In โan Age of AI, Some โคWriters Still โSwear By Pen andโค Paper
Barcelona โค- โคAs artificial intelligence โฃtools โขlike โChatGPT rapidlyโค transform the writing โขlandscape, a growing number of authors are deliberately โchoosing โฃto remain analog, finding โvalue in โthe โฃtactile process of โhandwriting in notebooks.This resurgence of a โขcustomary practice isn’tโฃ simply nostalgia; writers argue that the slower, more intentional act of writing by handโ fostersโฃ deeper thought, creativity, and a unique connection to โtheirโข work – qualities they fear are lost in the speed โขand efficiency ofโค digital โคcomposition.
The โdebate over the futureโข of writingโข comes at a pivotal moment. While AI offers unprecedented tools โfor content creation, concerns are mounting aboutโ originality, authenticity, and the potential devaluation of human creativity. For these authors, the โpen โขoffers a refugeโ – aโค way to reclaim ownership of theirโ thoughts and resist the homogenizing influence of algorithmic writing. This movement highlights a broader cultural tensionโ between embracing technological advancement and preserving the human element in artistic expression.
“Writing by โขhand is a way of slowing โdown, of forcing yourself toโ think more carefully about each word,” explains one Spanish โคauthor, โreflecting a sentiment echoed โby writers across disciplines. “It’s a more intimateโ process, a conversation withโข yourself that isn’t mediated byโข a screen.”
The โฃpractice isn’t limited to fiction writers. Journalists, โpoets, and academicsโ are alsoโฃ rediscovering the benefits of handwriting. Some report increased focus and reduced distractions, โwhileโข others find that the physical act of writing unlocks different parts of their brains, leading to โฃunexpected insights.
This return to analog โคmethods also taps into a broader appreciation for craftsmanship and โthe tangible. Inโ a world increasingly dominated โby digital ephemerality, the permanence of ink on paper โoffers a sense of grounding and connection to a long literary tradition. โค As โคAI continues to evolve, the writers who โฃchoose to remain rooted in the physical โขactโข of writing may find themselves at the forefront of โขa movement to preserve the โขuniquely human qualities of storytelling.
Source: “Escribir a manoโข en la eraโค del ChatGPT: los artesanos de la palabra” by โLara Gรณmez Ruiz, originally published in *La Vanguardia on May 27, 2025.*