Pick your medium
Last but not least, your writing scene isn't complete without your tools. Most students default to typing in digital documents, but this isn't the only way to record ideas, produce a rough draft, rewrite, etc. When it comes to writing medium, your best bet is to experiment with various options.
Below, we will explore common mediums and tools in terms of pros (i.e., benefits some writers will experience) and words of caution (i.e., potential 'cons,' many of which can be mitigated).
- THE METHOD – Log into a computer, fire up a Word doc, and get started: you know the drill!
- PROS
- It's simple to leave notes or placeholders in the text (see our rough drafting guide for more on this).
- Fast typing = fast drafting.
- Cloud storage enables access from any compatible device.
- Copy/paste lets you easily shuffle content around.
- You don't need to spend time typing it up later.
- CAUTIONS
- If you freeze up at the sight of a cursor blinking on a blank page, try typing 'It's okay if this draft is terrible' at the top of the document, in bold. Doing so is strangely liberating!
- Long stints at the computer tire the eyes and body. Set a Pomodoro timer to remind yourself to take breaks.
- The call of the internet can be very, very distracting. Explore productivity apps/extensions that limit notifications, or bar internet access altogether, while working.
- Your work can be lost if you don't follow IT best practices. Never rely exclusively on local storage, i.e., saving the file to your desktop. Back it up via cloud storage or other options.
- THE METHOD – You only need a pen and a notebook for this one. Project notebooks with tabbed sections are great for staying organised. You can also keep one notebook for planning/invention (outlines, mind maps, etc.) and one for drafting, then set the plan and your draft side by side while working.
- PROS
- Writing by hand can quiet the perfectionistic inner voice that makes drafting difficult.
- Going device-free reduces digital distractions.
- The ritual of sitting down with a favourite notebook and pen transitions you into a writing-focused headspace.
- You have an excuse to buy cute stationery. (Kidding...kind of.)
- Getting hands-on with your writing can enhance your sense of ownership and engagement.
- You can work in laptop-unfriendly locations (e.g. beach, forest, museum bench), with no worries about battery life and WiFi.
- CAUTIONS
- If you don't make a regular habit of typing up what you have handwritten, a backlog builds up. Create a recurring 'Transcription Time' event in your calendar; use it to type up your week's writing.
- Notebooks can be lost, damaged, or misplaced. At the end of each drafting session, take quick pictures of your handwritten pages as an extra safeguard. Return your notebook to the same spot after every use to reduce the odds of misplacing it.
- Notebooks aren't secure. Warning: if your drafting involves confidential information or sensitive data, you must follow the university's research data management and privacy policies.
- THE METHOD – Many students never consider this option, but talking is, indeed, a way to write. The first variation is to record yourself talking and transcribe it later. Just use the voice memo app in your phone to record thoughts and ideas as they come to you. The second variation uses speech-to-text technology, which transcribes your words automatically as you speak. Microsoft Word has a 'Dictate' feature; other dictation software and apps are available, too.
- PROS
- Have you ever been frustrated because you can explain an idea in conversation, but you freeze or go blank when you try to write it down, later? Here's your perfect workaround: forget about big bad scary WRITING, and just...talk.
- Voice memos let us record flashes of inspiration wherever they occur (e.g. treadmill, bathtub, an annoyingly long queue at Nando's, the New Forest).
- You can squeeze some writing into a busy schedule by dictating during breaks at work, on your commute, etc.
- Writing by voice gives you a break from texting, typing, and staring at a screen.
- CAUTIONS
- If using voice memos, immediately re-name your recordings (e.g. 'fallout of financial crisis' or 'Stranger Things character analysis') to avoid creating a sea of files with names like '20230713_7623.wav.'
- Delete each voice memo once you've transcribed it to prevent confusion. Follow the recurring 'Transcription Time' guidance in the handwriting section, above.
- Phones can be damaged, lost, or misplaced. Change your settings so recordings back up to cloud storage.
- If it's annoying to listen to your own voice as you transcribe, put your phone on speaker and let your computer 'listen' and type it up. You can also feed your sound files to a programme that automatically transcribes speech.
- THE METHOD – To determine if exploring different digital tools/apps is worthwhile, reflect on your writing process with questions like these:
- Does writing in your discipline call for mathematical formulas or other elements that a basic word processor doesn't handle well? If so, Overleaf/LaTeX might make things easier.
- Are you writing a dissertation, thesis, or other lengthy work, and finding it frustrating to manage a substantial manuscript? If so, software tailored to long-form writing, such as Scrivener, might be a fit.
- Are you prone to digital distractions while drafting, or do wish you had a cleaner interface to work in? Search for 'focus writing apps' and see what's available.
- Do you like to dictate a lot of your content? Word does have 'Dictate,' but dedicated voice-to-text software provides more functionality.
- Could you benefit from assistive technology when drafting? Check the university's assistive technology software guidance for more.
- Do you like drawing mind maps but tend to misplace them? Microsoft Whiteboard and other apps may help.
- PROS
- IT solutions exist for many logistical elements of writing that we find frustrating or lacking.
- Working in apps that make sense to you saves time and frustration.
- CAUTIONS
- Please don't mistake 'writing apps' for generative AI such as ChatGPT! When we refer to 'writing apps,' we mean apps that let you type, record, organise, store, and annotate your own writing. We are not endorsing AI that generates text for you: as per the university's guidance on academic responsibility and Artificial Intelligence Tools, your module leads or supervisors will clarify if and how GenAI tools are permitted to be used in your projects.
- Many free writing apps exist, but others require a one-off or monthly payment. Take advantage of 7-day trials and/or free versions of apps to test them out before you commit any money.
- All software comes with a learning curve. Give yourself adequate time to learn the ins and outs of new apps (i.e., don't launch Scrivener for the first time when your thesis is due in three weeks!).
- Make sure it's straightforward to reformat/export your writing into the file format required for submission.
Though you might settle on one preferred medium, many writers like a 'mix and match' approach. The medium that works best varies with a range of factors from day to day: how distracted you feel; your energy levels; your location; how open or busy your schedule is; your confidence in the content; the writing activity at hand; whether you feel 'blocked'; and more.
If you are working on an extended piece of writing such as a thesis or dissertation, it can be especially beneficial to vary your writing medium. Approaching words in a different way can motivate or reengage us when a project starts to feel tedious.
- Reflect on your typical writing medium and whether it lets you engage with various writing activities as you would like.
- Consider both digital and 'old school' methods to produce content: as long as it lets you put words and ideas together, it's valid.
- Remember that switching up your writing medium can have positive results when you're feeling stuck or demotivated.
