The Computer, Hypertext and the History of Writing

The section on Writing as a State of Mind really stood out to me. The feeling of not being unable to detach yourself from writing, and that our “technical relationship to the writing space is always with us” is a feeling that is very common with not I, but my dad. To me, “the writing space” means that the ideas of writing and words are always with you. Whether it be put from pen to paper, recorded or just kept in your head, it is always there.

My dad has always loved to write, whether that be short stories, poems, thoughts or just simple lists. To me, “the writing space” means that the ideas of write. He is always showing me stories he has written about family holidays or trips to the supermarket. When I recently when to New Zealand, dad sent me pages of his diary that he kept from when he hitchhiked around New Zealand when he was 18 years old. I found it so nice (and in a way comforting) to read about my dad’s travels on the same road that I was on.

I agree with Bolter when he says that the skill becomes like second nature. My dad is able to pick up a pen at anytime, anywhere and write beautiful words and beautiful stories. This is an ability that I wish I had but don’t. I find it difficult to type what is in my head, onto the page. Hopefully, by the end of this subject I will be able to!

This is a link to one of my dad’s stories about watching The Rolling Stones perform in 1968.