AvoleenWrites

Word out on the street is that in 2026 we are choosing analog over digital? Then again, the new year just started so it could be the “new year new me” propaganda that people spread at the start of EVERY SINGLE year. Nothing wrong with it though. Personally, this year my focus is on making simple changes and improvements. My goal is to be a better writer. In today’s blog I talk about the struggles of writing first drafts and the benefits of writing by hand.

The hardest part for me when it comes to writing has always been writing the first draft. It’s almost always trash and who wants to write trash? Definitely, not me. I have lost count of the number of first drafts I have attempted to write and stopped simply because they were so bad or I didn’t like them.

A first draft can make you question not only your competency as a writer but your self-worth. I wish I was kidding but I am not. It really is that deep. You might be shaking your head in disbelief but ask any writer you know. If they don’t agree, find another writer to ask. I am sure there’s someone out there who feels the same way I do about writing first drafts. 

Despite my hatred for first drafts, they are really important. A first draft is what gets you to great writing. And I do want to be a great writer. So I am no longer shying away from first drafts. I will face them head-on. They are definitely one of the main reasons I didn’t write as much as I wanted to last year. That and procrastination lol. Usually, I start off my drafts on a Google doc page but this year I want to try something different. 

I will be starting off my first drafts in my physical notebook and writing them by hand. That’s right folks, we are going back to the stone ages lol. Nah, writing by hand has always been in, okay? It will never go out of style! Maybe not all my first drafts will be written by hand but most of them will be. I did a bit of research on the benefits of writing by hand and I want to share five benefits I liked. 

5 benefits of writing by hand  

1. Improves memory

According to a journal published on the National Library of Medicine website , “Writing is a complex phenomenon that requires diverse skills: perceiving the pen and paper, moving the writing instrument, and directing the movement through thought. Using a pen involves paying attention…This multisensory integration underlies memory abilities”.

Even though typing is faster, writing by hand requires more focused attention and longer processing time which improves memory retention.

2. Helps you to think

Writing is a form of thinking. When you write by hand, you are essentially thinking on paper. According to some neuroscientific studies, brain connectivity between different regions is more elaborate when letters are formed by hand.

3. Stress relief

The act of writing itself can reduce stress. Studies show that activities such as journaling can impact your emotional well-being by helping you organize your thoughts and improve your mood. It teaches you to flesh out your thoughts and consider them carefully. Writing gives you time to come up with the right words and this facilitates self-expression. Self-expression is very important for well-being. 

4. Boosts creativity 

Writing by hand helps you to think outside of the box. (Whenever I hear this idiom, my first thought is usually where did the box come from? How big is it? And why does it have to be a box. Can it be a triangle for a change? Or a rectangle?) By forcing you to slow down writing on paper can cause you to come up with new ideas or make new observations. 

5. Enhances your focus

Writing by hand can eliminate distractions that are usually caused by using your phone or laptop with their multiple tabs and notifications. Of course you can always turn off all notifications on your devices but the temptation to get distracted remains. When you write by hand only, it’s harder to get distracted. 

These are some cool benefits aren’t they?. I am a big advocate for journaling and I can attest to the fact that journaling can be used as a form of stress relief. Wellness is really important to me and it plays a huge factor in how I show up creatively. 

Final Thoughts

When I was drafting this blog post I used my physical notebook and though it was more time consuming, I am so glad I did it that way. The first draft is really bad but this final result I am happy with. My thoughts are more cohesive and clear, whereas in the original draft there are so many things going on. On the bright side you don’t have to read it! Hahaha.

Thank you for reading! 

P.S.A. – You might notice that there are quite a few unfinished changes going on my website. I am learning how to design my website and it’s a lot of trial and error. I refuse to let an unfinished website design stop me from writing and posting. At the end of the day it’s all about the writing right? Thank you for supporting my writing. It is much appreciated. Have a great week!