What are the writer's essential tools?

Answer 1

Truly I think that an imagination is the one essential tool. If you don't have that, then why bother? You can surround yourself with every pen made, all the pencils a forest would make, a semi load of paper, and the world's best word processor, but if you don't have imagination, what will you write?

Answer 2

Paper, pens, pencils, erasers.

Computer with printer.

Misc things like reading glasses and a good light, comfortable chair.

A nice roomy surface. Keep it tidy and organized, give yourself room to both type and write, and keep your supplies there. Arrange your table or desk to have a good view, but not looking directly out a busy window...that is too much distraction. You also want your desk to be outside the main traffic pattern of your home, a tucked away little corner where things don't just end up in your space as people wander by. You go there on purpose and you add things to that area on purpose.

A few resources. A nice paperback dictionary. A thesaurus (synonym finder). A writer's handbook to help you remember how correspondence should look, how to cite sources and make footnotes. Perhaps a quotation book.

A good writer has planned for inspiration. Keep a journal, with an elegant pen, and perhaps with an active (add and remove easily) idea file of topics to journal about...there are a few books and games like this...what if type items with cards, or you can jot them on index cards and pull one at random for that day's entry. Might I also suggest that a gratitude journal everyday can change anyone's life? It helps you be more appreciative, and helps you look for the positive in situations so you can write about it later. And you can always just reflect on the day's events, or journal about what you are thinking about, your answers and questions about the universe, or snippets of something you want to work into your writing, or what you learned through your meditation or devotion that day.

A system for keeping creative stuff, including non-fiction writing, separate from ordinary office activities. If you are a professional writer, obviously there are less boundaries between the two. But nothing stifles the muses more than reminders of everyday life. Keep the bills and warrantees out of sight when you are trying to write.

Try to keep a minimalist decor and keep those items inspirational. If you want a couple treasured photos in the space, or a few volumes by your fav writers, great. Fresh flowers? Always a pleasure to look at. A folder of mp3s or a small CD collection and player for background music while you are working. Maybe a scented item in the space like a Glade plug in, a candle, or a jar of pot pourri, or a can of spray. I would think a small candy jar, or a mini coffee maker would be nice in the space. I would think this is enough, and everything else would get cluttery and distracting.

I hope you can create a beautiful place for yourself.

Answer 3

three steps I use. Rant, Organize, conform. What i mean by that is I right for maybe 30 minutes about whatever topic I am given, then I Organize what I have so far and start an outline, or spider web, research it, and then conform means I put it all together and make sure it sounds right. Such as get others to give you an honest opinion on what Im writing, and then have a better writer correct and look over my paper. Then I finish it. Only thing I need is a pencil, paper, my mind, and a computer.

Answer 4

Self-discipline (write a little everyday) , a good brain that can focus for long periods of time, a computer or word processor, and a good plot consisting of a beginning, a middle and an end. Sounds funny, but without the last 3, you may be just rambling. Have a plan, like a map and head there, every day until you reach where you want to be and you're done!

Answer 5

A notebook, pens/pencils, a pink pearl eraser, music and the absence of annoyance. It also helps if you have an idea to start with.

Answer 6

A desk, pen and paper or a computer with a word processor, and a private space where he/she can write unmolested.

Answer 7

a quiet space. mental capability. no distractions. the heart. the idea and a paper and pen.

Answer 8

their mind and either a pen and some paper or a computer
there ya go

Answer 9

imagination, a good sense of language and communication. A pencil.

Answer 10

an idea, paper and a pen, or a computer