I love to write longhand, when I'm working on my novel, or poetry, or anything creative, I find that I'm freer writing long hand than typing. When I type, my internal editor is unforgiving, when I write long hand I can shut her up.
But, I have terrible technique. When my son was undergoing occupational therapy, the therapist just shook her head when she saw me holding my pen. Told me it should have been corrected when I was young, I have one of the worst thumb-wraps she's ever seen in an adult. Therefore, writing gets difficult for me because my hold causes so much tension.
This completely relieves all tension. It looks awkward, but I can attest there is no, repeat no learning curve. The moment you pick it up you can write normally. I tried printing and cursive with it. My signature looks the same. But it is soooo comfortable. I'm getting my mom one because her arthritis is making writing more difficult.
I got mine at Wal-Mart, but a quick internet search shows they're widely available and can be ordered online. I paid about 4 dollars, but they're refillable and it came with two refills.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I have done so much typing and compuer work in the past few years, except for signing my name, I've realized that I can't write longhand anymore--at least not readably.
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I wonder if this would help someone I know - an elderly man who has had carpal tunnel surgery. His hands shake really bad, and he can barely write at all - hardly legibly. I'll have to look for it.
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I sent this link to a coworker who has a high functioning autistic daughter, one of the girl's biggest issues are holding writing implements, but they need her to do it for brain development rather than just typing.
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I wonder if this would also be good for my son, who has suffered from dysgraphia for years, and it is difficult for him to even write checks (he loves his debit card for that reason). Getting him to write anything is a chore. They tried OT with him, but it didn't help much.
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See, I'm the opposite Belle. I have a hard time shutting up my internal editor when I write longhand, but the problem is that the only regular time I really have to write is when I'm on the train -- and I don't have a laptop and won't be getting one anytime soon.
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That thing looks pretty cool. I'd be willing to try it out, but I'll probably wait until they have a mechanical pencil version (the site said that it was in the works). I only ever use pens for writing checks or signing documents, and neither of those tasks are long enough to justify a special pen.
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I pulled it out at gymnastics today when I was busy helping my kids with their homework. All the other gymnastics moms are envious of my cool pen. Though my daughter calls it a "geeky" pen.
I tried it with my son Daniel, who has hypotonia and struggles a bit with writing, but his finger is too short. They need to create one specifically for young children.
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I think that probably would really have helped me in early elementary school if they had had one small enough. I met with an occupational therapist, but she gave up and just taught me to type.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Looks very cool. Too bad I don't write anymore. My signature has degenerated into a few waves on the paper too...
Posts: 1209 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Looks freaky. I might try one out, but like many people, I only use pens for signing things and writing out envelopes and post-its.
I currently have a pint glass filled to overflowing with pens. I worry that such a wide one wouldn't fit Posts: 3950 | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: What's a "pen"?
Which reminds me of the time my dad was complaining because he couldn't print an address that was on the computer screen (printer was busted). He kept saying, "How the heck am I supposed to remember this if I can't print it out?" To which my mother replied, "Use a pen and paper, dear."
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Last night I went to bed, taking with me a notebook and my cool pen. Usually I consider it a good night if I write one page of poetry or work on my novel in an evening. This time I was still writing furiously when my husband came up to bed and told me it was time to turn off the light and sleep.
I had written four pages in the same time frame I usually write one and unlike all the other nights, there was no pain in my hand.
If this novel ever gets published, the makers of Pen Again may be on my dedication page, along with Mrs. M who gave me the wonderful lap desk I use to write in bed.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Belle: I got mine at Wal-Mart, but a quick internet search shows they're widely available and can be ordered online. I paid about 4 dollars, but they're refillable and it came with two refills.
None of the Walmarts or Office Depots near me have this pen. I think I'll just hold out for the soon-to-be-released mechanical pencil version and order it online.
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My issue with writing is the fact English is designed to be written left to right. Any other leftys get ink or pencil lead on their hands as they write across a page?
Chinese hates me too, stroke order was designed assuming the writer is right handed as well. Some of the strokes just CANT be made by a left handed person, and we get penalized for it.
Perhaps I should just sit down and learn to write right handed. People have done it before.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Learning to write with the opposite hand is hard because not only are the muscles weaker, but you have to learn completely new motions as well. It's trivially easy for me to write backwards and right to left with my left hand, but writing correctly with it is very difficult.
Of course, if Chinese is something you really want to be proficient in, it might be worth it to learn Chinese with your right hand. I find that when I am first learning a new task is the ideal time to choose which hand to use.
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Belle - When you say thumb wrap do you mean that your thumb goes all crazy out of place and curls around the rest of your hand (mostly your pointer finger)?
BlackBlade - I am so with you it's ridiculous. When I was younger, I used to get asked if I'd hurt myself... but it was really just residuals of a day of writing and doodling left on my hand. I took Japanese for a semester in college and found the same thing you did with Chinese - I went back to Spanish. Sell-out move, I know.
I dig the computer - but I'm even more into the written word... Almost every day I find myself with a pinky that looks like it's broken...
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None of the Walmarts or Office Depots near me have this pen. I think I'll just hold out for the soon-to-be-released mechanical pencil version and order it online.
