I was thinking about that insurance commercial that features a lifestyle guru trying to help young homeowners not turn into their parents. You know the little things like printing out your boarding pass. Every time I see the commercial I cringe. I know it’s supposed to be funny and let you see their insurance is not like your parent’s. But not all old methods are bad. I prefer printed tickets and boarding passes. And I don’t like too much personal info on my phone. That doesn’t make me wrong, it is just how I roll.

As a writer, I am constantly learning new things. (Not what our favorite authors used when we were young. ?)

 There are lots of software programs for writers, and calendars, planners and cloud storage recommendations. Don’t get me started on all the social media trends. Not all of them are right for every writer. There are other tried-and-true things in our individual writing worlds that work for us, make us more productive and fit the way we process words.

Writing long hand, sticky notes, and white boards

Sometimes I prefer to write my stories long-hand then enter them into my computer because it helps me manage the direction of the story better. Most often I pound out words on the keyboard right off. Some people prefer notecards or sticky notes to write scenes and then rearrange them manually. Others use a whiteboard, while others love all the organization available with Scrivener or other writing software.

None of these methods are wrong, just different. I prefer using a notebook and adding sticky notes and scraps of paper as ideas come my way. I know you organizational geniuses are cringing right now, but I need to write out those thoughts and spread the notes around my workspace. I can’t get in the habit of having multiple screens up and flipping from my notes to my manuscript. Makes my head spin.

Learning styles

Educators have discovered there are three learning styles, auditory, visual and hands-on. As writers, we implement all at some level while favoring one method. Those learning styles will affect the way you research, store data, construct a story, and write.

 I’ve got friends who listen to conference workshop recordings repeatedly while other writers rewrite their notes. They both grab a maximum of information from the material that way. I have a library full of craft books. I read sections on a need-to-know basis to reinforce my understanding.

The typewriter is making a nostalgic comeback. Bestselling Biographer David Mc Cullough has used a typewriter for decades. I imagine he hires someone to input his manuscripts into a computer as publishers prefer a digital copy. The rhythm of using a typewriter can encourage muscle memory. It is more physical than using a computer keyboard and exercises the hands-on part of learning.  

I need all three learning styles to grasp something new. Canva was alien to me until I performed each task while someone talked me through it, and I took notes. I try not to ask my husband how to do something techy unless I am at the computer. There is no way I will remember later. The same goes for destination directions. Three blocks from the Walmart and turn left is clearer to me then go north then turn east in three miles.

There are so many online classes out there that promise to teach all you need to know about Scrivener or some other program in just a few lessons. Didn’t work for me. After I completed the course, I still had questions. The answers in my notes weren’t as thorough as I’d hoped. I like the notes and illustrations at my fingertips printed out to make sense of things. I often add additional explanations in the margins for clarity. At my former job, I had to train new people from time to time on one of our programs. I wrote out very detailed instructions because I didn’t know how much computer experience they had. Not all click buttons are in the same place in every program. Some new hires whipped through the training while others kept the instructions with them for weeks.

I use a paper calendar. I am trying to transition to an online calendar. I’ll probably have a paper one for backup. It helps me double-check my schedule. Might be overkill for you, but it gives me peace.

A last word

If you feel the way you are producing your manuscripts isn’t getting the job done as quickly, accurately, or professionally as you would like, change it. Explore other methods and software, discern what clicks with you and learn it well.

That is why there are so many options out there. The creators designed them to work the way they learn.

Whether you’re looking for a better way to keep your calendar or check your grammar, there is something out there for you. And whether you are 14 or 104, find those methods that fit your learning style. Find those additional materials that help you make better sense of your writing world. When you are comfortable with your process, you are more productive and creative.

What new thing did you adapt as a writer? What tried-and-true method do you cling to?