It's so easy to write on a keyboard, I find that the words flow on to the page in a stream of consciousness and before I know it I've written pages of - whatever - I happen to be writing about. And it's so easy to go back and edit, chopping this out, adding here, moving this block of thought to be more consistent with the flow of the previous and following blocks. And of course, there's the ability to quickly find a replacement word, or check the spelling, or figure out what the hell that word means. So I love composing on the keyboard.
But there's something about it that is also so cold, so impersonal. It's so easy to just pop off a thought - 140 characters or less please - without really stopping to consider the words, consider the thought, to connect with what it is you're actually saying. Sure, that's fine for term papers and homework, but one thing I love about writing is that when you pick up a pen and paper, you're committing a very personal act. You're pledging your time to spend however long it takes to complete the task, and however much effort it takes to actually physically write down your thoughts and feelings. You're demonstrating to someone that they are worth your time, effort, and attention.
Finally, a letter, a physical thing existing in the world, is something the recipient can take with them, can read at their leisure, any time and anywhere they want. So in that way it is also a gift to them.
That's what I think.
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