I have 50 million mice (the computer kind, that is). I have about the same number of keyboards. I have more hardware to write and edit with than any one person would reasonably need. I also have a bunch of software that can be used for said writing. In alphabetical order (I’ve bolded the ones I’ve used recently for actual writing):
- Apple Notes
- Bear
- Craft
- FocusWriter
- iA Writer
- Microsoft Word
- Notepad
- Notepad++
- Obsidian
- OneNote
- Pages
- Scrivener
- SmartEdit Writer1This used to have the totally metal name Atomic Scribbler before going uttterly generic
- TextEdit
- Typora
- Ulysses
- WordPad2Until Microsoft carries out its planned execution
I’ve probably forgotten a few, and I’ve omitted some where I bounced off the UI (more on this in another post coming soon™) like yWriter, as well as the multitude of web-based offerings like Novlr, Hemingway and a billion others. That still leaves me with a long list that includes:
- Full-fledged word processors (Word, Pages)
- Note-taking apps (Obsidian, Bear, etc.)
- Writing apps that are more “to the metal” (Ulysses, iA Writer)
- Writing apps that straddle several of these categories, like Scrivener
So why am I looking at writing apps again? I don’t know. I thought maybe if I wrote about it, the answer would come to me. Maybe I just like trying out new software (I do). Maybe I like collecting things (I do). Maybe I just use the search for writing apps to procrastinate (I do, I do, I do).
What I can confirm is that my latest search has not really revealed anything new or revolutionary. No surprise, really. I have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to tools for writing. What I really need to do is stop looking and start writing.
Bonus: when I start writing in whatever app I choose, I need to vow to not spend hours choosing just the right font to inspire me. Not that I’ve ever done this3In the last hour, that is.
