Usually, I work entirely on a computer. My process for writing papers in college and grad school was always to read through the source texts, type up (or copy from an online version) all relevant passages and quotes into a single Word document, then use that document as my reference point when constructing my argument or essay. Even when I write creatively, I tend to work with online texts — I pull them up side-by-side on my screen with a Word document and then excerpt and rearrange away.

Fest, my found poetry project based on David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, has caused me to revert a little bit to my pen-and-paper days. I find that by having two composition options, I can keep writing through the hours and days when I don’t feel like looking at a computer screen anymore and when I don’t feel like carrying that brick of a book around in my purse.

More on the two methods below.

Method #1: Print Copy

I naturally read books with a pen in hand, ready to underline, scribble notes and write “ha!” next to particularly amusing passages. Using this method to find found poems in Infinite Jest is how I started and is, in general, my preferred method. It’s kind of a warped word search — I use my pen to trace the text word by word and line by line, looking for interesting words and phrases, making connections as I move down the page. It’s a more portable way of working; I can stash the book and a pen in my purse and dig it out during unexpected delays on the metro, when I’m waiting at a dentist’s office, etc. More significantly, it frees me from the distractions of the computer and screen, meaning I’m more likely not to end up looking at kitten pictures.

The downside to this system? Well, Infinite Jest is no novella. It’s heavy to carry around, and it might as well be a boulder when propped up on your stomach or lap. Also, after years of typing college and grad school papers plus three years working as a web writer, I find it extremely difficult to compose on paper anymore. Consequently, working from the book poses the threat of whiplash as I look down at the book, up at the screen, down at the book, up at the screen…. you get it.

Method #2: Electronic Copy

Thanks to a Fabulous Beekman Boys contest, I own a Nook and had been pondering ways that it might make this process a little easier — or least offer an alternative for when carrying around the book gets to be a bit much. I eventually realized that there is a free Nook app for Mac, which has been extremely helpful. I bought the electronic copy of Infinite Jest and can now pull up the e-text side by side with my writing pane, using the highlight feature to call out words of interest. This prevents the whiplash effect of working from the book and allows me to keep my eyes and brain on an even plane.

The challenge in working this way is that we read differently on screens than we do in print. On the web, we are accustomed to skim and scan for interesting pieces of information and deep focused reading can be extremely difficult. Even though the process of finding poetry does require some scanning and skipping around, you often have to review the text word by word to find the exact nouns, verbs, articles, adjectives, prepositions, etc. you need for your poem. This type of concentration takes extra effort when trying to do it online, especially when faced with distractions.