STEVEN SCANLAN
Recommended products
Throughout my writing career, I have purchased and used multiple products, so I now have a stack of tools and products in my cupboards that I never use or refer to. The tools and products I use currently are, what I consider, to be the ultimate assets for my writing style. I cannot imagine sitting down to write without these products.
A pen is a very personal item. How it feels in the hand, how it puts ink on the paper, or how it flows. Its weight and length are also important factors. When signing books I find I need something that is quick to use, writes beautifully, and looks good on the page. Over time, I have found a fountain pen to be the pen of choice. I use dark blue ink and a fine nib. This provides a quick flow and looks beautiful on the page. Although I own many fountain pens, some of them are very nice, my pen of choice for journaling and signature writing is the Lamy Safari fountain pen. This pen is cheap, has a beautiful flow and the shape of the front half makes for perfect handling. The hand rests nicely and moves easily. I can grab the pen and be writing in a second because of its design. I love this feature. The Lamy Safari is available in many colors and I love the louder colors because it is easier to find on a busy desk.
When taking notes, I like to use a small, pocketable journal and a fountain pen.
We often see the Journal as a simple notepad, but for me, it has to be quick to retrieve from the pocket, has multiple pages, and holds its shape well. Obviously, I could use any paper, even folded up A4, but for me, it is as much about the act of writing the note as it is the note itself. I use a Black notebook that has a feature to hold a pen. The reason is that I may need a pen fast and do not want to be searching my pockets for one at the time I take the note. I use this one most.
I struggle with tinnitus. This ailment has been a part of my life for over twenty years. To reduce its impact, I use additional sounds to cover the high-pitched whistle that rings in my ears 24 hours a day. Although tinnitus does not restrict my lifestyle, I suffer in loud situations like noisy restaurants. When writing, I can hear these whistles more. To counter this sound, I use headphones playing non-descript music. I play music I do not know or that reflects the scene I am writing. It is important to me I do not know the words, or I will sing along and this challenges my ability to write. Over the years, I have tried many headphones and headsets. I have used in-ear, on-ear, and around-the-ear, and without a doubt, the most efficient and best I have tried is the Bose Quiet Comfort range. The in-ear models make my ears sweat over time, the on-ear is similar. However, the over-ear I can wear them for hours at a time and not be disturbed. This is also excellent for working on a plane or in a busy coffee shop or hotel lounge. I use the QC35s but will be stretching for the wire-free QC45 or QC700 this year. I prefer hands-free. The battery life is also fantastic.
We all believe we can write, and at a fundamental level, we can. If you are writing for yourself or a friend, then your writing can be as you, please. If you are writing for a broader audience, then they will demand a higher level of writing, prose, and story. You can learn a great deal from books on the subject. I have found this book of particular use when writing Fantasy..
My Tool of choice
When I was first introduced to this amazing tool, I used it with some trepidation. I found the layout confusing and the terminology hard to decipher. This was mostly because of my lack of knowledge of the writing terminology, but there was also the challenge of learning a new tool.
I subsequently realized that my concerns were unfounded. The learning curve is not as steep as people state. It is a new learning experience, and there are some differences to a normal typing application like Microsoft Word. However, after a few hours, I was writing themes, sections, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters with this wonderful tool. I now write a chapter a day and when I wish to see the whole story, I simply place it into Full-Screen mode and edit to my heart's content. I cannot emphasize how much this tool has changed by writing or production of ready documents.
I am off now to compile my book into ePub using Scrivener.
I recently had an issue with a book on Ingram Spark and reached out to the Alliance of Independent Authors. they were able to offer immediate and valuable support. I have been a member for a short time and found their offers for discounts with writing resources and services to be invaluable. I have saved a great deal of money as a result of being a member. Take a look and see how they can help you.