Every writer has their own favorite things–the tools of the trade which help them shine.
Here are a few of mine.
- Laptop Cushion
. Yes, I know they CALL them laptops, but after a few hours they turn into toast-your-thigh-tops. Also, the cushion lifts the computer up to a more comfortable height for typing. I’m not much for typing at a desk, so this tool is a must for me.
- The Emotion Thesaurus
. I saw this book advertised on a blog a while back and it’s become my #1 go-to reference. As a writer, you try hard not to SAY the emotion your character is feeling. “Mary was sad.” Instead, you try to SHOW the emotion by the way the character looks or acts. Her mouth turned down. Mary’s shoulders hunched (or shook). I avoid choosing from the words/descriptions offered in the book, but use them to trigger my own imagination.
- AutoCrit Editing Wizard. I had my doubts when I saw this subscription-based website that promised to improve your writing. But, after struggling for years with not seeing my own repeated words and phrases (how many times can I use the word “that” in one page?), I gave it a try. You cut and paste a section of your writing into the wizard and the website provides you a report on repeated words, phrases, cliches, pronouns, etc. It’s no replacement for a good critique group, but it’s helped clean up my submissions so they my friends can focus more on word choice and story flow.
- A Timer. There are days when I feel like Dug in the movie UP. You remember the cute dog who could talk, thanks to his high-tech collar? He’d be rambling along on some topic and then–SQUIRREL! There are far too many squirrels in my writing day, if you know what I mean. E-mail, Facebook, and Twitter are the worst. But, as a a self-described social media addict, I’m not the type who can just shut off the modem and lose myself in the story. So how do I focus? I set a timer for 15-20 minutes and then work like crazy. When the timer beeps, I can check FB, or I can reset it and continue. It’s a mind game for me. Usually once I get on a roll, I don’t want to stop. But it helps me from thinking, ugh–four hours of writing. I’ll just check FB, first… Then *poof* the time is gone before I know what happened.
- Pandora.com. Another thing that helps with my SQUIRREL moments is a little light music. I used to listen to my iPod, but I’ve grown attached to Pandora lately. You can choose specific channels or genres of music and the website will begin playing songs it thinks you will like. While writing quiet scenes, I use instrumental hymns. If I’m writing high-action, I use movie scores. It works like a charm. My editor, Ramona Richards, mentioned on FB that she likes to use this 3 hour Youtube video of ocean waves.
…And to be perfectly honest, my best tool might be coffee. And cozy slippers. 🙂
Do you use any of these tools? Do you have any favorites you’d like to share?
I’ve never seen a laptop cushion. What a great idea. Thanks for the link to AutoCrit Editing Wizard, Karen. I know what you mean by writing repeated words and phrases. We do it without realizing our bad habits. Personally I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. I need a quiet corner with no distractions. Coffee in the morning and, I love to have a glass of wine on Friday afternoon and review the papers I’ve written for the week.
Glad to help, Cynthia! A lot of people can’t listen to music while writing, but for me it helps screen out other distractions. After a few minutes, my mind doesn’t even seem to register it anymore. Happy writing!
I love my laptop cushion and the Emotion Thesaurus! I haven’t tried the auto-crit service, but I’m terrible with repeat words. Terrible! (See??)
Isn’t the Emotion Thesaurus amazing? I should have mentioned the authors’s names: Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I think you can sign up for a free trial of auto-crit. You might give it a try. 🙂
I’m not the only one who uses timers! I also use them so I don’t forget real life. I set them for when I need to pick up kids after school (“You’re late, Mom. Again. You were writing, weren’t you?”), to remind myself to switch loads of laundry, start dinner, etc. And I’m starting to set them for social media – to tell me to get back to the writing!!!
I do that, too, Sarah! I hate waking up from my writing trance and discovering that the kids should have been picked up ten minutes ago. Yikes!
I just finished reading your fabulous interview with Roseanna M. White on the Christian Authors Network. Loved it, Sarah–or should I say, Eliza?