old Kitty said...

Hi SF!

Oh it's great that you do enjoy scribbling and deciphering away what you've scribbled. I might just have to do that with my doodles. And you are so right - I must stop obsessing too as to what that word was suppose to be etc.

Take care

x

Old Kitty said...

Hi fairyhedgehog

I had to look up what a netbook was! LOL!

Oh I'd love a mini-laptop (pink one of course)...

But the tutor says - nope must try pen and paper and ink.

The old fuddy duddy! LOL!

Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

Hi kate m

Oh don't feel bad! Your productivity levels have gone up and it's so fab to be able to be all writer-ly in a cafe and on the train whether it's via the pen and pad or by netbook.

Oh now you see I want a netbook too. I want, I want!

LOL!

Take care
x

Amanda said...

Hee hee...
I do love my notebook(s) - but I know what you mean about trying to work out what you've written! :-)

Old Kitty said...

Hi Amanda

And I'm still trying to decipher my code longhand.

Maybe I should go to a shorthand course instead!

LOL!

Take care

x