In the past it might be said that writers needed only a pen for their living. While this romantic image is theoretically true to a degree, the fact is creative writers today have a more sophisticated audience and readers than a few centuries and even decades ago. A pen alone does not complete the creative writer’s toolbox for the writing process.
True, creative writing flows from the writer him/herself and what they share with the world – ideas, experiences, and insights. But it helps to have tools (as with any trade) to assist the writer in easing and maximizing the writing process.
Here I share my personal tools to help me in my own creative writing:
Word Processor
Most word processors on the web today feature the typical ruled text editor with several editing and formatting buttons surrounding the borders. While there’s nothing wrong with this setup, I for one find it distracting in my creative writing. Also, the white glaring background becomes hard on my eyes after a few hours of typing. That’s why I’m thankful for the providers of Ommwriter, a specially designed word processor for creative writers. It features changeable backgrounds with minimized editing/formatting buttons. These, together with the border, disappear as you type so there are no distractions. Ommwriter also features background music and keyboard sounds. I use the Dana II version as it provides an additional two special chrome backgrounds that subtly shift color while I type (and are supposedly therapeutic). Ommwriter I is free to download and Ommwriter Dana II is available on a voluntary donation basis.
Ergonomic Keyboard
I’ve only really appreciated special ergonomic hardware after experiencing the aches of stressed out joints and muscles from hours of work. In the past I was unaware of trying to conform my body to the hardware instead of making choosing to work with hardware that conforms to my physical needs. Eventually I used a soft-touch, angled keyboard that accommodated my natural body position while typing and experienced a great difference. Instead of the usual shoulder and arm pain after an hour or two of straight typing, I was much more comfortable and able to sustain my creative flow while at work. This is essential to both the quality and quantity of the output I produce.
Dictionary and Thesaurus
It takes humility and wisdom to admit that as a creative writer, you will never be too good enough at your trade to never need good old dictionaries and thesauruses. The English language alone has hundreds of thousands of words, and is continually evolving through generations. In order to keep up, I use both an offline and a paperback dictionary/thesaurus to correct and improve my creative writing.
4B Pencils and Beige Pages
This is more to suit my personal style of writing, but if you share an affinity for letting the creative juice run on paper rather than the keyboard, a handy notebook and pen or pencils can be a great help.
I try to use recycled, pale beige paper notebooks whenever I can as I ‘feel’ more comfortable writing out my ideas that way, However, soft-lead pencils can be a heaven send for anybody who undergoes long periods of hand writing. I accidentally discovered this while dabbling in charcoal sketches one day, and as soft-lead pencils minimize the pressure needed to clearly make markings I thought of what a great help they would be in my own writing. My favorite for softness and darkness are 4B to 5B pencils.
Home Library
More often than not, good creative writers are voracious readers and book lovers themselves. Having a home library can be the difference between being stuck in a creative writing rut and a having a dynamic, developing style. By ‘home library’ I mean a collection of reading materials that can be consulted in the comfort of the home. This can be a stack of old Readers’ Digests, a boxful of magazines, or a handful of classics you enjoyed over the years. There are no set rules on the size of your home library as long as you’re getting what you need from it. It is hardly the amount of what we have or how extensive and exclusive our resources are, than how well we use them that will determine how much we’ll get out of it. The Internet alone provides an almost unlimited amount of material for current events and general topics, and is a powerful source in itself for creative writers’ needs.
These tools are mere aids for the creative writer to make the process of writing as comfortable and conducive as possible. There are few things more frustrating for creative writers than a great idea fading away in the frustration of navigating a complicated word processor, hunting an elusive word or piece of information, or simply being too tired and weary of aches to continue to writing. Knowing what tools are available and how to best use them will benefit a creative writer in their adventurous and challenging career.
Photo Credit: All rights reserved by egm.
