Let me tell you a secret. Despite all the articles I have written on building a second brain and which application to use, I still use pen and paper. Not always, but when I need to slow down and think more.
Using a pen and paper slows you down to give you more mental clarity. This can help if you are solving a problem or need to think between inputs.
C.S. Lewis used this to his advantage. He used to use slow-drying ink. The time it took him to wait for the ink to dry before starting the following sentence helped him think about and perfect his sentences before he wrote it.
When do I use this, mainly for self-development? Reading all the articles and highlighting all the passages is good, but not as good as transferring them into my commonplace book with a pen.
There is another advantage to handwriting facts; it helps with your retention. Many scientific studies have looked into the advantages of handwriting when trying to learn new facts. This is because you slow down enough to take in the facts you are reading.
If you have ever gone to jot a note on your phone and then disappeared into Twitter to forget what you picked your phone up, then you too can see the advantages of a pen over a keyboard.
So when you are stuck with writer's block, try this technique swap over and try to write a couple of chapters with pen and paper.
The other advantage of a pen over a keyboard is going stationery shopping, my second favourite shopping trip, after book shopping.
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Until next week stay safe
Sam 😊
Quote of the week
A memory blurred by the nightmare which remains forever engraved on their minds. - Robert Hebron (Oradour-Sur-Glane Survivor)
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Articles this week
How to Master the Art of Storytelling
Many editors have advised me to show more and tell less. If you write fiction I am sure you have heard this. It in itself seems like a simple concept. In practice, it is hard to do. When I sit down at my computer it is a thought that is my constant companion. It should be on your mind when you sit on your desk chair. The edge biting into your legs as you…
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