New ... brooms!

[silverr]

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?

Comments

[credoimprobus]

I tend to favour plain text editors, because they're minimal fuss and mess and won't sneak in any weird non-ascii characters that get mangled on posting. In particular, lately, I've been all over fullscreen text editors, and have hoarded multiple ones that I switch between; they're a great, easy way to transform my writing environment, and make it fresh enough to be inviting again when it's feeling stale. \o/ (I also use this online variant sometimes. Minimalistic writing interfaces FTW!)

I've recently taken to using yWriter to organise longer pieces, although more often than not I do the actual writing elsewhere and paste it in after. I mostly only type straight into the edit window when I get inspired enough that the writing environment's appearance doesn't matter. *snicker*

(I also have multiple devices to switch around between by this point -- my old all-purpose laptop, the new preemptive replacement laptop that I partly bought to act as my new writing machine, the barebones netbook that I used to use for travel and as my main writing machine, and a full-qwerty-keypad smartphone. Note: I don't even have a sim card in the smartphone; I just use it as an electronic notebook, haha.)

...in case it wasn't obvious, yeah, I have a problem with getting bored with using the same thing to write in/on for very long. XD;


PS: If anybody's curious for software links -- everything I use is freeware -- just hit me up! :)

[silverr]

I used yWriter for a while too. It's certainly got some amazing bells and whistles! (I remember the "timeline" seemed perfect for plotting a mystery novel.)

Heh, speaking of alternate devices - have you ever looked into using an Alphasmart/Neo? It'd be somewhere between your smartphone and your bare-bones laptop. :p

[credoimprobus]

have you ever looked into using an Alphasmart/Neo?

That is a thing I haven't (knowingly) heard of before! But it sounds like something I should definitely investigate. :D

[silverr]

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/

[credoimprobus]

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]

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.