What is a writer, if not their tools? A creative? A visionary? Don’t be SILLY. We are nothing without what we write with! Nothing!!!
This is what I tell myself as I buy another notebook, at least. It works for me.
What to write with: it’s a question that every author has a different answer to. By hand, by typewriter, on a phone…technology has given us so many options. Maybe you use every one. Maybe you scribble on scraps of paper. However you write, you’re a writer, plain and simple. Since it’s fun to share, here are the things I use the most to get all my writing done.
Home Base: Laptop
I love my laptop. It crashes on me, hates streaming video, and barely tolerates how I run too many Adobe programs at the same time. But beyond that, it’s a solid unit. It’s a steady presence. It has my favourite keyboard of all time, one I miss every time I switch to a PC. It’s my main station for writing, either by the TV or on my desk, and I would get both more and less writing done without it.
Software wise, I write exclusively on Scrivener. I’m a planner, an overplanner at that, and the ability to organize, use pictures, have all my worldbuilding in one place, and have my plot outline open as I write in the same window? Flawless program. Highly recommend.
Out and About, Electronic Edition: Tablet
My iPad Air is new (like, October 2019 new), and my first tablet. I love it. I can’t write on my phone, since I prefer physical keyboards for novels and a bigger screen. A tablet was the perfect solution. Portable, Dropbox sync with Scrivener, so no need to worry about versioned files or duplicates.
The external keyboard was picked because it’s close enough to the regular Apple one that I have no issues typing, and, uh, actually affordable (buy compatible things from elsewhere where you can!)
Out and About, Traditional Edition: Notebook and Pens
You knew this was coming.
I promise I do write in the notebooks. I bring them with me on transit when the tablet’s too heavy or bulky. I use them to plan ideas and jot notes and make new characters. I usually dedicate a notebook to a story idea and try and focus as I work. But, like, they’re so pretty. Of course I need more than I can fill. Duh.
Pen wise, I have ones I love best, but they’re nothing fancy. I have a hoard of 10+ year old Bic pens, my favourite simple tool. I have Staedtler Fineliners, which I love for their ink flow and colours. I have a gifted white-feather style pen which is one of my greatest joys, and I consider it my Swan Song pen. That’s…pretty much it. I’m not picky. I save that for my art supplies.
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In the future I’d love one of those private sheds that famous writers all seem to have. But barring my sudden inheritance of a vast sum of wealth or finding a shed that can survive a Canadian winter, I think I’ll settle for a few more notebooks.
Sending magic your way,
Ashe Mocaw