My Writing Essentials
I’ve been writing for about four years now. In that time, I’ve developed habits that make sense to me and help me write. These are some of my writing essentials!
First, Google Docs. I love using this platform. It’s built into my Google email account, and it’s free. It works well for me, as a teenager who’s hobby is writing and I have yet to choose how much I invest in this pursuit. It also automatically saves, so I don’t have to worry about losing my work.
Second, Pinterest. I’ve loved Pinterest for so long. Even before I had my own account, I would save things to my mom’s account (shoutout). It’s a great way to get inspiration in so many ways. Pinning inspiration pictures, tips, prompts, etc., all in one place helps me stay organized and motivated. Be careful, though, it can get addicting sometimes.
Third, Spotify (or any music platform). Music can really help me stay motivated and entertained while writing. I have a writing playlist that romanticizes writing and sets the mood. Like Pinterest, it’s a great way to stay inspired.
Next, NaNoWriMo! I love this website! It’s a website dedicated to writers, where you can track your projects, their stats, connect with other writers, and participate in challenges! I mainly use it to track my word count in my projects, and it makes it so easy to use. November is National Novel Writing Month (hence the name), where participants try to write fifty thousand words in one month. It’s a challenge, but it’s fun!
This next one isn't essential, but it has kept me super motivated: Instagram. I first created my writing account, @truelylj, back in 2021, and since then I’ve had the privilege of connecting to others who share my similar interests! It keeps me so motivated to see others doing what they love, and the writing/bookstagram community is so accepting. I wanted to start my following early, so when I do publish a book, I’ll have a group of people who already know who I am and I love.
Those five apps/platforms have genuinely helped me so much. I don’t use much other platforms outside of those, but there are a few I’d like to try. First is Milanote. I’ve heard great things about it, and it’s piqued my interest. I think it’s free, but an account is needed. Next is Procreate, which I would use for artistic/visual purposes, such as maps. Finally, Scrivener. I think there’s a monthly fee, but it’s useful!
