Sideshow Bob
You would think picking a writing tool would be easy, but there are so many out there to choose from. Some feel good on the fingers while others are agony to the palms. The ideas can flow from a pen for one author, but be stagnant for another. So, what are a few things to consider?
- Never write with blood. It hurts, isn’t very legible, bleeds through the paper (pun not intended), and clotting means you have to keep stopping. On the plus side, band-aids and Neosporin will be tax deductible.
- Writing an entire novel on your smartphone is entire possible. All you have to do is give writing credit to autocorrect and kiss your thumbs goodbye. If you have an iPhone then you better not write too big a story. Seriously, those batteries will be dead before you finish the dedication.
- If you have a lucky pen or pencil that helps you focus then NEVER let someone else borrow it. Doesn’t matter what they promise or how much they beg, there is magic in that tool. Sure, you could let them use it and everything will be fine. On the other hand, they could snap it in half or it falls apart in their hands or they could chew on it or accidentally drop it into the toilet. My point here is that you shouldn’t risk it.
- Be very careful if you use a notebook. Drinks are the enemy because they always find a way to spill. Not to mention accidentally use it as a coaster by someone who has no respect for your belongings. Be careful about leaving them near phones too. Nothing is as frustrating as finding that someone ripped off the bottom of a page you were using, scribbling on your margins, or tearing pages out. It always seems to be done with pen too.
- Back up if your main tool is a computer. Even if a computer is your secondary, always remember to back up. Then, back up the back up. If you use a thumb drive then DO NOT put them near a powerful magnet or water or a vodka heavy screwdriver that you only got one sip out of.
- Programs that can turn your spoken words into written words can really help. If not for the books then making outline and info files where you simply ramble about the ideas. Just make sure to double check things, especially if fantasy is your genre. It might be able to work with elves and ogres, but once you get into your homemade races, places, and names things can go awry. Heck, I tried one out long ago and got in a fight over ‘Yallowitz’.
- You never know when a pen or mechanical pencil will wear out. The latter can include the eraser too. This means you should always have a spare in reach in case something goes wrong in the middle of an idea. Nothing says fun like going berserk hunting for a pen before the muse leaves. It can drive a person to write in blood.
Bonus:
Jack Sparrow
Legends of Windemere 
I wonder if something like Alexa will start being used for notes and such. It might be fun to have something similar placed into a skull of some kind. Pick it up and say, “Yorick, take a note.”
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I wondered about that. The paranoia in me says too much of a hack risk though. ‘Alexa, tell me what you know. No, I’m not the guy who stole you.’
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Or opening your MS and finding out your son sang 30 minutes of 1-877-kars4kids into it.
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Only 30 minutes? That’s an improvement.
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Ha ha!
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You know, the note-taking skull reminds me of ‘Johnny Mnemonic’. Although, that’s our own skull, which seems rather redundant.
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Reminded me of The Dresden Files a bit too.
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I really need to get into that series at some point.
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I need to get back to it. It’s so big it takes a while to get through.
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Great tips! I had to laugh at coldhandboyack’s comment about his son. A friend of mine keeps discovering selfies her little took on her phone. (Over 30 one time.)
I try to keep working pens, pencils, and pencil sharpeners around. I need a new thump drive though.
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This is why I don’t trust my son with my phone. That and I’m sure he’d lock me out somehow.
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Hilarious, Charles, and so so true. I’ve experienced them all !
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Thanks. That first one is a rough lesson.
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So that’s what happens! I always wondered why I kept waking up in a bloody bathtub with a ruined notebook, lol. Great list, it made me laugh a few times even though it was spot on.
I always backed up my thumb drive on a portable hard drive every week or so, so,etimes more often, just to make sure I didn’t lose anything.
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Uh, if you’re filling a bathtub with blood and able to wake up then I think you have something else to worry about. Nothing a BBQ and bleach can’t fix.
I have an old portable hard drive, but it gives me trouble. For the last couple of years, I’ve only been keeping my MP3 collection on there.
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Mmmm…. BBQ! Lol, just kidding around a bit with the whole bathtub of blood thing.
I’m lucky, my portable hard drive has almost never given me any trouble… just hope my luck holds out.
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Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this great post from the Legends of Windemere blog with 7 tips to choosing and maintaining your writing tools.
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Thanks for sharing.
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
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Thanks for the reblog. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented:
Nice 🙂
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Thanks. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Campbells World.
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Thanks for the reblog.
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