Back to Basics

I've started writing in a notebook again.

I've started picking up the pen and notebook, dragging my butt to a cafe (or my couch), and writing for certain periods of time.

There are several reasons for this:

First, my wrists. I am fairly certain I am well on my way to having carpal tunnel. I wake up with numb wrists. They don't stretch like they once did. They ache. I should probably go get them checked. In the meantime, I am trying to limit my computer time and use my wrists in different ways. I've already noticed a difference so fingers crossed that this works.

Second, my handwriting has gone off the deep end. So has my spelling. Damn you, spell check. Damn you, IMing which now has me forever confused between it's and its. That crap has got to stop.

Third, it feels both less serious and more personal. When I sit in front of the computer, I feel as though I have to WRITE. What I mean is that it has to be good, that it has to be working toward a definitive project. I feel as though my play must look like a play and stay a play even though it wants to veer off into novel-dom. In my notebook, I write everything. In the week that I've been using it, I've written three poems, three scenes (in play form), and several short vignettes. Maybe it is all crap, but it is something. Also, it feels more personal. You may never see those words, but I wrote them. For me. For my writing practice. Natalie Goldberg in Writing Down the Bones talks about having the goal of finishing one notebook a month. I love that idea. I want to try my hand at it as well.

Honestly, I think the writing is better in my notebook. Even if my handwriting is so atrocious that I can barely read it. Plus, I really enjoy ignoring the lines and writing whichever way I please. That is pretty much as badass as I get.

Those of you that write, what is your preferred method? Computer, pen/paper, notebook, pencil, talking into that thing that records your voice (seriously, why can't I think of the name of it? why? why?)? What works for you and what doesn't?