Do you know how to touch-type?
This is why I think touch-typing, which is being able to type on your keyboard without having to look at the keys, is an invaluable skill for any modern writer to have.
For the longest time I used to be a hunt-’n-pecker, which means that I used to type with only two fingers. When I needed to write on my computer I would get my “peck” fingers ready, then I would start looking at the keyboard in order to “hunt” each key that I needed to introduce, and then... PECK PECK PECK!!
This was a waste of time, of course. A lot of papers and programming projects could’ve been written faster if I could just type faster... but one day, I decided I would learn to use the computer keyboard how it IS supposed to be used. I decided I would become able to touch-type.
Back in 2009, when I was still a hunt-’n-pecker, I could only type 9 Words Per Minute. Nowadays, I can type about 80 Words Per Minute.
If you already know how to touch-type, then skip this article. But, if you don't know how to touch-type, and you would like to learn how to, you can use a plethora of free resources on the web to help you practice. Personally, I used a website called typingweb.com, which is free to use, has a nice interface and a lot of neat features.
I don't think you need to buy any kind of typing software or subscription if you want to learn touch-typing. To me, it's just unnecessary given the sheer amount of free typing resources on the web.
Once you've chosen a typing resource you need to be consistent and practice daily. But don't sweat it: 10-15 minutes a day of doing exercises using the typing resource of your choice should be more than enough.
You should also try to touch-type even when you are not using your particular typing resource... for instance, when you are writing content for one of your websites.
Finally, you can also practice your mad touch-typing skillz via typing games online. One that comes to mind is the popular Facebook game Typing Maniac. I also like a racing-typing game called Nitro Type, and a Fruit Ninja knock-off called Keyboard Ninja. The web is loaded with free typing games; all you have to do is search "typing games" or something similar in Google, and voilà!
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There. That's just a little something I wanted to share with you guys who cannot touch type (yet), and want to learn how to. I hope you liked this idea, and thanks for reading! :D
Recent Comments
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I learned when I was in high school and it was a prerequisite. Back then we also had an old typewriter so I had the chance to practice more:)
Goodtyping.com has helped me to significantly increase my typing speed and accuracy. I've never thought about typing games, cool idea! You've reminded me to practice my typing more. Another way that I speed up my typing is not to worry about spelling errors as I write. I write my articles in Google docs and then set automatic corrects for the words that I regularly spell incorrectly via my typing errors.
Couldn't agree more with you. I have been able to touch type for more than 20 years and consider it one of the most useful skills I have particularly when it comes to article writing.
Thanks for sharing this. I can't even read 80 word per minute.
I'm slow at reading and typing.
I currently type using two fingers on each hand and have to look down most of the time.
Touch typing as you call it is something I'd like to achieve and have signed up at typingweb.com Just finished the first 13 lessons. Will try do 15 minutes daily and not late at night either.
Thanks very much for sharing, yes, touch-typing would surely be a good skill to have:). Will check out the typingweb.com website and also the games websites you had recommended, thanks again!
No problem! It will be hard to learn at first, but once you master it, touch-typing is aweeeeeeeesome! It's a great time saver and it feels good :D
Yes, I am not exactly a touch typist, so would be good for me, and am planning to introduce it to my daughter too:). Anything to do with games will get her interest:)
Great for those who do need to learn how to touch type. I say a word in my head and my fingers type away. I am at about 80 wpm also. I have a friend who still uses 2 fingers to type, funny thing about is she can type about 50 wpm. There are a lot of resources for learning typing online.
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This is one of the skills I learned in High School. Back then they had just invented the electric typewriter so it was a noisy class full of clackity clacking. I don't think it was required that we took this course but I certainly was glad I did . It has been invaluable in my life. Nice to be the only guy in a class of 30 girls too.
When my kids were in high school they were required to learn typing, by then it had morphed into a class called keyboarding. I thought that was appropriate given that the typewriters had become obsolete by then.
This is a great skill to learn especially since you will be spending most of your life with a keyboard under your fingers.
As an aside. The layout of the current English keyboard was actually not designed to slow down the typist as is a popular myth but was designed so the arms of the letter keys would not clash and cause jams inside the old mechanical typewriters.
Thank you for sharing! :D