Writing Without Backspace: Why You Should Consider Embracing Analog
I write mainly on an iPad. I love this device because it’s more focused than using a traditional computer. Typically, I only have two windows open when working. My writing app (Ulysses) and a Safari page or my Obsidian notes. However, it’s not totally distraction free. It’s tempting to see the email notification and break down what I’m doing to see what it is and if it’s something I need to respond to.
Computers have made writing so much easier, but that comes with a cost — we’re constantly distracted. That wastes time and breaks the flow.
I’ve recently delved into trying to go more analog for my writing work. I’ve been journaling with a fountain pen and notebook and tried using a typewriter.
Here’s why it’s a good idea for writers to at least experiment with more primitive tools.
The Problem With Digital
Digital tools are great, and there is no doubt about them. Editing, moving paragraphs around, and having easy access to research make the writing process easy, but there's a catch.
One area I struggle with when writing is the constant editing. Reading each sentence as I go, backspacing, rewriting, and formatting makes it too tempting to revise when writing a first draft, and that’s not the point of the first draft.
It’s normal to want your work to be perfect right from the start, and for some of us, this can be overwhelming to the point of paralyzing.
The first draft has been described as vomiting on the page, which is accurate. You want to get everything in your head onto the page, and the best way to do that is to get into the flow and not stop until it’s finished, warts and all.
Digital makes it too easy to multitask and edit as you go. Social media, browser tabs, emails, texts, etc., pull you out of the flow. Writing becomes start-stop then start again, losing the flow and wasting time.
How Analog Helps With Focus
Pens, pencils, paper, and typewriters are the ultimate writing focus tools. It’s difficult to go back and edit as you write, forcing you to plow through and stay in the flow.
For example, you can’t physically edit using pen and paper without scribbling or crossing out, and it’s even tougher with typewriters.
Beginning with these tools will be difficult, especially for those who grew up with digital tools. However, once you get over the pain, you’ll find that you can focus more on the work and build and maintain the momentum you need to finish it.
What is the Flow State and Why it Matters
Writers talk about the flow state: that magical place where you lose track of time and the words come effortlessly. It’s what we all want every time we sit down to write.
Analog tools support getting into and maintaining that flow state by minimizing breaks in concentration—writing by hand forces you to slow down and be intentional with your words without overthinking. The tactile experience can help you connect more personally with the work.
And typewriters, while probably not popular with the rest of the household, can help you get into the flow state, too. Not only are they nearly impossible to edit with when writing, but the sound of the type bars hitting the paper can be hypnotic, helping you to get into the groove and stay there.
Something Physical
We create so much digital content that we lose our attachment to the physical world. Sure, you’re writing on a physical machine (the computer), but what you create doesn’t exist. You can’t hold it. Maybe once it’s printed, but many stories and art exist only online.
Whether you’re old like me or young, as humans, we need physicality. Painting on canvas produces something tangible, as does writing in a notebook or typewriter. You can look at the page, feel it, see the ink, and, in the case of the typewriter, feel the indentation the words have made on the page.
Using analog tools allows you to pull out that notebook or pieces of paper and hold them; it gives you a more real sense of accomplishment, like birthing a child.
Practical Tips to Try Out
The great thing about going analog is that it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. If you want to try out writing by hand, you can go to the dollar store and get a cheap notebook and pens. Try writing one scene or short story by hand. It’ll be tough at first, but if you push through, you might find that it works.
Typewriters can be a little tricky. There are reputable sellers out there who refurbish these machines and restore them to like-new condition; however, they can be expensive. I paid $450 for my typewriter, which isn’t bad compared to what I’ve spent on my laptop and iPad, but those devices do much more, justifying the expense.
Spending hundreds of dollars on a machine that only does one thing might be out of reach for some people, and that’s okay.
Another tip that will help whether you’re embracing analog or remaining digital is to change your perspective on imperfection. Treat your first draft like a sketch before the final painting.
My motto when writing a first draft of anything is: It doesn’t have to be perfect; it has to be done.
Digital tools are great for editing and getting your work out there, but the first draft deserves a sacred space. Trying analog methods might surprise you with how much faster your writing gets and how much longer you’re able to stay in the flow.
Step away from the screen once in a while and rediscover the rhythm of writing without backspace.
