Does writing on a blank piece of paper instead of on a device lead to more creativity?

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As a way to reduce screen time, I often close my laptop, pull out a notebook and spend time filling up a blank page the old fashioned way.

My writing process and what I write feel different when I do this.

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I’m not googling anything when distracted. I’m not looking through a multitude of open tabs to concurrently work on other unrelated tasks. Surprisingly, even the angle of my pen and the speed with which I write creates a uniquely different and more thoughtful experience. It is not that I never write with pen and paper – I typically don’t write with pen and paper with all my devices shut off!

This particularly slower, distraction-free process for me where I can see what I have crossed out rather than deleted feels more personal and drives different kinds of ideas. I do think that there can be more time and the mind space for originality when you remove all the distractions, physically put pen to paper and slow down just a little.

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I also tend to look out at nature through a window when I’m thinking while writing on paper which I don’t do quite as often when on my laptop. Observing birds when they gently land on a tree branch gives me pause and frequently a change in perspective.

I realize the irony of this – who knew we could become so dependent on electronic devices that writing solely with pen and paper would merit a post?!?!! Maybe decades(or years?) from now when newer technology emerges, people will reminisce about touch screens and keyboards…

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Do you feel that if you were to unplug from all your devices and just write on a piece of paper that you’d write differently, more creatively and have more originality or would you miss your device so much that you wouldn’t be able to write as easily?