Ted Mahsun

It used to be your signature or your handwriting that revealed your personality. I suppose I should've seen this coming : The Psychology of Fonts, commissioned by Lexmark Printers and written by psychologist Dr Aric Sigman explains how a typeface will significantly influence what the reader thinks about you. Courier is seen as the choice of "sensible shoes" type of people or "anoraks" and curvy icons like Georgia or Shelly suggest a bit of a "rock chick" personality. The article goes on to suggest that Richard Branson is a "Verdana" and " using the wrong font may give people the wrong impression about you and could affect decisions that will shape your future. " It also mentions that Courier New is for people who prefer "automaton-like" coldness. What does that say about the editors in the publishing industry who mostly prefer manuscripts in Courier New 12pt? :D

Depending on the computer I use (I alternate between an iBook and a PC), I write my drafts in New York (the font, not the city) or in Georgia (ditto). Then, before printing, I reformat my manuscript to Courier 12pt so it looks "typewritten". I guess I'm in good company. Recently in Slate, they asked a selection of writers their favourite fonts . And Jonathan Lethem (writer of Fortress of Solitude ) says: "Before computers, I wrote three novels on a typewriter, and there can never be anything but 12-point Courier (double-spaced) forever..." It seems that Courier, and its sibling Courier New, remain the font of choice for writers, but other fonts get some loving too. Palatino, Times, Hoefler Text... all good fonts too, but not what I would use to compose my magnum opus.