Top Must-have Things For Every Writer

A starter pack to being a writer!

Bhashwati Pyne

Writing tools assist you in developing your storey, chiselling out the details, and assessing the scope and outcomes of your efforts.

You can use writing tools to make your life easier rather than wasting time attempting to force inspiration, arrange writing materials, or deal with eye strain.

You'll be able to spend less time arranging your writing files and more time writing if you do it this way.

These are the top things that every writer should have.

1. Paper Sketch Book

The lined notebooks listed above may feel confining to a writer with a larger vision. Sketchbooks come in handy in this situation. Their unlined pages, according to Eilene Zimmerman, author of Smacked: A Story of White-Collar Ambition, Addiction, and Tragedy, allow you to "flex a different creative muscle that enhances the writing muscle," whether by sketching on them (as she does when the words won't come) or simply using the freedom they provide to organise thoughts in unusual ways.

Fellow writers say that the format has a huge effect on their writing.

2. Digital Voice Recorder

Every writer needs a recorder, whether they're recording interviews for research or background noise for inspiration. When the Strategist asked other New York editors what recorders they use, several of them mentioned the Sony ICDUX.

Even if your recipient already has a voice recorder, it is believed this is still a fantastic present because every writer "needs a backup voice recorder, a spare in case the backup isn't charged, and a super backup in case she's lent her spare to a buddy."

3. Pen Loops

Look, if you truly believe that you require a high-end fountain pen in order to be your best self, go for it. I, on the other hand, lose a pen or pencil every hour on the hour, and I can't be trusted with anything worth more than $5. So, for forgetful writers like me, I highly recommend purchasing a pen loop, which allows you to attach your pen directly to your notebook and reduce pen loss (though I can't help you if you lose the entire notebook).

4. Pocket Oxford American Dictionary & Thesaurus

I know, I know—no there's need for a dictionary or thesaurus in the age of Google. We certainly don't require one made of physical paper. In most circumstances, you can get by with using the internet as a dictionary or thesaurus. You're not attempting to "make ends meet," though. You're attempting to come up with the ideal phrase.

If you like to write off the grid, you'll need a comprehensive pocket dictionary/thesaurus, or at the very least a dependable dictionary/thesaurus app for when time is short and wifi is spotty.

5. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

You've definitely heard of Strunk and White's Elements of Style, and you've probably heard a lot of authors dismiss anything as archaic as a style guide. That's OK. The purpose of style guides is not to teach you how to follow the "rules" of "excellent writing," but to teach you how to recognise them. Before you go off the rails, make sure you understand the rules.

Picasso, too, knew how to paint "properly."

6. Cliché Finder

You're an accomplished writer. So don't start your stories with "on a dark and stormy night," do you? (not every story, at least). Clichés, on the other hand, seem to find their way into everyone's writing.

Make sure your paragraphs are unique by running them via a trusted "cliché detector."

7. An Ergonomic Chair

A chair that provides back support is essential. It can be tempting to jump ahead while working on your laptop or writing in your notebook, especially when writing. Making this a habit, on the other hand, can lead to long-term back problems.

An ergonomic chair is made to assist your back muscles and maintain you in a good posture. I have this one, and the cushioned material, combined with the mesh design, makes for a terrific lightweight comfort combination. In addition, the high back construction, together with the headrest, helps support your upper back.

I didn't realise it didn't have a reclining feature when I bought it, but I quickly realised that it didn't need one because the goal is to maintain your posture and it is inherently comfy.

8. A Notepad/Planner

A notebook is another necessary office item for taking notes. Planners, on the other hand, can go hand in hand with this. I used The Sweatcoin app to earn enough coins to buy The Happiness Planner. Sweatcoin is a cryptocurrency that allows you to earn money by walking! The more you walk, the more sweatcoins you earn, and the more rewards you can receive as a result.

By far the best prize I've received from this software is the Happiness Planner. It includes a gratitude section and five questions at the start to help you plan out your goals for the coming year. It comes in a handy package and has various encouraging messages, as well as some really nice graphics. Exceptionally well-crafted!

9. A Keyboard Cover

If your Macbook Air, like mine, came with a keyboard cover, you're almost halfway there! However, if your laptop or PC does not come with one, you should consider purchasing one. The number of things that my keyboard has shielded me against is incredible. From crumbs to drinks spilled on the floor!

Even if you're not as clumsy as I am, natural factors like dust can accumulate and impact your keyboard. Keyboard coverings are a low-cost way to extend the life of your laptop or computer. Make certain you obtain the correct one for your computer!

10. Fantasy Name Generators

This is also a wonderful place to get ideas. You can use one of the names generated by Fantasy Name Generators or transform it into something else. In any case, it's a useful tool to have on hand when you're stuck for a name or just need a temporary name.

11. The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression

This is something I use on a regular basis. I use this whenever I'm stuck describing a character's reaction or inner conflict. For my characters, I prefer to utilise the same reactions: a sigh here, a scowl there, a stomach churning... While all of these reactions are natural and typical, they might become tiresome after a while.

This thesaurus is a gold mine for coming up with fresh words to describe the same thing. It forces me to think harder and come up with new metaphors and imagery to depict how a character behaves, both internally and externally.

The thesaurus also discusses what other feelings may arise as a result of an emotion's escalation, as well as how to define emotion.

12. Dry-erase Boards and Journals

Although this is a non-digital instrument, it is just as effective as the others.

Dry-erase boards are one of my favourite things.

It's a terrific place for me to come up with new ideas and get my creative juices flowing. Writing by hand has a certain allure that typing lacks.

In reality, writing by hand boosts creativity by increasing cerebral activity in specific areas of the brain and allowing for more attentive writing.

You also don't have to spend a lot of money on one of those large whiteboards. I purchased 9x12 inch dry-erase boards that were peel and stick. They don't take up a lot of room, and because they stick, you can move them around and rearrange them as needed.

If a whiteboard isn't up to the task, a diary will suffice.

13. Excel or Numbers Workbooks

Workbooks in Excel and Numbers are perfect for keeping content calendars structured. I manage distinct tabs for articles on Medium, LinkedIn, and other platforms in a workbook named "Writing Projects."

I also include any short stories or books I've begun, finished, or submitted. My workbook helps me stay organised and alert. I can write down fresh ideas, schedule postings for later, and keep track of work that has been published.

14. Descriptionari

When I'm in need of some creative writing ideas, I turn to Descriptionari. I'm motivated to think outside the box of what's expected when I see how other individuals weave words together to create a vibrant image.

There's plenty of writing inspiration at your fingertips with over 13,000 writing prompts, descriptions, and quotes. We should never replicate other people's work, but rather emulate and learn from them, as we should with any other piece of writing. Descriptionari is an excellent site to visit if you're looking for some writing ideas.

15. Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing tool that you can use online. Even though I only use the free version, I find it invaluable. Whether I'm posting a tweet, writing an essay, or sending an email, it's saved me from some potentially embarrassing and simple blunders. That's not to imply I'm sloppy with my editing and proofreading, but we all make mistakes. Grammarly helps you avoid making trivial mistakes.

Grammarly's free edition will fix basic spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and spacing errors. It will also offer you a readability, sentence length, and word length performance score. Other indicators, like reading and speaking time, are also available.

The premium version looks for more complicated issues in your content, such as word choice, punctuation in compound/complex phrases, monotony, and run-on sentences, among other things.

Which version you choose is mostly determined by you, your requirements, and your financial constraints.

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