Q&A for How to Use a Typewriter

If your typewriter's keys are hard to push down, use one of your stronger fingers, like your index or middle finger. This will prevent you from straining your fingers. Otherwise, you could check out online typing lessons, like Typing Club or Learn to Type, in order to learn the correct fingers.

You could, although most typewriters are heavy and would quickly become uncomfortable, and your legs may provide unsuitable support for the pressure with which you have to strike the keys.

You should take your typewriter to a local repair shop. It may have a mechanical issue that needs correcting.

Your draw band might have snapped or otherwise is broken. The draw band is often a flat piece of canvas or other strong fabric that winds around the mainspring enough to create tension, and then attaches somewhere on the carriage to guide it along the rails as you type. There are many helpful videos on YouTube that show you how to repair the draw band for a particular model. You'll need something suitable to replace a snapped draw band (60 lb fishing line works well). Be very cautious and take care when winding tension on the mainspring; you can possibly injure your fingers pretty badly if you don't know exactly what you're doing.

Twist the paper feed knobs away from you.

If it's the part that covers the ink ribbons, just slide it back on. If it's a different part, you may need to take it in to a repair shop.

The same way you would typically do so on computer: there is a Shift key on the left and the right of the keyboard next to the bottom row of keys. Press it down while typing your letter.