I'm sitting here at my son's bowling league writing this and I realize this is the best notebook I've ever had. It has an excellent boot-up time and shuts down even faster. I have a single app that does writing, revision, brainstorming, mindmaps, and even diagramming. Okay, the app is actually my pen and the notebook is an actual notebook--with paper in it. It's funny since I'm an IT guy. I run servers and work with computers all day. I have access to laptops, tablets, and desktops (no smartphone though, I don't believe in them) but here I am with pen (not my beloved fountain pen, though) and paper.
Almost all of my writing drafts start out on paper. I like the feel of it. It's tactile and sensuous and feels more like creating. It's also much faster for me. I can draw arrows to rearrange stuff easily, cross things out, and make notes in the margin without having to click around on a page and interrupt my flow.
I also like it because it never runs out of charge and I don’t worry about the kids darting around here and knocking on the floor--it’s rated pretty well for drops. I can even spill stuff on it and access the data afterwards.
Another nice thing about it is that this draft gets some slight revision when I enter it into whatever program. As a result, some of the suck falls away. Generally not enough to spare me from another revision, but every bit helps.
Everybody’s process is different though and not everything works for everyone--or even for every occasion. What’s your process like? What are your favorite tools for writing? I’m curious if you would care to drop me a comment.
5 comments:
I used to use a paper and pen then tried to do it all on a tablet. I think my writing is better when I go Old school with the paper and pen. I'm trying to get back into posting - I'm glad to see you are too :)
Depends... sometimes, with a blog post, I write directly in Blogger (bad, as I don't always save my posts anywhere else). Sometimes I write them in Word. With other pieces, though, I still do the pen and paper thing. I always do outlines for longer pieces that way, poetry, short stories...
Tony: I'm trying to get semi-regular posts. Sometimes my fiction gets in the way ;)
Diane: Regardless of how you do it, your posts always come out wonderful.
I adore my pen and some paper. Usually its an envelope, grocery list or a bill.
But whenever the mood strikes you need to be ready.....
VM: I always try to have pen and paper with me. Of course, the one time I need it, it will be sitting on my dresser.
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