Write without Writing...

Alternatives to the handwritten note

In surveys I sent out to learn what kept respondents from handwritten correspondence, the most often cited culprits (after “not enough time”) were disability, cramping, or discomfort from holding a pen or pencil. While I am a huge proponent of notes by hand, the message of the #HeartspokenMovement is that your communication be heartspoken, regardless of the medium used to convey it.

Even if you want to write more notes and letters, there could be legitimate reasons why writing longhand isn’t feasible:

• Temporary or permanent physical impairment (e.g., injury, stroke, arthritis, vision)

• Pain when writing by hand

• Tremor or other motor control issue

• Illegible handwriting for any reason

• Legal or professional constraints (i.e., when a typed letter is more appropriate)

• Time constraints

Get creative! There are assistance options that range from human help to technology assistance, and the choices are getting better all the time.

Alternatives to handwriting

Phoning, texting, and email

These are often fine options between close friends and colleagues or for less significant communications. They are all preferable to not reaching out at all.

Typing/Keyboarding

All of the cherished letters from my grandfather (I’m looking at them in a cubbyhole of my desk) were typed, and that didn’t diminish their impact at all. Print them out, sign them if you can, and send them by snail mail.

Dictation and speech-to-text software

Perhaps a friend or family member would enjoy taking dictation or typing on a keyboard while you dictate. Voice recognition programs are quite accurate and now they’re built into almost every mobile device. A similar option would be an AI-driven virtual helper such as Siri or Google Assistant.

Video or audio messaging

Just push that “record” button on your mobile phone or computer and start talking. Then just send the audio or video file by email, text message, or WhatsApp. You can also send these files to a transcription service to be turned into text.

Braille writer and assistive devices

For the visually impaired, a Braille writer can be used to create letters. Special keyboards, mouse alternatives, or eye-tracking software can help those with physical disabilities.

Digital note-writing services

In Appendix D of my book, I list several services. Their product not only looks like real handwriting, but they use quality paper stock and are affordable when you consider the cost of stationery, stamps, and time. Assuming you can type on your computer’s keyboard, these can be a wonderful alternative to handwritten notes. To understand how they work, check this post from my blog: “Hate to Write Handwritten Notes? CARDLY to the Rescue!”

Please remember this

When we communicate from our hearts, regardless of the medium used, we are making a more powerful impact than we would otherwise. Notes written by hand are more personal and more intimate, but a heartspoken message can be conveyed in many forms.

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NEXT WEEK: Sometimes the best way to write more notes is to make it more fun! I’ve got several posts planned to explore this, starting with next week’s quirky topic: the ThankU note.