A Few of my Favorite Writerly Things
Cue Julie Andrews singing “…Brown paper packages tied up with string…”
These are a few of my favorite things!
I’m writing this during the holiday season, so in the spirit of giving…I’m giving you a list of my favorite writing resources. I (and others) want to know what you would add to the list. Share in the comments.
Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Without any further ado…..here are some things like podcasts, books, and tools that make my writing life better (in no particular order).
750words.com
This website encourages me to write more frequently. It’s the digital version of the Morning Pages idea. For only $5 a month you get gentle reminders to get online and start writing. The goal is 750 words each day. Even on days when I don’t know what to write, I just start typing, and it’s not long before I’ve put almost a thousand words on the page. I love the badges I earn and seeing my stats. This site helps me have consistent “butt-in-chair” time. Check out 750Words.com (Not an affiliate.)
Writing App: Plottr
Confession: A blank white screen makes me panic. I have all kinds of story ideas in my head, but getting started in Word or Scrivener is difficult for me. I often freeze up and struggle with how to begin. When I saw a speaker (I can’t remember who) at the SCBWI 2023 summer conference show slides from the Plottr app, I knew I had to get it.
Plottr is BRILLIANT! It is preloaded with different story templates (Three Act Structure, Hero’s Journey, etc…). You can click on a box along the plot line of the story structure you’ve chosen, read the description of this part of the plot (turning point for example), and type the answer to the template questions right into that box. Little by little (bird by bird), you build the outline of your book. The app also guides you through creating character sketches and setting descriptions. (This is not AI.) You are creating every aspect of your characters and story. Plottr just helps you organize all the information and prompts you not to leave out important parts. It’s definitely an investment, but for me, I feel it has been worth it. Watch the videos on their site, and if you think this would help your writing, you can sign up through my affiliate link.
Podcasts
My app is full of podcasts about words: I would have to write a separate post to cover them all. (Maybe I will.) Here are just a few.
A Way With Words—this light-hearted show hosted by Martha Barnett and Grant Barrett looks at the origin of different words and figures of speech. Listeners call in to ask questions about different phrases they’ve encountered in different regions of the country. There’s always a fun word game at the end of the show. I often put this on while cooking dinner, and even my pre-teen daughter gets sucked in.
Helping Writers Become Authors—This podcast by K.M. Weiland takes a deep dive into specific aspects of fiction. Sometimes I feel like I’m taking a mini college course on the craft of story when I’m listening. Occasionally, an episode will focus on the writerly life and discuss things like time management and finding inspiration.
Wish I’d Known Then—is great for indie authors. Self-published authors Sara Rosette and Jami Albright interview other indie authors to find out how they found success, what success even means to them, and what mistakes they’ve learned from along the way. I come away from each episode with new insights about the world of self-publishing.
Standing desk
Let’s face it; writing is a sedentary activity. After seeing some negative health results of sitting so much, I decided to find a standing desk. But my work space is limited. I found the perfect solution (for me). This particular standing desk can be placed directly on top of a desk, or other piece of sturdy furniture (in my case a low dresser) and then adjusted to multiple heights. I’m typing from it right now. It folds up to a slim piece of metal so it can easily be stored out of the way. And it’s portable enough to take it to a shared office space. This is possibly one of the best investments I’ve made, and I think the price is very reasonable.
Online Dictionary & Thesaurus
Ever find yourself inadvertently using the same word repeatedly in your writing? Or struggling to find “le mot juste?” When I’m having that problem, I turn to OneLook.com. The dictionary portion of this online tool is actually an aggregate site that compiles a list of online dictionaries which list the searched-for word. (Perhaps the word you’re searching for is slang, so it won’t be found in Webster’s.)
My favorite part of this tool is the Related Words function. OneLook provides an extensive list of words related to the one you search with the most relevant words listed first. This has proven very helpful to me, and, thankfully, there is also an app for it.
Craft books
As you are likely aware, there is a sea of books out there about the craft of writing. My shelves are full of them. I will list a few of my favorites.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott—This classic has been inspiring writers young and old for a quarter of a century. It was the first book I read when I decided to take a real stab at writing for publication. I recently heard an author say that he re-reads this book each year. I love that idea. I’m listening to the audio version this time. Narrated by the author, Anne Lamott.
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul—in this revised and expanded edition, this much-respected children’s book author provides hands-on exercises and recently released examples of picture books to help you craft a story for ages two to eight.
The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman—published in 2018, this book looks at the business aspect of writing. How can you feasibly make a career of writing? Jane dives deep into the publishing industry and what you need to know to get published. She also writes about self-publishing.
Writing prompts
Okay, I have a love/hate relationship with writing prompts. The little rebel inside me hates being told what to write. HOWEVER, every single time I have written to a prompt, I have ended up with a great (IMO) new story idea. So, they work. You can find writing prompts online, X (formerly known as Twitter) is a great place to search for them. I’m excited that our local chapter of SCBWI is now offering a monthly writing prompt. Which brings me to my next point.
Writing organizations
Yes, they’re an investment, but they’re often worth every penny. If you want to be up-to-date on what is happening in the publishing world, I highly recommend joining an organization.
I’ve been a long time member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and highly recommend it to anyone considering writing for children. It is an encouraging and helpful international organization with two annual conferences (the summer one is now virtual only). This organization helped me find local writers for children which eventually led to the critique group I now facilitate. Go to scbwi.org to join. (Not an affiliate link.)
I’m also a member of ALLI (Alliance for Independent Authors). If you’re thinking of self-publishing, you should strongly consider the benefits of this international organization. The member forum alone offers a wealth of knowledge. There are all kinds of free guides on the different aspects of self-publishing. You can get legal and business advice, and ALLI works to connect indie authors with book fairs, booksellers, literary festivals, etc… Members receive discounts on industry related services such as marketing, distribution, publicity and editing. In fact, my editing services are discounted for ALLI members. (Look up The Pink Pen in their directory). Upon sign-up, each member is given an affiliate link—which just might help cover the cost of registration. You can join through my link here.
Mugs
One of my big problems is getting so engrossed in the world I’m writing (or editing) that I let my coffee get cold…repeatedly. I finally got smart and switched to a mug that can keep it hot forever. (Ok, that’s a bit of hyperbole, but you get the point.) My Swig cup was gifted to me a few years ago, and it’s still one of my favorite things. It’s dishwasher safe and keeps my coffee hot for hours. The tapered shape means it can fit easily into a vehicle cupholder (so I can grab it and go when it’s time to pick up my daughter).
Travel
I get sooooo much inspiration for stories and characters when I get outside my bubble. I find that traveling—even to just the next town over—brings me fresh ideas. Big trips, of course, offer much more inspiration. I wrote about that in my article Finding Inspiration for Your Writing.
Notebooks and Pens
Remember earlier when I said a blank screen makes me freeze up? I have to get my ideas down on paper first. To do that, I have a bajillion Moleskin notebooks, mostly in varying shades of green or blue. This reef blue is my current favorite. I can’t get over the feel of the leather-like cover. I’ve learned that I prefer the larger size to the more compact ones.
As for pens, I have a gorgeous refillable fountain pen that I hope to one day use for signing autographs. In the meantime, I keep these Sharpie gel pens all over the house and one in each purse. I love how smoothly they glide across the page. They don’t smear or bleed, and they come in blue or black ink.
Those are just a few of my favorite writerly things. I hope you’ve found something useful from this list. I’d love to hear about your favorite writerly things in the comments.
Also, I’d greatly appreciate it if you shared this post with others.
