I’m a gadget gal, no doubt about it. I just got an iPhone, have had laptops and iPads and Kindles and all those good things. I think technology is cool.
There are tasks, however, where only a pen and paper will do. In some situations, a keyboard would feel wrong to me, prove cumbersome or distraction, or just seem out of place. Here’s what I mean:
Interviews: While I do admire the audio recording capability of many of today’s cell phones, I would never pull out a keyboard during an interview. Most of my interviews involve meeting with experts to research my books or interviewing yarn shops for my DestiKNITions blog. I feel like a keyboard ruins the conversational atmosphere. I also tend to draw circles around things, star important points, or draw lines between bits of information when I interview, so pen and paper work for me.
Conference note-taking: For many of the same reasons, I like to attend workshops with pen and paper even though I see lots of other people pulling out an iPad. I draw a lot on learning documents--circles, lines, all kinds of things--to show relationships between information. On a purely selfish note, I often knit while I listen and while I can write with one hand (while the other is holding the yarn and needles) I can’t type. So, even if it means retyping my notes, I’d prefer the initial draft to be with pen and paper.
Journaling: I’m a very fast typist. My fingers can keep up with my brain on a keyboard much better than when I write long-hand. I think, however, that such speed is the reason why I prefer to journal on paper. I want to go slow. I want to think hard about my words, to ponder things rather than spit them out onto the page quickly.
In short, while I love technology, I’m not about to give up pen and paper. What’s my choice of those? I admit I’m rather picky about such things, and here are my favorites:
Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball pen
.jpg)
How about you? What are your favorite work tools and why?
Posts
I'm the same way with taking notes. I draw around words, draw arrows between things, etc. I much prefer paper and pen when taking notes in any situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really picky about the paper but I love the Tul brand pens (I can only find them at Office Max around here).
ooh, I love stationary too - but I tend to prefer bound notebooks rather than loose leaf. And the finest pen I can get!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Allie. Sometimes a pen and paper are the best tools for a writer to use.
ReplyDeleteThough I dearly love my laptop and would be lost without it, I agree that there are times when nothing else will do but a pad and pencil. Especially when I feel the urge to doodle :)
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled my computer keyboard allows my brain to keep up with all the ideas it produces.
ReplyDeleteI love paper and pen note-taking. I can't stand the clack of keyboards while lectures on going on. And oh, the fear of the file disappearing!
I am a handmade card maker for the same reason you journal on paper. It is slow, thoughtful and thought provoking.
Peace, Julie
Allie, I use the same pens for my editing! I love the ultra fine point.
ReplyDeletei have to say I am hopeless at note taking. I tend to find I miss to much trying to take notes. I am one of those who can listen then record things later. I do use pen and paper for things but tend to record alot of things on the computer (i dont have an ipad, iphone, tablet etc.) I have a cell phone that I have charging most of the time and unless I go away it rarely leaves the house even if I do.
ReplyDelete