1 of 1- TypewriterKing
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Offline - From: DeepInTheHeartO', Texas
- Registered: 17-2-2016
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My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
I have found, over the years, that the side effect of working on and restoring old typewriters is that you have to use them in order to test them out and see that they perform well. To that end, you've gotta write something. And something I wrote!! I've written lots of things in the last thirty-five or so years. I've written untold numbers of letters to the editor (some of which won me rave reviews, while others had me hooted off the paper). I've written research papers by the dozen. I've written resumes and cover letters for a job interview technique class years ago. I've written untold numbers of letters to others for untold different reasons. Most of those to my girlfriend--and she counts over 3500 in our thirteen and a half years together.
Now I am going to try something a little different: I'm going to try my hand at being a writer. My subject matter is going to be short stories about typewriters and the situations they, other people and myself find ourselves in. I don't know how well I do, and I'll keep everyone posted. Some of those stories I've sprinkled here and there on this Forum in different places.
So you see, my fingers have a lot to say. They talk to people. They tell stories. The Yellow Pages had our fingers do the walking. But it's the typewriter and the computer that have had my fingers do the talking. 
Underwood--Speeds the World's Bidness
- Repartee
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
TypewriterKing wrote:
I have found, over the years, that the side effect of working on and restoring old typewriters is that you have to use them in order to test them out and see that they perform well. To that end, you've gotta write something. And something I wrote!! I've written lots of things in the last thirty-five or so years. I've written untold numbers of letters to the editor (some of which won me rave reviews, while others had me hooted off the paper). I've written research papers by the dozen. I've written resumes and cover letters for a job interview technique class years ago. I've written untold numbers of letters to others for untold different reasons. Most of those to my girlfriend--and she counts over 3500 in our thirteen and a half years together.
That's about 260 letters a year or somewhat shy of one a day. What, were you slacking those days? 
Now I am going to try something a little different: I'm going to try my hand at being a writer. My subject matter is going to be short stories about typewriters and the situations they, other people and myself find ourselves in. I don't know how well I do, and I'll keep everyone posted. Some of those stories I've sprinkled here and there on this Forum in different places.
So you see, my fingers have a lot to say. They talk to people. They tell stories. The Yellow Pages had our fingers do the walking. But it's the typewriter and the computer that have had my fingers do the talking.
Keep us posted!
That's two promised books by users of this forum I look forward to seeing in print. I feel there are others but they are keeping them under a bushel.
There was another book last year that I pre-ordered on Amazon. When fulfillment time game they began sending me notes to the effect there were unexpected delays, and would you like to keep waiting or get a refund? I answered that I would keep waiting three times and they finally stopped asking and I never did see the book. I guess it was just Too shocking, too lurid to be published in this country! 
"Damn the torpedoes! Four bells, Captain Drayton".
- ztyper
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
I have done a similar thing, only it's been two years for me and not 35! I just write whatever, like what I have done to the typewriter so far and what I want to do with it. I keep a daily journal (or at least semi-weekly...) but other than that, I just use them for school. As a kid, I just hated writing. It was the way that it was presented to me in elementary school; they just told me to write. No grammar, no sentence structure, just a lot of criticisms. I never did well, and so I developed a resentment towards it. It wasn't until I got to junior high school that I was actually taught how to write, and I became quite good at it. I know that I am a good writer, but I still have this fear for it and a fear of putting my work out there for criticisms and judgement. I would like to get to a point where I can just write for fun, nothing too much, just a short story or two here and there.
But anyways, please keep us posted good luck writing!
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- KatLondon
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
ztyper, you ARE a good writer. Do it for yourself, not them - you can't lose.
- ztyper
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
Aw thanks! 
I think once I'm off of school for the holiday break, I'll stop procrastinating and just get on with it.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- KatLondon
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
Good thinking. Remember the point of it is to have fun! x
- Javi
- Touch Typist
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Re: My Fingers Have A Big Mouth
ztyper, you ARE a good writer. Do it for yourself, not them - you can't lose.
Totally agree! Writing just for fun and for yourself is a win-win situation. You have a great time doing it, you do what you want no matter what others could / would / dare to say, and you´ll enjoy your own work.
At least that´s what happens to me. I have read again and again my own short (and long) stories, and while I always find little things that now I´d change, everytime I come back to them I have a great time. They´re far from being "literature", maybe lightyears from being remotely publishable, but I feel I´ve done a decent job and the way I wanted to. That´s rewarding enough.
A funny note: I learned a lot about writing with my English exams. They forced me to think before harassing the paper with nonsense, they showed me how to give structure and order, and by using something that´s not my mother tongue I had to excercise my mind, and the muscle you build up there never goes away.
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(Olivetti Linea 98)
