Hemingwrite

I have tried writing at home, but distractions are everywhere. I tried taking laptops to coffee shops, but my first writing laptop had a small, flat keyboard that slowed me down and I was prone to mistakes when using it. I tried a windows tablet with a nice bluetooth keyboard, but the battery didn't last long, it was hard to see in daylight, and I found that I spent most of my time plotting out my work in tools like Milanote, Scrivener, Novelpad, etc. When I first saw the Freewrite, I thought it was an outrageously expensive luxury item that would collect dust in the corner, honestly. But over the months, I've found myself watching more and more review videos and thinking about how I might use it, and after feeling like I was getting nowhere with my laptops, I found myself ordering the most extravagant of the Freewrite models, and believe me I am as shocked as anyone about this. What I found was exceptional build quality, and exceptional design. Those big white letters on the dark green keys stand out so I never get lost on the keyboard, even in the dark, and the mechanical switches are a dream to type on. The front light means I can use it anywhere, day or night. It's actually fun to use. The documents sync to the web so seamlessly and I love that. And the result is that I take it everywhere I go and I have been cranking out 1000 words a day by just spending one hour at the coffee shop on the way home. If I can stop for only half an hour, I still get over 500 words. Like clockwork. This thing is a miracle machine. All it does is move you forward in your writing, and if you sit down in front of it often enough, a completed book is pretty much the only possible outcome. My only gripe is that after a few days of use, the power button won't bring it out of standby anymore and I have to hold it down for a fresh reboot. May be something that can be addressed in firmware, hopefully. Possibly a memory leak in sleep mode. Overall, this is my favorite gadget I own, and even for the Hemmingway edition, it was worth every cent. I would not trade this thing for the world.

The Hemingwrite is a beautiful, expensive creation. The question many seem to ask is, "Is it really worth the price?" and, for me, the answer is "Yes," with a few notable reservations:

Overall, I wish that, for the price, Astrohaus / Freewrite had included a few internal bells and whistles unique to this machine, because, beneath the fantastic aluminum chassis, it's identical to the standard Freewrite Typewriter, which is a little disappointing considering it's $350 more. Also, it would have been nice if a better battery had been provided; if you accidentally (or purposefully) leave the WiFi on, your machine runs out of juice in 2-3 days of nonuse, which is a dramatic difference from the company's claim that it can coast on one full charge for about a month--with WiFi off, at 30 minutes of use per day. Regardless of whether my battery is a bit weak or this is the standard with WiFi left on, it's a pain to try to turn on your Hemingwrite and find that its battery is completely dead.

Here's the good news: It's a (mostly) brilliant invention that has truly helped harness my strong ADHD, and it's gotten some great, undistracted work out of me. That's true regardless of which Freewrite machine you choose. But the pretty obvious added bonus here is that anybody just looks damn-good at work on a Hemingwrite. The aesthetic details (if you're buying the Hemingwrite, you're going for aesthetics) are wonderful. The attache case is just cool, with a classic, retro flair. Both it and the Hemingwrite itself are solidly, thoughtfully constructed. Bottom line: If you think these look dope and you're choosing between it and the standard-edition Typewriter, pick the Hemingwrite--that is, if it's in your budget to do so (a word on that in a sec). It's the same on the inside, but there's no comparison when you're looking at the facade.

Regarding cost, I want to defend Freewrite (a little), because on social media, those who are critical of Freewrite tend to obsess over why someone would spend "X" on one of these machines when you can do everything it does on a computer. Fair enough--of course you can, although I have two retorts:

(1) A computer also has endless distractions and there's a lovely, austere simplicity to using a Freewrite, regardless of the model or how it looks. To get to a Zen-like place where it's just you and the words, I find either a Freewrite machine or an old-fashioned notebook and pen to be the preferred, more pure methods. And I've really connected with using this to get serious writing done; I'm a professional screenwriter by trade and often find the "look" of industry-standard formatting on a page to be antithetical to creative writing; worry over formatting is the enemy of getting good writing done, and when you're looking at a Freewrite screen, it's just words -- in the best way possible.

(2) If you love fashion, you undoubtedly have invested in a designer item or two...or more--they probably set you back more money than most people spend on clothing or accessories. Same for music fanatics, who shell-out a lot to see live music or experience it from high-end speakers--the point it that everyone splurges on their passions, and they should! Writers, people who truly savor the act and art of writing, are no different. Whether you're a professional writer or someone who writes as a pleasurable pastime, I'd venture that you'll really enjoy the look and feel of a Freewrite device, in this case a Hemingwrite (although I recommend the Traveler as well), and you'll likely benefit from the no-frills, stripped-down experience that one provides.

Here's my hope from Freewrite: a robust firmware update, somewhere in the pretty-near future. There are some unpleasantries with the software -- as many users are quick to point out, there is notable lag when writing on a Freewrite, regardless of the model. The company should really squash that bug because it is, in and of itself, distracting to see words populate more slowly than you type them -- and eliminating distractions in Freewrite should be the paramount goal of any update. I'd also like a little more out of my additional subscription to Freewrite Plus, which is a necessity for screenwriters but doesn't really do much beyond its two or three basic features.

Important to know: Freewrite / Astrohaus are a quality product and company, and, because there are so, so many start-up companies and products that are cheap and have no passion for or investment in their customers, Freewrite / Astrohaus should be applauded for how distinct the difference is in their work. Their passion comes through in all the details of their products and services -- this isn't a take-your-money gimmick. It is pricey, but they really are invested in you, as a writer. To that end, their customer service is impressively quick and responsive if you have a question or can't figure out a feature.

*I wrote this review on my Hemingwrite and had a blast doing it!

Ernest Hemingway Freewrite Signature Edition

Ernest Hemingway Freewrite Signature Edition

What an excellent piece of art that helps you stay undistracted while writing your thoughts, plans, imagination, or whatever. It's a powerful tool that will help you focus and contemplate and then put it in writing. I love it!!! I cannot stop thinking, imagining, and writing. It's the best investment ever! Thank you, Freewrite, and I am a fan forever. The Hemingway edition is simply a classic, and one needs to own it to experience it. It’s once in a lifetime investment, and I cannot say any more than that. It will change your life because you will write more than you imagined.