[PUBLIC POST] Tools of the trade

[ljwrites]

What do you write with? What's your workflow like? Is there particular software that you like to use for certain purposes, or do you prefer writing in longhand and transcribing to a computer later on? Has technology affected your writing process in any way?

I have a mix of processes. Generally I like Scrivener for its ability to organize snippets of writing and to keep all my research in the same place, but its lack of mobile options means I use Evernote a lot when I'm away from my computers. I'm also fond of longhand writing when I'm in libraries and on public transport. This means I have a lot of scattered notes and bits in different places, all of which I swear I'm going to transcribe to my Scrivener project someday.

A major boon for research purposes is Zotero, a citations database program where I can organize my citations and take extensive notes, with search and tag functions available for later reference. Like Scrivener via Dropbox and Evernote it's all synchronized online, meaning it's automatically backed up and available on whatever machine I log into.

The availability of cloud and synchronization technology like Dropbox, Evernote, and Zotero made things easier in some ways and gave me peace of mind in the form of automatic backup, but I also have a lot of paper notes that are one careless placement or a house fire away from getting lost forever. Better get to it, I guess.

Comments

[jae]

I love me some Scrivener! I write shorter things in Word, but I'd be lost without the ability to keep all of my research on hand with anything long.

I'm actually one of those weirdos who can't seem to write ANYTHING longhand, anymore--I even take just casual notes into a note on my phone or on my laptop. And with longer things, I'd just be lost without the ability to cut and paste, move things around, all that stuff. People who write fiction longhand baffle and amaze me.

-J

[ljwrites]

Yeah, Scrivener is awesome! I also love the ability to keep my research in one place and organize it, both for my fiction and work writing.

I see you've migrated completely to the digital age. :) From what I've heard, those of us who do write longhand use it to write first drafts, and for some the inability to edit is actually a good thing because they can stick strictly to content generation at that stage.