The First Typewritten Novel.
—Adventure of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Fun Fact Thursday #002.
Today, we will keep it punchy and sweet. I don't know if you see what I did there, but I hope you like Punch.
I’ll race you into it. As the title implies, this newsletter talks about the first ever novel written by the typewriter, which may or may not be news to you, but let me ask.
Would you rather have a typewriter as your writing aid or the digital tools we have today?
I’m genuinely curious about your answer, and I'll appreciate it if you leave a comment and give a reason for your choice. Thank you!
I know people with an adventurous spirit and a burning blue flame will go for the typewriter, but if it's up to me, I'd go for the latter.
I have seen a typewriter before and used it for about ten minutes each time we had business studies class when I was a high school freshman.
The required amount of patience and precision needed to write just a letter on that ancient treasure, or the aftermath of muscle strain in both hands, or worse, the energy required to strike one key, is all too much.
It's stressful and time-consuming, and if there's anything I know, it's the least a writer would prefer to complete their overflowing workflow, but someone did use it.
Probably, the excitement of tapping the buttons while seeing the words aesthetically arrange themselves on paper without holding a quill kept Mark Twain going. It was a technological advancement for him—a change in the world of paper and ink.
Who is that, you ask?
Mark Twain was the man who claimed to have written a whole novel using a typewriter.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter was “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. Mark Twain was quite enthusiastic about using the typewriter for his work. He was one of the first authors to embrace new technology, and he even mentioned that it made the writing process faster and more efficient.
I can't help but be happy for Mark Twain, even if I don't relate or entirely agree, but times have changed. Back then, I would have loved the typewriter with no foresight into what the future holds.
Twain humorously noted that the typewriter was a “curiosity-breeding little joker” and that it was “a machine that can write a letter for you while you smoke a cigar and look out the window.”.
The deeper I take his statements regarding his experience into account, it almost feels like I encountered the wrong typewriter. Perhaps some were designed differently to provide different experiences. Perhaps!
It’s fascinating to think about how technology has continued to evolve and impact the way we write. In today’s digital age, we have even more advanced tools at our disposal, from word processors to writing software that can help with grammar, style, and organization.
This makes me curious about the look on Mark Twain's face when he sees the new digital tools. If a typewriter can handle your letter while you look out the window and smoke a cigar, what joke will he make about AI?
Today, we have AIs to spew ideas within seconds; back then, I wondered how many people it took and how long.
However, we must not forget that he embraced change, and that's commendable. Mark Twain’s use of the typewriter for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” marked a significant shift in the writing process. It allowed for faster typing and easier editing, which was a considerable advantage over the traditional methods.
Thinking about the typewriters sitting patiently in rows in the furnished classroom makes me glad I was born a little later.
Hopefully, as the world embraces the introduction of new technologies, it will aid writers in their tasks rather than eliminate them entirely from the production chain. At least if that's not the intentional goal.
Anyway, we have come to the end of our concentrated and delightful cocktail of fun facts. I expect to see your choices and ideas behind it, and don't be swayed by my eerie ending. I love sci-fi movies and watch them for entertainment... or to pick up a tad bit of survival skills, who knows? ;)
But when you see a typewriter, don't forget to show your respect. Those ancient warriors were once the world’s AI.
It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come!
It's great to see you here. Thank you for reading. If it's your first time, you are welcome, and if you are already a subscriber, I see you ;). Thank you for the support.
Don't forget to always check out the Exoticpieces store. Huge plans are about to be executed; the workload has just been on the extreme. I’m also excited to connect with you all on a more accessible level, and I hope to make that bridge soon.
Have a nice day, and I'll see you next time.
I started with a typewriter because that was the only option (beyond pen and paper)! Adapted quickly to word processor, though that turned me into a chronic tinkerer with my words.