This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge 2015. If this is something new to you, check out the website here to find out all you need to know.
Equipment
Depending on how you prefer to work you may or may not agree, but the basic tools you need for either studying or writing is a notepad and a pen or pencil. If these were the only things you had in your utility belt you could still spend some quality time getting your ideas down.
Of course, there are so many other things that we can use as well, but these are merely add-ons to help us keep organised and amused. I'm yet to come across a student and/or writer that doesn't have any kind of obsession with notepads. I bought one last week simply because it was on sale, but I don't actually need it right now. It'll come in though, I just know it.
Some kind of computer is always handy, especially for keeping up in the blogosphere, and for getting those drafts completed. I'm finding that all my ideas and planning is happening by hand in my notepads, but drafts and edits are all done on my laptop. Apart from the pain it saves in my hand from all the handwriting, I can get more words down in a shorter time when I type.
A calendar or diary can be useful too, for keeping track of deadlines that are approaching (and whizzing by a lot of the time :-( ) and for keeping track of progress. I have one calendar that has my life in it seemingly, but I can use it to schedule in around everything else that's going on.
These are only a couple of things that I've been making use of, do let me know if you have anything else that you think I may benefit from.
I couldn't survive without my laptop. I know many writers use apps and programs to keep track of plot points, word count, all kinds of things but I can't quite get the hang of those programs.
ReplyDeleteI've tried a couple of those things, and they look like they'd be super useful, but I can't get to grips with them either. I've got my own system that's working alright so far ...
DeleteI use to write a lot more by hand. I carried a notebook with me while waiting in the school pickup line for my kids or when taking my kids to their afternoon activities. I still like to have one available to jot down ideas but most of my writing now is done on my computer or my iPad if I am on the go.
ReplyDeleteThe notebook is handy for those impromptu times when you find yourself waiting for something, and I find as a parent they happen more and more.
DeleteI'm a huge gadget collector, and I use lots of my gizmos as writing equipment, including the hybrid tablet, the Chromebook, and the Alphasmart portable word processor. I can't do much writing with pen (or pencil) and paper, but I've discovered that my inner editor loves to mark up paper manuscripts in the margins!
ReplyDeleteCome visit me at http://chriskelworth.com/blog/
I'm afraid to say Chris that I don't know what any of those things are! The sound useful though ...
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