Tools I use to write and take notes even when I miss my writing schedule.

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Writing alongside a 9–5 job is not simple.

And it gets tougher when you have to commute long hours or stay late, where you could either miss your writing schedule or feel too tired to write.

Now when you sit to write, you need an outline, an idea. You need a starting point to avoid staring at an empty page. And let time pass by.

This applies to writing too.

At times, words don’t flow when you sit down to write. But they effortlessly come out at other moments of the day.

Here’s when technology gets you in the flow.

It captures thoughts you get on the fly — while sitting at your office desk, or during your commute time.

Or gives you a screen to write when your mind brims with desire to express.

With writing apps & websites all over the Internet, it is more convenient than ever now to write.

I had a similar problem until I came across these tools to continue the flow.

Here are the 5 tools you can start using right away.

This list does not cover apps to improve writing as you need to build a writing habit first before you begin to refine them.

Effie

Effie is one of the best apps in terms of clean UI. It offers a mobile app and a desktop application so you can use both.

I began using it two years back and have relied on it ever since. Writing on this app feels so tidy and organized that it encourages you to write even more.

Sort your content in different folders.

Screenshot by Author

Microsoft OneNote

I use OneNote for my professional work. This app is so good at what it does that it found its way into my personal account.

What made it different is the structure of organizing notes.

create a notebook
inside notebook create sections
under each section, add pages

Screenshot by Author

Another useful feature is the link reference.

If you copy something from the internet and paste it here, the link where you copied it from will also show up below the text.

For instance, look at the screenshot below. I copied a section from one of the articles by Tim Denning.

See how the app appends a link after the copied text. This allows me to refer back to the original piece in future.

Screenshot by Author | Link: https://medium.com/illumination-curated/how-to-find-the-most-profitable-niche-to-write-about-without-niching-down-like-a-clown-013fc760f1c6

Use this app to put your text, screenshots, reference points under a single hood.

This app works like a charm on desktop. Mobile version still has glitches so don’t use OneNote on phone.

PS: Only downside here is you need to have a Microsoft account to use.

Medium Editor

How can you forget Medium!?

Open the app, click on the ‘+’ sign in green and get going!

Screenshot by Author

Typeshare

This is a brilliant website I discovered last week.

Typeshare provides all facilities you can think of —

build your blog,
write and save articles,
refer built-in templates (paid),
review headlines (free up to 5 reviews per month)
track your writing streak

I’ve been using this for only a week but I’m hooked onto it already. It has clean UI, no ads, and is easy to navigate.

Though there are paid templates, Typeshare offers a 30-day free trial for Pro account. Avail the trial offer and leverage the services.

Pen & Paper

Writing on paper never gets old.

Writing raw, giving all in into a page gives a major dopamine hit. The feeling you get while scrolling past reels? You get the same dopamine high while jotting down.

Always keep a diary with you — at your work desk, besides your bedside.

This will avoid any obstacle you have

Summary

Tools to write & capture ideas

Effie
Microsoft OneNote
Medium Editor
Typeshare
Pen & Paper

It takes time to get into the rhythm of writing.

Start small. Write one sentence, one paragraph. Check your comfort.

Take one step at a time.

5 Tools for New Writers to Sustain a Writing Practice & Maintain the Habit, Even if You Work 9–5

Tools I use to write and take notes even when I miss my writing schedule.

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