Well, as you mentioned, it depends on the topic.
I tend to "wander" quite a bit, and the idea I start with often forks and one fork becomes the basis for a completely different train of thought.
Now, for a twist. I write a lot of my ideas longhand, when I am nowhere near the computer. And writing longhand feels very different from typing... it's far more emotionally intense. Which actually makes scientific sense because we use a different part of our brain for typing (similar to using tools) and hand writing (more like creating art).
Bridging the gap is a strange sensory experience; I "know" that I want my typed words to sound like my hand written words, which means I have to read every posy out loud as part of the proofing process.
Emotion wise, however, the high point always seems to be the moment in which I realize I "have something" worthwhile... with occasional spikes if some additional insight suddenly comes up.
Interesting dialogue!
Interesting, I took some years of school at a Steiner / Waldorf school, and there I also experienced that writing your own books, by hand, really makes a difference. But writing now, I do like using a computer, although I normally print out my stuff to edit at least once. Will get the proofs of my first book in two weeks, in a printed version, and already looking forward to using a pen & paper style.
I also want to 'hear' my words, but don't need a pen-paper style to do that. Probably there is something in the actual feeling of the words that makes such a difference. Perhaps it also matters where you look? I always look at my fingers when I type (even though I can do it blind). It makes me feel more connected, maybe similar to what you have with paper-pen?
btw, when I read, I always have notebooks to jot down thoughts & I copy large parts of books that I like by hand, as a way to easily memorize them and feel they become part of me...
I hate it when this additional insight negates a couple hours work as tends to happen from time to time when I realise I have missed something fundamental. Better late than never of course.
Have you ever tried the exercise of writing a question but answering it with your weak hand? It is messy and slow but quite interesting. The idea is that it accesses different parts of the brain.
Have not tried that particular exercise... but I have done some of the art exercises that require you to draw things with your non-dominant hand. And it was a bit strange how different things looked...
I taught myself to write in mirror. That also slows me down a lot, and activates some strange parts of my brain, and at least makes me feel more connected to what I write & makes me think better before I decide on a word! But I will try your option too... sounds very difficult!