tools you use to write

[writinglady]

 What tools do you use to write?  I started out with the computer in my home office but I still needed something I could use when away from the house.  I finally bought the Neo AlphaSmart that I could takewithme to thedoctor's office, airport, etc.  It was great because all I had to do was plug in the USB port when I got back home and transfer everything Ihad written to the hard drive.  Now I also have the HP Mini Netbook, which I love.  It's way smaller than the traditional laptop but so convenient that I can take it anywhere.

What does everyone else here use?

Just curious.  Thanks.

Jane

[Tabris]

Paper. Fountain pen.

Otherwise, laptop. But really, Paper and fountain pen is my favorite set of writing tools.

[Cheree]

My laptop. I've never been one to be able to use pen and paper to script a novel.

[Tzalaran]

MS word, Notepad ++, ywriter (just installed but don't use it yet) photoshop (for maps and concept art) on my desktop.  used to have a laptop, but the backlight burned out about 18 months ago, so it is out of commission.  mechanical pencils, colored pencils, thin line ink pens, a host of 3 ring binders (most of my worldbuilding is in those), 3x5 index cards (character descriptions, building occupants, all kinds of assorted worldbuilding notes on them), along with whatever notebook/loose paper i can find.  oh, and graph paper, tons and tons of graph paper.  (does it show i got my start in storytelling by running role playing games?)   

[lisarogers]

Umm coffee lots and lots of coffee oh yea and a desk top computer

[laurabdiamond]

My first novel, I used a spiral bound notebook...then I switched it to a three ring binder b/c I kept adding pages inbetween...then the monster grew so big I had to cut it in two, but that was after I typed it all up. So then this "first" became two and those revisions I typed.

The third I typed exclusively. It just flowed better that way.

The fourth (I'm 50,000 words into it and hope to get about 80,000) I started by handwriting in a notebook, then I typed it up. At this point, I'm revising what I've got b/c I had to start-stop-start-stop and I'm concerned the beginning is too disparate from the "ending." I bring a notebook with me to write in case inspiration strikes during some down time (which doesn't occur nearly often enough--the down time I mean) and I also type if a computer is handy.

So, yeah, I both type and handwrite. I like the feel of both exercises. (It helps too that I can type relatively fast. Sometimes, my thoughts come so rapidly, my hand can't write them out fast enough, so I revert to typing.)

    

L

[Chandara]

A notebook and pencil works for me.  The slow script writing lets my brain do the work rather than my hands.  One of the downfalls of typing so fast is that the hands end up going faster than my thought processes and the emotion and descriptives go out the window.   

[cheermom]

I need my computer, Sirius radio or Media Player, and a bottle of flavored water.

[MaryL]

I need a perfectly clean office  , my computer, a customized playlist and coffee. Most important, I need time which I've had too little of lately, dang it.

[cipherqueen]

 :emb2:I keep about 20 journals filled with random scenes I piece together. I use pen, pencil, and occasionally gel pen. I write in myriad ciphers throughout, and keep a bag of butterscotch lifesavers near my desk (which is never organized). I borrow my mom's computer to type the semi-final drafts of my stories, but I'm a horrible typist.

[Axordil]

Keyboard and screen.  I started using word processors in 1981 and haven't gone back to paper since--my mind just works that way, YMMV. 

I do poetry on paper, though.  Or so I'm told.

[Ernest Clark]

Hey, has anyone ever tried using "Dragon Naturally Speaking"?

I was thinking about it, but haven't made up my mind yet. And a voice recorder
may complement that whenever I'm away from home and something pops into my mind.
Then later I could play back my thoughts and allow the computer to do the typing.

What do ya think?

[pilot27407]

A bloodymary (light on the vodka), classical music, a 15 yo Brothers word processor (at home for first draft), a desk top for afterwards, a lap-top and/or reportophone when I’m on the move.

[ldyofshadows]

(does it show i got my start in storytelling by running role playing games?)   

Woot to the RPG starting place for writing. <g>  The fantasy novel still kicking around in my head came from a campaign I ran m'self.

Hubby doesn't think I could do fantasy - plot yeah, action/fights, apparently not so much.  ::sigh::  I do so want dragons though.