Sex

Sex sells. That's why I put this picture at the header of this blog.

Now that I have your attention, let me tell you about the tools I use in my trade.

Like many I started with paper and pencil. That was okay for casual notes or daily observations. When I became serious and needed to write hundreds if not thousands of words a day, they wouldn't do.

At one point I used a fountain pen, it was unreliable and dirty. Ballpoint pens cured that, but the same problems of tediousness, poor handwriting, the sheer number of loose leaf or bound paper journals made storage a problem, there had to be a better way.

I started typing on a typewriter to make my pages presentable, especially for publication.

Much to my surprise I became good at typing. All my early submissions were done in this way. It was a long and tedious way to type a story. I made copies using carbon paper. It took me many tries to get a good presentable page.

I thank my original decision to take a typing course in high school. The thought of being a writer never occurred to me back then.

My first PC was a desk top with an Intel 8088 processor and a 5 1/4-inch floppy drive. I used it for business as a contact management tool. It did double duty as a way of composing my stories.

The computer’s ease of use sold me. I switched to a computer for my stories. Word processing software solved my poor grammar, syntax, and spelling.

I use a laptop exclusively now, augmented by my iPad for notes and research.

My first laptop had a comfortable keyboard. The keys were large, quiet, comfortable to the touch. The space bar was at the front edge of the laptop. My wrists could lay directly on my lap or a table with my fingers on the keys.

The new laptops have a flat area before the keyboard for the finger mouse pad. That flat area interferes with my wrists, especially if I am wearing a watch. This makes prolonged typing uncomfortable. I am looking for an alternative.

I resurrected my old electric typewriter as a diversion from the work of writing. I powered it on, in no time I was satisfyingly typing away. I am hooked on its comfortable keyboard. It is a whimsy I know. The only way to transfer and edit the printed paper is to scan it and download it into a word document. Too much trouble.

Next on my list to explore, are mechanical typewriters, no electric, no software, bullet proof, and fun. Just for fun. Word production requires modern tools.

More later. d.h.w.