Writing is a craft. A craft requires tools. And nowadays these go beyond pen and paper.
I’ve developed a habit of writing my blogs and short stories on my Galaxy Note. Ease of use would be the key word here. I write at the bottom of the screen (in a dedicated section) using my little stylus pen. The tablet recognizes and transcribes my words.
If we’re talking blog, I can throw it online via my WordPress app in two quick steps. I find that handy beyond measure.
Where my short stories are concerned, I prefer to hook the tablet up to a laptop and drag/drop the file for editing into Scrivener before posting on my website.
Tools, tools, tools.
You can see how they line up: tablet, app, laptop, writing program.
Pen and paper are becoming redundant. At least for the time being. I hear more and more how people complain about their own devolving penmanship. They just don’t write in the old fashioned way anymore. They also complain that nobody writes letters anymore and often no postcards either.
Well, you gotta make the effort, don’t you?
I love to take my fountain pen to a piece of good quality paper. Whenever I inspect a notebook or writing pad, I cop a good feel of the thickness and smoothness of the paper. And on a fountain pen I prefer a fine nib.
I still keep a journal that way. It, too, is part of my toolset.
Two pieces are currently missing, a proper desk and an external monitor for my laptop. Scrivener is better used on a larger screen sitting at a desk.
Eventually a printer will be important to have. Whilst writing with pen on paper might become redundant, there is nothing that equals seeing your words printed on paper.
For revision purposes alone it would be very useful indeed.
Mind you, whatever tools you find you need, they have to work for you and nobody else. Some only write on their computers, others dictate every word to a recording device (which could be a tablet) and later have it transcribed, or you consider technology your enemy and stick with pen and paper.
There are no rules.
As long as you use your tools to get the words out and (eventually) written, anything goes.
It should go without saying that this is true for the place you chose to write in and for the clothes you like to wear, or not.
Though, writing in a dressing gown at your local cafe might be considered at least a little excentric. Not that you shouldn’t, if it helps.
2clouds 