I think best with a pencil in my hand

I think best with a pencil in my hand

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the accomplished author and aviator, once famously said, “I think best with a pencil in my hand.” This statement perfectly encapsulates her creative process and the way in which she approached her writing. Lindbergh was known for her introspective and thoughtful writing style, and it is clear that the act of physically writing with a pencil was an integral part of her thought process.

For Lindbergh, writing was not just a means of communication, but a way of exploring her own thoughts and emotions. She often used her writing as a form of self-reflection, delving deep into her own psyche and examining her innermost thoughts and feelings. The act of putting pencil to paper allowed her to slow down and truly connect with her thoughts, rather than simply letting them pass through her mind.

In addition to being a tool for self-reflection, writing with a pencil also allowed Lindbergh to tap into her creativity in a way that typing on a computer never could. The physical act of writing by hand engages different parts of the brain than typing does, and for Lindbergh, this tactile experience was essential to her creative process. The act of forming letters and words on paper allowed her to fully immerse herself in her writing, to feel the words flowing from her mind through her hand and onto the page.

Furthermore, writing with a pencil allowed Lindbergh to make connections and associations that she may not have otherwise made. The act of physically writing out her thoughts allowed her to see patterns and connections between ideas that may have been hidden if she had simply typed them out. This hands-on approach to writing gave her a deeper understanding of her own thoughts and allowed her to create more nuanced and complex works.