A Mobile Writer

How important is for a writer to be able to write on the go? Nowadays, it is more important than before. Let's face it, our goal as a writer is to become a published author. There are many avenues for publication, but most of us want the traditional route. For that to happen, it takes a TON of work! It's as much work as self publication. Before you can even begin to think of getting an agent to start the journey, you have to do one thing...finish your novel.

With busy lives, it's hard to sit down and write thousands of words at a time. So, why not write a few words at a time during the day? Have a 15 minute break? Write a paragraph or a short conversation. Waiting for that watched pot to boil? Write out the beginning of a battle sequence. Waiting for the bus? Or have a long ride on the subway? Write! And just a little hint, you don't have to write on one project at the time. I don't. Smoke would come out of my ears as the gears of my brain seize up and refuse to turn. At any point, I can go from one of my fantasy series to another and then jump to a science fiction novel. Of course, it takes a minute to adjust your language when you do, but it works for me. If you are more of a one book at a time person, then write that way.

So, now that we have established that even a five minute break is a great time to write, let's talk about tools. In a previous blog, I discussed the three mediums that I use: my computer, pen and paper, and my phone. The computer is really best suited for home when you can prop up your feet on the couch and type until your fingers fall off. Pen and paper is a great option for a mobile writer. You can buy a cheap notebook that easily slips into a purse, briefcase, or bag for under a dollar. (I used to have a notebook in every room of my parent's house and one in my backpack.) And a mechanical pencil fits anywhere and won't run out of battery. It will run out of lead, but a quick refill will fix that problem. I don't know about you, but when I write in a notebook, I feel closer to my work. I don't know if it's the sound of the pencil scratching the paper or the anticipation of filling a page that triggers my imagination. Plus there are no apps or internet to distract you while you write. The downsides are that you risk running out of paper just as an idea is blooming in your mind, or running out of lead without having back-up lead, or losing your notebook, or not have a smooth surface/ride so you can write.

Your phone is also a great option for mobile writing. There are plenty of apps out there you can use for writing. I like Notebook Free. I have short stories and several sections of many of my books on my phone. Whenever I have a moment to myself, I expand on my books. Eventually, I will transcribe the writings to my computer and the official copy of my novels. I can be over at my sister's watching my nephews play and quickly pull out my phone and add a few sentences. More often than not, I start with the idea of adding just a few details, or lines of conversation, and end up writing several paragraphs. The benefit with using your phone is that it is always with you (unless you work in a building where you can't have it). There are a few negatives with the phone, though. The obvious negative is that you might run out of battery as you are writing that one sentence that you have been trying to perfect for the last week. You might run out of memory after taking all those pictures of your pet doing something cute. The biggest negative is the distractions from apps to the internet to texting. If you can prevent yourself from opening those apps or internet, then you have got it made.

So, for today's writer, mobility is KING. Half of this blog was written while I was over at my sister's. Writing on the go allows you to finish that novel that has been haunting you for months, or even years. It also allows you to let your imagination flow without the fear of coming up with the perfect sentence and forgetting it later when you sit down at your laptop to actually write. Stop looking at your novel as an impossible feat that must be done all at once. Even people who climb Mt. Everest have base camps where they stop before continuing on. Writing, or finishing, a novel is doable. And if you can't complete the first step to becoming a published author, then you won't have the heart to face the next challenging stage.

Go Forth And Write!