Günter Grass’ traditionally minded opinions about not using computers when writing are extreme for my taste. The Nobel Prize winner thinks computers and the Internet are a bad influence on writing and claims (jokes?) that he can tell after reading 10 pages if a book was written on a computer. He starts with pen and paper and then uses a typewriter for subsequent drafts. I’ve used all three methods; pen, typewriter, computer, and they are suited for different things. Free form brainstorming and idea connecting works best for me with pen and paper. A typewriter was just a cool funky thing I used to use to whack out short poetry and thoughts; I doubt I’ll go back to that again. And, contrary to what Grass may believe, the word processor has freed me from the tangles of my tools and given me an ease of space to “scribble” out my coalescing thoughts, allowing them to manifest themselves into reality. Different things work for different people. His mind is accustomed to the rhythms of pen on paper, and he always writes standing up. I sit. I ponder. I type words onto the screen. I use the backspace key a lot.