My top writing tools (as a dev who writes on nights and weekends)
I've been there, lost in a sea of scattered notes and endless drafts.
If you're still using the basic notes app for your writing, trust me, you're missing out on so much potential.
For writers, the right tool can be a total game-changer, making your writing process smoother, more organized, and far more productive.
Here's what helped me level up my writing routine:
Why Your Writing Might Be Struggling:
Disorganized notes: How many times have you scrambled to find that one great idea or quote from your last brainstorming session?
Lack of structure: Writing without a clear system leaves you frustrated, with no real sense of where your story is going or how to keep it all together.
No backup: A sudden computer crash or lost document can undo hours of work--trust me, it's happened to all of us.
Disrupted creative flow: Without the right tool, it's hard to stay in the zone. You lose focus, and suddenly your writing momentum vanishes.
Top 3 Game-Changing Writing Tools That Transformed My Workflow:
@Scrivener - The Writer's Secret Weapon
Scrivener completely revolutionized the way I approach writing. It's built for writers like us who need structure and flexibility.
With: Complete manuscript organization: Chapters, scenes, and notes are easy to organize and move around.
Built-in research tools: Keep all your research within the same file. No more toggling between apps.
Powerful editing features: Scrivener helps you streamline your editing process.
@Notion - The All-in-One Writing Hub
The notion became my go-to for everything related to my writing projects.
It's the perfect workspace to:
Create custom databases: I have databases for characters, plot points, world-building details, and so much more.
Cross-platform sync: I can switch between devices effortlessly, ensuring I'm always up to date.
Free to start: Notion's free plan is more than enough to get started, which is great if you're just beginning your writing journey.
It's highly customizable, so you can set it up exactly how you like it!
@Campfire - The World Builder's Choice
If you're into fantasy, sci-fi, or any genre that involves deep world-building, Campfire is a must-have.
I've used it to:
Create a story bible: All your world-building details in one place.
Map character relationships: Keep track of complex character dynamics.
Visualize timelines: See your entire story unfold with a timeline feature.
Campfire is built for complexity, and it helps keep all your ideas organized in one place.
Some Alternatives:
If you're looking for other options, here are a few I've tried and loved:
@Wavemaker : A free, powerful writing platform with everything you need to get started.
@Dabble: A cloud-based platform that's perfect if you like writing on the go.
@Reedsy: A minimalist, distraction-free writing tool that keeps you focused on the words.
@jakecrump i recently switched to Obsidian. now use it for writing and task management. I love the tool
Mostly I use sheets and google docs. very simple and gets the job done.
Agree that Notion is one of them but last few months I use only Apple Reminders and Word. A little bit old school but simple :) TY for sharing.
Product Hunt
I've tested out a bunch of different writing apps over the years. For me, the main focus is finding something that gets out of my way. I typically drop a writing app for being overly complicated or trying to get me to adopt their particular method of writing that just doesn't work with me. I definitely see the appeal of using an app with a lot of different tooling, but I just want to quickly and easy write.
I'll add to the above list @Obsidian which I tried out for a while and enjoyed. In particular, I really like the way that they have plugins. It has some pretty interesting customization you can set up.
Ultimately, I actually do all of my writing in .txt files using @Neovim inside @iTerm2. It's definitely not the fanciest solution, but it's the fastest and easiest I've found. I've got some customization in my neovim config to specifically format .txt files for writing so I don't even need to change anything when going between coding and writing.