Use Your Phone to Help With Your Writing

A few months ago I was sitting in a café with my sister and a friend. Across the room was a couple enjoying each other’s company (at least it looked that way).I found myself staring at them. They were young enough to be characters in a young adult novel. I began making mental notes. The boy had broad shoulders, dark wavy hair and eyes that made him look as if he had a permanent peer. The girl had long blonde low lighted hair with a side swept bang. Her all black clothing was lightened by tons of silver jewelry she wore as accessories. As I willed myself to remember their features, styles and mannerisms (I was character building), I wished I had a notebook and pencil. I know better not to leave the house without a notebook.

I was fiddling around on my phone when the “aha” moment hit. I did have a notebook. My nifty little i-phone came equipped with one. I’ve been jotting down notes on my i-phone ever since.

Below you will find a list of ways to use an i-phone to help with your writing. I still bring a notebook just in case the unforeseen happens, my phone goes dead, I drop it and it breaks, I lose it etc. Notebooks should not become extinct but times are a changing and anything that helps your writing is a good thing.

1. Notepad- As stated above this feature on i-phones is awesome for writers. It allows us to open up individual notes where we can jot down things such as character descriptions, character traits, settings, dialogue, anything that inspires us while we are out and about.

2. The Camera- You find yourself at a location that would be ideal for the story you are writing, no worries snap a few pictures so later you can write about the setting. You see someone that resembles your vision of a character, click away (try and do it discreetly or you can be looked at as a creep).

3. Web surfing-As long as you have a reasonable plan you can roam the web via your phone to fact check, send or receive e-mails, visit social platforms or sneak a peek at your blog stats. (I’m not the only one who does this am I?)

4. Voice Recording – You can set your phone on record to tape the noises that surround you. You’d be surprised at the noises we tune out on a daily basis. Sounds help bring the picture you are trying to create come into view. The noises you hear while dining out are different from those you would hear while fishing.

5. Video Recording- A great tool to help you write action scenes. You’re writing about a soccer player kicking the winning goal. If you have the actual moment at your fingertips it will make writing the scene a lot easier.

I’m sure all phones whether they are an i-phone or an android have the options I mentioned or similar accessories available. Was there any I missed? Do you use your phone to assist with your writing?