Glen and Karen Bledsoe --> articles --> getting started --> Writing Tools
Articles Index: Site Index: The basics Let's start with those good old
analog devices, pens and pencils. If you MUST write by
hand on paper, get an instrument that you really love.
Fountain pens may make you feel like a real writer and
inspire your best work. Or maybe it's mechanical pencils
you prefer, with their precision points. Or a certain
brand of micropoint pen that really flows. Or felt pens
in lots of colors. Do try out some of the new ergonomic
designs. They may look funny, but they go a long way to
preventing writer's cramp. Old-fashioned composition books
&emdash; the kind with the black and white marbled covers
&emdash; are terrific for writing in. They have no spiral
binding to fall apart or mar surfaces, the covers are
stiff enough to support the hand, the pages are securely
sewn, they stack and store well, and they will fit on any
bookshelf. Best of all, they are CHEAP. Buy them in bulk
at an office supply store. Index cards are also nice to
have. They fit in a pocket or purse, and give you
something firm to write on when something interesting
hits and you just have to get it down. You can even find
tiny, pocket-sized notebooks with the classic composition
book cover to keep in your purse or jacket
pocket. What about those fancy writing
journals? If you really love the colorful covers, ranging
from floral fabrics to tooled leather, you could get
them, but the truth is that most fancy notebooks that are
sold are never filled. There's something about the
pristine pages and beautiful covers that is just a trifle
intimidating. So if they inspire you, get them. If you
already have several sitting around with nothing in them,
then get yourself some inexpensive composition
books. One real advantage pens and
pencils and notebooks have is they can be used anywhere
&emdash; on the bus, in a restaurant, in the park,
anywhere. Some people love writing in coffee shops or
restaurants, and love having a notebook handy to whip
out. Of course, you can't submit a
hand-written manuscript to a publisher. The manuscript
must be typed or printed. If you don't know how to type,
you can hire typists for reasonable rates. Check your
yellow pages, or the classified ads in the back of the
writer's magazines. Computers Computers changed the way authors
write. No longer do we think in terms of first draft,
second draft, etc. We can type all the way through and
then revise to our heart's content without having to type
the whole manuscript all over again. Don't like this
paragraph here? Highlight, click, and drag it to a new
position. Want to cut this section? Highlight, delete,
and its gone. You don't even have to pound out the first
draft all at once. You can revise as you go
along. Computers are great for people
who like to play around with their words. Try out a
sentence ten different ways, seeing it as letters and
words instead of trying to hear it in your head.
Substitute synonyms and see what it does. Writing becomes
more like sculpting. While you don't have to spend a
fortune on computers, we don't recommend the typical
approach to buying a computer: "I just want the cheapest
I can get." Here's why: A computer is not just an
appliance. Yet most people treat theirs as such. They buy
a computer, use it hard, fail to take care of it, haul it
to the shop when it breaks, curse at it, then go buy a
new one. That's why they always buy the cheapest: they
expect to replace it often. Think of a computer as being like
a car. Do you go straight for the cheapest car on the
lot, disregarding style, color, and mileage? Of course
not! When you buy a car, you compare prices, you look for
features you like, and you try to pick something in the
middle of your price range (though of course it's hard to
resist a few extra features). After you buy it, you
follow a maintenance plan. You change the oil every 3000
miles. You get the transmission fluid changed, put in
clean oil and air filters, get the radiator flushed, and
have it tuned up from time to time. After all, you just
sank a large chunk of money into that machine. You want
it to last a while. Treat your computer the same way.
Don't just buy a dirtball PC on special at the local
cut-rate furniture store because it's cheap. Think about
what you're going to use the machine for, then get shop
for one that has the features you need. Pick an operating
system that you're comfortable with and that you can use
easily. Remember, "hard to use" does not equal "better"
or "more powerful." It equals "frustrating." Consider
buying your computer from a brand name computer store,
such as the Apple store, where the employees know the
machine well, rather than from an office supply store or,
worse yet, a variety store. The same goes for software. You
don't need the latest bloatware with hundreds of bells
and whistles to write a novel. Get a lean, inexpensive
word processor that will save files as RTF files. RTF
(Rich Text Format) is a universal format that all major
word processors will use. Many shareware programs are
able to convert files to and from major brand name word
processors (though they still can't convert tables and
pictures within the document). Once you get your computer,
maintain it. Read the manual. Make sure you're shutting
it down and starting it up properly. Get a good disk
repair program such as Disk Warrior, and a good virus
protection program (Virex or Norton for PCs, or just get
a cool, easy-to-use, crash-resistant Mac in the first
place and avoid viruses, worms, and spybots altogether).
Back up your data frequently on good media, such as CDs
or DVDs. Never trust a floppy disk to keep your data for
long. Floppies have a limited lifespan and are going
extinct anyway, with flash drives taking their place.
Organization is the key to
turning your computer into a writing toolbox that's a
pleasure to use. Rather than throwing every document
you're using on the desktop, create folders to put them
in, and organize your folders in a logical way. If you
don't know how, consult your user manual, or ask the
experts at the store where you bought the computer. Do
not, however, succumb to the temptation to create a
"miscellaneous" folder. You'll end up with dozens of
them, all full of unsorted documents. And never, never "store" your
documents in the trash can / recycling bin! You'd be
amazed at how many people do just that! All it takes is
one "helpful" technician to empty your trash, and away go
all your documents into the aether. Desktop or
laptop? Our preference is for the laptop.
If you have a desktop computer, you're stuck in one spot
whenever you write. If you have the urge to write when
you're away from your desk, you must either use pen and
paper, or wait until you get home, risking the chance
that the idea may be lost in the meantime. A laptop gives you amazing
mobility. You can pack up your writing machine and go
just about anywhere (except bright sunlight, which makes
the screen impossible to see). If you like sitting at a
desk, you can put your laptop there, but you can just as
easily write while lying back on the couch with your feet
propped up (as I am right now while writing this). And
with a wireless card, you can check your email or do some
research on the internet from the comfort of your couch,
easy chair, or garden swing, if you have your home set up
for wireless connection. Cafe writing? No problem. You
can find many small-sized, lightweight laptops and
stylish carrying cases for them. If your favorite cafe is
a "wi-fi hotspot," your wireless card can connect there,
too. You can email the final revisions of your article or
book to your editor while comfortably sipping an
espresso. How is that for working conditions? The finest writing
implement available. Highly recommended for writing on the
couch, in cafes, or just about anywhere. And some writing software
to try:
Glen and Karen Bledsoe --> articles --> getting started --> Writing tools
