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

[mistressofmuses]

I pretty much only ever use Word, plus occasional scraps of paper for when I don't have access to my computer, or a brief notation in my phone. The comments here are kind of a revelation... I had no idea there were so many options out there!

I have word files of my various plot bunnies, with notes on whether they're in progress or completed or yet to be started... they're numbered chronologically in the order the ideas occurred to me and were written down. This helps me assign numbers to the stories so that I can keep track of them.

I tend to just use a word file for each story itself, with individual chapters copy-pasted into documents of their own if they're getting posted. I also generally have another word doc open to write down notes that don't fit into the narrative yet. (Things like worldbuilding, names for other characters, ideas for future scenes...) Periodically I'll reorganize that document so that the notes are organized more by topic.

Sometimes I switch to pencil and paper if I want to organize things in a way that doesn't work on a line-by-line format. Webs or things circled or arrows from one idea to another... sometimes that kind of visual organization works better than a list, for me.

I also use my folders and subfolders so that I can organize the documents together; original fic and fanfic are separate, long stories get folders of their own, and each story has a number and an acronym that I start the filenames with so that I can find all the relevant files quickly.

This doesn't seem to be the most efficient way to organize things... everything is in one spot, but sometimes I'll make an edit to one file and forget to edit the others, having files with redundant information can be cluttered, etc.

It sounds like there are some really useful programs out there that streamline everything. I had no idea there were so many choices!