What Tools Do You Use To Write?

[Cat_Brenners]

Good replies everyone. I see some of us need music and others ear plugs. Some drinks and others nothing. It's all so individual. Whatever works! Keep the replies coming.
Hugs, Cat

[semi-fly]

When writing longer work:

1. Notes
2. Music
3, Dictionary & Thesaurus
4. Notepad

When writing poetry:

1. Inspiration
2. Journal (or whatever paper I can find)

[Gretchen]

Pencil and notebook.

[Silas Thorne]

I find it helps if I sacrifice a small furry animal, and suck its blood up into my quill. If the blood starts to congeal, I heat it a little over a black candle.

[Zee.]

Hahahahahah

[LadyW]

Pen. Notepad. A pen (incase the other runs out.)

Microsoft word - use of it's thesaurus, dictionary, and for my eventual type up.

A cup of tea.

[mono]

I find that when I write, I have my dictionary, internet, thesaurus, and pen and paper at hand. What do you use as tools to help you write a more effective poem or short story? I also have poetry help books on hand when I need them. Whats your best source?
Hugs, Cat

I try to keep it simple; I can write in nearly any environment, but the condition of the environment makes my creativity sensitive.
I need a pen and my notebook. Other things needed that may affect me: an average chair (not one too comfortable, or else I get too relaxed), a nearby window of some sort for daydreaming, a silenced cell phone, and occasionally my iPod to listen to anything without lyrics (preferably classical); if in public, the iPod headphones can also function as a do-not-disturb sign. I never have a dictionary, thesaurus, or any reference guide within sight; I can edit the words later, but the first draft, I write with the heart.

By the way, Cat, I see you come from the Pacific northwest.
Greetings, from a native Portlander!

[Cat_Brenners]

Thanks for replying all of you. Scary Silas lmao.
Mono, I am from WA. state so we are rather close.
Take care all of you.
Hugs, Cat

[optimisticnad]

Silas must be writing some killer stuff! ;-)

Pen. 'Best' paper, scrap paper for notes, computer, huge quantity of any kind of hot drink,

[mono]

Does anyone else use typewriters? I purchased one months ago, and jokingly call it my piano. I rarely use it, and own it mainly for something on my desk to look authentic, old, and cool.
Typewriters seem a bit high-maintenance, but I suppose I come from the computer generation, where we do not have to hit the return key for line breaks, install ink, etc.

[Niamh]

I did about ten years ago before we had a computer. It drove me nuts so i just gave up and hand wrote instead. I loved the noise it made and the "cling" at the end!

[PeterL]

My primary tools are my grossly overactive imagination, my intelligence, and my encyclopaedic memory. A sharp knife is sometimes useful also.

[Cat_Brenners]

I don't use a typewriter any more. I find the computer takes care of that. But, I do enjoy the noise of the typewriter. Maybe silly.
Hugs, Cat

[dafydd manton]

All I have is a lap-top computer, a dictionary, a reverse dictionary (Reader's Digest Special!) and the Oxford dictionary of quotations. I don't write by hand, partly because if I do i try and keep up with my thoughts, and eventually i can't read it myself, never mind anyone else. Oh, a glass of claret sometimes help, either that or a decent brandy. Writtn some of my best stuff that way - and some of my worst!!

[1n50mn14]

A good atmosphere and space (E.g. a place where I'm not disturbed by people- people can be present, but not bothering me or engaging me in activities or conversation)

My favourite notebook, a black leather bound one with recycled paper and a purple ribbon closure.

A nice, black pen that the ink flows out of easily. It's a must.

And, if I happen to have my iPod, or be near my computer- some music.