Lots of my author buddies use Scrivener - writing software that allows you to organise notes and research alongside your manuscript. Many of my friends extol its virtues but, because my books are shorter than theirs, I've never felt the need to use it.
In fact, at first I thought I didn't use technology at all for writing:
I scribe longhand in notebooks, recording every idea in case one comes in useful later.
I scribble out my plots by hand
I research at the library or by reading through my own groaning shelves of picture books
Yep I thought, except for the final write up in Word, I can get by without technology at all.
I tapped through my phone feeling quite zen and satisfyingly Luddite. Only - up popped Twitter and Facebook and Blogs and my stash of Bookmarks and I realised that yes I do use technology for picture book writing - I use the internet. And I use it at every stage of the process.
1. For inspiration
I flick through the Comedy Wildlife Awards for photos of foolish animals
I use Google Images - eg I might simply type in 'penguin' to see if anything visual sparks an idea.
I have Pinterest boards to store ideas for my books - my Fairytale Hairdresser one is here and looks like this:
2. For research:
If I want fairy tales I use Sur la lune, which has a wonderful forum as well as research notes on each tale.
For myths I often visit Seven Miles of Steel Thistles.
Then, of course, there's the high-level scientific research we authors routinely have to do:
3. For writing advice:
I look on forums and sites like
SCBWI
Notes from the Slushpile
Author Allsorts
Girls Heart Books
4. For promotion
I use my Twitter and I follow the Picture Book Den Twitter
I use my Facebook
my website
and I blog here on Picture Book Den as well as other sites as a guest.
I follow a whole range of wonderful blog and book review sites such as
Serendipity Reviews
Story Snug
Nayu's Reading Corner
Heather Reviews
Tales of Yesterday
Luna's Little Library
So I guess I'm not as much of a Luddite as I thought!
What about you - what technology do you use for writing?
Abie Longstaff's latest picture book is The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Princess and the Pea.
