Rhi Axtell – Writer

Perfectionism. Ugh. The worst.

That’s it. That’s the blog post.

Alright, fine, I’ll elaborate.

You might remember I mentioned in yesterday’s post about a selection of educational games that I purchased. You might even remember, if you are a close reader and connoisseur of this blog (which I assume you absolutely are) that a few of those games were typing games.

What does that mean?

Well here is one example: You play as an exorcist and to remove scary demons from people. You have to type words faster than they can attack you. (Game: The Textorcist)

Here is another example: You are a girl riding a fox, slowly reveal a world by exploring and typing words that appear on different sections of the map to remember your life and tell an epic story. (Game: Epistory)

Anyway, both of these games require (surprise surprise) typing skills.

I’m a writer and an editor. I’ve got almost eleven years in the profession tucked neatly under my belt. I can type.

People have been impressed by my typing speed. People have said to me, “Oh Richard, you are such a fast typer!”

I once wrote an entire novel in 24 hours because my client was recording every single press of my keyboard and sent me repeated messages to hurry up because they were paying me by the hour and didn’t realise how many hours a novel takes.*

*if you’re wondering how many hours, it’s a lot. It wasn’t a good novel, if you’re wondering. It was, after all, not edited and written in 24 hours.

I can TYPE. OKAY?

But…

I can’t touch type. I am guilty of using two, maybe three fingers to type everything. That 24 hour novel I just told you about? Well I had repetitive strain injury after that because my typing form is not built for long term typing.

After trying these games, which are built around using the touch typing hand position, and failing repeatedly over and over again, I began to have doubts. I thought it would be a fabulous idea to try and give a little touch typing course a go. There a few free online, and how hard could it be? I am a great typer.

Spoiler alert: It was awful. I am an awful typer.

I found myself staring at the keyboard. My words per minute ground to a halt. I frowned down at the keyboard like it was something foreign to me. Why were the letters not where I remembered them? Was my keyboard broken?

I got very frustrated. The perfectionist in me wailed. I am meant to be good at this. I am a professional. What was wrong with me?

I had to go for a walk to calm down. Luckily, there is a lovely riverside market in Cardiff on Sundays, so I could stroll over there for some fresh air.

So anyway, I am now taking a touch typing course. Another way to slow down this month, I suppose, because I can’t type faster than a slug in the middle of its afternoon nap.

I tried to type the first paragraph of this blog post with touch typing. I didn’t finish the first three words before I gave up.

It’s a long road ahead of me.

See you tomorrow.