Before we begin, let’s set the scene. There’s a faint crackling of burning logs in the fireplace in the den. The melting ice cubes in your half-drunk whiskey tumbler make the glass weep. Raindrops trickle down the window as the latest storm subsides. Inspiration has struck for the first time in weeks! You grab your computer, ready to write, and then… and then… you get suckered into the distraction that is the internet. Checking Twitter for just a second. Oh, and your latest post on Instagram. While you’re at it, go ahead and check what your great aunt’s been up to on Facebook. Is she still posting those conspiracy theories? Only one way to find out… 

Before you know it, it’s been two hours of mindless scrolling, and the first good idea you’ve had in God knows how long is, well, long gone. 

Such is life with technology at our fingertips. 

Of course, there is one way to get around all that. In this article, we’re going to share why typewriters (yes, those clunky old things) might just be the best distraction-free way to write. But don’t toss your computer to the side just yet; you’ll want to shop from one of the five best typewriting products in our buying guide first.

Why a Typewriter Could Improve Your Writing

A typewriter limits the distractions of a computer

Typewriters are, in a word, cool. But they’re more than a retro shtick or a pretty decoration on a bookshelf. If you’re a writer, an aspiring writer, or just like doing things the old fashioned way, typewriters are the way to go. Grab your phone, set a timer, throw your phone on your bed behind you and get to writing. Because when you’re using a typewriter, there are no notifications, no distractions, nothing but you and your thoughts. 

A typewriter keyboard makes you write without stopping to edit

The hardest part about writing is the editing. Every word you write has to have meaning, conviction, a reason to belong on the page. In turn, that can halt the writing process, or at the very least, put you far behind as you go over every sentence you write. But when you use a typewriter to write, you aren’t given that distraction. Writing with a typewriter is more about getting the ideas out of your system and onto the page than it is about meticulously rewriting and editing each sentence you type as you type it. The permanent ink on the paper, mixed with the lack of arrow keys on the typewriter, encourages you to keep going until it’s all said and done. Only from there, do you get the chance to read, rewrite, or edit what you’ve written.

A typewriter keyboard is satisfying to type on

There’s something so satisfying about transferring your ideas to paper. It’s even more so when you use a typewriter. Think of how happy Snoopy was when he prattled away on the typewriter on top of his red dog house. The raised mechanical keyboard on a typewriter makes for a gratifying click and subsequent pop that is sure to release endorphins with every letter you press. It gives your words a sense of authority that can’t be replicated when you type on a computer or write in a notebook. They’re intentional. They’re meant to be written, and eventually read. That’s the satisfying feeling typewriters give your work when you write with them.

A typewriter (rarely) makes you worry about battery life

Depending on the typewriter you choose (don’t worry, our recommendations for the best ones are coming up), you won’t have to worry about battery life. Manual typewriters run on ideas and ink. But the newer, electric typewriters do need a charge; for example, the Freewrite have a runtime of four weeks if you type 30 minutes per day. Which is a helluva lot more battery time than, say, a MacBook (with an 11-hour battery life).

The 5 Best Typewriter (and Typewriter-Like) Products

Freewrite - the modern smart typewriter

Freewrite, $599

Easing into the idea of writing with a typewriter works best when you have a modern product like Freewrite. This distraction-free writing tool puts a modern twist on the old fashioned typewriter. The Freewrite is a bonafide electric focus machine. This paper-free, e-ink typewriter gives you the some of the benefits of a computer (like saving your files to the cloud), but doesn’t have the added distraction of the internet. Freewrite typewriters discourage writer’s block and promote focus, accounting for a higher daily word count. Because the Freewrite doesn’t have arrow keys, you can’t go back and spend precious writing time editing. Instead, this feature (or lack thereof) encourages you to keep writing. 

Qwerky Toys - a typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard for your computer or tablet

Qwerky Toys, $399

Let’s say you do want that loud, clicking cacophony of sounds that a typewriter makes, but you aren’t ready to part ways with your computer, tablet, or laptop just yet. If that’s the case, then the Qwerky Toys classic typewriter mechanics keyboard is the product for you. This keyboard can be connected wirelessly, to make for easy typing access. The Qwerky keyboard can last up to one month without a charge, and is compatible with iOS, Android, Mac OS, and Windows. Just be sure to pair this keyboard with a distraction-free writing app like Ulysses. Getting the typewriter-inspired keyboard is one thing, but using it with access to a computer and internet is a whole other beast. Ulysses helps create the focused writing experience you crave for optimal creativity.

Lofree - typewriter keyboards

Lofree, $139

Fulfill your retro dreams with the Lofree typewriter keyboard. And a matching mouse. And an adjoining calculator. And a vintage fan and atmosphere lamp. Lofree is the place to go when you’re ready to upgrade your desk from dull and dreary to vintage and quirky. Their typewriter keyboards are wireless and allow you to switch freely among multiple devices and systems. It’s compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android. 

Classic Typewriter - buy vintage or restored typewriters

Classic Typewriter, $555

There’s just something about a vintage typewriter beneath your fingertips. You’re not sure if it’s you or the raised keys that are thrumming with energy. All you know is there’s a story that needs to be written, and a product from Classic Typewriter is the object that will help get that done. This company restores vintage typewriters that the greats have used. From Remington to Hermes to Olympia, there’s a vintage typewriter that would pair well with any old soul. 

Iron Fox Typewriters - custom painted typewriters

Iron Fox Custom Painted Typewriter, $400

If you thought typewriters weren’t unique enough, there is one way to make your typewriter stand out even more. That’s by buying a one-of-a-kind, custom painted Iron Fox typewriter. Iron Fox sells gently used and custom-painted typewriters that encourage creativity in more ways than one. This company eliminates the distractions and gimmicks brought on by technology, allowing you to stay in your element and focus on your writing. Iron Fox also sells tons of merch (think postcards, stickers, and pens), typeballs, 3D printed accessories, and even rental typewriters.