How do you write?

[serria]

Technically, I mean. What kind of computer do you use? Or do you write freehand/some other way? Do you use any special programs? Microsoft Word, or something like Write or Die? Do you care about the font you use?

I'm one of those cliche aspiring authors who bought a Netbook. I heard that's kind of a stereotype, but mine really has been perfect for me. My normal laptop is too big to carry around, and the Netbook fits in my handbag and has a 7+ hour long battery life. I purposefully don't have any other programs except for Open Office on it, and it isn't hooked up to the Internet so I can't be distracted.

I use Open Office because it's free, and my Netbook didn't come with Microsoft Word. Actually, I've done a lot of writing just on Wordpad because it loads so quickly, haha.

Comments

[badass_tiger]

My first thought when I saw the title of the entry was 'erratically' :p

I use Microsoft Word on my laptop, and I have for seven years now. I've tried other programmes, but I find that I've become so accustomed to Word, my writing style changes when I try other programmes (e.g. my sentences get shorter and everything sounds brief and clipped). Sometimes I use Notepad for a quick drabble that is going to be less than 2k words and I know I'm going to write all in one go.

Mine is a Macbook Air, and while it's not quite as small as my previous netbook, I like it way better and I swear it's lighter too. I need that Internet connection though! I know it's my downfall in a lot of situations, but I need random name generators, research websites, resources, etc.

Question: Does anybody here use music or a certain 'sound' (rain, etc.) when they write? It seems to help some people but most of the time it just distracts me.

[serria]

I try to separate my "research time" with my writing time. I'm way too bad about zoning about and staying on the Internet for hours without actually doing anything productive. It used to be easier for me to focus on writing, but it really became harder for me to actually do it without refreshing Facebook a thousand times. I'm the same way with my reading, which is why I got the cheapest Kindle, without Internet or anything fancy, because I need to separate myself if I want to get anything done.

Oh, music! I can't listen to anything with words, because then I start focusing on those words instead of my own. But I absolutely love to listen to "background music" that will play during my scene when my books inevitably get turned into movies. ;) I often put orchestrated pieces on repeat and write for awhile. But to be honest, I usually write without any sound at all. Being easily distracted sucks. :O

[badass_tiger]

In that regard, I am fortunate. Although I find it hard to begin, once I do begin, it's hard for me to stop as long as I don't have writer's block. So even if I mess around a bit on the net while looking things up, I'll return to my stuff pretty fast. I have StayFocusd on my browser to block the really distracting sites that I know I won't have good use for when I write, though. But I'm such a cheat, sometimes I'll go into the extensions menu and disable it :(

But I absolutely love to listen to "background music" that will play during my scene when my books inevitably get turned into movies.
Hehe, that's a good one! I do find that when I'm inspired by a playlist or a song, putting it on repeat does keep the ideas fresh and flowing!

[serria]

That's great. I can get into moods like that sometimes, but I definitely struggle with staying focused. Which makes this "StayFocused" program interesting to me? Haha. But my laptop is pretty slow and clunky, anyway, so I don't think I'd want to write on it anymore regardless.

I should make more "book playlists"!

[inkdust]

I make sooo many book playlists, haha. Though they're mainly songs that fit my characters and themes and make me think about the story rather than songs that would actually work in the background of a movie. A few exceptions.

[serria]

Ooh, this would be a great future topic for this comm. "Tell us your book playlists (and what scenes/characters they are associated with)!" Must keep this in mind!

[inkdust]

Definitely.