Writers are always asking each other which software they use.

Do they write in Word? Pages? Scrivener?

Some writers swear by Word. I hate the thing, and only use it to transmit a final document to editors or clients. Typically, I use Scrivener for major writing projects, but I do think it’s probably too full-featured for most quick writing assignments. If I’m doing a one-and-done project—such as a blog post or a short column or memo—I use Ulysses, which is a marvelous text editor that is easy to use and can instantly transform your file into a rich text document in a variety of formats. (Note: Ulysses is Mac only. Scrivener is for Mac or PC, but is probably best experienced in the Mac format.)

But those are just the writing apps I use. I use a lot of other apps religiously, and I dabble in whatever’s new, just to check it out. I wrote a few blog posts recently for the SleuthSayers website in which I delve into my current faves. I’m going to just quickly offer those links so you can find them easily. I’ll update this post in the future when I do posts of this type for SleuthSayers.

In order from most recent to least, the posts are:

The Software That Thinks Like You

I first learned about the free note-taking app Obsidian at the blog of writer Jason Gurley, who is a beautiful writer and an even deeper thinker. The software allows you to make connections between a limitless number of ideas and concepts. You will find a wide array of tutorials on YouTube to help you get up and running.

Plotting Your Story with Aeon Timeline

Almost any novel you write, regardless of its genre, requires you to keep track of the timeline traversed by your characters. It’s critical in whodunnit-type mysteries, where the detectives are trying to determine, say, who last saw the victim alive. And thrillers, where there’s always a ticking clock. And it’s critical in fantasy and science fiction, especially if you’re dealing with time travel or creating new worlds. For example, I don’t know how Lauren Beukes wrote a novel as brilliant as The Shining Girls without tracking all those dazzling timelines. (I think I saw a photo of her office, showing that she used yarn and a bulletin board to keep them all straight—but I might seriously be imagining things.) Aeon Timeline is perfect for mapping out those storylines. It’s got a little bit of a learning curve, but very powerful. A replacement for yarn.

In the MidJourney of Our Life

This was an early attempt at tackling the AI illustration question, and what it means for authors who hire designers to create book covers. I’ve learned a lot about the subject from the two designers I use most these days: Damonza and GoOnWrite. The subject of AI is vast. I see dozens of stories on the topic each week, even though I’ve supposedly been on a news fast for months.

Those are the three I’ve been meaning to share with folks. I’m far from a software expert, but I have blown a lot of time (and money) on software over the years that don’t pan out for various reasons. Usually, I just don’t see an improvement in my productivity, or I’m unwilling to put in the time to learn all the features.

While not a Luddite, I still love low-tech tools such as pens, notebooks, and stationery, to get the job done. I have a few posts of that nature in the bag, too, that I’ll share soon.

Image of supercomputer at ORNL (above) by me.