Pushing Through the Pain
I have loved writing for as long as I can remember, but my relationship with it has always been complicated. A serious, life-threatening accident in my childhood set a difficult path for me. In my teens, I started developing issues that have only degenerated over time. By the time I was in university, I realized that holding a pen for even a short period, possibly an hour but more often much less, was excruciating.
In my university classes, where everyone else was scribbling furiously, I learned to develop a different kind of tool: a powerful memory.
My memory has never been the best. After my accident, I forgot many simple things. I once had a loud and long argument with my older sister about the spelling of words. I'd once been one of the top learners (so I was told) and aced all my early spelling tests. Well, after the accident I was adamant that "what" was clearly spelled "wot" ... I mean, that made sense to my eight-year-old self at the time... 🤣
At university, I learned to lean on my memory as a way to keep up. I’d jot down only one or two words to trigger my recall later, and the second I got home to my trusty Atari ST (ageing myself a little 😆), I would frantically try to type out everything before the memory faded. This taught me to value every word, every fleeting thought.
Over ten years ago, after years of increasing pain, I was diagnosed with CRPS. By that time, I was already actively looking at emerging tech, hoping to find a solution to help me keep up. I learned to type with only my left hand during flare-ups, and discovered incredibly helpful tools like my Contour RollerMouse Red, an absolutely amazing ambidextrous, rolling-pin style mouse that has allowed me to navigate my computer without direct hand strain. I've also spent years developing my skill with swipe-to-type as it became a feature on phones and tablets. But even with these adaptations, a recent severe flare-up made even my workaround impossible. The physical act of writing has felt, in these last few days especially, like a mountain I couldn't climb. It often feels like my identity as a writer is slipping away with each of these flare-ups.
Over the years, I've tried everything. Even my tried-and-true left-hand typing and ergonomic mouse felt too much. Voice-to-text apps have too often butchered my words and broke my flow. Nothing has truly worked.
Thankfully the swipe-to-type skill I had been quietly honing gives me a way forward, when the pain is not too harsh. Even at the edges of this recent flare-up, I've been able to use my phone's touchscreen with a single finger: my right pointer finger, swiping out words. Unfortunately, atthe height of a flare-up I can't open my hand.
Learning swipe-to-type was a slow, clumsy process at first, but at least it doesn't cause the familiar, searing pain. It has really helped me to feel my writing life is not something I have to give up.
My Finger is My Pen
The fluidity of swiping across a screen feels more like thought than typing, and it’s a perfect fit for a writer who's had to embrace limitations. With my finger, I'm still able to write, able to tell my stories, and that is, to me at least, amazing.
That learning experience prepared me for this new reality. The frantic swiping, the need to choose words carefully, the constant battle with autocorrect—it all forces a discipline that gets right to the heart of writing a story. It's less about the deliberate press of keys or the careful formation of letters, and more about the rhythm of a single finger dancing across glass. This method of creation, born out of physical necessity, has become a creative force in itself. It’s teaching me new ways to build worlds and tell stories in a style that is uniquely mine.
What's Next?
Discovering the swipe-to-type method gave me a renewed sense of hope. It’s proof that a writer’s creativity can adapt and find a way to thrive, even when the body resists. I rediscovered the joy of writing and eagerly exploring the creating stories from micro-fiction and short stories through to novellas and novels.
As a lifelong sci-fi fan, I’ve always found a kind of creative freedom within constraints. I was once challenged to write sci-fi stories that were exactly 42 words long, with the titles limited to a maximum of three words each. The exercise forced me to make every single word count.
Now, I'd like to challenge you to try the same exercise, one that once helped me to pick words carefully. Pick one of the prompts below and write a story that is exactly 42 words long, with a title no more than three words.
- Sci-Fi: The colony's AI went dark. The last message was a single, repeating word: 'Welcome.'
- Thriller: The call came from his own number. A voice whispered, "I know where you hid the money."
- Drama: She found the letter she'd been afraid of all her life. She burned it without opening it.
I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever had to adapt your creative process due to a physical challenge? What innovative solutions did you discover to keep your passion alive?
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