Pen or Pencil?

When you sit down to write your FIRST draft of a story, which do you prefer to use as your writing instrument?  Pen or pencil?  I've always wondered what the majority of writers preferred.  I prefer using a pencil because it allows me to write at any angle- on a wall or while lying on my back.  I don't have to worry about ink fading from my pen mid-sentence.

But let's go over the advantages and disadvantages of each one, shall we?  I decided to include the advantages and disadvantages of using a computer, since I know I can't get away without a discussion on that one.  I know many of you embrace technology and don't even use a pen/pencil and paper anymore.

Advantages of a pen

• It flows smoothly as you write, making writing feel like dancing.
• You can see your print much better than the fading color of grey.
• It gives you the impression of confidence.

Disadvantages of a pen

• It is permanent so if you make mistakes, you'll have scribbles all over your paper.
• If you are writing while laying on your back, you risk losing ink. 
• If you are heavy-handed, the ink may penetrate or leave an impression on the other side, thus causing a distraction on the following page.

Advantages of a pencil

• Nothing like the raw feeling of pencil on paper.  The contact between paper and pencil give off a scratchy sound of productivity.
• If you make a mistake, you can erase what you've written.  Thus, keeping your paper a little neater.
• The writing on back of a sheet will not bleed through or see through so it will not be distracting.

Disadvantage of a pencil

• If you break a tip and you don't have a sharpener handy, you're out of luck unless you have a spare pencil on hand.
• You risk marking the inside of your bag or whatever it is you carry your pencil in unless you have a pencil cap on.

Advantages of a computer

• When you want to make changes, it's as easy as pressing a (delete) button.
• No messy paper to deal with.
• It's automatically saved in your system.
• Saves you a step from having to retype what you've written.

Disadvantages of using a computer

• You have to lug around your laptop.
• If you don't have a laptop, you have to wait until you get to one.  So if inspiration strikes you, you're out of luck unless you have a paper and pen handy.
• It's not always assessable.

So there you have it.  Which do you prefer to use when creativity strikes you?  Please take my poll.