Writer's Cramp

Much of my daily labor involves writing or, more specifically, composing text.

Many years ago I abandoned cursive writing because I could no longer read what I had written. This came at great personal distress because I clearly remember winning a penmanship contest in second grade.

However, by moving to printing—the sheer act of having to pick up my pen between letters—I managed again to take notes that I could still read and interpret a day later.

That soon passed, however. My printing is now every bit as horrendous as my cursive. Fortunately, along came the PC and the keyboard, and I was once again in business. In fact, for the first time I was able to take notes nearly as fast as I could think. Nirvana.

(I also had to grudgingly thank my father for forcing me to take that typing course in high school, which I attended kicking and screaming. ASDF. SemiLKJ.)

In the last year, however, I find that my typing is beginning to degrade in ways that I think are hardwired to the new electronic world. I frequently type “it” for “is” or “of” for “or” or vice versa. My work is littered with other typos. The problem is this: I can no longer find them, or at least find them easily. Or at least find them until I push the “send” or “publish” button. Then they literally jump out at me.

Somehow my fingers and my eyes and my brain have been pushed slightly askew by the keyboard and screen.

The only defense I have found is to walk away from an email or memo for a few hours, or even a day. Then, with fresh eyes, I can see the problems.

All of which is anathema to an electronic world that relies of (or “on,” depending on your proofreading skills) rapid-fire communications.

I bought a tablet and that seemed like a good solution, to write slowly enough to have the letters recognized while generating a typed product. However, the third time I spent two minutes trying to make the small “L”, only to have it show as “1” and “/” and “i”, I finally gave up. I can easily generate those kinds of errors while typing, and do so at a much faster clip.

I see the rise of a complete line of electronic-deprogramming products for the Baby Boomer generation. Re-learn how to concentrate. Re-learn how to sit quietly without playing a game on the phone or sending a text. Re-learn how to type accurately.

Re-learn how to write cursively. Instead of cursingly.

Maybe these products already exist. If not, you may have my idea, so long as you take me as your first student.