Pomodoro Timers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile \u201cpomodoro\u201d is Italian for \u201ctomato\u201d, you won\u2019t be throwing tomatoes at this method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At its core, the pomodoro method is similar to a writing sprint\u2014a set amount of time to get work done in. The technique, invented by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s<\/a> to help him study without burning out, consists of a set work period, followed by a break period. The traditional work period is 25 minutes, and the traditional break period is five minutes. You can repeat this cycle as many times as you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor romance writers distracted by frequent notifications who feel the urge to check them, this method can be great because it gives you preset windows of time to focus on your work, and take a moment to check on those chat bubbles. This can break down the feeling of overwhelm caused by large time goals (aka: \u201cI am going to write for an hour\u201d) into smaller chunks, while giving you a chance to not get overwhelmed by those text messages and app notifications piling up either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pomodoro method is highly customizable to find you timeframes that work best for your brain (20:5 works best for me!), and tools that fit your needs and aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- People who want or need frequent breaks without losing the writer headspace<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who tend to work without breaks or end points<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who like a \u201cgamified\u201d experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who get overwhelmed by the idea of productivity within large time chunks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who get distracted while working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Pomodoro timers to focus your writing time:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you need to focus on that contemporary forbidden romance you\u2019re working on, these tools can help you get down to business while your characters get down to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/laurelholl.com\/staging\/3230\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-10-150938.png?resize=800%2C422&ssl=1\")
Spirit City: LoFi Sessions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- SpiritCity: LoFi Sessions
This charming \u201cgame\u201d available on Steam<\/a> is perfect for you multiscreen babes and is my personal favorite tool. This program is a powerhouse a built in pomodoro timer, to-do list, white noise, and multiple lofi playlists. Plus, it\u2019s super cute and customizable. Decorate your room for your customizable avatar, find the perfect mix of ambiance with white noise options and chill playlists, and unlock cute spirit pets while you work. At this point, even opening the app sends me into productivity mode. It\u2019s only $12 on Steam, too!
Bonus: This tool is great for people who find body-doubling<\/a> an effective tool.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Flocus
This web-based tool<\/a> is perfect for those who love a clean and simple interface with a lovely view. You can customize your timer for your perfect work\/break rhythm and overall cycles and display it against a variety of soothing backgrounds. While it has a paid version that lets you unlock more backgrounds and features like embedded playlists and white noise, its free version is still perfect for those working on a tight budget.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Pomocat
More of a mobile app person? This adorable app (available on Google Play Store<\/a> and the Apple App Store<\/a>) incorporates an adorable cartoon kitty animations, white noise, silent mode, and stats for the nerds among us. This is perfect for people with only one screen, who write on the go or on paper, or who prefer to have hard data on their productivity. I love this app for its flexibility and ease of use while still giving me robust features and customizability for free. There are also bonus features for a small price!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nA Series Bible or Story Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Storing all of your notes in the same place is going to be a game changer. I know this one seems obvious, but hear me out… How much of your notes, inspiration, and planning are actually<\/em> in the same place? Or do you have to stop and search for the right bookmark in the right folder, and the right file in the google drive, CTRL+F for how that hero smells, and the right inspo Pinterest board? This is not a call out, it\u2019s a call in, bestie. You\u2019re wasting time and interrupting your work flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe idea of having everything in the same place isn\u2019t a new concept at all, however as our writing toolkits have grown, our ideas have been scattered all over the place. Bringing all those elements together in one place can help you stay on track, stay organized, and resist the urge to scroll social media or look at your other WIPs (works in progress).\u00a0Your story bible\/series bible is the source of truth for your manuscript.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now having everything in one place doesn\u2019t mean you have to hand copy those Pinterest boards or abandon your various lists and bookmarks. It just means making all of those scattered tools and inspiration points accessible in the same place as your story planning. By adding in links to your Pinterest boards, Canva whiteboards, Inkarnate Maps, extra documents, and any other sites you\u2019re using in the same place as you\u2019re housing your story planning, you\u2019re able to keep your focus on a single document outside of your WIP (and in some causes, just your WIP). Instead of having to go hunting every time you need to confirm a plot point or the spelling of someone\u2019s name, it is either right there already or a click away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I recommend this idea to any author, but it\u2019s especially great to create a series bible for people building out a romance series<\/a>, or an epic enemies to lovers romantasy. By keeping all of your lore, inspiration, plot points, scenes, and character ideas in the same place, you\u2019ll have an easier time avoiding inconsistencies and plot holes, as well as staying in the flow.\u00a0Though my books are standalones so far, I still create them for every WIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to keep your series bible and organize your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which tool you use is going to come down to how your brain works best. They fall into categories instead of being the same type of product in different packaging. It\u2019s worth taking a bit of time to sit down and set up these documents wherever you are in your process.\u00a0Here are some different options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Notebooks built into writing software<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Again, I know this seems like a \u201cno brainer\u201d, but have you taken the time to do it or even explore the feature within your software? No? That\u2019s okay, you can start now! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re considering switching away from just word processing software to dedicated story writing software, the build in notebook might be the thing that makes or breaks it for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scrivener<\/a>, which is often considered one of the industry standards for writing software, has in incredible built-in tools you can store and organize everything in from plot points to research and more. For a single book, you can keep it all in the same document as your manuscript, and for longer series you can do that, or make your series bible its own document. Scrivener is used by a lot of folks and is really powerful as well as a one time purchase vs. a subscription, but it has a high learning curve and isn\u2019t very pretty. It is also a desktop program and requires a manual set up for cloud saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNovelPad<\/a> is my chosen writing program. Its simple layout allows you to work clutter free in a way that makes sense for my brain. Its built-in notebook allows you to keep all your information handy. You can link your notebook pages to your plots, characters, locations, and scenes. Other things I find helpful are the way the character profiles automatically link to every mention of them in the story, and color coding. While an incredibly powerful program, NovelPad\u2019s story tools are probably best for people writing single stories rather than series, and the inability to add pictures into your notes might be a deal breaker for some folks. It is a web-based program that you can access on mobile as well, which is great for adding stuff wherever you are. It\u2019s a subscription-based software that I personally find to be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDabble<\/a> is like a hybrid between Scrivener and NovelPad. It combines a lot of the powerful tools of Scrivner with a more aesthetically pleasing and simplified layout like NovelPad. The ability to build out your plot points, research, character profiles all right there with pictures and all is incredible. It\u2019s somewhere in between the NovelPad and Scrivener in the learning curve. This web-based program is available as a subscription with different levels to suit your needs, or a onetime purchase price. With a higher price tag, it might take it out of the running for people on a budget. However, the best tool is the one that works best for you, so the price tag can be worth if that\u2019s what gets you writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Multipurpose note and productivity tools<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
These are the MOST customizable of all the options. While you could write in them, I generally wouldn\u2019t advise it, but you do what\u2019s best for you, boo.\u00a0
Programs like Microsoft OneNote (free or paid), Evernote (free or paid), and Joplin (free and open source) are all notebooks in the more traditional sense. They\u2019re all a little different. You can use tools within them like to do lists, tabs, pages, formatting, and tables to customize what you need. These are workhorses through and through and work great for people who love to stay on task and hyperorganized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programs like Coda (free or paid) and Notion (free or paid) are similar and add a few more tools and the ability to customize your aesthetics. With the same features as the above, but with more flexibility to match your layout to your mind, add tools like databases, and embed fun things like timers, weather apps, and more, these programs create the perfect writing dashboard AND notebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A comfy workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Listen, you can\u2019t write that cozy small town romance if you are writing in a space that doesn\u2019t vibe with you. I mean, you can, but it\u2019s going to make you less productive<\/a>, and can even impact your mental health<\/a> and physical health. While we have to work with whatever space we\u2019ve got, there are some things that can make your space fit your needs and help you focus on your writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWriters this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Everyone! Whether you are an author who writes from home or writes on the go, you can make your space work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comfortable workspace tools to enhancing your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re going to need to find the specific products that work best for you, but here are some standard tools and things to consider no matter where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- A comfortable space for your body<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
I know, I know. Another \u201cno brainer\u201d, right? Wrong. Internalized ableism is a hell of an influence, and can stop us from getting tools like ergonomic keyboards, mouses, chairs or chair cushions, monitor, or laptop risers, and desks because of aesthetics and the idea that needing physical supports means something is \u201cwrong\u201d with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using tools like ergonomic keyboards and mouses can keep you focused by reducing stress on those money makers (your hands and wrists), which will keep you writing longer both in individual sessions and long term. A supportive chair can also help reduce back, hip, and neck pain and keep your spine and hips healthy long term. Writing in flexible spaces like coffee shops? Portable chair cushions, and wireless keyboards and mouses can all fit in a backpack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For romance writers distracted by frequent notifications who feel the urge to check them, this method can be great because it gives you preset windows of time to focus on your work, and take a moment to check on those chat bubbles. This can break down the feeling of overwhelm caused by large time goals (aka: \u201cI am going to write for an hour\u201d) into smaller chunks, while giving you a chance to not get overwhelmed by those text messages and app notifications piling up either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pomodoro method is highly customizable to find you timeframes that work best for your brain (20:5 works best for me!), and tools that fit your needs and aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- People who want or need frequent breaks without losing the writer headspace<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who tend to work without breaks or end points<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who like a \u201cgamified\u201d experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who get overwhelmed by the idea of productivity within large time chunks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- People who get distracted while working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Pomodoro timers to focus your writing time:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you need to focus on that contemporary forbidden romance you\u2019re working on, these tools can help you get down to business while your characters get down to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpirit City: LoFi Sessions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- SpiritCity: LoFi Sessions
This charming \u201cgame\u201d available on Steam<\/a> is perfect for you multiscreen babes and is my personal favorite tool. This program is a powerhouse a built in pomodoro timer, to-do list, white noise, and multiple lofi playlists. Plus, it\u2019s super cute and customizable. Decorate your room for your customizable avatar, find the perfect mix of ambiance with white noise options and chill playlists, and unlock cute spirit pets while you work. At this point, even opening the app sends me into productivity mode. It\u2019s only $12 on Steam, too!
Bonus: This tool is great for people who find body-doubling<\/a> an effective tool.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Flocus
This web-based tool<\/a> is perfect for those who love a clean and simple interface with a lovely view. You can customize your timer for your perfect work\/break rhythm and overall cycles and display it against a variety of soothing backgrounds. While it has a paid version that lets you unlock more backgrounds and features like embedded playlists and white noise, its free version is still perfect for those working on a tight budget.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Pomocat
More of a mobile app person? This adorable app (available on Google Play Store<\/a> and the Apple App Store<\/a>) incorporates an adorable cartoon kitty animations, white noise, silent mode, and stats for the nerds among us. This is perfect for people with only one screen, who write on the go or on paper, or who prefer to have hard data on their productivity. I love this app for its flexibility and ease of use while still giving me robust features and customizability for free. There are also bonus features for a small price!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nA Series Bible or Story Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Storing all of your notes in the same place is going to be a game changer. I know this one seems obvious, but hear me out… How much of your notes, inspiration, and planning are actually<\/em> in the same place? Or do you have to stop and search for the right bookmark in the right folder, and the right file in the google drive, CTRL+F for how that hero smells, and the right inspo Pinterest board? This is not a call out, it\u2019s a call in, bestie. You\u2019re wasting time and interrupting your work flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe idea of having everything in the same place isn\u2019t a new concept at all, however as our writing toolkits have grown, our ideas have been scattered all over the place. Bringing all those elements together in one place can help you stay on track, stay organized, and resist the urge to scroll social media or look at your other WIPs (works in progress).\u00a0Your story bible\/series bible is the source of truth for your manuscript.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now having everything in one place doesn\u2019t mean you have to hand copy those Pinterest boards or abandon your various lists and bookmarks. It just means making all of those scattered tools and inspiration points accessible in the same place as your story planning. By adding in links to your Pinterest boards, Canva whiteboards, Inkarnate Maps, extra documents, and any other sites you\u2019re using in the same place as you\u2019re housing your story planning, you\u2019re able to keep your focus on a single document outside of your WIP (and in some causes, just your WIP). Instead of having to go hunting every time you need to confirm a plot point or the spelling of someone\u2019s name, it is either right there already or a click away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I recommend this idea to any author, but it\u2019s especially great to create a series bible for people building out a romance series<\/a>, or an epic enemies to lovers romantasy. By keeping all of your lore, inspiration, plot points, scenes, and character ideas in the same place, you\u2019ll have an easier time avoiding inconsistencies and plot holes, as well as staying in the flow.\u00a0Though my books are standalones so far, I still create them for every WIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to keep your series bible and organize your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which tool you use is going to come down to how your brain works best. They fall into categories instead of being the same type of product in different packaging. It\u2019s worth taking a bit of time to sit down and set up these documents wherever you are in your process.\u00a0Here are some different options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Notebooks built into writing software<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Again, I know this seems like a \u201cno brainer\u201d, but have you taken the time to do it or even explore the feature within your software? No? That\u2019s okay, you can start now! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re considering switching away from just word processing software to dedicated story writing software, the build in notebook might be the thing that makes or breaks it for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scrivener<\/a>, which is often considered one of the industry standards for writing software, has in incredible built-in tools you can store and organize everything in from plot points to research and more. For a single book, you can keep it all in the same document as your manuscript, and for longer series you can do that, or make your series bible its own document. Scrivener is used by a lot of folks and is really powerful as well as a one time purchase vs. a subscription, but it has a high learning curve and isn\u2019t very pretty. It is also a desktop program and requires a manual set up for cloud saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNovelPad<\/a> is my chosen writing program. Its simple layout allows you to work clutter free in a way that makes sense for my brain. Its built-in notebook allows you to keep all your information handy. You can link your notebook pages to your plots, characters, locations, and scenes. Other things I find helpful are the way the character profiles automatically link to every mention of them in the story, and color coding. While an incredibly powerful program, NovelPad\u2019s story tools are probably best for people writing single stories rather than series, and the inability to add pictures into your notes might be a deal breaker for some folks. It is a web-based program that you can access on mobile as well, which is great for adding stuff wherever you are. It\u2019s a subscription-based software that I personally find to be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDabble<\/a> is like a hybrid between Scrivener and NovelPad. It combines a lot of the powerful tools of Scrivner with a more aesthetically pleasing and simplified layout like NovelPad. The ability to build out your plot points, research, character profiles all right there with pictures and all is incredible. It\u2019s somewhere in between the NovelPad and Scrivener in the learning curve. This web-based program is available as a subscription with different levels to suit your needs, or a onetime purchase price. With a higher price tag, it might take it out of the running for people on a budget. However, the best tool is the one that works best for you, so the price tag can be worth if that\u2019s what gets you writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Multipurpose note and productivity tools<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
These are the MOST customizable of all the options. While you could write in them, I generally wouldn\u2019t advise it, but you do what\u2019s best for you, boo.\u00a0
Programs like Microsoft OneNote (free or paid), Evernote (free or paid), and Joplin (free and open source) are all notebooks in the more traditional sense. They\u2019re all a little different. You can use tools within them like to do lists, tabs, pages, formatting, and tables to customize what you need. These are workhorses through and through and work great for people who love to stay on task and hyperorganized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programs like Coda (free or paid) and Notion (free or paid) are similar and add a few more tools and the ability to customize your aesthetics. With the same features as the above, but with more flexibility to match your layout to your mind, add tools like databases, and embed fun things like timers, weather apps, and more, these programs create the perfect writing dashboard AND notebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A comfy workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Listen, you can\u2019t write that cozy small town romance if you are writing in a space that doesn\u2019t vibe with you. I mean, you can, but it\u2019s going to make you less productive<\/a>, and can even impact your mental health<\/a> and physical health. While we have to work with whatever space we\u2019ve got, there are some things that can make your space fit your needs and help you focus on your writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWriters this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Everyone! Whether you are an author who writes from home or writes on the go, you can make your space work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comfortable workspace tools to enhancing your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re going to need to find the specific products that work best for you, but here are some standard tools and things to consider no matter where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- A comfortable space for your body<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
I know, I know. Another \u201cno brainer\u201d, right? Wrong. Internalized ableism is a hell of an influence, and can stop us from getting tools like ergonomic keyboards, mouses, chairs or chair cushions, monitor, or laptop risers, and desks because of aesthetics and the idea that needing physical supports means something is \u201cwrong\u201d with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using tools like ergonomic keyboards and mouses can keep you focused by reducing stress on those money makers (your hands and wrists), which will keep you writing longer both in individual sessions and long term. A supportive chair can also help reduce back, hip, and neck pain and keep your spine and hips healthy long term. Writing in flexible spaces like coffee shops? Portable chair cushions, and wireless keyboards and mouses can all fit in a backpack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pomodoro timers to focus your writing time:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you need to focus on that contemporary forbidden romance you\u2019re working on, these tools can help you get down to business while your characters get down to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Storing all of your notes in the same place is going to be a game changer. I know this one seems obvious, but hear me out… How much of your notes, inspiration, and planning are actually<\/em> in the same place? Or do you have to stop and search for the right bookmark in the right folder, and the right file in the google drive, CTRL+F for how that hero smells, and the right inspo Pinterest board? This is not a call out, it\u2019s a call in, bestie. You\u2019re wasting time and interrupting your work flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea of having everything in the same place isn\u2019t a new concept at all, however as our writing toolkits have grown, our ideas have been scattered all over the place. Bringing all those elements together in one place can help you stay on track, stay organized, and resist the urge to scroll social media or look at your other WIPs (works in progress).\u00a0Your story bible\/series bible is the source of truth for your manuscript.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now having everything in one place doesn\u2019t mean you have to hand copy those Pinterest boards or abandon your various lists and bookmarks. It just means making all of those scattered tools and inspiration points accessible in the same place as your story planning. By adding in links to your Pinterest boards, Canva whiteboards, Inkarnate Maps, extra documents, and any other sites you\u2019re using in the same place as you\u2019re housing your story planning, you\u2019re able to keep your focus on a single document outside of your WIP (and in some causes, just your WIP). Instead of having to go hunting every time you need to confirm a plot point or the spelling of someone\u2019s name, it is either right there already or a click away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recommend this idea to any author, but it\u2019s especially great to create a series bible for people building out a romance series<\/a>, or an epic enemies to lovers romantasy. By keeping all of your lore, inspiration, plot points, scenes, and character ideas in the same place, you\u2019ll have an easier time avoiding inconsistencies and plot holes, as well as staying in the flow.\u00a0Though my books are standalones so far, I still create them for every WIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which tool you use is going to come down to how your brain works best. They fall into categories instead of being the same type of product in different packaging. It\u2019s worth taking a bit of time to sit down and set up these documents wherever you are in your process.\u00a0Here are some different options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, I know this seems like a \u201cno brainer\u201d, but have you taken the time to do it or even explore the feature within your software? No? That\u2019s okay, you can start now! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re considering switching away from just word processing software to dedicated story writing software, the build in notebook might be the thing that makes or breaks it for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scrivener<\/a>, which is often considered one of the industry standards for writing software, has in incredible built-in tools you can store and organize everything in from plot points to research and more. For a single book, you can keep it all in the same document as your manuscript, and for longer series you can do that, or make your series bible its own document. Scrivener is used by a lot of folks and is really powerful as well as a one time purchase vs. a subscription, but it has a high learning curve and isn\u2019t very pretty. It is also a desktop program and requires a manual set up for cloud saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NovelPad<\/a> is my chosen writing program. Its simple layout allows you to work clutter free in a way that makes sense for my brain. Its built-in notebook allows you to keep all your information handy. You can link your notebook pages to your plots, characters, locations, and scenes. Other things I find helpful are the way the character profiles automatically link to every mention of them in the story, and color coding. While an incredibly powerful program, NovelPad\u2019s story tools are probably best for people writing single stories rather than series, and the inability to add pictures into your notes might be a deal breaker for some folks. It is a web-based program that you can access on mobile as well, which is great for adding stuff wherever you are. It\u2019s a subscription-based software that I personally find to be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dabble<\/a> is like a hybrid between Scrivener and NovelPad. It combines a lot of the powerful tools of Scrivner with a more aesthetically pleasing and simplified layout like NovelPad. The ability to build out your plot points, research, character profiles all right there with pictures and all is incredible. It\u2019s somewhere in between the NovelPad and Scrivener in the learning curve. This web-based program is available as a subscription with different levels to suit your needs, or a onetime purchase price. With a higher price tag, it might take it out of the running for people on a budget. However, the best tool is the one that works best for you, so the price tag can be worth if that\u2019s what gets you writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are the MOST customizable of all the options. While you could write in them, I generally wouldn\u2019t advise it, but you do what\u2019s best for you, boo.\u00a0 Programs like Coda (free or paid) and Notion (free or paid) are similar and add a few more tools and the ability to customize your aesthetics. With the same features as the above, but with more flexibility to match your layout to your mind, add tools like databases, and embed fun things like timers, weather apps, and more, these programs create the perfect writing dashboard AND notebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen, you can\u2019t write that cozy small town romance if you are writing in a space that doesn\u2019t vibe with you. I mean, you can, but it\u2019s going to make you less productive<\/a>, and can even impact your mental health<\/a> and physical health. While we have to work with whatever space we\u2019ve got, there are some things that can make your space fit your needs and help you focus on your writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone! Whether you are an author who writes from home or writes on the go, you can make your space work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re going to need to find the specific products that work best for you, but here are some standard tools and things to consider no matter where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know, I know. Another \u201cno brainer\u201d, right? Wrong. Internalized ableism is a hell of an influence, and can stop us from getting tools like ergonomic keyboards, mouses, chairs or chair cushions, monitor, or laptop risers, and desks because of aesthetics and the idea that needing physical supports means something is \u201cwrong\u201d with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using tools like ergonomic keyboards and mouses can keep you focused by reducing stress on those money makers (your hands and wrists), which will keep you writing longer both in individual sessions and long term. A supportive chair can also help reduce back, hip, and neck pain and keep your spine and hips healthy long term. Writing in flexible spaces like coffee shops? Portable chair cushions, and wireless keyboards and mouses can all fit in a backpack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
This charming \u201cgame\u201d available on Steam<\/a> is perfect for you multiscreen babes and is my personal favorite tool. This program is a powerhouse a built in pomodoro timer, to-do list, white noise, and multiple lofi playlists. Plus, it\u2019s super cute and customizable. Decorate your room for your customizable avatar, find the perfect mix of ambiance with white noise options and chill playlists, and unlock cute spirit pets while you work. At this point, even opening the app sends me into productivity mode. It\u2019s only $12 on Steam, too!
Bonus: This tool is great for people who find body-doubling<\/a> an effective tool.
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This web-based tool<\/a> is perfect for those who love a clean and simple interface with a lovely view. You can customize your timer for your perfect work\/break rhythm and overall cycles and display it against a variety of soothing backgrounds. While it has a paid version that lets you unlock more backgrounds and features like embedded playlists and white noise, its free version is still perfect for those working on a tight budget.
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More of a mobile app person? This adorable app (available on Google Play Store<\/a> and the Apple App Store<\/a>) incorporates an adorable cartoon kitty animations, white noise, silent mode, and stats for the nerds among us. This is perfect for people with only one screen, who write on the go or on paper, or who prefer to have hard data on their productivity. I love this app for its flexibility and ease of use while still giving me robust features and customizability for free. There are also bonus features for a small price!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nA Series Bible or Story Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where to keep your series bible and organize your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Programs like Microsoft OneNote (free or paid), Evernote (free or paid), and Joplin (free and open source) are all notebooks in the more traditional sense. They\u2019re all a little different. You can use tools within them like to do lists, tabs, pages, formatting, and tables to customize what you need. These are workhorses through and through and work great for people who love to stay on task and hyperorganized.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA comfy workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Writers this works great for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Comfortable workspace tools to enhancing your writing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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