Hemingway wrote on a Corona No. 3 typewriter. He liked it because it was portable and he could travel with it.
– Ok, but isn’t it just easier to carry pen and paper?
- More info on Hemingway and Corona No 3: myTypewriter.com - About famous Authors and their typewriters.
Benefits of Using a Typewriter
On a separate note… we love this specific blurb ChatGPT formed (when we asked Why Hemingway liked this typewriter):
…The physicality of typing may have imposed a discipline to think through sentences and phrases before committing them to paper, which can be a different cognitive process compared to handwriting.
We have spent some time thinking about the cognitive load of thinking about what is to be committed to writing before it is written permanently.
- Edsger Dijkstra: "… one of the great advantages of working with pen and paper is that before you start a sentence you have to have it completely ready in your head.
Asking ChatGPT for Help
The text below was generated by ChatGPT 4!
We asked: Why did Hemingway prefer to write with a Corona No 3 typewriter?
ChatGPT replied:
Ernest Hemingway was known for his fondness for the Corona No. 3 typewriter, which was a portable and reliable machine. Hemingway’s preference for this typewriter wasn’t necessarily because it was faster than writing with a pen and paper or with pencils, but there were several reasons that could have contributed to his preference:
- Portability: The Corona No. 3 was highly portable for its time. It was a folding typewriter, which made it convenient for Hemingway, who was often on the move. He could take it on his travels and write wherever he was - from a café in Paris to a campsite on safari in Africa.
- Durability: Hemingway needed a typewriter that could withstand his extensive travels and the Corona No. 3 was known for its durability.
- Tactile Feedback: Typewriters like the Corona No. 3 provided a different tactile feedback compared to pens and pencils. The keys required a firm press, and the immediate physicality of seeing words on paper as soon as they were typed might have been satisfying and conducive to his writing process.
- Mechanical Simplicity: The mechanical simplicity of the Corona No. 3 meant that there were fewer distractions and complications involved in the writing process. It was straightforward to use, which could help maintain a flow of writing without having to deal with ink refills, sharpening pencils, or dealing with smudges and errors that are more common when writing by hand.
- Editing Process: While writing on a typewriter did not have the modern conveniences of word processors, it allowed for a more deliberate approach to writing. The physicality of typing may have imposed a discipline to think through sentences and phrases before committing them to paper, which can be a different cognitive process compared to handwriting.
- Aesthetic and Ritual: There’s also an aesthetic and ritualistic aspect to using a typewriter that may appeal to some authors. The sound of keys striking, the bell at the end of a line, and the act of returning the carriage can all be part of a pleasing routine that helps a writer like Hemingway get into a creative mindset.
The choice of writing tools is a highly personal one for a writer, and the tactile, visual, and auditory feedback from a typewriter can significantly affect the writing experience. Hemingway, like many writers of his era, developed a personal attachment to his typewriter, and it became an integral part of his writing life.