Last night my wife attempted to complicate my life. While it was well meaning, it was a disaster in the making.
What did she do? In a harmless text message to our family, she proposed a November writing challenge of writing on a pumpkin. Again, well meaning and innocent. In fact, I think it’s a great idea. Just not for me.
While I think writing the things you are thankful for is a tremendous idea, I also think using a pumpkin for my canvas is a hurdle I can’t jump. You see, I struggle over whether I should write on paper or go digital. Adding a third element could put me into writing paralysis.
Much like my battle between pen and pencil, the paper or digital war is real. Once again this is the push and pull between the old versus the new, the shiny object or the tried and true. And to tell you the truth, I enjoy it.
I enjoy exploring and pondering the possibilities of going digital. Analyzing is one of the things I love to do and the use of electronics gives me that opportunity. Not only do I get to think about paper over computer, I get to investigate all of the applications available to me digitally.
Add to the apps available to use is the hardware to use them with. Do I punch the keys on my laptop or swipe the keys on my phone. Maybe I use the speech to text abilities in most software or I use my iPad as a writing table and stroke a stylus across it’s screen.
Regardless of which newfangled tool I I use, the possibilities seem endless. For a guy like me hat is a blessing and a curse.
My solution to this dilemma has been to use both. How? Well, I currently write my thoughts on paper (hence the struggle between pen or pencil) and then I rewrite them and post them here on my blog. What a great compromise for me.
By using both formats I avoid the dreaded crush of doing nothing. I also get to continue my search for the perfect way to compose my thoughts.
Who knows, maybe I get inspired and write on a pumpkin too!
Hill, Mr. Hill 