My Writing Tool Kit

March 6, 2010 by Chris · Comments Off
Filed under: Writer's Life

Concerns over the health hazards of sitting too long made me look at my writing routine for ways to insert some activity. This has to be a common hazard for writers. On the one hand, we want to stay in the moment and in the groove. On the other hand, there is that health thing.

To get myself moving, I use Eye Relax at 60-minute intervals to remind me to get off the chair. Whenever I get a call, it’s time to walk around the house. The activity helps clear my mind and relieve tension in my back from sitting.

I write articles in addition to my fiction writing. To help me evaluate my productivity, I use Klok to track my time. Like Eye Relax, it is free software. For me, knowing my output versus my pay helps me better grasp my productivity and gives me the information I need to realistically set my rates.

For non-fiction writing, the Fire Fox extension, Zotero, is my essential tool. Not only can I create collections of links, but I can also add notes that include citation information. That use alone saves lots of keystrokes and cuts down on typing errors. I cannot say enough good things about it, except I wish it had a Chrome version too.

Every one has their favorite tools and shortcuts. What are some of yours?

Photo by sateda

Tags: eye relax, klok, writing routine, zotero