Stream of Consciousness
March 5, 2006Yesterday I was listening to the Macnotables podcast. There are some very bright people talking on that podcast, and they’re all writers of great columns.
I wondered if they could type as fast as they could talk. I was thinking that because they were saying some things that were so spot on or relevant or just plain funny that I wondered how much of what they think actually gets down on file as it were (we used to say, “Get down on paper,” so I guess file would be the best equivalent).
Occasionaly I will think of something that I consider mildly profound, but by the time I’ve typed it, something is lost in the translation. I certainly wish I wish I could type faster.
Touch typing, let alone fast typing is something that I’ve never mastered, no matter how much I’ve practiced. My standard excuse is that kids these days are using keyboards at an early age so it comes more naturally to them, but most of the guests on Macnotables are just as old as me.
Maybe they’re just more diligent than I am. Or more hard working at least.
So anyhow, I’m not diligent or hard working so I decided that I need a quick and dirty solution to this problem. As a result I am typing this article in a whole new way. What I’m doing is I’m typing without bothering with spelling. Well, of course I am trying to spell correctly, but when I make a typo I’m not immediately stopping to correct it. That will be taken care of when I’m finished with the piece.
The other thing I’m skipping for now is capitalising of sentances, and punctuation; I’m still putting in the commas, periods and semi colons in real time; I’m just not bothering with the apostrophies for now. And let me tell you, this is working very well. Much more in keeping pace with what I’m actually thinking.
Now if only I could master more than two fingers per hand at a time.
Well, that worked out very well.
The above paragraphs were bashed out in no time at all, without losing my train of thought. Even with the editing it took less time than if I’d done it the old fashioned way.
What do you know; I’ve developed a life hack, or a hatchet job.
Take your pick.
