

Why? Because most writing tools treat creative input just like the output. Whether you're writing or reading, you start at the top and end at the bottom. While this might seem pretty simple (and it is), it’s kind of revolutionary for a writing app. On the right, a bulleted outline of your project. Probably because both Jim Briggs and Joanna Wiebe are writers.Īirstory’s dashboard divides your writing projects into two panes: On the left, you can add cards containing notes, references, and random ideas. Beyond writing and editing, research also plays a key role, especially for long-form work.Īirstory’s team (of 2) gets it. Grammarly: the writing and editing tool that teachesĪdding my scattered musings on the design process to a new project.įew writing apps seem to grasp the whole scope of the writing process.
PLACE TO WRITE STUFF FREE
You can use Hemingway Editor for free on the web, and it’s just $10 to get it on your Mac or Windows desktop. Super handy for writing for the web, where the standard is to aim for a reading level of 5th to 7th grade. It also grades your text’s “readability” based on the difficulty of your diction and sentence structures. Then Hemingway automagically sweeps through the document, highlighting:Īlso known as the “5 deadly sins of writing.” (Though it does have a writing mode that turns off all the features designed to help you edit.)įor my own workflow, I’ll write in Google Docs or Quip, then copy and paste my content into Hemingway. Now’s the time to start cutting unnecessary words, simplifying complex sentences, and improving flow.įor stage two, nothing beats Hemingway text editor, because it was made for the editing stage. Once you’ve flooded the page with your ideas, let them rest awhile, then come back for an editorial pass. It’s like a brainstorming session, except it sucks less. This stage is all about letting your ideas pour out on to the screen without self-censorship. Write down whatever comes to mind without second-guessing your phrasing. Writing requires at least two stages: expansion (writing) and contraction (editing).

Which I’d (humbly) edit to: The best writing is editing. White, author of Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web, once wrote: The best writing is rewriting. Hemingway Editor: the ultimate editing toolĮ.B. I’m also a big fan of Quip’s export options, which include Microsoft Word, PDF, Markdown, HTML, and LaTeX. Use it in your browser, on your desktop, or your mobile and everything stays beautifully in sync.ĭon't want to get distracted with styling, but still want beautiful type? Quip's got your covered with 5 typographic themes to choose from. Quip also offers an app everywhere you could want it. Need to focus on writing for awhile? Just collapse the sidebar and switch to the full-screen view to get into the flow.

Once a collaborator’s joined, you can have a chat about the content right inside the doc.
PLACE TO WRITE STUFF PLUS
Just click the plus button next to the right person and they’re automatically added to the doc. Within each document, you’ll see a sidebar featuring a few of your favorite collaborators. That’s because the Quip team did a beautiful job integrating sharing and chat right into the app. If you’re looking to improve your writing, you need to do four things:Īnd while Quip wasn’t built to help with number 1, it can be incredibly handy for number 2.
