silverr: abstract art of pink and purple swirls on a black background (2012_cauldron)
silverr ([personal profile] silverr) wrote in [community profile] onedeadplotbunny2013-02-12 02:01 pm
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New ... brooms!

It's an old saying: "A new broom sweeps clean."

I've found that this can apply to writing as well. I don't just mean changing your methods or approach (e.g., writing out of sequence if you're usually linear, or freewriting if you're usually a detailed planner), I mean actually trying a new writing tool--or even switching to trusty paper and pen. Sometimes it's just the jolt you need to get things flowing--or at least save you some hair pulling.

So, what tools do you use? What do you use them for? Why do you love them? What do you wish they did better?
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silverr: abstract art of pink and purple swirls on a black background (Default)

[personal profile] silverr 2013-02-12 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah - full size keyboard, very light, 700 hours of battery time. Kinda like an electronic notebook (with 8 separate "pages"). You upload and download the files between it and the computer using a USB cable or wireless connection.

I used one when I was commuting a lot on trains and buses. The screen is big enough to be usable yet people sitting next to you can't as easily eavesdrop on what you're writing. (Eyes-drop?) Weighs almost nothing, shove-able into a backpack. Files save automatically so no "crash and lose your work" either. I don't have the latest oe, but they always have good trade-in deals too.

http://www.neo-direct.com/
Edited 2013-02-12 22:27 (UTC)
credoimprobus: hand holding cigarette with flame background, text (in Finnish): you can always get a light in hell (Default)

[personal profile] credoimprobus 2013-02-12 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, yiss, that looks awesomely practical! (I'd really have to be sure which files I want before I leave the house, though, heh.)
silverr: abstract art of pink and purple swirls on a black background (Default)

[personal profile] silverr 2013-02-12 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I had one of the original ones--called an AlphaSmart---that was pure 4 lines x 70 character display. The newer ones like the Neo let you adjust font size (and I think do quasi-RTF formatting with bold and italics and such). ~ Most I used mine to pound out rough drafts - it's a lot easier to just freewrite and generate raw verbiage when you're not as distracted by fiddling with formatting and going back to do nit-picky wordsmithng (which can certainly come later). Great for taking to the doctor's office or any other waiting room. (I used mine to take notes at conferences and meetings, too.)

Yah, having to DL the files is the drawback.
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