Pen or pencil, crayon or quill. In a notebook, on a scrap of paper, in a letter, on a postcard or the back of your hand. It’s not what you use that matters, it’s the fact that you are writing it down by hand.
A recent study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology confirms that writing by hand activates more areas of the brain that typing on a keyboard. It’s not the first study to do this and it certainly won’t be the last. My own research and experience running writing workshops and retreats, using only notebook and pen, over the the last 12 years has provided ample evidence for me. The transformative power of writing down our life and sharing our stories is phenomenal and fun. We can all do it. Without the pressure of ‘proper’ spelling, correct punctuation or grammatical rules and regs that were drilled into us when we were children we are free to experiment and play.
Recently someone contacted me to ask if my Zoom writing workshops would be suitable for her, ‘as l developed a fear of writing from a Womens studies course I was on. My generation write differently apparently and it's the wrong way!’ I assured her that on my workshops there is no such thing as the ‘wrong way’.
On BBC Radio 4 Point of View Professor Tom Shakespeare, sociologist and bioethicist, talks about the importance of handwriting, his concern that his handwriting has ‘gone to pot’ and his determination to do something about it. Do listen to this podcast.
Writing by hand is creative, liberating and available to everyone. It’s our identity and when people comment, ‘Oh, my handwriting’s terrible,’ I respond with, ’No, your handwriting is unique and worth preserving.’ By hand you can send a love letter in the post, a birthday card to a treasured a family member, a thank you for a wonderful evening with dear friends. It is in every sense of the word, our signature.
Join me on Zoom on Wednesdays at 1pm & 7pm London time for creative writing for wellbeing workshops and in Andalucia this year for writing, walking and meditation retreats.
