matthewsullivan•26d agoTop Commenter

Spent $15 on a beat-up typewriter at a thrift store and it fixed my writer's block

2 comments

2 Comments

Is it just me or does the whole "can't backspace" thing actually make it harder for some people? I mean yeah I get how the noise could be fun but if I'm trying to write something serious and I hit a wrong letter or the ribbon smudges I'm just stuck with it. That would stress me out way more than digital editing ever does. Maybe it works if you're doing like a first draft where nothing matters but for actual polished work I feel like a computer gives you way more freedom to fix mistakes without starting over.

dylan_thompson26d ago

Honestly bet the noise it makes is doing more than you think. There's something about that clack-clack-ding sound that forces you to commit to each word and keep moving forward. On a keyboard you can backspace forever and get stuck in editing hell, but with a typewriter you just have to roll with whatever comes out. Plus the physical effort of pressing those stiff keys makes every sentence feel like a real action, not just digital nothing. The beat-up part probably helps too, imperfections remind you that writing doesn't have to be perfect to count.