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[PUBLIC POST] Tools of the trade
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.
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.
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I use a whole lot of programs and systems, depending on what I'm writing. Fic nearly always goes into Google Docs. Original novels, Word and Word Online. (If I save the file to Dropbox, I can use my Office subscription to edit it in my browser at work when I don't have more pressing duties.)
I've tried several times to use Scrivener, but although I like it a lot, I just can't get my head around it. And it's not as portable as a cloud-based word processor.
All that said, I'm also Team Longhand -- especially when I'm stuck on something, switching to pen and paper forces me to slow down a bit and think about the work differently. Even if I just write a couple of paragraphs by hand before switching back to the digital version, it helps build momentum. (Plus, I just enjoy the act of handwriting.)
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Do you use Google Docs for fic so you can share with beta readers?
And yeah, much as I love Scrivener it really needs to step up to the cloud and mobile age. There are alternatives like yWriter, but I have had no indication they're any better on the portability front.
Another one for Team Longhand! It's nice to know handwriting isn't a dead art yet. That's a really good idea to switch even briefly when you're stuck, I'll have to try it myself.