Speedbump

It just so happens I rely on a laptop rather than a PC. My wife and I each own a laptop. Someday I'd love to obtain a PC and take advantage of higher speed and storage.

Yesterday, my computer decided it no longer wanted to take a charge. Which is annoying, because I rely on my laptop for updating Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, not to mention editing, updating, and formatting manuscripts.

What's especially annoying is that the state of being financially strapped means I'm going to have to wait til my new job kicks in to repair/buy new parts. And so my current works-in-progress are doomed to a state of limbo until I get my laptop up and running again.

Fortunately, I can continue updating my blog and a few other things with my phone. Thanks to the nifty Springpad app, I can even get some writing done. But Goodreads, book formatting, and other tasks will have to wait.

D'oh. Just when I was getting rolling, too.

Digital Scribe

A lot of writers, especially in the less-digital eras preceding this, have written their story ideas on whatever came to hand while away from their computers: Napkins, backs of documents, envelopes, and other disparate (and often desperate) items. Some of the more prepared individuals carried pocketsized notebooks with them wherever they went, so they could jot down ideas, scenes, and other such items when the muse assaulted them.

I was a notebook-carrier. I still am, to be honest. But that notebook functions as backup when my main note-taking and story-writing companion dies.

What is this companion, you ask?

My smartphone, of course.

No, seriously. With a slide-out keyboard and the right apps, I do A LOT of writing on my phone, especially when on break at work or away from my trusty laptop. In fact, I think I can honestly say I do at least 75% of my writing with my phone. I even update this blog with my phone. This very post, in fact, was written and uploaded with my phone.

And it's really great, because it saves so many headaches. When you write a note on paper, you have to tuck it away where it won't get lost before you can transcribe it. And then, of course, is the hassle of transcribing. Gotta type the whole stinkin' thing all over again.

With my phone, I use an app called SpringPad. I save my writing in a SpringPad file. Then, when I get home to my computer, I log onto http://www.springpadit.com and find the file. Copy the text, paste it into my word processor file, and bingo! All done.

Technology can be a writer's best friend.