Hello, everybody!
Today I wanted to share 7 apps I love while writing! While I know each writer is different in what works for them, these are some of the things I've used that has worked for me and I've enjoyed using. I actually have gotten quite a good list going of apps that I really like for writing, the self-publishing process, and blogging, but these are definitely what I consider my top seven.
*These are my honest, unpaid-for opinions. ;)*
1. Evernote/Evernote Web Clipper
I have no idea how I would get by without Evernote! Essentially a five-star note-taking/storing/organizing app, I have been using it for years-- I was probably 13 when I first started. While I still use pen-and-paper very frequently in scribbling down memos, and have more notebooks than you would probably care to count, in the end a lot of it gets typed up in Evernote for safekeeping. That's not to say I don't use Evernote as a sort of "brain-dump" for notes that never see paper either--I definitely do! I have dozens of notebooks in Evernote. I write blog drafts on it, keep all my book notes in one place, collect random thoughts I've had that would be lost if I didn't write them down, and so much more. Another handy aspect of evernote is the Evernote Web clipper, which is an extension you can download for your internet browsing system. It's SUCH a time saver while researching! I've been consistently pleased with it. You just click the little button and choose whether to save the entire section, a screenshot, a clipping, a simplified article, etc. And then down it goes into your notebook, where you can look at all the little bits and pieces of things you collected later. There is a Premium Evernote, but I have always used the free version and it has served me well. ;)
2. Google Docs
Despite it's simplicity and the lack of "wow" factor like other word processing programs have, Google Docs has been great for me. It saves my project very well (I've never lost a document on it--and I have on other prominent apps!), it's easy to work with while writing, and it works great offline. Another thing I like about is its huge variety of fonts that you can easily download from Google fonts. This combined with different page or text color is what gets me through long projects. Did you know that simply changing the font and colors can trick your brain into creativity again? :P Funny, but it works, and I really appreciate the choices. Another thing I really like about Google docs is the ability to share a document with others--you can add sticky notes on the side, or have everybody work on a document together. The only bone I have to pick with Google Docs is the lack of folders to organize your documents. But if you're working on mainly a few documents, they stay near the top, and a scroll through your projects to find something from before is a minor flaw. ;)
3. Canva
Technically Canva is a free design program, but I use it so much and it's one of my favorite apps it had to make the list. Besides, did you know that having a cover for your book increases the chances of your finishing it? I use Canva from everything from making book covers to designing things for my blog and website. It's super easy to work with and is just all-around great.
4. Writer
Writer is an app that I use when I am trying to get some words written without being distracted. It's got a very clean interface, you can tweak the color of the background and text to whatever you want and there are several different font choices too. It works offline, shows your real-time word count, and it saves things well. And the best part of all? You can choose between Manual or Electric typewriter sounds--complete with dings at random intervals and the zzz---ip sound from when you slide the page back into place. Writer is my favorite app to use for sitting down to focus on writing, and I usually copy and paste when I'm finished into my Google Document. Writer is also the app I use when I do wordsprints with my friends, because it shows the word count nice and big at the bottom.
5. Google Play Music
What? This isn't a writer's app! But really, it is. The Google play Music app is open almost constantly on my laptop. While it has my family's entire library of music, my family also has a family subscription which allows us to play any music we want as much as we want. This makes it possible for me to find all sorts of amazing classical music etc, and the option of being able to make your own playlist is wonderful, because I can create playlists for certain books, moods, etc. I created my first playlist for last NaNoWriMo, and since then have made quite a few. It really helps with focusing and getting in the right mood/style for your book!
6. Pinterest
I only just recently got Pinterest, but I have already found it so useful as a writer. Not only are there lots of good writing tips and tricks to be found quite easily, it's also great for helping to create boards for my books. Why would someone want to do that? Well, for people who like to visualize things it's awesome! You can get a better idea on your settings, for one big thing, and it's also great for collecting stuff that inspires you for that specific book. I have one public Book-Board, and it's for Jonas and Olivia, my upcoming book. ;) You can look at it here!
7. Nameberry
Last but not least, is Nameberry. It's not technically an app, but this website all about names is incredibly helpful. It's easy to use, has multiple search options that are great for writers, and you can even create lists of names on there. It's great for finding the perfect name for your characters! ;)
Well, those are my top 7 apps for writing! Fellow writers, do you have a favorite app that you use all the time? Let me know in the comments below! :)
Hope you all have a lovely day!
<3
Victoria
Today I wanted to share 7 apps I love while writing! While I know each writer is different in what works for them, these are some of the things I've used that has worked for me and I've enjoyed using. I actually have gotten quite a good list going of apps that I really like for writing, the self-publishing process, and blogging, but these are definitely what I consider my top seven.
*These are my honest, unpaid-for opinions. ;)*
1. Evernote/Evernote Web Clipper
I have no idea how I would get by without Evernote! Essentially a five-star note-taking/storing/organizing app, I have been using it for years-- I was probably 13 when I first started. While I still use pen-and-paper very frequently in scribbling down memos, and have more notebooks than you would probably care to count, in the end a lot of it gets typed up in Evernote for safekeeping. That's not to say I don't use Evernote as a sort of "brain-dump" for notes that never see paper either--I definitely do! I have dozens of notebooks in Evernote. I write blog drafts on it, keep all my book notes in one place, collect random thoughts I've had that would be lost if I didn't write them down, and so much more. Another handy aspect of evernote is the Evernote Web clipper, which is an extension you can download for your internet browsing system. It's SUCH a time saver while researching! I've been consistently pleased with it. You just click the little button and choose whether to save the entire section, a screenshot, a clipping, a simplified article, etc. And then down it goes into your notebook, where you can look at all the little bits and pieces of things you collected later. There is a Premium Evernote, but I have always used the free version and it has served me well. ;)
2. Google Docs
Despite it's simplicity and the lack of "wow" factor like other word processing programs have, Google Docs has been great for me. It saves my project very well (I've never lost a document on it--and I have on other prominent apps!), it's easy to work with while writing, and it works great offline. Another thing I like about is its huge variety of fonts that you can easily download from Google fonts. This combined with different page or text color is what gets me through long projects. Did you know that simply changing the font and colors can trick your brain into creativity again? :P Funny, but it works, and I really appreciate the choices. Another thing I really like about Google docs is the ability to share a document with others--you can add sticky notes on the side, or have everybody work on a document together. The only bone I have to pick with Google Docs is the lack of folders to organize your documents. But if you're working on mainly a few documents, they stay near the top, and a scroll through your projects to find something from before is a minor flaw. ;)
3. Canva
Technically Canva is a free design program, but I use it so much and it's one of my favorite apps it had to make the list. Besides, did you know that having a cover for your book increases the chances of your finishing it? I use Canva from everything from making book covers to designing things for my blog and website. It's super easy to work with and is just all-around great.
4. Writer
Writer is an app that I use when I am trying to get some words written without being distracted. It's got a very clean interface, you can tweak the color of the background and text to whatever you want and there are several different font choices too. It works offline, shows your real-time word count, and it saves things well. And the best part of all? You can choose between Manual or Electric typewriter sounds--complete with dings at random intervals and the zzz---ip sound from when you slide the page back into place. Writer is my favorite app to use for sitting down to focus on writing, and I usually copy and paste when I'm finished into my Google Document. Writer is also the app I use when I do wordsprints with my friends, because it shows the word count nice and big at the bottom.
5. Google Play Music
What? This isn't a writer's app! But really, it is. The Google play Music app is open almost constantly on my laptop. While it has my family's entire library of music, my family also has a family subscription which allows us to play any music we want as much as we want. This makes it possible for me to find all sorts of amazing classical music etc, and the option of being able to make your own playlist is wonderful, because I can create playlists for certain books, moods, etc. I created my first playlist for last NaNoWriMo, and since then have made quite a few. It really helps with focusing and getting in the right mood/style for your book!
6. Pinterest
I only just recently got Pinterest, but I have already found it so useful as a writer. Not only are there lots of good writing tips and tricks to be found quite easily, it's also great for helping to create boards for my books. Why would someone want to do that? Well, for people who like to visualize things it's awesome! You can get a better idea on your settings, for one big thing, and it's also great for collecting stuff that inspires you for that specific book. I have one public Book-Board, and it's for Jonas and Olivia, my upcoming book. ;) You can look at it here!
7. Nameberry
Last but not least, is Nameberry. It's not technically an app, but this website all about names is incredibly helpful. It's easy to use, has multiple search options that are great for writers, and you can even create lists of names on there. It's great for finding the perfect name for your characters! ;)
Well, those are my top 7 apps for writing! Fellow writers, do you have a favorite app that you use all the time? Let me know in the comments below! :)
Hope you all have a lovely day!
<3
Victoria
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