Computer Support for the Rhythms of Writing

Writing is a rhythmic activity. The nature and frequency of the rhythms depend on, among other factors, the disposition of the writer, the type of text, the external representations, and the writer’s tools. The computer encourages new rhythms of writing. The easy ability to make lowlevel revisions with a word processor may lead a writer to oscillate rapidly between composing and revising, and the facilities offered by modern writing packages may entice the writer to switch between composition and displacement activities such as word counting or spell checking. The combined effect is to set up complex cycles of engagement and reflection which may disrupt the flow of composition. The article describes the Writer’s Assistant, a writing environment designed to study computer support for writing processes, and it concludes by proposing more focused investigation of the rhythms of writing.