The tools maketh the writer. Or do they, really? Does using an expensive laptop—say, a Macbook—produce better prose than George RR Martin’s clunker of a PC?
You may be tempted to say no, and I might agree, but there’s no denying the effects that tools play on your psyche.
I’m not here to argue about whether writing tools improve productivity, though. Instead, I’m here to share the important ones that exist in my creative process. So let’s begin with…
Pen and paper
Ah, the good ol’ pen and paper, or quill and parchment.
I’ve used them to draft entire novels, these. And while do I enjoy a literary frolic with my fountain pen, it’s the cheap paper and pencil that get my words flowing.
Why a pencil? Because it doesn’t depend on gravity to work. Which means that I can have a clipboard on the couch, angled any way I want, and still be able to write. Also, pencils don’t feather or bleed, which ink tends to do on cheap paper.
I enjoy using cheap supplies because thinking on paper only works if I’m not too precious with my thoughts.
Sure, writing longhand is way slower than typing, but you can’t rely on technology all the time. Besides, this is how the greats used to write, am I right?
Mechanical keyboard
I bought my first mechanical keyboard for my first writing gig about a decade ago, and I’ve never turned back.
It’s not to say that they differ that much from a regular keyboard. But the difference in weight matters once you type thousands of words per day.
I used to love the clickety-clack of blue Cherry switches, but have since switched to reds, which are much softer on the fingers.
I believe that getting a good keyboard is like investing in good tyres, shoes, or mattresses. You spend so much time with them that it’s worth splurging for quality.

Can’t beat a good keyboard for those marathon writing sessions. Photo: Jessica Lam
Notion
I’ve shilled this tool in my previous articles, and now I’ll do it again.
Notion is a wonderful tool for writers because it can be whatever you want it to be. It can be a substitute for Scrivener because of its similar layout, or it could simply be a deadline tracker.
I use it as a place to store my writing ideas, since it syncs with my phone. It allows me to upload unlimited pictures too, and also works great as a commonplace book.
So yes, while Notion may be just another productivity app, it’s also the productivity tool for me. This will be something I use until either of us dies.
p.s. It’s free, too.
Scrivener
Every writer needs an offline-but-digital tool for writing. Why? Because we shouldn’t depend on connectivity to write.
This means that apps like Google Docs don’t belong here, but those like Microsoft Word do.
Not only do you remove the lag that comes with online platforms, you also get faster drafting speeds.
My offline weapon of choice? It has to be Scrivener, a tool made by writers, for writers.
There’s just no substituting the binder for fiction research and chapter separation. This interface changes your workflow, especially when compared with tools like Microsoft Word.
Sure, I could manually add notes to the end of each chapter, but nothing beats having a dedicated section.
Couple that with features like the cork board or the running word counter and you have a perfect novel-writing tool.
Still on the fence? They have a month-long free trial available for download on their website. Be warned though, you could end up like me and give up every other writing app.

It’s the little details that make Scrivener awesome. Photo: Yours truly
Power thesaurus
I’ve grown partial to the ‘power’ variation instead of the standard Thesaurus.com. This preference is due to the more diverse results you get for each word. And when I’m browsing the thesaurus, that’s exactly what I’m looking for: ideas, words.
By default, I prefer not using a thesaurus. Because if I can’t think of the word off the top of my head, then I don’t deserve to use it. But sometimes I’ll need help with unique words—like quill and parchment—and that’s where a thesaurus comes in handy.
Canva
I can’t write about writing tools without mentioning Canva. Because there was a time you’d be visually screwed if you didn’t have Photoshop knowledge.
Pre-Canva, editing images often involved learning crap like the lasso tool. Even basic editing processes seemed to require a multimedia degree.
Canva has changed all that by simplifying the process.
See the header on my website? That a Canva end product. Have you signed up for my newsletter and downloaded to guide to growing your blog? That e-book is a Canva product as well.
A pentagram
We can’t forget this useful tool now, can we? Because every writer knows that the only way to sustain a respectable output is by making a deal with the devil. Sometimes I sacrifice a goat, sometimes a chicken. Gotta pay that blood money somehow, right?
Honourable mentions
Coffee, not for the energy, but for keeping my sleepiness at bay. A stopwatch, because writing sprints do work. And my mortality, because knowing that I can die anytime does pepper a little urgency into my life.

The real MVP for those cold, dreary mornings. Photo: Brooke Lark
Tools I don’t use
While there are tons of tools available to writers today, there are also apps that have never really resonated with me. Here are the few that I actively avoid in my writing.
Grammar checkers
You’ve probably heard of these ones, that exist in the form of Grammarly or Hemingway. Why don’t I like grammar tools? Because they try to funnel writing into a universal voice, one that’s devoid of rhythm and feel.
Besides, the ‘corrections’ tend to mess with the expressive side of writing, which can detract from a young writer’s journey into the art.
If I were to use a grammar checker, Google Docs does a good enough job. Or maybe this is just me being the ‘get off my lawn’ equivalent of a writer.
High-pressure word processors
Ever tried Write Or Die or The Most Dangerous Writing App? For the uninitiated, these are tools that threaten to delete your work if you stop for too long.
It’s great if you want to get over your perfectionism. But writing sprints can do that too. Through sprints, you’ll learn how to write without stopping. And with that skill, you’ll be able to churn your zero drafts without the help of ‘dangerous’ writing apps.
Abundance of time
I’ll probably get flak for this, but let’s just say that I write better when I don’t have as much time.
Give me a free weekend with no plans and I’ll come up with a blog post. Give me a busy day where I can only write during lunch break, and I’ll still come up with a blog post. Blame Parkinson’s law for this.
Maybe it’s just me, but when it comes to writing productivity, time isn’t a tool that I generally need.
It’s not the tools
I hope you see where I’m going by now. At the end of the day, you’ll craft the exact same thing on a $2,000 laptop as you would on a $100 one.
Likewise, it shouldn’t matter if you have Canva, or Grammarly, or a pentagram. Because many successful writers have put out great work, with or without them.
When it comes to creative pursuits, what matters most is that thing between your ears. And the only way you can hone that is through years of practice.
Or training. Or drills. Or *breaks open thesaurus* exercitation.
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Pingback: I Was Wrong About Grammar Apps. Here’s What I Think Now. | Your Friendly Malaysian Writer
I mostly write longhand, typing up is a key part of editing for me. I also traded my laptop for a newer model that switches on as soon as I open it, invaluable! Interesting post, thanks.
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All the tiny things like instant boot up really does help, doesn’t it? A good keyboard is important for me too, since I’m doing such repetitive tasks. And yes to using typing as editing. That’s one of the upsides of drafting longhand :)
Thanks for visiting!
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Canva*
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I use can a for everything!
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Canva is the bomb for sure!
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Thank you for the out-loud laugh when I arrived at “Pentagram”!
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Lol, nothing better than to receive comments like yours. And nothing better than a well-built pentagram too!
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Hi,
It is 2340 right now…and I am guessting that this post is about the things you use to help you…and not help you…in writing…as a writer.
Mine isn’t that extensive. Probably because I don’t go that far.
Initially, what was?
Quatrains? Ya know, that popular type of poetry…and making sure that everything follows that rhyming scheme of aabb, abab, abba…and something like that.
Then, a Thesaurus and a Rhyming Dictionary…to help increase my vocabulary as well as to help with the rhyming part.
Oh yeah, Shadow Poetry. It is a website where I used to rely on to study and experimented on different types of poetry. It was fun…when I was into poetry.
What else? Music…but only the one that I feel like going into…in order to magnify my emotions to channel into poetry. No specific music. I mean, it doesn’t make sense to write stories or write poetry when trying to tie in all the logical stuff. Emotions and abstract stuff…fantasy.
Some years after, okay…whatever ‘prayer’ for the sake of creating one. It works too.
Nowadays, I just use music and go with the flow. I don’t focus on making it on a daily basis like I used to. I can’t really get a grip on following that strict routine. I tried, but so far…none of them would last.
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I have zero knowledge in poetry, which is why the terms you mention are pretty interesting.
And it’s so cool you use a thesaurus along with a rhyming dictionary. I never imagined we would have that. I use those online rhyming dictionaries to come up with puns, lol.
Music does help set the mood though. I feel like I will get persuaded to write or don’t write depending on the music that’s playing. It’s almost like working out. You can either get pump-up music or chillout music, and they’ll affect how you exercise.
Anyway, life is about finding what works for us, so yeah, even though you don’t write every day anymore, it’s good to work with how you naturally operate. Thanks as usual for sharing your thoughts!
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Wow. You mentioned several tools on here – both ones you use and ones you avoid – that I’ve never heard of. Interesting! I for one am very partial to a desktop keyboard over a laptop keyboard. It makes a big difference in the enjoyment of writing for me.
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Oh yes. Especially if you’re a keyboard (or pen, for that matter) snob like me, it really DOES make a difference. To be fair though, the Apple laptops do seem to come with decent keyboards and trackpads.
I hope you give the new tools a go—regardless of if I liked them or not—and see how they fit into your workflow.
Appreciate you stopping by as always!
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Thank you for the tips… they’re amazing❤️
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And thank you for stopping by! I appreciate you!
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Ha!😂
I enjoyed this. Thanks.
I’ve only had coffee twice, and they weren’t even when I wanted to write. I wonder how it’ll be to try it then.
Oh, and have you tried Google Keep? That’s one app I run to once I get a random idea and I really wanna get it down.
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Weirdly enough, coffee doesn’t really energise me, but it keeps me from being too sleepy. I may have a weird metabolism for it, since I’m not very affected by it. Maybe that’s why I feel like it helps, cos I go through like five cups a day, lol.
Yeah, Google Keep used to be my primary notetaker on my phone, until I found Notion, which performs much better. Thanks for stopping by as always!
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Your process is so meticulous and I am LOVING it.
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And I’m LOVING the fact that you stopped by! Thanks for being here, Morgan!
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I love it…thank you for the ideas
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And thank you for stopping by, Jeanette!
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Thanks for sharing.
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And thank YOU for stopping by!
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Great post! I am also not a big fan of grammar checkers. Sometimes I wanna fight Grammarly.
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Haha, to be fair, I actually misuse idioms and sayings, and that’s where the checkers come in handy, but you know what’s been the best grammar tool for me? Google Docs. That app is surprisingly good with catching errors. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
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I totally agree re the Hemingway app. I did a test run of some of my work – fiction and nonfiction – and the app result was horrible. Trust yourself, trust your writing and let readers be the judge, not a useless app. Too much digital invasion into my life.
https://mestengobooks.com/2019/09/25/post-script/
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That’s so cool, and I love the article since it’s so relevant. I actually think the app _can_ point out if you have glaring habits like run-on sentences, but I prefer my writing workflow to be as streamlined as possible. Thanks for sharing!
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True dat 😍
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Really very helpful. Thank you so much 😊
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No, thank YOU for stopping by!
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🙂 Grammarly is like a gangster that forces you to write things that you do not want.
I think that spellcheckers do come in handy for when you are writing in a sleep state (Some errors do occur when one’s mind is focused on sleep and not on writing).
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Hahaha, that’s a great analogy. I may just steal that!
Yeah, I say what I say, but in the end, I can’t remember the time I’ve actually written without the help of red squiggly lines. I misspell words more often that not, which is pretty embarrassing, seeing how I sell words for a living (p.s. I misspelt the word embarrassing and corrected it because of the red line).
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Love this post! I’m not a writer but a blogger, and more expensive tools just bum me out!
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I think they’re intertwined, so I would definitely consider you a writer. Thanks for stopping by!
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Wow, great pointers! Thank you!
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And thank YOU for stopping by!
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Amazing! I personally would love to buy a mechanical keyboard to write some day, it reminds me to my grand parents. Thank you for the tips on tools Stuart Danker.
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Oh wow, that must be pretty cool. There are so many flavours and brands for mechanical keyboards, so I’m sure you can get started today if you wanted to. The Anne Pro 2 and Keychron keyboards are great places to start. Thanks for stopping by!
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It’s funny you mention using a mechanical keyboard; I always thought it was more of a gamer keyboard haha.
I also agree that abundance of time is not a very useful tool for me either. During my summer vacation, where I did not have to teach full time, I actually wrote the same amount as if I was teaching full time 😂😂😂
These are very useful ideas! Thank you for sharing.
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This is super weird, for sure. I plan to fill my days up with as many things as possible and see if that changes my writing output, lol.
Oh yeah, if I turn on the LEDs on my keyboard, I can end up looking like a gamer, but that doesn’t change the fact that I can use the sliiightest pressure to press a key. So comfy for long sessions.
No, thank YOU for taking the time to comment!
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I make todo lists in a big fat notebook but then I don’t read them – but it feels better! Loved the post Stuart!
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Oh yeah, the writing itself is the gift sometimes. That’s why I enjoy morning pages. I discard the pages after writing, and have learned to appreciate the process instead of the results. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lillie!
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The minute you mentioned the keyboard I knew you were my kind of writer. It makes such a difference and I was beginning to think it was just me that thought that way.
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Aw yeah. I splurge on any tool that involves repetitive movements, from pens to shoes, so yeah, it was only natural that I found a comfortable keyboard too. What do you use?
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I have a jelly comb wireless keyboard because it has just the right clicking noise and its light enough for when I’m writing when I’m out and about
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Ohh wao, that’s great. Well, for now I’m just writing in my basic laptop, but eventually I want to get my customized mechanical keyboard to accompany me in those creation hours.
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I use a tablet and I didn’t like touchscreen typing I’m a bit oldschool and like keyboard typing more. Mechanical keyboard sounds amazing!!
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Doesn’t matter where you’re at in your journey, as long as you took the steps today to get closer to your goals. Thanks for stopping by!
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Sooo true
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Wow such a great blog about writing like a pro Stuart. All these tools are news to me😂. Anyways, I guess trying one or two of them in my fashion blogs won’t hurt
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Oh yeah. I think you’d definitely benefit from Canva if you haven’t used it yet, since you’ll probably be needing lots of visual items on your page. Glad to have introduced them!
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I’m the opposite. I’ve tried Scrivener and didn’t care for it. It felt like it was making the writing process too mechanical. The very things you like, such as the scene breakdowns and binders seem to overcomplicate a creative process. But I know many writers that swear by it. On the other hand, I actually use Grammarly Pro. I think with common-sense user control and saying no to Grammarly’s suggestions that you don’t agree with can save time with all lengths of work.
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Always love different perspectives on a subject. I’m actually platform-agnostic, and would even love to try something like the Alphasmart Neo, if only I could get my hands on one. Maybe I’ll try a typewriter next. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
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Pentagram–Ha! Your mortality–Double Ha! Exercitation–Hahaha! And many smiles and chuckles along the way. I haven’t heard of some of these things. (Pencil? What’s that?) Thanks for the entertainment and information. Infortainment? That should be a word. Check your thesaurus.
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Don’t mock the pentagram till you’ve tried it though. You’d be surprised at the amount of words you’d get in exchange for blood. But you’ll need a pencil to draw one on the floor though. :P
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Pencil… pencil… I still need to google that. ;)
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Time is my worst enemy, too. When I write in the morning before work, I get a little boost, but when I’m off work or have the day off, I just stare at the wall or watch ghost videos. But if I run an errand or realize its getting close to my bed time, then I get that writing urge back and get quite a bit done. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
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Hahaha yes! I always get the desire to write when the day’s closing and I realise I didn’t write as much as I could’ve. And I always chide myself for wasting the entire free day I had. But then I just rinse and repeat on my next free day. Scumbag brain.
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Great post Stuart. I type too fast to be creative so definitely use pen, pencils, paper … I have even been known to use the backs of envelopes I’d its scribbling initial ideas. I’m not working at the level of writing books, but creating/designing course materials etc and writing for my blogs
I have been considering Canva, but not quite got there yet.
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Creating course materials is pretty similar to writing books though. Maybe even harder, since you have real-world constraints instead of a fictional story you can change at any time. That’s a pretty interesting fact to learn about you. Thanks for sharing your process!
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Great pointers, Mr. Stuart. 😂
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Thanks for some great ideas to check out.
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Wow! All the writing tools writers need to know in this modern era! But you’re right in the end. What’s between our ears is what really matters! I just hope it’s not ear wax in my case haha…For now, I just use Notes and WordPress. And pen and paper to ideate. The nice thing about pen and paper is it forces me to slow down and be deliberate in my thinking process, rather than clickety-clacking away on my Logitech keyboard for the sheer sound of it though a lot of what I type’s often jibberish! Thanks again for generously sharing your tools with us Stu! Appreciate.
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Pen and paper is great because I don’t even have to use sentences. I could just use arrows and words and still totally get the gist of it.
My pet peeve with WordPress is that it gets pretty laggy after 1,000 words plus a few pics. That split second delay between keypress and letters appearing on screen really irks me, which is why I prefer local apps and writing on the computer itself. So Notes rocks, lol. Textedit too, if we’re talking about Macs.
And as always, thanks for stopping by, Kelvin!
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Ah, yes, an abundance of time. Having wended my way through seasons of life with both more and less time, I can confirm that I am more productive with less time.
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Weird how that works, isn’t it? I mean, it’s not like I’d voluntarily want less time, but when those moments arrive, I take my writing time more seriously.
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Yes, nothing beats the good old paper and pencil. Especially the ones with an eraser!
I use Grammarly for spelling and the dreaded punctuation. But, don’t let it dictate my use of certain words. I am sure some of the adjectives I use or some English, (not American English) words, phrases, slang bug the “Correctness” feature no end as I refuse to change my words!
Enjoyed the post, Stuart
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Oh yeah, as someone who writes predominantly in UK English, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with wrong recommendations, even though my settings have been changed to UK standards. Kinda annoying after a while.
And pencil is awesome because you don’t need to worry about gravity, and thus can write upright, or even upside down if you want. Sometimes I prefer a darker mark though. Great thoughts here, Chaya!
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🤣🤣 a pentagram! I’ve definitely got one of those. I also love Scrivener and Canva. They are my go to writing/writer life tools. Great post, Stuart.
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A fellow pentagram user! Hard to come by these days :P
Yeah, having a local programme always beats using something like Google Docs, where even though you’ll get automatic backups, you’ll also have to suffer through the microsecond-lag, which can be annoying when repeated over 80,000 words.
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I’ve never gotten the hang of Google Docs. I probably don’t even use Scrivener to it’s best advantage either, but what features I do use suits me 😊.
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I definitely agree on Canva. It makes us non-designers look good.
I’d be lost without my iPad and keyboard. I use it for most of my writing. I do keep a notepad and pen for writing down random ideas when I first start a new blog post, though. It helps to gather my thoughts.
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Pen and paper are the ultimate OGs. No need to rely on subscription models, proprietary file formats, or battery life.
All tools are amazing, to be honest. Maybe not a mobile phone, but I’ve even made that work, lol. I appreciate you stopping by, Michelle!
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I really liked this post. I have scrivener, learning it. Love my fountain pens. But found I wrote most while recovering from surgery tapping into “notes” on my phone. I’m sorry you had to lose a goat or chicken or two….
I appreciate your writing.
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Since you’re on a farm, I think you’d benefit from a pentagram too! :P
I say that the best tool is the one we use the most. Some people can draft entire novels with ballpoint pens. Not the way I’d go about it, being a fountain pen fan and all, but if it gets them to write…
I actually think .txt format is superior. So you’ve got something going on there with using Notes.
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some great suggestions here, Stuart. Since I have not (yet) tried to write a book, any writing I do now (research articles and the like), I do in Word. I guess I don’t know enough about some of the tools you mention to know what I’m missing!
I like using Grammarly just for checking spelling.
I have not heard of Canva (or perhaps forgot that you had mentioned it before), but that sounds like something I would like to try.
And speaking of keyboards, I just happened to see if my old iMac would start up again (it did!), and I started typing away using a full size standalone keyboard. It was so nice, after using a laptop all the time, for the past several years…
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Sometimes changing the medium does enhance the creativity, does it not? I find great joy in writing .txt files after spending months on proprietary software.
In fact, I may dedicate some time just writing in .txt format, just because.
I hope Canva will benefit you as much as it has me, and once again, it’s great to have you back, Jim!
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it is fun to mix things up, and I will let you know about Canva…
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I became a Scrivener convert a couple of years ago and that corkboard feature with color-coding labels is *chef’s kiss* regarding power thesaurus, I found WordHippo and I love that site more than thesaurus.com. It feels like it has more nuance in helping you find the right words
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‘Nuance’ is the perfect word to describe it. The thing that got me onto Power Thesaurus was because it had more nuance, because sometimes the results you get can be pretty basic.
That makes me want to check out WordHippo now. Thanks for the recommendation, Meagan!
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I’m the total opposite on the keyboard situation! I like the flat ones because I can type so much more accurately without stopping. I always screw up on the raised keys. Pen ink is extremely important to me (I know you love pens too 😉). I love gel pens like the Pilot G2 7 or 10. I have fought people at work when I believed they stole my pen. I even had a lock installed on my drawer to protect them. (Funnily enough, one time the armored carrier came to pick up money and someone took my pen to sign the book. I got up and ran around my desk to get it back. The carrier said “that girl should be a writer!” Lord only knows what I was shouting– I think he thought I was joking. But these pens are no joke.) I am a devout user of Microsoft Word, and I’ve come to like OneNote for organizing ideas.
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I believe that tastes in pen do vary depending on our handwriting. I’m going to take a guess (I may be wrong here, this is just bro science) that you write in print instead of cursive?
This is because I feel that the G2s have terrible flow when it comes to constant output. The Uniballs perform so much better in that regard.
Weirdly enough, the gel pen that has performed the best for me is Deli, a cheap unknown brand. The ink is waterproof and it doesn’t require much pressure to write. And it costs less than USD 1.
Lol I’d do the same too if I were you. When you like how a particular pen writes, there is no substitute, so any ‘shoplifter’ shall be dealt with accordingly :P
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Ha! Your bro science failed. I write in a hideous cursive. I never have any trouble with the G2–it’s actually Uniballs that give me the skipping problem, which is weird because they were really good back in the day for me. I have some dollar store cheapies too that write well.
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Dammit. Okay, okay. How about my bro science follow up? You’re a heavy-handed writer :P
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It’s a pretty ugly affair, yes.
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Excellent post! Good writing tools. I use a mechanical keyboard too and love it. But I want to try the Power thesaurus you shared about. I tend to use the same words over and over again. I have been using Word Hippo to find alternatives but your suggestion sounds good too.
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Meagan also recommended WordHippo so now I’m pretty intrigued. Power Thesaurus works for me because they return quite a lot of results for one word.
Mechanical keyboards are awesome! Like finding the perfect pen, once you discover your perfect keyboard, it’s hard to go back to the stock versions.
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Will definitely check out Power thesaurus and notion. Canva is a great tool for writers and creatives. Thank you for the tips, Stuart.
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Yeah, Canva truly filled a huge gap that had been present in the digital world for the longest time now.
Notion is awesome because you can backup your data in .txt form, which means you’re not bound to them if they ever go under. All for free, too. I can’t sing enough praises for them!
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I’ll have to check out notion. I lost my pentagram (._.)
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You best get that pentagram back, or else you’ll be susceptible to attacks by the Block Monster!
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I’m so about my Microsoft Word and pen and paper. Though you do have a point about the issue of a device dependent on gravity. Lots of times with my initial idea I’ll actually start on Word, I can type really fast so it can be easier to get the thoughts out quicker as I’m having them. But after the first few chapters I like to print out what I have, put it in a notebook, and continue it longhand. It helps me when I can glance back easier on what I may have said earlier and writing by hand is easier for me as well when I continue on to the more detailed parts. Gotta do what works for you.
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The Fisher Space Pen does away with the gravity limitations though, just in case you were looking for a new tool :P
Oh wow, it’s so interesting that you go the other way round, since many people would ideate with pen and paper before typing things out in a word processor.
Always great to see how other writers approach their craft. Thanks for sharing!
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I don’t use anything fancy, and I have a deep hatred of online tools, because they can never get the accessibility right. Not to mention, where I live in a country where an unstable internet connection, and power cuts are a thing.
For me, Microsoft word, and notepad for making notes do just fine. I do use grammar checkers though, because I’m a not a native speaker, and sometimes my word processor overlooks the capitalization mistakes which my screen reader does not help in catching it.
I don’t use grammarly for this though. I use writer.com, which is accessible, and works for me without making me pay more than necessary.
Also, my anniversary is coming up! Can’t believe I’ve been blogging for a year now.
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Oh yeah, you definitely do have an added layer of accessibility to look for. And I can imagine that with unstable internet, cloud services are not preferred.
I actually think that .txt files are superior, and tools like Notepad (or even vim) should actually be a writer’s main tool. Takes away all the bells and whistles.
Oh wow, time really flies. Looking forward to that exact date!
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My old laptop was kicking the bucket so I’m actually writing to you now and reading this post on my new one! New to me that is because it was lightly used and totals around $800.00 but I only paid $200 for it. I don’t have any other writing tools other than my new-to-me laptop and my trusty pencil and paper (which I don’t use since I broke two fingers in my right hand). Most days it’s just my computer, me, and a cup of tea. I write best that way. I love that happy place when you loose yourself in the words you’re typing. I will say that nothing and I do mean nothing… beats photoshop. Love your header but at $10.00 a month… splurge and buy photoshop.
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Hahaha the trouble with paying the subscription is that I won’t have the skills to justify that $10 per month. Also, I’ll prolly only use it once every few months.
Going digital is amazing for writing though, mostly because you can have thousands of pages in the form of a few megabytes, and they’re easily transportable and backed up.
A laptop is THE powerhouse tool for a writer.
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Yes! Oh man this new one is a game changer for me. The screen was going out on my old one and it froze a lot. I’m so thankful for the upgrade
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Yep; it really is not the tools. Few bloggers understand this: writing 100’s to 1000’s of words daily makes you a skilled writer. The laptop tool seems necessary to achieve this task. No other tool seems to be required to become a pro through any writing venture.
Ditto on giving yourself a minimum amount of time. I use the Pomodoro Technique with a timer app via the Chrome browser. The less time I have to write the more I write. But when I have all the time in the world I rarely stay try to my prolific nature.
Excellent post.
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Isn’t it weird how more time makes us slower? In fact, sometimes on my most free days, I write only a smattering of words. Dammit.
Yeah, a laptop is THE powerhouse tool for writers, since it can handle everything from business admin duties to multimedia. And as you probably know, writing is only the start of a proper writer’s duties.
Love your comment. Thanks, Ryan!
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I bought a mechanical keyboard 5 years ago – it is the BEST! I also enjoy and use Scrivener. Mostly the Ipad app which is not as robust or user friendly as the desk-top version. I need to look into Canva. Thanks.
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Aw yis. I used to be a blue switch guy, because writer. But now I’ve fallen in love with Cherry MX Red Switches. Even better if I can use speed switches. The lighter the better, kinda like how fountain pens are to ballpoint pens. Do let me know how you find Canva!
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I know I should rip the bandaid off and try Scrivener as nearly everyone who uses it seems to love it. The one tool I was unaware of was the power thesaurus. I’m excited to give that a look. I’ll admit I use Grammarly, but many of its choices annoy me.
Though the sound drives my wife nutty, I still find satisfaction in clacking away on my keyboard. If I forget, she comes down and shuts the door.😄 Little sounds get on her nerves, so I don’t purposefully do that to her.
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Oh yes, and since you get a month’s free Scrivener trial (for free, no credit card details required), you should definitely do it. Though that’s the exact way I got hooked to it, so maybe not, lol.
Lol, I actually relate with your wife, because I do have a bit of misophonia myself. I can’t handle sounds, which is probably why I work out so much, since it dampens the annoyance of life in general :P
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You kind of make me want to dust off my Scrivener again and give it a try. I am so bad about giving new things a chance if I am set in my ways (Microsoft Word) but I know I would love it if I just….tried to love it…for longer lol.
Also, power Thesaurus sounds awesome.
And high pressure word processors sound terrifying. Nope. No. No, thank you.
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I don’t know why, but I find Scrivener to be faster than Word, and this is including all its bells and whistles of the notes, summary, and binder fields. The exporting to other formats (like .docx) is a pain in the butt though.
Definitely stick to Word if you enjoy it. No harm sticking to the industry standard.
Haha, give high-pressure word counters a go. You might like it!
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Hi Stuart, thank you for sharing.
I totally agree with you that when it comes to creative pursuits, what matters is our grey matter.
Once again, thank you for your post. Looking forward to next Tuesday.
Meantime, take good care of yourself.
Namaste 🙏
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Oh yes. In fact, I’m thinking about trying an experiment of writing solely with certain mediums to see if I’m affected in any way. I’m sure we all will have different reactions to them.
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Looking forward to your sharing 😊
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Based on principles instead of rules — love it! Thanks, Stuart!
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Aw yis. Principles are always the best. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great tips on tools Stuart! I hate grammarly.. it bunches what I’m saying and getting out of it and things to not run on is impossible. I love Scrivner I think or would it I could get the general gist. I use it but want to more and need a lesson. Are you up for teaching a class. Say yes, I’ll be your first student. Oh I have the get the one you’ll die with.. that much be good.. Now I have to go back and read. Miss my crayons, pen and pencil yet with all the typing I do, I should be faster by now and not make so many mistakes. Where’s that brain chip when you need it… or wait.. it’s coming way too soon. Be careful what we wish for right?
Great always my friend and thanks for the tips of the trade.. Have a great day!
💖
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Lol, I’d be the least-qualified person to teach Scrivener, since I use mostly the basic features myself. Which is good since I find it not super useful to learn features that don’t apply to us.
Oh yeah, we joke about brain chips, but Neuralink might really be coming sooner than we think, and who knows how far we can modify our minds once that arrives?
Always great to hear your thoughts, Cindy!
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Oh good To know I’m not alone here Stuart!!
Oh I know the whole thing terrifies me. Always good to read you thanks a lot!💕😎
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I love it…I will try some out
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And I love you for taking the time to comment!
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Anytime
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