Things every writer needs (in my opinion):

Paper and pen by the bed, on the desk, in your purse (or man-purse). This covers every possible moment of muse-like thought. Write it down!



Dictionary. Word may have spell check but it’s not always reliable.

Thesaurus. A thesaurus is available on Word but it is limited with its suggestions for synonyms. Any time you can substitute a clichéd, oft-used word with another, do it.

Microsoft Word. Word still frustrates me but I’m getting more and more used to him. Yes. Him. Without him, I would not write much, and what I do write would be scrunched into balls of paper at the bottom of my purse, not neatly filed in my writing/work/blog/drafts folders.

Outlook. How else am I supposed to track six e-mail addresses?


More input from Twitter friends:

 @TonyNoland
 Thick skin. Coffee. A thesaurus. A library card. Curiosity. Patience. Impatience. Support. A day job. Hope. AA batteries. Time.


 @HelenLeather
 To learn to finish, that can be tough.
 Every writer needs honest feedback, the nerve to ask for & get it, and to decide whether to make changes as a result, or not.
 Every writer needs to carry a notepad & pen at all times!
 Every writer needs courage, confidence and support, at least from themselves, from others is a bonus.

@mp3mad
 Every writer needs
 a) a pen/pencil
 b)something to write on
 

@russmarshalek
 Coffee

@charliechap
 Every writer needs bathroom breaks. This I have learned. =)

@ToniMcGeeCausey
 Tenacity. Imagination. Discipline. Rebellion. Desire. Job to pay the bills in the mean time. Diet Coke.
It looks like our common elements of necessity are people or things that support us physically, mentally, and practically. So move on in the delights of kind words, addictive drinks and other foodstuffs ( I can’t believe no one mentioned chocolate); and to your own self (or stomach) be true.

---

23 June 2009, 2:24 pm
Things every writer needs (according to tweeters)
Source: sallyhanan's blog

// This post was posted automatically with the BunnyRabbitSex Helping Hand Program. All posts are copyright to the original author and are posted with permission \\

Sally Hanan (07:07am Wed, Jun 24, 2009)

Thesaurus. A thesaurus is available on Word but it is limited with its suggestions for synonyms. Any time you can substitute a clichéd, oft-used word with another, do it.

This here? Is dangerous. Do not use a thesaurus in this manner unsupervised. Doing so can lead to word salad and missing the mark with a word entirely due to connotations you didn't necessarily want.

And NEVER use it for the word 'said'. Because 'said' is one of the few invisible words in the English language.

What else is invisible?


Also, I've heard adverbs being "beaten" out of writing too. I don't see the issue.

I don't remember which ones are invisible, but 'said' is the big one that normally people try to hit with a thesaurus.

I agree. Paper and pen are so important for a lot of writers. However, since the rapid growth of technology, there are a lot of users use their tablets, computers, and mobile devices to write down things they want. For instance, I often use my tablet to write articles and short-stories, which is very convenient for me.

Given my experience with writers, I'd say anti-depressants and a therapist.

Joking aside, I'd say pen and paper, a word processor, something to do when the writing becomes too intense and you need a break, coffee or your stimulant of choice, a whiteboard (yes...seriously) or somewhere to diagram out your plot, a dictionary, thesaurus, someone to talk to and a dog.

The last two can overlap.

I got me a cat and I definitely recommend an animal of some kind to blabber to. A whiteboard is FANTASTIC and also would recommend it.

Bunny (05:41pm Wed, Nov 27, 2013)

I got me a cat and I definitely recommend an animal of some kind to blabber to. A whiteboard is FANTASTIC and also would recommend it.

Nope. sorry, cats are too judgmental, has to be a dog.  Dogs never judge.   

But judgemental cats are funny!!



Look at that grumpy face ha ha.

Actually this one is my cat, I was telling him offensive jokes..

Aw, I love your cats, Bunny! I have two that I talk to all the time.  The writer's life can be a lonely life, but cats make great companions.   

I write everything on pen and paper until I have something that looks like it's taking the shape of a story.  After that I like to type it up and leave double line spacing so that I can write notes in between the lines as I edit and re-write rough sections. 

Repeat as necessary. 

Hahaha. The cats are funny and really adorable.

I agree that the use of thesaurus should be limited. One of my pet peeves is reading articles that have so many "thesaurus"words. Those that are too deep but do not really make any sense.

Whenever I am writing, I always keep in mind that I am writing for other people and not for myself. Thus, the rule keep it short and simple should always apply.

This is so true especially when a story idea comes to me when I'm asleep and I have to wake up and write it down. What an amazing gift this is to have.

You also need a few cups of coffee and a chance to work through the night in order to give out the most creative ideas. I find that writing at night when it is peaceful and quiete gives me so much more creativity and imagination which gives me the opportunity to write much more than I usually can.

I think that sometimes just putting on some non-intrusive music can help me get into a creative mood. Even if it a song that I am singing along with the music, often, I am singing without really paying attention to the song, and still thinking about something else. Thus, I can be involved in reading, writing, or even drawing a picture at the same time that i am singing, and it just seems to open up my mind, get it off of mundane stuff, and let my imagination fly free.
Another thing that often helps me is simply to go for a walk.  Of course, it is pretty hard to be taking notes on your new creative ideas as you are walking, so having a little notepad, and a pen, as well as someplace you can stop and sit down and write out your new inspirations is always a good idea, too.

I always keep a notepad in my purse, in the center console of my couch, on the kitchen table, and, and, and... I keep them everywhere because I have a lot of ideas that pop into my head at the most random times. My husband thinks I am crazy sometimes, not really, but my note taking does amuse him. I have even written ideas on napkins and receipts if I have nothing else available to write on.

Pen and paper are a must. A tablet, notebook, desktop, or phone with internet are okay, but thoughts flow better through the old-fashioned act of applying pen to paper. Always keep your senses open--listen to conversations on tv and in real life; lie on a beach or in a field and let your imagination roam; taste, smell, and feel the world around you. The more of life you absorb, the more you can pour into your writings.