why I'm writing a book on a vintage typewriter 📖
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- Опубликовано: 13 июн 2024
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Typewriters are cool. No one can argue otherwise. In this video, we take a look at my 1960s typewriter and discuss why I'm using it to write my book. I explain why I love typewriters, why I think they are still very relevant to a modern writer, and what benefit they can bring as a creative tool.
Writing is an art like any other, and nurturing your creativity should never be neglected for the sake of chasing increased productivity. But, as we'll see in this video, tips on how to be more productive can co-exist peacefully alongside tips on how to be more creative - the two things need each other if we are to be successful artists after all.
Another video on my typewriter: • how a vintage typewrit...
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While in High School in the U.S, I was the only student that Typed my assignments. Spending three years in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Stateside, I updated Personnel Records. I went to Community College, the first two years of College, I was the only Student in my classes that Typed my assignments. I am convinced that my Typewriter contributed to my final four Quarters as an Honors Student. Now nearly forty years later I'm writing a story about my war experience in Vietnam that I am still recovering from. Now you have given me inspiration to do my total first draft with a New/Used Typewriter. Thank you for your inspiration.
There should be a paper release lever on the right side of the platen roller, maybe that white knob, when it’s reset the rollers should grip the paper tightly preventing paper slip.
Thanks for the advice! I love your videos by the way - big fan!
Joe!
How is it going with the typewriter ... great video
I find writing a novel on a typewriter has really opened up a new door within my mind. It allows me to fall into a rythm unlike my experiences on a computer. I find it's best for getting the stream of consciousness writing out. As well as allowing you to really explore your scenes in a way that's unique. It might be the rhythmic sounds of clacking. It might be the constant reminder of being present in the work everytime you pull the return lever. I cannot say enough about it. Glad people are going back to what works
It really is the best! :)
I honestly like peace, quiet, and being alone to write. Helps me focus and be less distracted. I have a royal quiet deluxe 1946.
I love my typewriter. I find when I'm super distracted or bored with my manuscript I switch things up between my laptop and typewriter, occasionally I do handwritten too.
Definitely a great way to keep things interesting when you're writing!
These are machines you have to truly love for them to make a real difference. Just like musical instruments, they are deeply personal and when you find your "one" man oh man, it's like falling in love for the first time again.
Get a Royal KMM. They're big, reliable, not rare, and probably one of the best typing machines ever. The difference in comfort between an ultra portable and a standard typewriter is huge. 🙂 You _will_ need a permanent spot for it, though! But you will love it.
Ah yeah I've seen one in an antique shop near me actually! That's an interesting point about the difference portability and comfort - maybe I need to take a trip back to that shop sometime soon...
Mine's yellow, lives under my computer desk on the "keyboard shelf." It's super handy to write notes, thank you notes, journal entries and etc without distraction!
The next best thing is just using Notepad++ in Distraction Free Mode.
1. The rythm and attention level is totally different
2. You are looking at paper and not a screen
3. The touch feeling its completely different, pc will feel tasteless after.
4. No distraction at all and sound its hypnotizing.
And its fucking cool. I have typed at least 500 pages so far.
Great points! Totally agree :)
Really love your commentary. Genuinely would love to watch you write a short story or something - maybe live stream, 🎉you just have a calming af voice 😍
Ah that's so kind - thank you! I'll definitely have a think about doing something like that! :)
Exactly, every time when you are typing it makes you think more and more for good or for bad but it makes you use your brain and what message you want to print . instean or comprare the computer is totally easy and faster and not makes you feel good. Thats my humble opinion. Love your video Oli.
Exactly! Thanks so much :)
I have 2 one with cursive type❤. I actually have a typewriter repair guy about 15 minutes drive from my home. He has adjusted both for me and he has purchased one from me that the hubby was gifted. It was in bad shape and purchase for parts.
Nice! Lucky to have someone like that so close to you! :)
My family had an old school black and white type writer good times messing with that thing
I love tipewriters wish more people wod use them 😊
Me too! :)
The bell actually signifies that you have about 5 spaces left before the margin. Its 5 spaces on my Smith Corona silent
Oh that's good to know, thanks!
I love the colour of your typewriter, I have an Olympia black one from the twenties, sadly she has a couple of issues so I can only type half a sheet at a time.
Oo nice I love an Olympia :)
I recommend getting a copy of _The Typewriter Revolution._ Richard Polt is a big name in the typosphere so his word is usually trusted. In the book he gives recommendations for different typewriters and general information about some models and their quirks.
Smith Corona is a popular American brand and their "5 series" from the 1950s is fantastic; they're reliable and easy to service. Unfortunately I haven't heard many (nice) things about your model, the Calypso. You might have a hard time finding other SC typewriters since you're in Europe, so I'd see which brands are commonly found in your area. Olympia is a good German brand with their SM series being most talked about, especially their SM-9 model. I've also heard great things about Olivetti Lettera machines.
The world of typewriters can be pretty overwhelming, so I understand if you decide to stick with what you have right now. I've had a small collection for years but I've only taken more of an interest this year so I still have a lot to learn. I've been trying to narrow down my focus on which machine would serve me best and I believe I've found the closest to my ideal, an Olivetti-Underwood 21.
I've worked on writing on and off but have never finished anything so I'm envious of your self-discipline. Watching this video inspired me so I'll give it a like. I wish you luck on your own writing!!
Thanks for the book recommendation - I'll definitely add that to my list and check it out!
Yeah I'm definitely finding that the world of typewriters is massive and daunting! I actually have a couple of others which I might include in some future videos (maybe during NaNoWriMo?) but this is currently my go-to model. I'm def jealous about your olivetti-underwood 21 - I've looked at a couple myself in the past and would love to get one if I can justify getting yet another typewriter!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment, I'm so pleased the video inspired you :) Best of luck to you too!
Nice machine, Oli! I'm a fellow writing iron collector and user. Glad to have stumbled across your channel - looking forward to following your writing journey. Stay inspired! 🤓
Thanks so much! 😊
The thing about typewriters, is that you MUST think first, before typing anything. It must be clear in your mind, the entire sentence. It is what forces us to envision our scenes before we write, not just putting imagined words on paper. That is the magic of the typewriter. It is not convenient, but it makes us do the work in our minds, not writing-editing-writing-erasing-writing-editing-erasing-writing. Only writing - forward.
The old typewriter has a charm, equal to that of handwriting. It is the exquisite force of creativity, but first after it is already finished in our head.
Love that! Brilliantly put :)
Your Calypso needs to be calibrated, a shop that repairs them can do it, what I mean is, the letters are not streamlined they're wonky and out of alignment, there is a way to adjust the hammers and bars and their guides so that why you type the letters are all uniformed. And not one letter higher or lower than the next.
I've done this and yes you are absolutely correct there is a deeper connection to the work and it helps to better understand what world you are creating. Computers are numb, disconnected, MAGIC editing monsters, the simple typewriter is like carving on that stone tablet. Not to mention it adds another layer of proofreading and editing.
Good luck and cheers!
Ah thanks for the advice! I'll definitely look into finding somewhere to take it for an alignment. Thanks again! :)
Good machines. Most of my collection is Smith Corona with Royal second. Get the repair manual. Looks like you need a type alignment, which is an easy adjustment.
Thanks I’ll look into that! 😊
@@OliverFergusonAuthor How silly of me not to think of this earlier ... go to Phoenix Typewriter's YT page. He has videos on alignment and all sorts of other repairs. Just be careful; it can become a sickness. I have 15 typewriters and I use them all for writing my books, too.
I could add a (cut to:) for a flashback when I was 12. That was when I got my first typewriter. Back before desktop computers were even a concept. Even the science fiction I read then failed to imagine the power of the first desktops, much less the machine I'm sending this from.
Much of the excitement and mystery you demonstrated is what I experienced when I opened the box on my first Smith Corona - it was electric, but only nominally. (I think your model was only available in the UK, which only improves the street cred.) Don't worry about the hipster classification - I grew up wanting to be Kerouac - really, how much more hipster can there be in the universe?
Short slug for your episode per my reaction: A glorious remembrance of my misspent youth. Thank you.
Love this! I love how these kinds of machines hold all of these different kinds of personal meanings to people.
On that contrary - it sounds like a youth very well spent! :)
Thanks alot!
@@OliverFergusonAuthor Misspent as per my parents, who had to listen to the harmonic clacking at 2 am. I was ADHD and and early morning person even back then. 🙂
I thought I was alone on how I felt about typing lmao. I have penpals I personally type to on my typewriter and I just have no clue but I compose things best on my computer and then type it all up. It's also nice to have a copy of the letter too lol. Nice machine, smith coronas. ... other than their daisy wheels.
Yeah I love writing letters to friends on it too - feels like it gives a more personal touch :)
Fun! I just got an old (and adorable) pink Biser typewriter. I've already changed the ribbon, and next I'll be giving it a good cleaning (some sticky keys and things). This was fun to watch, thank you 🥰💕
Amazing! Biser's are beautiful - particularly pink ones. Enjoy it! Thanks for watching 😊
@@OliverFergusonAuthor I'm terribly afraid it will become a collection at some point...the Yellow one keeps winking at me online 🤭💕 (I kind of want a whole rainbow of them now)
Ha that's the danger I discovered when I bought my first! I have about three at this point - it's so hard to just walk past one in an antique shop or ebay 🫣 A rainbow of typewriters would be amazing!
Yes!! Enjoy the things you enjoy ❤❤
Exactly! :)
There are apps that allow you to have the mechanical typewriter sounds on the computer, but those merely sound cool. The computer keybopard still lacks the haptic tension and feedback of a mechanical typewriter keyboard that make typewriters as valuable for creative and studious writing as handwriting. With a typewriter, as with handwriting, there is an actual activity, a physical effort, involved in writing that you don't have with a computer, especially not with a touch screen.
Adding to the haptic feedback, typewriters also carry permanence. Many typewriters don't have a backspace key and non of them have a delete key. What you write is written, it is final. You are much more conscientous and focussed about what you write. If you make a mistake on the final line of the page, you have to rewrite the entire page, not just hit Delete a few time and correct it. What happens on the paper stays on the paper. The best thing to do is just keep writing.
No editing while drafting!
Don't get the words right, get the words written. You can always correct the errors when you transcribe to the computer in edit.
you won my subscription after said "it looks pretty cool on my self" and "how long have I been holding it(mic) backwards?" xD
Haha well thanks! :P
Hi Oli, I really enjoyed watching your video. At first I thought you were using the same typewriter that I had when I was a child in the '70s, but mine was a Smith-Corona Zephyr. These Smith-Corona portables are gorgeous little machines aren't they. Liked and subscribed.
Hi! Ah yes the zephyr does look quite similar I think - lovely machine as well! Thanks so much! ☺️
Looks like the platen needs rerubbering. The text will be clearer after that.
Thanks I'll look into that :)
@@OliverFergusonAuthorOr you add an extra soft paper under your writing paper
Writing on typewriter is great, because you can't remove word and sentences second after you wrote them. It's also better than handwriting, because for me it's faster, so I don't forget what I wanted to write. Also it's easier than turning computer on, turning printer on, making sure its have its horribly overpriced toner cartridge when I need something written in nice way on paper. People always notice that you used typewriter, so if you want to stand out when sending some letter or application, typewriter is the way to go.
Oh, and it put you in rythm that is not interrupted by anything - smack smack smack *ding* smack smack *moving lever* smack smack smack *ding* etc.
So true about the printer costs - and I always still seem to be out of ink! Yeah totally agree about the rhythm aspect too :)
For me, I write the novel longhand for the 1st draft. I thought having my mother's typewriter would help with the 2nd draft. Then typing with the laptop would be the next draft.
I'm going to probably have to breakdown and get scrivner.
I use a mechanical or technical keyboard when I write.
I don't use flat keyboards anymore.
Maybe a typewritter would be good for brainstorming or writing short stories.
Yeah it could be! I'm hoping to get a mechanical keyboard soon too. There's just so much choice out there. I'm thinking a Keychron of some kind maybe :)
Now combine the two. Go to that coffee shop and start hammering out a page or two on that thing, bask in the dirty looks.
I also am writing my book on a typewriter. Got a pretty similar one. I love it, I love my desk setup with my typewriter and my noir detective's lamp.
Hahaha I've actually imagined doing that a few times - but I like the place too much to get myself banned!
Sounds like a nice setup you've got! Good luck with the book :)
@@OliverFergusonAuthor Thankya, you too.
Great video, man :)
Thanks! Really appreciate it :)
Have fun with that OCR.
thanks ha :)
Beaitiful machine. If u are willing to spend a bit george blackman sells restored typewriters where everything has been checked and rubber parts etc replaced like the platten. I got a royal model o and an olivetti 32 and both machines type and work like new. Wording all in allognment too! But love your writing process between the laptop and the typewriter, one for the creative and one for more editiorial. I believe you can also send your machine in for a service.
Thanks for the tip! I haven't heard of George Blackman, so I'll definitely check that out :)
@@OliverFergusonAuthor yeah give him a Google its uk based, and he has been on the repair shop aswell. :)
You LOOK AT IT.
Great video.....do you get intriguing looks from people in the cafe?
Sometimes! It might technically be a portable typewriter, but the laptop is still far more convenient when out and about haha... Actually it's quite nice in that particular cafe as there's always at least one other person working on their own book :)
do u know actor Tom Hanks collects old typewriters...he has hundreds.@@OliverFergusonAuthor
Har fyra olika modeller-skriver allt på dwm. Dagbok, tankar . korta noveller mm. älskar skrivmadkiner-
You’re not a hipster, you’re just enlightened. Er, carry on tapping away.
Get a standard machine, an old one, with a cast iron chassis. You'll never have to reposition it after a carriage return again. I've never seen one in that cool color, though, bummer.
It's definitely on my list to get a heavy iron 1930s machine - I just couldn't resist this one though!
@@OliverFergusonAuthorSomething very helpful is slim rubber mat that people put under carpets to prevent slipping. Works perfect on any of my machines, on any kind of table tops. But having an extra massive metal machine never wrong 🤭
If you wound certain types in stealthy ways so you can prove that it was YOUR typewriter that produced a paper manuscript and not an AI. Back in Vietnam during the war you could not own a typewriter that wasn't registered with the government. They would file certain types so they could trace any subversive literature back to the registered owner.
You've seen the California Typewriter doc, right?
Oh wow I hadn't heard that! So interesting. And no I haven't seen it actually, but thanks I'll look it up :)
If you think you like typewriters now, wait until you get a quality machine and have it professionally restored!!!! I loved typing on unserviced cheap things from ebay but when I got my refurbished SM9, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! 0nly problem is when you make this shift (Pun???) you suddenly find yourself paying as much or more than what you pay for modern tech like mac books etc
Love the pun ;) wow yeah I'm a little terrified of what might happen to my bank balance if I go down the rabbit hole of restored machines! I do feel tempted though...
Well, did ya finish it yet?
Not yet - but getting there!
Cool. But you won't be able to copy and paste. For Robert Jordan that would have been a good thing. How did you learn to touch type?
Yes! For better or for worse, copy and paste is definitely missing. I'm a pretty lousy touch typist really! I'm pretty fast but I also make a ton of mistakes, so it's a bit of a trade-off
Well, the expression cut and paste comes from cutting the text you want and pasting it on another sheet. So litterally, typed text on paper is easily cut and pasted.
Daniel
Dont type directly on the platten. Always use paper😊
Good point! :)
bro's the millennialst
😂 yup
Yes. Indeed
Why are you filming this in lots of little jump cuts? Very annoying. However the typewriter is a nice one, so that makes up for this.
Sorry you found this annoying - it's actually to cut out gaps where I've either misspoken or left a long pause to think. It's quite a common editing technique, especially here on RUclips. I think you'd find it more annoying if I left a 60 second long clip of me staring out the window and thinking lol. Thanks for the feedback though
Nice machine. I'm a Smith Corona and Royal fan. Love my Sprite. It's been on the busline and the sidelines, and the picket line, but it's always on deadline.
I guess it is to bring out unfriendly comments that no one cares about 😂
You can use Corrasable Typewriter Paper which makes you able to erase mistakes on paper ;-) but it has its charm to have crossed out letters ❤
Oh thanks I haven't heard of that! I'll def look into it. I agree though - I do like the imperfect rough around the edges charm of the crossed out letters :)