If I have an excellent idea for a story, would it be wiser to write on paper first or start directly on the computer? There are many different reasons for beginning stories on paper as well as on the computer and I'd like to know about the different advantages of each side.
Answer
I would recommend to just go with what you find most productive for yourself, but since you wanted a list:
Paper:
- Pros:
- Can be used almost anywhere
- Cheap, simple, reliable
- Easy to arrange how you want it
- No sudden data loss (unless actually lost)
- Lets you draw a little sketch on the side
- Won't die on you if it gets a bit wet
- Probably wont get stolen
- Cons:
- Can cramp your hands faster
- Harder to edit
- Often doesn't leave room for inserting new things in the middle
- Increases in bulk over time
Digital:
- Pros:
- Insert, update, rearrange (or the dreaded delete) at any place in the document
- Quick access to spell check, dictionary, thesaurus
- When combined with something like Dropbox, all your internet-enabled devices can be used
- Also works as a backup
- Instant word count
- Can format it right then and there (if you're into that)
- Instantly sharable over the internet
- When combined with a Version Control System (Git is a favourite of mine), it's easy to branch/fork/draft a story in multiple directions.
- Also lets you share and edit with multiple authors easier
- Cons:
- Need to keep a device on you and charged up
- Distractions said device can bring along with it
- Can sometimes be a little too helpful (red squiggle invasion!)
- Gives you too many formatting options to waste time on
- When it's gone, it's gone! Backups might not always be there
- Inadvisable to use in wet environments
- Could get stolen
- Microsoft Word is a terrible file format (don't use it!)
I myself prefer digital (Dropbox + iPhone!), but YMMV.
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