Yesterday we found the coolest thing in the trunk of my boyfriend’s car- an IBM Selectric II typewriter!
Okay, so we didn’t just magically find it there; it’s been there for months, possibly enough for a full year. He works at a storage place, and someone had abandoned their things. While he was cleaning out the space, he came across this typewriter that was just too awesome to pass up. It even still had the dust jacket on it. He couldn’t just toss it. So instead he brought it home.
It looks EXACTLY like this. (Photo from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter)
It was in such good shape, he figured maybe he could sell it. As a last resort, we thought we’d take it to the local thrift shop at the dump so that it could find a home with someone who’d probably appreciate it.
Then we completely forgot about it.
These past two weeks I’ve been sort of on autopilot. I kept trying to write up a blog post (not like I don’t have a million of them stashed away), and they were so all over the place that none of them felt right. Nothing I was doing felt right. And when I get in that mode it’s best to just back away and let the brain percolate. So I gave myself a week off. Last week was rent week, and I knew I’d be on edge. Something about coming in contact with at least 50% of the 100 or so tenants, usually with complaints that have been building for a month. I chose to let writing go.
Let me tell you, that was the wrong thing to do. A better way would be to just work on something else– something different and fun that is just for me and no one else– because it is tough to go back.
Monday I was determined to get back into it, and I couldn’t. I glanced at my notebooks and didn’t even pull out the thumb drive. Instead, I started to play a puzzle game on the 3DS. This avoidance was becoming a nightmare. By nature, I’m a procrastinator, like many others. I’d much rather tell myself that I’ll get to it tomorrow than actually get to it today. I may even mean it which is why I’m so persuasive when I tell myself these things. (“I’m honest, why would I lie to myself? Of course I’ll get to it tomorrow.”)
So yesterday, I woke up at some insane hour. I wasn’t quite present, but I’m sure it was 4:30 in the morning. What was on my mind? Writing. I couldn’t go back to sleep, and I couldn’t stay in bed, so I got up at a quarter to five and brought out my computer looking for some motivation and some inspiration. I went to Google (where else to find inspiration?) and I entered, “Asimov” and “typewriters.”
A highly unreliable source once said that Asimov had six typewriters with different projects on them at all times. I wanted to see if there was a basis for that. Instead, I got a lot of links talking about Asimov as a writer. The third link was for the IMB Selectric wikipedia article. I thought that was awesome. The man wrote so much that he’s linked to the tool of his trade.
Asimov is a huge source of inspiration for me. It’s not that I want to write like him or even that I think I can. What I admire is that he had a way of doing things and an intent behind the things he did. That’s what’s endeared him to fans like me. I wonder if he were alive today, what he’d think about how online and connected writers are, and I can imagine he’d probably mention something about how a lot of the writers like to talk about writing but never actually write. (Only what he’d have to say would be clever and probably make you laugh.)
So from here on out, as a writer, I’m going to just think, “What Would Asimov Do?” Because the answer to that is simple– he’d write. That would always be the answer. If I tired or get stuck on one thing, it’s going to be onto the next thing. I’m going to just write for me first, and I’m going to trust myself.
If you’d like to see a picture of Asimov with his Selectric typewriter (just like mine!) take a peek at this blog post: A humble tribute to Isaac Asimov. And while you’re there, read the post and see if you don’t get inspired too.
Also, anyone have any home decorating tips for how to display a huge hunk of typewriter like this? (Kidding! Mostly. I think I know where I’m going to put it, if it will fit and that shelving unit will actually hold it up.)
Oh, I am so jealous of your typewriter! I have one too, an older version that was my dad’s, and it lives on its own shelf of my bookshelves. (I think there’s a picture of it in my office’s album at The Decorative Writer page on my site.) I love it, and would love to start collecting different types of typewriters someday, too. The color of yours is quite lovely. It makes me think of milk glass and sea glass. That could be a cool display combo, depending on the colors in your house. Great find!
The colors in my house, hehe. My house is not put together well enough (or at all really) to consider colors. It’s more of a “where can I put this that’ll be awesome?” *sigh* I wish I had a nicer home or more space. If I had an office, well it’d probably be a mess, but I’d try and make it pretty and put this typewriter on display.
I’m dying to know it if still works or not!
I remember typing on a Selectic. Don’t miss it at all.
I wonder if cabin fever is beginning to set in for some of us. Though, where you’re located, you can’t use that as an excuse. I like “What would Asimov do?” But even using him as an inspiration, I think we’ll have to settle for a little less productivity.
It could just be the time of year. Maybe I do need to get out more though.
There is probably no way I’ll ever be as productive as Asimov, but I don’t mind the inspiration.
Eee, typewriters are awesome! I love my computer, really, but typewriters are special.
From now on, if I see you struggling to stay on task, you know I’m just going to have to remind you, “WWAD?” XD
~Ashlee
http://ashleesch.com
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com
Typewriters are great, aren’t they? You know, I’ve never used an electric one which seems a shame. I intend on checking this one out and seeing if it works!
We could probably make that a hash tag on twitter. #WWAD lol! I’ve been struggling with the task, but this has actually helped. I really do think, “What would Asimov do?” The answer is, “Well get to it!”
Thank you for the pingback to my Isaac Asimov post. An amazing author, and he had an amazing typewriter (in multiple)! I own one myself. Same model and colour as the one in your boyfriend’s trunk, in fact. It’s an awesome device, simultaneously the best typewriter and the coolest gizmo I’ve ever owned. There is nothing like the feel of typing on one as an experience – utterly different to manual typewriters, yet with a very positive and sharp “thump” a microsecond after every keystroke. A tactile experience. Computer keyboards don’t come close. Classic engineering of the twentieth century. Currently it’s not operable – I have ribbons, including eraser tape (usable if the chemistry of them is still good after all these years), but a thread came off a pulley in the base and I have not yet found out how to get it back on without risking damaging something else.
Needless to say, we all stand in Asimov’s shadow as writers!
Matthew Wright
http://mjwrightnz.wordpress.com
http://www.matthewwright.net
It sounds exactly like I’ve been imagining it. I can’t wait to see if it works, though that’ll be disappointing if it doesn’t.
That’s a shame yours isn’t working though! I hope you find a way to fix it. (Or maybe find someone who can do it?)
I absolutely agree!
It’s a matter of levering the cable on to the pulley without breaking anything. One day I’ll take a deep breath and do it – after all, if it breaks, I guess I’m no further away from a working Selectric than I am now…
I wish you luck! I turned mine on tonight, but the whole thing appears to just be gummed up and in need of a desperate cleaning.
Went to Matthew Wright’s post and after reading it I’m definitely going to have to take a look at Isaac Asimov’s work – his stories and way of writing sound fascinating, thanks for mentioning him in your post!
Also- when I was a kid I typed most of my little stories & poems on my mom’s old typewriter… I kind of forgot about that until seeing this post.
It’s awesome that you have a typewriter to play around with, have fun with it and I’m sure you’ll find a nice way to display it : )
His work isn’t for everyone, but I’ve always loved it. I felt that his style really did connect with me because he just wanted to tell a story and he did that very well.
Haha, I did the same. I used my dad’s manual typewriter and I remember being sad when I realized there was no way to get more ribbons for it. (Until now– thank you internet!)
Thanks. I’m going to figure something out even if I have to put it on the coffee table, lol.