Tools of the Trade to Supercharge Your Writing
I’ve been providing technical support for computers and software in various forms since the 1980s, and for most of that time I’ve worked with writers. As a writer and an indie publisher, I’m fascinated by the tools authors use to create books. Writing is a creative process, and the tools we use can enhance or destroy the magical creative energy that feeds the muse.
The first writing software that I fell in love with was called Liquid Story Binder. Written by an author, it had a bundle of tools that made writing a joy. My productivity soared, and I learned that working with software that works the way I do makes the writing process easier.
Sadly, Liquid Story Binder is no longer being developed. It still exists, but technology is moving ahead, leaving it to fall into the realm of quaint antiques.
The good news is I have new software that I love. I’ll tell you about that in a bit.
The 6 Phases of Writing (and why they matter)
First, I want to talk about writing, because the key to finding the perfect writing software is understanding how you work as a writer.
Writing has roughly 6 phases:
- research
- planning
- draft writing
- editing (where the magic happens!)
- publication (including the query process for traditional authors or formatting and distribution for indie publishing)
- marketing
How much time you spend in each phase will be different for each author. Where you focus your efforts will reflect your process. Depending on how you work, you’ll want different tools.
There is no one tool that is perfect for every author.
A Roundup of Writing Tools
When I finally accepted that I couldn’t use Liquid Story Binder anymore, I went in search of a replacement. My muse had gone on strike and was refusing to cooperate and I needed a new tool. Sadly, she turned out to be finicky.
Because I work with so many authors, I hear about a lot of tools that different writers tell me they can’t live without. I held each tool up before my picky muse in the hopes that she would respond. She turned up her nose at nearly everything. (More on her favorite later in the post – she continues to surprise me.)
If you haven’t explored writing tools lately, here’s a roundup of some that I’ve come across. Some you may know of. Some you may have already discarded. Some may surprise you.
Physical Tools:
These tools find their way into many areas of a writer’s process. Most of these only do one thing, but they do it well.
- Paper. Don’t knock this one. J. K. Rowling herself swears by it. Sticky notes, whiteboards, poster boards — these are fundamental, classic writing tools
- Rocketbook — paper, meet computer
- Freewrite— for those who like to type
Software Tools:
- Scapple — mind-mapping software from the makers of Scrivener
- Plottr — plotting software
- WorldAnvil — created by gamers, loved by authors creating worlds, contains interesting options for letting others play in your world
- Grammarly — software to keep you from annoying your editor later
Word Processors:
For years, the staple of writers everywhere. Some writers maintain older machines just so they can keep using their favorite one. Even if you write in another program, you’ll probably need a word processor at some point to interact with editors, agents, etc.
- WordPerfect — yes, it is still around
- Open Office (free)
- LibreOffice (free)
- Google Docs — free and includes collaborative editing features
- Microsoft Word — the industry standard
More Advanced Writing Tools:
These do just a little more than the standard word processor. Some are specialized. They tend to have a more minimal editing interface than word processors.
- Final Draft — used for screenwriting
- Evernote — you’ll be surprised what you can do with it (free and paid)
- The Novel Factory
- Storyist (Mac Only)
- One Stop For Writers
Fancy Writing Tools:
These seek to be everything an author could ever need. Some are more effective at this goal than others.
Formatting Tools:
Used mostly by indie authors, these tools are designed to help you turn your completed novel into a polished product that can be uploaded to vendors.
- Reedsy — I think of them as a clearing house for author services, but they now have a formatting app
- Vellum (Mac Only) —creates a beautiful, finished product without a lot of stress
- Sigil (free) — for creating epubs
- InDesign — like all Adobe products, this one has a learning curve, but it produces lovely print versions and covers
My Favorite Writing Software
People are surprised by what I picked. The winner for me was…Evernote.
Why?
Remember, my muse was on strike, refusing to produce much of anything despite being showered with a variety of different writing products. As a geek, I was growing desperate and began considering what it would take to rebuild Liquid Story Binder for a modern mobile world. I sat down with a techie friend and showed him Liquid Story Binder, wondering if there was any way we could get a team together and build something similar.
“You don’t need to. Just use Evernote.”
“But that’s for taking notes!” I was sure he didn’t understand the writing process.
“I wrote my thesis on it. It works a lot like what you’re used to. You use it the way you want. Bonus: it is automatically backed up in the cloud. It even keeps a revision history.”
I didn’t believe him at first, but then I decided to try it. My muse started giggling right away. The minimal interface felt like home. I moved some drafts out of the old software into Evernote as a test, and my little muse immediately started writing, connecting pieces, and throwing all her creative energy at her new toy.
I’m a plantser, doing some plotting and a lot of off-the-cuff writing. My research looks a lot like throwing clippings into a bin and hoping to sort them out at some point. Ideas come to me at random times, and I need a spot to capture them before they run away.
Evernote understands me.
Evernote lets me work however I feel like working today. The search function means that I don’t need to sort those clippings. It is almost like Evernote does it for me.
I have notebooks for my research, clippings from the internet, emails forwarded to Evernote, scanned drawings, etc. I’m loving mind-mapping and, for now, I use Scapple and link the files to the planning notes for whatever project I’m working on. Images show up on the notes in card view, so I can quickly see pictures of characters, etc.
I’ve used several methods for planning my novels.
In Evernote, you can build a “dashboard note” — a home base for a project. It can contain links to other documents, etc. As my story comes together, my outline will be in this dashboard with links to different chapters that I’m working on. Rearranging them is easy. I also link to worldbuilding and character indexes.
For writing, the distraction-free interface in Evernote is perfect. Evernote formatting doesn’t go beyond the VERY basics. I’m sure this would drive some people nuts, but it lets my muse come out and dance all over the page.
If I’m in a mood and need to hand-write, I use a Rocketbook, then blast the handwritten notes into the cloud. It does a pretty good job of interpreting my handwriting! I can even dictate to my phone if I don’t feel like typing or writing.
The best thing for me about Evernote is the flexibility.
If my daughter wants to go to the beach, I can stop writing, grab my phone, drive her to the beach, pick up my phone, and go right back to writing.
For many years, I was the family’s designated caregiver. I’ve written in almost every hospital in western Washington. I’ve written at the beach, on playgrounds, on trains, planes, and automobiles, and even on the top of a mountain on Unalaska. (Go ahead…look it up.)
Evernote has great portability
Portability is key for me.
I have health issues, so carrying around a heavy laptop doesn’t work for me. Back before the world changed, I went to a write-in with only my tiny purse. There’s a picture of a Tardis on it for the Dr. Who fans. As I sat down at a table, someone offered to hold my spot while I got my kit out of the car. I said, “Nope, I’m good.” Out came my (admittedly large) phone. Out came a foldable keyboard — folds out to almost full size. Out came a tiny stand for the phone. My fellow writer was stunned as I proceeded to get down to work.
Ah, but what about editing?
For now, I export my notes and put them into Microsoft Word so that my editor can go over them. She likes Word. I like her. It works.
Because I’m an Indie, I use InDesign and Sigil for final formatting.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to marketing…I’m back in Evernote, with templates and notes for future campaigns.
Evernote holds my:
- to-do list
- my grocery list
- notes from every client contact.
Evernote is my brain.
What about you?
Which programs and techniques do you use for writing? Have I missed any programs that you love? It is November, the time when many new writers discover a love for the craft. Let’s put together a roundup of how we write and share all the tools we love in the comments!
Note: the Evernote link above is an affiliate link.
Photo credits via Canva Pro.
Originally published at Writers in the Storm, November 15, 2021, Tools of the Trade to Supercharge Your Writing | (writersinthestormblog.com)
