Comments on: Why Every Writer Needs to Own a Typewriter

By: Reagan

Reagan — Tue, 15 May 2018 04:34:57 +0000

Do you have any video of that? I’d love to find out some additional information.

By: Edwin Feliu

Edwin Feliu — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 23:48:20 +0000

Well put. I only use typewriters for writing. I had writer’s block two years ago. I started using a typewriter and, except for a day here and there, have been writing every day since then. I wrote at such a manic pace that I completed nearly 70 poems in six months. Thirty three made it to my last collection, The Elastic Dome. I’m not sure what I like best: writing or typing, but I do make excuses to use them.

By: richard gams

richard gams — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:57:09 +0000

Many of the ‘distraction free’ benefits of the typewriter are claimed for the Freewrite by Astrohaus. It’s a go forward only machine and I splurged on one. The mechanical keyboard is a dream and without the ability to go back and edit, it fulfills the goal of simply pouring forth the draft without concern for grammar, typos, etc. One advantage is the synchronization with the cloud allowing import into Word or Scrivener without the hassle of OCR. It is expensive and an extravagance and has been dismissed by many as an affectation. I own and use typewriters and while the experience is not identical, I find myself gravitating more and more to my Freewrite.

By: loadedremington

loadedremington — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 19:41:50 +0000

Hi! I love your text and couldn´t agree more! “MAY even become addicting”? =) I´d say if you love to write, a typewriter will rock your universe, leaving you feeling totally naked unless those keys aren´t within arm´s reach… Seldom do you encounter something that defines you as a person the way these wonderful machines do. In my case I am convinced they are an extension of my soul, giving me the chande to pour myself onto the blank sheets of paper. Writing is living.and typewriters make life good!

By: Taylor

Taylor — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 12:04:45 +0000

In reply to Grace. Grace, I had a severe case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for many years and my hands love the typewriter. There are good ones and bad ones, but this site will steer you in the right direction. You'll find a machine you like!

By: Jer

Jer — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 22:34:56 +0000

You mentioned the phrase in there; “Once you learn to use a typewriter…” and I noticed at that point that you left out the most important tip about writing with a typewriter. — You must learn to touch-type! —
It is not a hard thing to do — it only takes three days and that’s only because you have to sleep on it to let your brain stem learn the motions. I can paraphrase the simple instructions I used to teach myself touch-typing when I was in college if you ask. I read them in a book of “useful information” that I received from my Grandmother’s estate after she died. It was, in my estimation, the most valuable thing I learned in all of my eight years of college.
The time saved will become incalculable, not to mention that it allows you to keep your mind on the story thoughts as you type (although spelling is often a casualty of this tunnel-visioned concentration on the story)

By: How to Find the Right Typewriter | Typewriter Review

How to Find the Right Typewriter | Typewriter Review — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 21:55:06 +0000

[…] the introduction you’ve probably figured it out by now. The kind of typewriters I’m talking about are the good […]

By: notagain

notagain — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 00:05:36 +0000

I’m doing a seminar on the typewriter (selection and care) at Olympia Zine Fest this month so I will hand out a link to this. I’m sure there will be some hunger for more depth than I’ll have time for.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 02:01:46 +0000

Salutations & Greetings…xD

I am Joshua, and I am from Mexico, My typewriter is an Olympia SG 3 made between 1977 and 1983. And yes, you are right. Writing this way is slightly addictive. Although I started in an Olivetti Dora, I am writing a book and you are right when saying this way is easier and more fun…xD

By: Daniel Marleau

Daniel Marleau — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:51:37 +0000

In reply to Grace.

No worries, Grace! There are many portable typewriters that are quite easy on the fingers and wrists. Not quite as easy as a computer, but no serious strains. It might take some adjustment in your typing method. I tend to favor a modified hunt and peck style with my index and middle fingers.

But the key is getting a good typewriter.

I’m developing the top 10 list of writerly typewriters. For many writers who want the easiest experience I usually recommend an Olympia SM9. It’s the most modern of manual typewriters. Each key is spring activated, meaning the typewriter does some of the work for you. Plus it has the much easier basket shift. Here’s the full review of the SM9: https://typewriterreview.com/2013/10/08/olympia-sm9/

Using shift on a typewriter might be the most labor intensive part of writing. I’ll go into more detail in a later post, but for now, just know that there are two ways to get at shifted characters, lifting the entire carriage (heavy) or just the typebar basket (light).