Welcome to the site Catman!
The reason is: The 4th Step shouldn't be typed. Handwritten. Black ink. White paper.... IF you want to do it like the Big Book suggests.
Here's a link to one of a few discussions on it here in the forum:
www.step12.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1 ... =pen+paper
The idea of the worksheets is like a "map" or "guide" through the Big Book's instructions to take the 4th Step.
Some people make copies of the pages and then -- with "pen and ink" write their info on the page. This helps guide them through the Step so that they are thorough with it.
Not enough room to write? Writing too much detail can be as much of a problem as not writing enough. A separate sheet can be used for a note with a particular item and then number the item and the note, so that you can go over it in the 5th Step.
The 4th Step items -- as you see how Bill lays them out in the BB, are very short. Just a few words w/ each -- because it's a notation "in a general way" what happened.
Often, people get exhausted writing a 4th Step because they end up as if they're writing a book.
Then, they get lost in the details without discovering just what it is that they are there to discover. The exact nature of their character defect, thorough, but in a general way.
I hope that helps. If not, please let me know. And, if you have other questions please ask. Your questions will be helpful to all of us.
Best wishes,
Dallas
Thanx Dallas!!!