I've always written quite a lot longhand, so it still comes fairly easy for me (though my handwriting's kind of bad, always). And sometimes I need to do it simply because the typing makes my hands hurt too much and my wrists need a break. Of course handwriting can strain the hands, too, but at least it's a different strain, which helps. That's why I started writing this scene longhand...

Yay for more noodling on the creepy bookshop idea! It sounds really interesting and worth exploring. Though I understand you - horror isn't my thing either, which puts me in a lot of trouble whenever I have a horror-esque idea bouncing around. I'd like to write some gothic romantic fiction, but it'd have to be very soft gothic romantic!