Comments on: The Evils of (fill in the blank) http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: David B. Coe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5880 David B. Coe Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:16:13 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5880 I remember getting a typewriter when I went to college. That was the big gift. I'd used the family Smith-Corona all through high school. But when I left home I got a brand new S-C electric. By the time I left college I was doing all my work in the University mainframe computer, typing stuff up in a computer lab and then walking across campus to the computing building to pick up my printed pages, which were handed over to me in shrink-wrap.... I remember getting a typewriter when I went to college. That was the big gift. I’d used the family Smith-Corona all through high school. But when I left home I got a brand new S-C electric. By the time I left college I was doing all my work in the University mainframe computer, typing stuff up in a computer lab and then walking across campus to the computing building to pick up my printed pages, which were handed over to me in shrink-wrap….

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5867 Diana Pharaoh Francis Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:35:21 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5867 Kelly: I know exactly what you mean. --E: I have an old manual. I want to get rid of it, but my husband is keeping it despite me. He thinks I'll need/want it. It's some sort of Sears model I think. Matthew: I tend to think the same thing about me. Sam: I should have owned stock in wight out. Wite out? Something? Kelly: I know exactly what you mean.

–E: I have an old manual. I want to get rid of it, but my husband is keeping it despite me. He thinks I’ll need/want it. It’s some sort of Sears model I think.

Matthew: I tend to think the same thing about me.

Sam: I should have owned stock in wight out. Wite out? Something?

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5866 S.C. Butler Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:43:49 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5866 I'm with Kelly on this. I rewrite so often that I'd never have gotten anything truly finished on a typewriter. And I still can't type correctly because I was too much of an unco to ever hit the right manual typewriter key hard enough. I always hit two or three of the keys around it instead. I’m with Kelly on this. I rewrite so often that I’d never have gotten anything truly finished on a typewriter. And I still can’t type correctly because I was too much of an unco to ever hit the right manual typewriter key hard enough. I always hit two or three of the keys around it instead.

]]> By: Matthew Milson http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5865 Matthew Milson Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:49:57 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5865 I often think that if it were not for computers, I never would have even considered being an author. And I tend to think that is true of most people. It is difficult to try and imagine how much more work would go into writing a book without the ease (in most cases) of word processors. I often think that if it were not for computers, I never would have even considered being an author. And I tend to think that is true of most people. It is difficult to try and imagine how much more work would go into writing a book without the ease (in most cases) of word processors.

]]> By: --E http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5864 --E Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:44:14 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5864 I miss my old manual typewriter. I was more productive in those days (though whether it was the typewriter or my youth is arguable). I still have the typewriter, actually, an old Olivetti Valentine. It's almost as old as I am, and was the Macintosh of its day, for the cool, anti-corporate styling. (Crap. I'm now experiencing a panic moment. DO I still have it? I moved last year. I don't know if the typewriter made it with me!) I miss my old manual typewriter. I was more productive in those days (though whether it was the typewriter or my youth is arguable).

I still have the typewriter, actually, an old Olivetti Valentine. It’s almost as old as I am, and was the Macintosh of its day, for the cool, anti-corporate styling.

(Crap. I’m now experiencing a panic moment. DO I still have it? I moved last year. I don’t know if the typewriter made it with me!)

]]> By: Kelly McCullough http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5863 Kelly McCullough Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:37:23 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5863 They have allowed me to become a published author. No computers=no Kelly McCullough books. They have allowed me to become a published author. No computers=no Kelly McCullough books.

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5862 Diana Pharaoh Francis Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:29:42 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5862 SMD: I've always been a master procrastinator. The computers given me different options to do that while appearing to work, but I have never been at a loss for ways to do it :) Bradley: Exposure to procrastination--sounds a bit viral to me . . . . SMD: I’ve always been a master procrastinator. The computers given me different options to do that while appearing to work, but I have never been at a loss for ways to do it :)

Bradley: Exposure to procrastination–sounds a bit viral to me . . . .

]]> By: Bradley Robb http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5861 Bradley Robb Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:03:14 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5861 I think computers, and typewriters before them, have made my writing legible and improved my spelling. Beyond that, and the above commenter's note on procrastination, computers have given me exposure. I think computers, and typewriters before them, have made my writing legible and improved my spelling. Beyond that, and the above commenter’s note on procrastination, computers have given me exposure.

]]> By: SMD http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5860 SMD Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:40:46 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/17/the-evils-of-fill-in-the-blank/#comment-5860 Computers have done two things for me: 1. Made writing faster, more efficient, and better for me. I have easier access to dictionaries, spellcheck software, thesauri, etc. With a click of a button I can find anything I need on the net, etc. It's made it super easy for me to be physically accurate when I use locations I am not personally familiar with (I can instantly find streets, cross streets, buildings, etc.). 2. It has made it really easy for me to procrastinate. I don't write fast by hand (I like writing by hand, but only when it's a story that comes slowly). So I always write on the computer, but that means I have the net, twitter, MSN, Skype, and all else at my fingertips, waiting to draw me away from the writing. I admit that it is the single most powerful influence on me as far as procrastination goes. And it's something I'm battling with, primarily because the net makes me procrastinate at EVERYTHING...it's bad news. So, I think in some respects it's great, but in other respects it is really bad. It all depends. Once I get the hang of forcing myself to not use the net all the time, then I'll be in business. Computers have done two things for me:
1. Made writing faster, more efficient, and better for me. I have easier access to dictionaries, spellcheck software, thesauri, etc. With a click of a button I can find anything I need on the net, etc. It’s made it super easy for me to be physically accurate when I use locations I am not personally familiar with (I can instantly find streets, cross streets, buildings, etc.).

2. It has made it really easy for me to procrastinate. I don’t write fast by hand (I like writing by hand, but only when it’s a story that comes slowly). So I always write on the computer, but that means I have the net, twitter, MSN, Skype, and all else at my fingertips, waiting to draw me away from the writing. I admit that it is the single most powerful influence on me as far as procrastination goes. And it’s something I’m battling with, primarily because the net makes me procrastinate at EVERYTHING…it’s bad news.

So, I think in some respects it’s great, but in other respects it is really bad. It all depends. Once I get the hang of forcing myself to not use the net all the time, then I’ll be in business.

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