What Tools Do You Write With?
Mar 22, 2009 in
Motivation/Productivity, Writing Strategy
Continuing the series on Where, When and What Tools, here’s the third entry–What tools do you use to write?
While it might seem like a simple question… you’re either writing by hand or writing with equipment (like a computer), there are many more choices available to you than just those two.
The Instrument
- a pen–roller ball, gel, thin-line marker
- a pencil–standard #2 or mechanical
- fountain pen complete with ink well
- calligraphy pen–to give your writing some flair
- colored pencils–useful for marking different kinds of text in different colors, like blue for vision sentences, green for taste, etc.
The Paper
- loose-leaf paper, lined or unlined
- notebook–the Mead notebooks you used in school, $1 specials from the bargain bin (I can’t resist these)
- journal–I love the fancy leather-bound journals with the gilded edges
- the backside of previously used paper–nice for drafts of your novel and for being eco-friendly
- oversized newsprint
- napkins–usually handy in a pinch
- sketch pads
- graph paper
Technology Alternatives
- a computer–desktop, laptop, or palmtop
- PDA (personal digital assistant)
- cell phone or smartphone
- Alphasmart
- dictation machine–if you have an actual person to type for you
- voice recognition software–if you don’t have an actual person to type for you
- typewriter–if you can still find one, maybe in a thrift shop or antique store
What tools do you use to write?
Part of a series…
Where Do You Write?
When Do You Write?
What Tools Do You Use to Write?
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3 comments
Jamal W. Hankins on March 29, 2009 at 8:06 am
I typically bounce between loose pieces of paper, various notepads, and spiral notebooks. Ultimately everything lands on my laptop of course. I write with pens, type doesn’t matter nor does color of ink, and I hate writing in pencil.
I drive myself crazy writing by hand most of the time though. Ever since childhood, I’ve had this…”thing” about making mistakes when I write even if its just a little note. If I make a mistake, misspell a word, or notice that my paragraphs are not lining up perfectly, I have to start all over. It doesn’t matter if I’m at the top of the page or the middle, if I see a mistake, I have to start ALL OVER. Needless to say, I’ve wasted a lot of time and paper.
Cheryl on April 1, 2009 at 7:24 am
I seem to be doing that, too, Jamal–using various pieces of paper and eventually collecting it all on the computer. I’m trying to consolidate down to one notebook per writing project, so at least the notes are in one spot.
What you describe about your handwriting process sounds a bit like OCD. That would definitely make handwriting a challenge. Are you able to use the laptop for your notes instead of handwriting? Don’t know if that would make it any better. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing!
Jamal W. Hankins on April 1, 2009 at 9:11 am
I may very well have OCD, I wouldn’t put it passed me. lol
I’ve tried the one notebook per project deal, and I never seem to have the notebook handy when I need it. which is why I wind up with tones of pieces of paper, lol.
When I’m home, I always work on my laptop. The peices of paper come into play when I’m out and about.