[RAH2007]

I've had the same experience—but the REAL contrast is with dictated papers/what-have-you (DRAGON, either PC/MAC). I have used this approach to every work I have written in the last coupla years—initial drafts to be revised. I find (perhaps wishful thinking) this method captures elusive thoughts that might otherwise be lost.

Only difference in all this is that I am a lousy typist—although i move like the wind. . .

heesr! (see what I mean ---> "Cheers!")

[mdurrie]

A couple of years ago, I found myself needing to put personal (i.e. non-work related) thoughts, ideas and objectives into writing. The most convenient device for me to do so was my iPod touch. I began with some trepidation, but soon found myself spending considerable time deep in thought as I slowly entered text into Notes.
A couple of friends who knew about what I was doing were baffled as to how I had the patience to write sometimes-copious entries on the tiny iPod keyboard.
I explained it exactly the way you have, Jason. The process was about as laborious as handwriting, which changed the way I worked. Each phrase was considered more thoroughly, and there was less need to edit and correct after writing. It was much more engaging than tapping on a computer keyboard.

[n781lc]

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But to each his own, I guess. Really??? So in an effort to sound like an intellectual you trash Apple's marketing, discount the source of Mr. Snell's new found inspiration, and completely disregard the entire premise of the article. I don't Jason set out to find ways to slow him down. It was a happy accident that allowed him to change the way he thinks. Clearly you did not "pause" in between your sentences to actually think through what you were trying to communicate. I never respond on these things....ever. This is my first. But this was one injustice I just couldn't let go. Also burns me up when people mention past accomplishments as though it should give them instant credibility. Great leaders don't look back...ever.

Suggest you follow Jason and use the iPad to encourage thinking. Not very common in the years of ear buds and social media.

[bbnoonan]

I've been keeping a journal for decades now, at first handwritten even tho' my penmanship is crappy. So when I got my first computer in the mid-80's I began recording my thoughts on it. A couple of years ago I realized I was spending more time and effort on composition than on reflection, going over and over my text till it "flowed". I was losing the immediacy that I think is a big part of journaling so I went back to handwriting each entry with a fountain pen.
Wow! Total change in results! I'm glad Jason could put that different experience into words for people who may only know keyboarding their words. Slowing down, without self-editing each thought, produces much different –and more satisfying– output. For most things, of course, I klack away at the keyboard like I'm doing right now. Flexibility is good.

[Stevew928]

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I don't know of a way to do that on the iPad. Does anyone else?

The only way I've found so far is an app called Side by Side +. However, I'm not very happy with the UI, as it takes up too much space and is fairly unintuitive. It allows up to 4 panes with different content in each. Without a BT keyboard, things get incredibly cramped (they even are with a BT keyboard). It also doesn't just let me open documents from various sources simply enough.

I REALLY wish someone would create such an app and do it right! If I could have the document I'm working on open (with the ability to save to the cloud or Dropbox, etc.)... and another window where I could browse the web or open various types of documents locally or from cloud sources... with a minimal and intuitive interface... I'd be in writing heaven.

[Stevew928]

this was a reply to brettcamp, btw

[HandyMac]

Textilus and Nebulous Notes look interesting, and do offer more much-needed controls on the keyboard; but I guess there's no way to add arrow keys (at least) to the standard keyboard that arises in Safari or Mail (to mention two where I used it a lot)? I suppose such a mod would offend the App Store's delicate sensibilities?

[bregaladu4xz]

I came here thinking "what is Jason smoking?" and gained an appreciation for how slowing down changes how he thinks and what he writes.

Clearly I don't think nearly as fast as Jason because I'm rarely held back by my mediocre and error prone 30-40 wpm typing. Forcing me to use an iPad wouldn't make my writing better, it would just make me frustrated and angry at my input device.

I am an endless revisionist. I cannot write without re-reading what I've already said over and over.

A half hour or more can go by editing and totally re-thinking short internet comments such as this one and I abandon most of them without clicking "submit" because by the end of it all whatever inspired me to reply in the first place no longer seems important. This is the 4th complete re-write of this comment and I'm still not happy with it, but I need to do something else now.

[LoveMacDvorak]

ah, sweet irony... I do appreciate writing by hand, as well as in different environments, and when writing nonfiction, I try to get it right within minimal drafts. But for fiction, the art of writing is rewriting, and first drafts, the awful meat of epics (see bregalud's frustration) are best when you just get as much as possible on the page. After years of banging through the qwerty keyboard, I discovered it was designed to be the most impossible combination of keys - and taught myself Dvorak in a month. I became a low-error speed typist, with minimal finger strain. I have commented to Apple that I can't justify purchasing iPads because they don't include Dvorak in iPad system software, even though they included it for years (and Waz was reportedly a big fan.) The comments on your article have more clearly addressed reasons for the lack of Dvorak - apparently the iPad screen keyboard is limited to slow typing in any format.

[TimothyA]

So let me get this straight...you're an extremely fast typist, but you can write faster when you are forced to slow down.

Is this an example of making lemonade out of lemons?

[Franny54]

I suspect mr snell's 'writing can change dramatically just by . . .' reducing the number of sentences that contain a personal pronoun.

[demmickk83]

you might want to actually read the article - he said he writes better, not faster.