C. S. Lewis’ Advice to Young Writers #7

In 1959, at the suggestion of her teacher, an American schoolgirl wrote C. S. Lewis a letter requesting advice on writing. Lewis replied, “It is very hard to give any general advice about  writing. Here’s my attempt.”

In a series of eight blogposts we’re covering each of the points Lewis offered. They are just as pertinent today as they were 66 years ago.

Don’t use a typewriter. The noise will destroy your sense of rhythm, which still needs years of training.

– C. S. Lewis, letter of writing advice to an American schoolgirl, 14 December 1959

Prose holds music. Paragraphs carry rhythm. Poets make this a primary focus, and the great prose writers do as well. Sentence length, word choice, phrase order—these can contribute to or distract from the reader’s experience. Lewis’ advice is to avoid using a tool that will drown out the writer’s perception of this key element of the craft.

Today many of us compose on a laptop or another computerized device. As I type this blogpost I can barely hear the key’s bobbing up and down under my fingertips. The room is quiet. I’m able to read what I’m writing and hear each sentence.

That said, part of my writing process is to edit and revise by hand, with the printed manuscript and a pencil. No doubt this is akin to what Lewis was prescribing—writing longhand. Indeed, when I’m off my device and working with pencil and paper, there is a tactile intimacy with the text that gives perspective one cannot obtain via the screen.

So what should be our takeaway these many years and technological advances later? Spend some time working on a text longhand. See what advantages this brings. And make sure the tools you’re using to craft your prose remain an aid and don’t become a hinderance.