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What's in your toolbox?

Vicki27

Minstrel
No worries Dark One, it's nice that you feel comfortable, I always feel very guilty at how long my progress is taking. Mind you this is my first book so I guess once I have it under my belt I will feel more at ease with my process. I have always wanted to write novels but let working full time become the excuse not to start writing until I had the time. Ha now I have the time and I am still going at a snail's pace. Still as long as I make some progress I guess I will have to be happy with that. I had no idea how long it would take to research let alone write! if you have been writing for 25 years whilst working full time I am in awe of your dedication and commitment (not to mention your organisational skills at finding or making the time). I am in my second year now and still have at least half of the first book of three to go! Ah well it's been very nice to chat but back to the grindstone I guess :) - Vicki
 
"No worries" sounds suspiciously Australian...

That's very nice of you, again. I'd hardly say I've set the world on fire after 25 years but, like many on here, I have achieved an audience and that (for me) is the main thing.

Mind you, the landscape has completely changed since I started out. Being trade published is all but impossible yet getting published has never been easier. There can be all sorts of cool tricks in your toolbox but, in the end, it's the story that matters. If it's good it will find an audience...somehow.
 

Vicki27

Minstrel
Unfortunately just boring old British....
I'm guessing 'trade published' is being accepted by book publishers and the easy part of getting published is either e-books or publishing yourself. Being an old fashioned kinda gal, I'm hoping for book publisher, I love books and don't think there is anything better than the feel and smell of an old favourite in your hands.
 

Karen Cioffi

Acolyte
I write in Word. I create files in Word for outlines, characters, etc. I know I should look for a better system to organize my files especially for work in other worlds. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. I do keep very organized files.
I usually edit my work myself. I do use Grammarly and if I think it's needed, I use an editor.
I also use Excel for odds and ends.
I use a notebook for creating very basic maps and worlds.
I have two traditionally published books (both fantasy and two more fantasy in contract) and two self-published. I use a book formatter for self-publishing. They send me the print-ready files and I upload them to a distributor or retailer. For my latest book, I used IngramSpark and Amazon.
I'm also a children's ghostwriter, writing fantasy and other fiction. I handle these projects the same as my own.
I've written standalone books and series, both for myself and for clients.
I work in Dropbox and also have Carbonite for backup. I do have an external drive also, but keep forgetting to back up to it.
 

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
1: Scrivener
2: Scrivener
3. Scrivener, Word, prowrtingaid, grammarly + human editor.
4. InDesign, Vellum
5: Photoshop and did use Campaign Cartographer in the past for mapping and Aeon Timeline
6: Series and Standalone, no different.
 
1. I research via the web and organize that I find in folders on my PC
2. MS Word with separate files per chapter. I will compile all the chapters into one file so I can use Word's analysis of reading level and such on the entire book.
3. Again Word. I give each chapter file a version number (i.e chapter1.0, chapter1,1, etc.) so I can keep the version separate.
4. For submission tracking I just use a spreadsheet
5. I make my maps with Campaign Cartographer
6. I write MG/YA fantasy book series
 

Chasejxyz

Inkling
1. In MS Word or MS Excel, or Scrivener if there's already a project for it. Sometimes I'll throw it into Google Keep if I run across something so I won't forget it and I can put it somewhere else later. If it's images for reference/"Moods"/aesthetics I just throw them into a folder on my desktop. I also have a Telegram Channel where I put research/references. It's a lot of bird pictures, lots of minerals, and links to some writing references. If I need to look up a diagram it's really quick to find what I want.

2. MS Word or Scrivener. Word doesn't require any set up, you just start typing, while Scrivener does have a lot of structuring you gotta do, which is a little annoying, but when you have a huge project and you know you'll be reorganizing scenes, that's pretty hard to do in Word, which is where Scrivener shines.

3. If it's very short, MS Word, but if it's a novel then it's Scrivener. I also use the reMarkable software/app to mark up/manage PDFs and MS Excel to keep track of wordcount changes, to-do tasks etc.

4. My plan is to export from Scrivener to an RTF, do some final formatting changes in MS Word then export as a PDF/DOC/whatever. I plan to use MS Excel to track apps.

5. I use Inkarnate for maps, reMarkable for editing "on paper." I probably use Excel for way too many things but I use it a lot for my dayjob so I'm really comfortable using it. I use MS Sticky Notes for some quick fact/references when I'm writing (like basic timelines, characters full names) because it syncs across my devices. And MS OneDrive so everything (docs/workbooks/scrivener projects) are synced across devices.

6. I mostly write novels with lots of worldbuilding/research and I write everything down for my own reference so I don't forget.
 

Mad Swede

Auror
OK, coming late to this discussion. I'll start by saying that I'm very severely dyslexic, and that in many ways drives what and how I'm able to write.

1. Most of what I write is based on personal experiences, so there isn't always that much research involved. When I do research I use the same techniques that I learnt when reading and researching for my Masters degree at university. The technology may have got more advanced in terms of the information and search possibilities on the internet, but the basic techniques don't change. I keep very few notes in any form, simply because I can't write or read them effectively - this is one of biggest problems with being dyslexic, and the only way I've ever found to handle it is to memorise the key information.

2. MS Word, with the addition of a number of very specialised grammar and spell checking tools. Those tools are specifically set up and customised for me and my dyslexia. (And no, those tools and their customisation don't come cheap at all - but it is tax deductible.)

3. MS Word. Thats what my editor uses as standard.

4. Not my problem. Thats what I have a publisher for.

5. I do this by hand.

6. My books and short stories are linked, but are not neccessarily direct sequels. I use the same software for all of them.

The big problem I have is my dyslexia. There's simply no effective way for me to keep a mass of written notes, databases of characters, timelines etc on a computer or even on paper. They take too long to write and then correct so they're readable - and they have to be corrected, otherwise the reading software on my PC can't read them back to me. If I did all that on a computer I'd spend all my time writing notes, databases etc instead of my novels and short stories. That means I end up having to memorise things, and then use a very simple bullet point list as a reminder.

One other essential tool - a really good hi fi system, so that I have suitable music as I write. (And no, that isn't tax deductible - but I did try...).
 
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