I don’t adopt as many tools and stick to old-school tricks but here are five tools that come in handy and I highly suggest you leverage when you’re penning out your next masterpiece.

I. Scrivener

Hands-down, my favorite all-inclusive planning and writing app has to be Scrivener. I’ve been using this for years now and it’s been incredibly helpful in piecing together the various elements of a novel with features for expanding upon character descriptions, setting, timelines and the plot. It’s perfect for long writing projects and you can work in bits and pieces by breaking it into segments and incorporating your research in easy-to-access background files as well. And once you’re done, there are various exporting options available depending on what you want to do with the completed manuscript.

Scrivener isn’t limited to just working with novels however but has options for non-fiction works, screenplays and even comic books! It’s not free but it’s definitely worth the purchase (it’s only $45)!

II. Trello

For planning and mapping out your ideas, I find Trello to be incredibly useful. Yes, it’s a sub-function of Scrivener when you think about it but useful for smaller writing projects that don’t require a mass-scale program to plan out. If you’re an Android user, the advantage with Trello is it’s accessible via multiple devices (unlike Scrivener). You can download the app on PlayStore and set up reminders and deadlines for delivering content that pop up as notifications on your phone!

III. Pacemaker

Pacemaker helps wonders when you have a writing project that you’re hellbent on finishing within a given time-frame. For example, during NaNoWriMo when you’re crunched for time maybe cause you’re juggling school or work but you want to see that 50,000 word novel complete. The tool helps structure your word goal per day dependent on the kind of strategy you employ. You can keep track of your progress and also extend the timeline if necessary.

Of course, sometimes life gets in the way and having a set word goal per day doesn’t always works. But having that number loom in the back of your head with a pinch of determination is all you need to get started, really!

IV. Pinterest

I draw so much inspiration for my writing from the wonderful visual world of Pinterest. Depending on what are your interests where your muses are, you can create boards that source content from those areas. For example, I have boards designated for character visuals, settings, book covers and poetry/creative writing prompts. They’re a great writing reference to come back to later when I need ideas to draw from.

Specifically, my favorite board for this purpose would be Writing Things (feel free to check it out!), filled with various tips and resources from around the web on several topics like character development and world creation.

Honestly, Pinterest is an underrated treasure trove.

V. Spotify

How could I not have a music-app on here? Spotify has been my best friend in this category due to the vast playlist options that tickle my inner muse. Many chapters have been written, curled up on the sofas of public libraries or standing at a bus stop, furiously tapping into my phone with my earphones serenading me thanks to this platform. My favorite playlist for writing would have to be Deep Focus. The soulful instrumentals are deeply inspiring.

So, there you have it! Let me know what you guys think of the above tools. If you use any others that you think are worth checking out, do let me know in the comments!