My secret weapon is using a two screen layout for my PC. This allows me to work on the story on one monitor, while researching on the other. If you’re curious as to what writing tools great authors prefer, you may refer to the excellent infographic below, which was prepared by Robert Morris and the lovely people over at NinjaEssays.com. So, what is your favorite tool?
helenj0303 said:
I have a notebook with notes, the IPad for research and my trusty Mac for all the writing. I usually carry a notebook with me for plot lines that suddenly pop into my head though I’m not a planner, I’m more of a Pantser 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I hear you. I’m much the same! 🙂
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shawn said:
Sounds like me 🙂 except I like to plan at a high level and pants the rest!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Depending on how you define high level, I, too, try to do that. But my characters often change the script on me!
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helenj0303 said:
Yes, if by high level you mean have a couple of characters, a beginning and an end, then figure out the rest as I’m writing it, then I do that too 🙂 But I agree, Nicholas, the characters often change the script on me too – though I kind of like that 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s the best part for me. If I’m not surprised by the story, how can I expect my readers to be?
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helenj0303 said:
Absolutely!
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The Story Reading Ape said:
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Nicholas shares a secret and an Infographic 😀
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Charles Yallowitz said:
Marble notebooks and mechanical pencils for outlining. Then it’s all down to a laptop that won’t die before I’m done. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You’re truly well-organized!
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Charles Yallowitz said:
Be would think, but I know there are several things missing. Not sure where the notes went. Drives me up the wall.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – I’ll bet! 😀
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Kylie Betzner said:
Awesome blog post. It’s interesting to see how the famous authors do what they do:) Sharing on Twitter.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – thanks! 🙂
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John W. Howell said:
Very cool Nicholas. iPhone notes for outline and laptop for MS. I use a pen and notebook to keep track of character names, ages etc.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s pretty well-organized!
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SD Gates said:
Moleskin notebooks, with colored Energel pens by Pentel, and a laptop. Fascinating post!!!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Ooh, I love a good moleskin notebook! That sounds very specific – nice! 🙂
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philosophermouseofthehedge said:
A big flat surface to lay out all the odd scraps of papers I have jotted notes on during the day while doing non-writing things. (gotta grab ideas when they arrive or they wander off….lots of odd bits with writing notes. )
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I know the feeling! Can you find them afterwards?
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philosophermouseofthehedge said:
Sometimes have to pull post-its off the cat who hides them high in the closet out of anger of being ignored when dinner time passes while I write…the dog just eats paper notes….must find them filling – or is that a fulfilling?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – that’s hilarious!! 😀
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Sue Coletta said:
Index cards for planning/structure, notebook for plot lines, then computer. I really need to check out some of these pens!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Somehow, I knew you’d be one of the more organized ones 😀
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Sue Coletta said:
Didn’t use to be. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You should do a post about that change 🙂
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Sue Coletta said:
As a matter of fact I was thinking the same thing.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Great minds and all that. I’ll be looking forward to reading it 🙂
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Bette A. Stevens said:
Reblogged this on Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author and commented:
For me it’s my laptop + assorted gel pens and highlighters. HOW ABOUT YOU? ~ Bette A. Stevens
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Bette A. Stevens said:
Enjoyed and reblogged. Thanks, Nicholals!
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Jen from Universe B said:
Oh my gosh, I have no idea how people write with pen and paper!!! While I WILL use pen and paper to jot ideas in my writing notebooks, slips of scrap paper, post-its, old envelopes, or whatever might be lying close at hand when a thought or phrase grabs me, I HAVE to write all my final drafts on my computer using Microsoft Word. The process of writing and then rewriting and rewriting until it says exactly what I mean it to say – that would be an exhausting and frustrating process to do by hand!
Very much enjoyed your post and reading comments from other writers!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s me, as well. Only, I have a notebook next to my bed and one in the car. If an idea hits me when there are out of reach, I email myself through my cell.
But I then copy said ideas to a Word doc (called help.doc) and do all my actual writing there as well 🙂
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Jen from Universe B said:
That’s a great idea! Much more practical than writing on napkins and old envelopes I find in my purse, lol!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – I used to do that, too 😀
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C.E.Robinson said:
Fun post Nicholas! Here’s the list of writing tools; mechanical pencil, Sharpie pen, light blue & green post-its (Mediterranean Sea colors), and of course the iMac. I like your use of two PCs, side by side view of work. I research all the time, open the internet window, so can’t see both. Christine
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks! That’s a lovely collection of writing tools 🙂
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shawn said:
Reblogged this on Down Home Thoughts and commented:
What tools do you use to write?
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macjam47 said:
I cannot imagine scratching out a whole novel with an ink pen. Writer’s who do that must have permanently cramped fingers.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – I guess! 😀
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SleepyDragon1320 said:
Frequently I write directly onto a word document on my laptop but I do keep two notebooks in my bag that I will whip out and jot down ideas, thoughts and questions when they occur to me.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Why two separate notebooks?
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SleepyDragon1320 said:
I have a mini one for just general notes. It’s paper is also waterproof, ideal for when I am babysitting for family members or if it’s raining/snowing/whatever when out and about. The big one is for more detailed notes and writing larger snatches of conversations and scenes.
It wasn’t a conscious decision to have two notebooks in my bag. It’s just sort of happened.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Ah, I see! I, too, have two separate ones, but that’s just because I keep one next to the bed (for those all-important late-night ideas and dreams) and the other one in the car.
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SleepyDragon1320 said:
Reblogged this on Sleepy Book Dragon and commented:
Pen and paper? Notebook? Laptop? Typewriter? Other? What do you write with?
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Let's CUT the Crap! said:
I use black gel pens and spiral notebooks, some I find too lovely to scribble in. My handwriting is atrocious and my fingers are becoming stiffer by the year. Most of the time, I use my keyboard and switch screens to do research of double-check information. Of course I have a dozen gel pens in my purse and a 4 x 5″ fat spiral notebook.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I love gel pens. I’ve found one that actually has a little eraser in the back, even though it’s a pen. I love it, even if I mainly use my computer for writing 🙂
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Let's CUT the Crap! said:
I know. Isn’t that something. I use my computer more write because it’s easier on my hands. Still love the ‘toys’.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – yes, toys are fun 😀
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somemaid said:
I carry a notebook with me for jotting down ideas etc. My drafts I plug into Scrivener and then I use good old fashioned pen and paper when I can’t work out exactly how a passage needs to be rewritten. My brain works differently when I physically write things out and sometimes I need that.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You really are well-organized! Kudos!
Also, you use Scrivener, which is awesome. I never did manage to get into it, despite promising myself I would. 😦
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somemaid said:
Scrivener is amazing and reasonable too. I love the fact you think I’m organized. No one ever says that!
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Suzanne Joshi said:
This was both interesting and inspirational, Nicholas. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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atothewr said:
Microsoft Word, my lap top, and occasionally Google and I’m all set.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Nice! How about note-taking? Do you scribble them on notebooks, napkins or your cell?
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atothewr said:
I scribble them on anything I can find when I need to take them down. Honestly, I go over so much in my head that it just kind of sticks there.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You’re lucky if you can remember it afterwards! I always dread those “it was so clear in my head last night-where has it gone now” moments 😀
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atothewr said:
Believe me, those moments happen for me to. I have had so many great ideas hit me in the shower and then are gone when I get done.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Argh. I hate the shower – the one place where it’s impossible to take notes… 😡
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atothewr said:
I think they make something you can write on in there, but I haven’t found it yet.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
The mirror, perhaps? 😀
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atothewr said:
Perhaps.
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D.G.Kaye said:
I’m up there with Quintin, sort of, lol. I’m a dinosaur who writes with the pen. The computer is for entering first draft and revisions. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Nice! I’ve been toying with that idea myself. Doesn’t that feel like twice the workload, though?
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D.G.Kaye said:
You know, it’s sort of is, but I am not creative in front of the keyboard, so how much more time would I waste looking at the blank screen? At least I let the pen flow, even if it’s ‘shitty first draft’ stuff. As I enter it into the computer, it’s like first round revisions as I begin to change things as I enter. Makes sense? 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Perfect! Thanks for sharing that 🙂
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Pingback: Amazing Writing Tools of Famous Authors | Reddit Spy
The Chaos Realm said:
Even though I’m not famous…yet…*laugh* https://achaosfairyrealm.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/writing-by-hand/
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Awesome – thanks for sharing! 🙂
Question: when a scented ink goes bad, what does it smell like?
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The Chaos Realm said:
Ha, well, the one I had was silvery, so it smelled like sour metal when it lost its aroma.
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sassysammi777 said:
Very interesting article! I love, love, love my Evernote app, which I write in religiously. I also use my voice recorder to record all of my poems, eroticas, and short stories. I do all this using my iPad, except when I record them. For that, I use an old phone.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Cool! I’ve always wanted to try a voice recorder for writing. Isn’t transcribing it to text a pain?
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L.M. Nelson said:
Reblogged this on lmnelsonscorner and commented:
This is interesting. Just goes to show that there is no right or wrong way to begin writing. Every writer has their own style.
What is your preferred writing tool?
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