I have been a "journal" keeper for over 40 years --- in big books, written with real fountain pens, the kind

Question

that fill from a bottle. I am somewhat late coming to the computer age, and the thought has come to me, "Perhaps I should start keeping my journal on the computer and print it out every week or so." It woud have several advanages, such as being quicker, and most of all, it would make it easy for people in the future to read it. I really believe that in a relatively short period of time, almost nobody will be able to real cursive handwriting. Writing styles change. My wife has a "journal" written by a relative in the 1800's, and I can not read it because of the style of writing at that time. But, then, am I writing it for someone to read in the distant future, or am I writing it for myself, in the "here and now?" I think, both, but writing it for me now is more important. After so many years of "taking my pen in hand," it would be hard to give up. I guess that I am just tied to the past and to the way things used to be, at my now ripe old age of 70. What do you think?

Answer 1

I have kept a journal of sorts also, in the form of "letters" addressed to my kids. They're smorgasbord type, some are written in longhand (which I find harder to read as time passes!) and others are printed out. I've actually thought about the thing you said of whether writing for someone in the future or is it just for yourself? I guess that even if I address the letters to my kids, I doubt if there'll come a time when they'll actually read all of them!

But to your question, I agree with the others, you could keep doing your journal in longhand and ask someone to transcribe if you can't do it yourself. I find computer printouts kinda leaves the "personal touch" somehow. But it's safer to have another file saved as I've had several hard copies written in long hand that got wet and ruined and for the life of me, can't remember the things I've written as the ink's all smeared!

Answer 2

While I don't keep a journal, I don't actually think you're writing style would not be one people a hundred years from now could understand. Unless, of course, everything becomes text messaging in which case your actually writing out words and using proper spelling and grammar would probably be what would confuse folks. I've been looking over federal census records and reproductions of Civil War leters and I can tell you it's not the style that I have problems with but the person doing the hand writing. I can see two or three different people writing in the same style and find one or two highly legible but have difficulty with at least one because it seems sloppier than others.

I've been using a computer since I was fourteen to do most of my writing because my handwriting is rather bad. Put it to you this way, you know the old joke about a doctor's handwriting being so bad virtually no one can read it? If that's the case, I guess I've been a doctor since about five or six. Starting around 14 my teachers allowed me to use a computer to do my homework both so they could read it and so I'd actually get it done. Now though I use a cursive script on the computer at times when I am looking for something fancy.

If you're worried no one in the future will be able to read your journal if you continue to write it by hand, then you can turn to the computer. But if you're worried you can't change after forty years, then try this. Write it out by hand, then take and transcribe over to the computer. Yes you will be doing twice the work, but it could well be worth it. You can feel comfortable still writing with pen and ink like you have been for forty years and comfortable in knowing people of the future may also be able to read your work.

Answer 3

Oh definitely keep up with what you've been doing so far, but hire someone to transcribe them for you. I'm in the process of transcribing some old WWII love letters between my boyfriend's grandparents and I know what you mean about the writing style - cursive just isn't what it used to be.

I'm a sappy old sack, though, so the thought of picking up a journal written by someone who used a fountain pen?!? I mean, I thought it was exciting to get copies of those WWII letters in "V mail" format...a fountain pen would make me swoon.

College kids are always looking for extra cash and most people can type without really "reading" what they're transcribing, so your privacy wouldn't be a concern. Or even photocopy them and mail them to a distant service so that way you can be sure that no one you immediately know would be reading them.

I'm kind of sad that all of my own wartime letters (beau is in Afghanistan) have to be printed out on laser jet. I was born in the wrong generation!

(And if you want to send journals to be typed just let me know! I'd be more than happy to help you out with digital copies of your story!)

Answer 4

i am 27 and have kept a journal for at least 10 years now. i have also considered the 'switch' :)
Personally, i have decided against switching to computer entries for a few reasons. Whilst it would be more economical, quicker and easier to store i really do enjoy the act, almost ritual, of writing in an actual book. i enjoy the movement of the pen and i find the slower pace of writing helps slow down my racing brain at times. perhaps the biggest reason for me against the switch is that i feel typing on the computer is more of a mechanical action and it tends to bring out my right brain thinking more than i like when i am journalling. i find it easer to be creative and thoughtful with pen and paper. (i think i read an article somewhere supporting that...)
i do re-consider the 'switch' when i go back and try and re-read my journals. sometimes I, myself, cant even read them! But then, i have decided that i write for myself and i get much more out of the process of writing than the re-reading anyway.
its a personal choice really but if you do decide to stick with pen and ink don't feel like you're 'stuck in the past'. And even if you are, you have many young companions who are stuck there with you :)

Happy journaling

Answer 5

I love cursive writing, but mine is so hard to read, so I love my computer more.

There are "cursive" typefaces available also, that look fantastic.

Save the original, pay someone to transcribe the cursive onto a computer file.

Don't trust computers that can "read" text, they make too many mistakes. So do people but you know enough to have it proofread two or three times.

Answer 6

i think you should write it on the computer for two reasons 1 it will keep you occupied and 2 it will be easier to read in futer plus if u do mind make sure u keep a back up you dont wan to lose it all now do you

Answer 7

You can have your work converted to .pdf files. That way you can have for yourself a precise and accurate soft copy of your handwritten work! =)