Anyone else write on their phones?

Discussion in 'Writing Software and Hardware' started by Jarvis XIX, Aug 27, 2016.

  1. ToDandy

    ToDandy Senior Member

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    I could never, and I mean never, write on my phone. I may enter some notes that pop into my head, but that's about it. The touch screen often frustrates me (constantly hitting the wrong key) and the keys themselves are so small that my typing speed goes down and my fingers can't keep up with my thoughts.

    It's just not a pleasant way for me to write.
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2016
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  2. Medazza

    Medazza Active Member

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    I write on my phone all the time, Pages syncs my phone, iPad and Mac which is great.

    One question- do you put the whole book in one document or split it? I'm past 120 pages of a4 and finding it in one document to be a little unwieldy
     
  3. Robeey

    Robeey Member

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    I have done some writing on my phone, but i have to keep it on a charger all the time, cause it's quite broken. The battery never charges.
    So i always write in a text document on my computer. I see everyone here talking about how they have apps, and special writing programs, but i'm here with an open text document :D
     
  4. Jack Semmes

    Jack Semmes New Member

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    I write on my iPhone often. I like being able to work anywhere. By using Google Docs, I can work on phone, PC or Mac, without having to transfer documents around.
     
  5. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    I use WPS Office. It has mobile view and a night mode too. It does word count and all the basic stuff Word would like italics and find etc. It does lag a little sometimes but i am not sure if that's my phone or the app, and deleting anything is a pain. But it does the job and i have written a few thousand words on it. It has an export function where you can send it via email to yourself and Word on my laptop reads it just fine.

    I have also taken to writing on my phone. My toddler daughter doesn't sleep till 10 or sometimes 11pm and if i waited till she slept, i would never write. I am able to stay up till 3am writing but the toddler is gonna wake up in the morning and a lie in for me is impossible, hence yeah, must write before she sleeps. So, phone it is. Because she climbs on my laptop any time i bring it out!
     
  6. BogLady

    BogLady Active Member

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    Interesting that I found this thread as I wanted to ask a very similar question. As I am not in a position to have my laptop with me at work, but do have down time, I have started carrying paper and pen with me. I could never use my phone, just not that good with the texting, so writing would be immpossible.
    Does anyone ever hand write their work with pen and paper either partially or completely and then transfer it to the computer program? How about the use of voice to text apps?
     
  7. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    I second this. While I do have the built-in Notes app that I could use to write at any time -- especially since I'm away from my iPad, it's murder trying to type the words when your fingers keep punching the wrong key, or auto-correct gives you a word you never intended.
     
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  8. TwisImage

    TwisImage New Member

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    It's not ideal but my smartphone is handy for getting ideas down quickly, plus I've usually got it in my pocket if I suddenly have an idea.

    Google Keep is my favourite as I can 'pin' ideas I need to stick with and upload to Google Drive. A 'proper' writing session needs a laptop or computer though.
     
  9. newjerseyrunner

    newjerseyrunner Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    I use Google Docs on my phone when I'm on the bus to and from work. I do not tend to write very much or for very long because of the difficulty. However, I do find that the much smaller screen allows me to make my writing far more concise. Run on sentences or paragraphs become very obvious when they end up taking up an entire screen, which may go unnoticed in my HD monitor.
     
  10. Tophert79

    Tophert79 Banned

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    Really? You have ADD?

    I can't imagine trying to write whilst dealing with ADD. Hell, even at the best of times I struggle with concentration. It takes a lot of meditation and even Tai Chi for me to properly focus my energies.

    I was going to ask if it aids or hinders your writing, but I suppose you wouldn't know, as it's all that you know.
     
  11. Tophert79

    Tophert79 Banned

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    Oops. I forgot to answer the question.

    I used to have a Samsung Galaxy note 4 so it was really easy to write on it, as it's the same size and width of a notepad.

    I can't remember which software I used, though.
     
  12. NoGoodNobu

    NoGoodNobu Contributor Contributor

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    I don't think it's too too severe. I mostly get by with it fairly well, although I had a significant drop in grades junior year of high school—senior year one of my AP teachers forced me to get tested because of my grades and also because her son had it & she was positive I exhibited the symptoms. I took meds to finish out Senior year which worked, but they felt awful & no one liked me on them (my friends, family, etc.) so I quit medication.

    University I just either aced my classes or I flunked them, depending solely on the type of grading system (I've always been super frustrating for teachers to work with).

    Usually I make up for my distractions & mental meanderings by being hyper efficient. Get stuff done, zone a bit, get more things done, realise I zoned some more. The more efficient I am with my tasks, the more time cushion I have for my wistful wanderings.

    As for how well it helps vs hinders me: I think it's both.

    On the one hand, I'll learn & take in new information but my brain will start diverging down a different stream of thought, often inspiring better things from my stories.

    On the other hand, if I'm not in the creative mode I'm good for nothing. And it's wholely possible to distract myself from whatever story I'm working on with other frivolous musings.

    I don't know if this is a real thing with ADD (or ADHD; Subtype Inattentive as its now called) but I feel like I'm pretty high functioning.

    Like I can always learn what I was supposed to learn—often more, with exploration of various offshoots or trailing ramblings in newer directions. If I was given a test or in-class essay on the spot I could ace it. If a boss or customer wants me to repeat information verbatim, I'm a fair hand at that.

    It's just the discipline of finishing busy work or homework assignments or remembering to print them when I did and then to bring them if I printed them. I just usually lose focus & get distracted by another task or pursuit.

    Luckily my real world job is primarily mindless work and/or physical labour on our family ranch so there aren't major deadlines or needs for unwavering focus on a single pursuit for an immense length of time. That helps.
     
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  13. Tophert79

    Tophert79 Banned

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    I think there are two types of people: those whose neuroses shine like a beacon and those who can hide it well. Not that I'm familiar with it, but I'm guessing that ADD is relatively easy to hide... not easy, but easy than, say, autism or Asperger, etc. I did know a person who has ADHD, definitely a colourful character, as well as self-deprecating. I hope that you stopped the meds because they felt awful and not because of other people's perception of you at the time.

    That's actually a really smart coping mechanism. You know that you want to zone out, so you reward yourself with the zone out time when you get all productive. It sounds simple, but it takes a certain amount of discipline to implement the words and ideas into action.

    Interesting, so the ADD has a Jekyll and Hyde effect on your writing? Are you sure you aren't a Doctor and you drank one of your potions? :p

    "Subtype Inattentive"? Bloody hell. The powers that be do seem to change their mind when it comes to naming stuff. Well, whether it's real or not, I couldn't say, but what I can say is that the brain is a wonder. Misfiring neurons can lead to all manner of "impairments", I put impairments in quotes because I firmly believe that what we "suffer" from is directly responsible for us being the person who we are, for better or worse.

    You definitely sound like an interesting person. Have you ever written a story from your point-of-view? I loathe the advice "Write what you know", because it cuts the heart out of creativity, but sometimes it is sage-like advice, especially if you see through the eyes of someone who isn't quite of the populace.
     
  14. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    I had a hard drive crash on me once the night before a I had an essay due in college, so I had to do my final draft on an old Samsung using Google Docs. It pretty horrible, fighting both the tiny touchscreen and spellcheck, and I had to put it on a real computer to fix formatting and print it off anyway. I'd do it again if I had to, but God knows I wouldn't do it because I enjoyed it.
     
  15. AliceOrb

    AliceOrb New Member

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    I wrote my entire short story on iPhone 6s+

    Wrote it via email to email myself.
     
  16. NightEmperor

    NightEmperor New Member

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    What happened to carrying a notebook around with you?It's way more efficient than a phone that eventually dies.
     
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  17. AussieNick

    AussieNick Member

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    Rarely. I've got a Windows 8 tablet which I can use the notepad program to write with since it doesn't have Office. If I have to write with my phone, it'll be a few notes or maybe just an idea I'm playing with. If I want to write while I'm away from a computer, I'll use my tablet. The idea of trying to type with a phone keyboard...just nope.
     
  18. Bellhammon

    Bellhammon Member

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    Yeah I find it super convenient to write wherever I'm at. I've gotten used to using the Notes app for quick writing.
     
  19. Memento mori

    Memento mori New Member

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    I use my phone for notes mostly.
     
  20. Shenanigator

    Shenanigator Has the Vocabulary of a Well-Educated Sailor. Contributor

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    My current WIP is written on four different synced devices, depending on where I am at the time. My phone is one of the four, usually in conjunction with a bluetooth keyboard.

    Most often, I use my phone (sans bluetooth keyboard) to read what I wrote the previous day, because it simulates the experience of reading a book with an e-reader app, so it's easier to be objective. I make small corrections as I go, such as correcting typos and maybe a word or two, and then for major edits I move to the computer after the read-through.
     
  21. Lemie

    Lemie Contributor Contributor

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    I have small notes and parts of synopsis on my phone, but I have to shamefully admit that I'm not all that good with the touch-keys. My fingers aren't THAT big, and my other hobbies revolves around tiny things (not a penis joke, I SWEAR) but I just can't smoothly type on a smartphone. Good thing too - because any drunk text I'd every try to write would either be unreadable or unsent.

    I'm old school and keep carrying around notebooks, which I hardly use, but they're there!

    On a total side note: Decided to go through my old notebooks yesterday (throwing out things for my upcoming move) and it was a wonderful read. From 8-10 years back. Quite cringeful, but the over all writing was better than I remembered/expected.
     
  22. AliceOrb

    AliceOrb New Member

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    This sounds.. very... shell-y. lol
     

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