My Favourite Writing Tools | time management, outlining, word choice

[@madisonvava8342]

Reverse dictionary is the thing I’ve been looking for my entire life... I didn’t know it existed 😭

[@tapiocapearl0304]

There are SO many instances I needed this. I thought, "hey, Shaelin spoke of a thing like this once..." Then I forgot the word for reverse dictionary!

[@libraryofadventures7800]

Sameeee!!!

[@MrSadlyMisunderstood]

I love your hair. Those curls down the side are so pretty.💝😄🙋

[@christianvchacon]

Ellie Hi, Ellie! Haha

[@indigo92099]

No joke, I was searching the whole day for writing tool videos on KZbin and then you suddenly bless us with a video about exactly this topic 😇🧡

[@ShaelinWrites]

My psychic powers at work again

[@itheivoidi9151]

@@ShaelinWrites no u

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

OMG HOW HAD I NOT HEARD OF REVERSE DICTIONARY BEFORE?!?!!? this is going to change my life!!

[@ShaelinWrites]

It changed mine !!

[@thenewzero6236]

When I first came across the concept of the reverse dictionary, it made my brain hurt. Now I don't know how I lived without it. Thanks for sharing the tips.

[@TeknuAddict]

You introducing me to Milanote has literally just changed my life. I have five character arcs and nearly 50,000 words of un-chronological mayhem that I've been generously been calling a draft. I've never so clearly understood the concept of "can't see the forest for the trees" as I have during the process of trying to write this book. I tried to outline it in Dabbles plot grid, but I just couldn't find a way to wrestle it into a form that made any sense with my character's arcs and timeline. Word didn't work at all either and I can't go old-school and stick sticky notes on my wall because I have little privacy at home, and the idea of someone reading any of my outlining stuff before I'm done with the book feels akin to ripping pages out of my diary and posting those on the wall for everyone to see. With Milanote I can outline all of their arcs separately and THEN rearrange the scenes in the order I want them to be in the book. I can even have little piles of side notes like: hey here's a conversation that these two characters should have or, might have, AT SOME POINT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN. I'll just put that off to the side here with the twenty OTHER "AT SOME POINTS" I have because this is how my mind works... I can even hotlink all the scenes into the Milanote outline, so when I'm rearranging stuff I just click that note and Bam! Dabble opens up right to that scene. I can have pictures of my characters and settings on it. I can have links to songs I've found that inspired parts of the book. This is like a beautiful fever dream I never want to wake up from. Thankyou, thankyou! A thousand times THANKYOU! for introducing me to this software!

[@EvieReddingWrites]

I really like MyWriteClub and have been using it for several years. I think I will make an updated tools video as well on my channel, but the things I have been using that I have liked are: -ASMRooms and Miracle Forest (KZbin channels): ambient sounds (and hogwarts common rooms!) -Coffivity: more ambient sounds -Forest App: keeps me away from my phone while growing trees of productivity -Habitica: gamify your daily habits and goals -Trello: kanban-esque boards/workflow boards.

[@3polygons]

Nice list, thank you. :)

[@galaxylucia1898]

This is so helpful! I'm getting better at organizing my writing and tools to improve my productivity so this video literally came at the right time for me. Thank you Shaelin!

[@livewireOrourke]

Lately I'm having my dog type out as I dictate the story aloud. Unfortunately, she is horrible. "He walked into the forest" turns into "fjrjekehciv hr#$ forest." I can't use that.

[@ShaelinWrites]

My cat occasionally tries to 'help' by walking on the keyboard or even having a nap there. I value her contributions

[@elisa4620]

@@ShaelinWrites Same... With everything I (try to) do XD

[@eadlc]

Since I write on Google Docs my things are automatically saved to Google Drive. It's great.

[@ender4344]

Same (Also, zuko!)

[@eadlc]

@@ender4344 I went back to writing by hand and everything is automatically saved in my notebook. It’s great. I know it isn’t for everyone, though. I just find it fun and like the benefits.

[@ender4344]

@@eadlc i love writing by hand! I find it fun, too. But as a student i prefer typing rn because it's less time-consuming (im a slow writer). I have to write by hand more though! So fun!

[@eadlc]

@@ender4344 The whole reason I went back to handwriting was because my eyes beg for a respite from online classes lol

[@ender4344]

Eduardo Alvarez de Lugo lol

[@lindalysa3299]

I love it when I come across a video like this where the tools mentioned are actually ones that I mostly haven't heard of. I have tried a few apps like the ones you mentioned, but there were a few things that made me not like them enough to continue using them. It looks like the ones you mentioned do not have those issues though, so thank you for this video, Shaelin!

[@cloverscandlecorner]

That reverse dictionary is going to be a great tool for procrastination. Why am I not writing? I’m looking for the perfect word! Lmao

[@kiranrathod7469]

Reverse dictionary by reader's digest!!! I have it since so many years. Never knew it was online... Thank you.

[@eduardoo31]

Great video, Shaolin! I'm especially excited about the reverse dictionary. I think it's really going to improve my non native vocabulary haha

[@marioksmith]

I use Recoll a lot. It's a tool for searching text in all your documents. It's pretty useful when you want to check whether you've used a simile, metaphor, description, name, etc. before. It shows matching results in a list: filenames, date of file creation, and - most importantly - the matching line, so you don't have to open the document at all. It significantly speeds up work. It's for Windows and Linux systems, but I'm sure there are alternatives for Mac as well. I also use rhymezone.com. You can find synonyms, antonyms, descriptive words, example sentences, rhymes in one place. It can be pretty useful, too.

[@Blank-iz4lq]

Milanote is amazing! Just brainstorming on their helped me plan out some of the more vague points I my book

[@elizamardlin1782]

been here since 2k and so happy to see how your videos have improved

[@arnrockwell]

myWriteClub is now my new favourite thing. Thanks a bunch!

[@mranleecala7215]

So I just watched in 2020. 😅 I'm actually using Milanote already, tho on my phone and not on my computer. The computer version enables me to make boards so I am yet to try that. The greatest app I could recommend is ProWritingAid. I think it has more writer-needed features than Grammarly. It is also free to use online. I love the Reverse Dictionary and Inkarnate suggestions. 💕 For those who write on their phones like me, do use the WPS app. It is a great word-processor and you can store your files in their cloud, so no need for other backups.

[@faeriewren]

Thank you. Finding good map making tools is difficult.

[@MargaretPinard]

I'm having to rethink the syncing-backup choices, because Dropbox is full, and Google is now requiring a separate app on the desktop rather than just synching...I just hate the long, slow creep of the loss of privacy there :/

[@sayerslayer1854]

Hi Shaelin I know this is an old video but thank you !!!! I was always looking for something like Reverse Dictionary because I know there are a lot of nature words that often times just don't come up in my mind but that I want to use and RD brings it all up! I love it! I am working on some poetry look-and-find books(series is called Lost & Found, with themes being Life, The Void, and In God's Ligament), as well as a fantasy/science fiction novel a bit like Narnia but in reverse, and way way different. Thanks again for this video. You are the one KZbin writer who I actually enjoy listening to because your videos are fairly general and can be used by many different kinds of writers. Again, Reverse Dictionary is an absolute gem! Thanks for helping me find it!!!

[@xXDemkaBelikovXx]

I made a discovery the other day on accident while I was at work. On Google Docs, you can hit Ctrl + Shift + S and it opens up to your microphone and you can to speech-to-text! (for context, I was just trying to strike through some text and did the wrong combo of keys lol)

[@NickSklias]

So helpful and informative, as always! You rock, Shaelin.

[@authorgreene]

I love that reverse dictionary. I'll be using it in the future. As a companion to a thesaurus, I have a synonym dictionary. Like a thesaurus, it gives a list of related words, but unlike a thesaurus or even a dictionary, it's goal to explain the subtle differences between those words. It spends at least a paragraph on each word, giving connotations, context, and examples. It does so much more than define because it helps understand the fuller implication of one word verses another word that means nearly (but not quite) the same thing.

[@musi2994]

WritingPal is a FREE IOS app made to make writing easier. It has multiple formats for your convenience such as book, poem, essay, ideas (notes), article, and blog (with pictures). Also, you can just create a custom document if you do not want any of these. WritingPal provides tools such as speech to text and text to speech (in many languages), and includes sharing formats like rtf, pdf and google docs. IPhone, IPad, IPod.

[@drppr76]

Thank You Shaelin - will check out the reverse dictionary site for sure - what I do to save my work is when I'm done I use two flash drives for backup in case my computer crashes - always good to have multiple copies of your work

[@mrandisg]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I just signed up for Milanote and wow! So much fun! I've got to tell my co-author about this! 😍 Also, Reverse Dictionary is going to be a lifesaver, I'm sure!

[@kaylastarr3822]

Wow! I didn't even know reverse dictionary was a Thing. That's so awesome

[@NosiDM]

GDocs! Free. Similar functionality as Word. Constantly saves to the Cloud. Accessible on any of my devices to work on the go or in writing sessions. Share and comment function that's easy to get feedback in real time. Work can be sent to multiple other places for backup protection. All previous versions are saved and are accessible if I make a terrible mistake or prefer an older version. Has it's own folder system to organise collections.

[@kryner0]

This is just what I needed!

[@suzenka001]

Great video with amazing tips! Knew some already and found great ones too. I like to use Cold Tureky Writer (an app by Cold Turkey, as if that wasn't obvious). It blocks out everything and doesn't let you go until you write a preset number of words or work on a document on a preset time. Like it because I can't do anything else on the computer other than writing. It works well with goals like 200-500 words. Another great thing? Works offline too. Other than that I used to write in LibreOffice (still do sometimes) but moved to Google documents while I can acces them from school too and it all gets saved as you write. Problem is when you are not online and now I am kinda struggling with where should I write, if in Google Docs or in LibreOffice and then take the time to always copy paste.

[@yassineamrouch1866]

I would suggest Wonderdraft instead of Inkarnate for map making. It's a paid software, but you actually own the maps you make with it. It has much more features and is pretty cheap.

[@cloverscandlecorner]

Also, I loved your mock map. Mr. Sea Serpent Ruler of All is precious

[@davies1738]

A reverse dictionary is a thing? You know I just added this to my list of saved videos and they are 90% Shaelin :)

[@ShaelinWrites]

It will!! Change!! Your!! Life!!

[@itheivoidi9151]

@@ShaelinWrites No u

[@christygetscrafty]

This was such a helpful video! Definitely will be trying out a few of these tools. I was also a victim of a computer crash and I lost EVERYTHING. Years worth of writing. It was devastating. By the way, would you consider doing a video on bookish gifts for the holidays? I feel like every time I do a search, I come across so much cheap, cheesy stuff. I would love to have a guide to better quality bookish items that my writer and reader friends would actually enjoy.

[@libraryofadventures7800]

Oh my goddd, how come I never knew about reverse dictionary?! It would have help me sooo much because English is my second language and I always have trouble trying to remember the specific name of some things! Thank you for introducing me to it!!😆🤗

[@PickingPaul1]

Some great tips there, never heard of the reverse dictionary before. Im trying to finish a fantasy novel and i have often thought of using grammarly once its finished to polish it up, thanks for the video

[@martha7408]

Very helpful, thank you so much.

[@mrsgalindo7]

Great video thank you for sharing.

[@TheRaissarenee]

💯🙏🏽🙏🏽 thank you for all this useful info

[@CoreyDWillis]

I would go a step further with DropBox and directly store all of your documents in there so that you don't have to remember to copy the files over each day. It does a good job at not garbling files like Google Drive does if you are working on it as it tries to sync. I'm assuming you've tried Scrivener and gone back to Word again. :-) I pretty much went directly to Scrivener when I became serious about writing so I never got comfortable writing long form in Word. I love being able to separate all of my scenes, store characters bios, etc in one place. I think Scrivener basically combines the features of Milanote (which I'm still going to try) and Word together.

[@MoveMekMiPaZz]

Bless you 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌩🌩☂️☂️☂️☔️☔️☔️☔️🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

[@tell.me.mor.]

The map one is so cool ah

[@KBDYou]

Very helpful. Thank you 🎉

[@cathyl3526]

Thanks for the reminder about the reverse dictionary. I'm a copywriter in a narrow niche and it can be frustrating trying to keep copy both fresh and accurate.

[@ShaelinWrites]

Ever since I discovered it it was such a game changer? I basically never write without one open now

[@JeffreyM641]

I highly recommend Rescuetime as a time management/monitoring app. It monitors all the time you spend on your computer. If you pay for it it can also block websites that are distracting you (you can fine tune those to your liking).

[@Darkbdlz]

Hemmingway app, natural reader, blindwrite, and de-jargonizer

[@victoriannecastle]

Color theme today: Umber But it's not on the text in the thumbnail. I observed. I'm broke and I'm a traditional. I stay with index cards. Pen and paper. But that Reverse Dictionary will be helpful. Thank you.

[@craigholmes9396]

Sounds like you need Scrivener. Will help you with all of your weaknesses.

[@ScullyPop]

Hitting a community of fifty thousand is epic. You will be a maverick if you monetize properly.

[@give-mean-infinity9431]

Very useful! Thanks again for another great video😁

[@miiixxx]

Omg Shaelin, I didn't know Inkarnate!! I'm having so much fun building my fantasy world!! Thank you

[@THEARTOFGRAPPLING]

Can you do an update video on exposition please.

[@livini6121]

Thanks for the great recommendations! Do you know of any map-making tool (like Inkarnate) for the interior of buildings? Many of my settings are indoors and I'd love to have some help remembering what room is where.

[@codismith1903]

Hey! I just found an older video where you described how to create a character and had a template to help us out, do you still happen to have that somewhere? The link you had back then has now expired. I am trying to create the character (me) for my memoir and thought I would get to know myself a little better. :) thanks!!!! PS- i am sure glad to still see you doing videos! xo

[@absenceofcolour]

I've put my Scrivener document in DropBox after my old computer completely pooched, and DropBox wasn't able to open my file on Scrivener on my new computer so I was PISSED

[@rachelwritesbooks]

get that sponsor!!

[@chiefsean16]

Word Hippo.

[@JeffreyM641]

Why do you copy and paste in and out your Dropbox? You can directly open your files out your Dropbox, work on them wherever you want and save them directly to your Dropbox again. Really like this video though :)

[@JonMidori]

So when progressing from, "I have an idea." to the next stage, what do people use? Is milanote best? Is there a software out there or do people just use pen and pad?

[@boredgrass]

...Scrivener? + hardcopy on paper + Mail, i.e. by mailing backup to one self, saving it on the mail server, without annoyances of dropbox and Scrivener.

[@februarysnows5528]

The thought right after watching this video, it's time to get myself together... Smh lol

[@kosanarmax4158]

Reverse Dictionary OH MY GOD!

[@rueroxanne972]

Get that sponsorship!

[@jasleensihra9754]

WorldAnvil is good for fantasy writers and RPGs :)

[@eadlc]

I actually did get an ad for Grammarly before this video

[@nvwest]

Only 30 minutes? Wish I had that discipline. Often it’s either start immediately or waste half a day

[@s.k.1603]

This is kind off topic in regards to writing but what editing software do you use to edit your videos?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Final cut pro!

[@efosaagbonson1581]

Thanks for this Shaelin.....one of my favourite tools is a blogging tool called www.medium.com......to put my work out there.....and to read it as an outsider from there. Kind Regards, Efosa Osakue Agbonson.

[@miaththered]

I have arrived.

[@3polygons]

And we all welcome your gracious presence.

[@miaththered]

@@3polygons Woo. :D

[@romyec]

I've seen you write in Word. Do you recommend Google Docs too? Thanks!

[@ShaelinWrites]

I like word more, but it's whichever you prefer :)

[@scirufic1147]

Yay, I finally caught one of your videos that is not 2-4 years old! 👏🤣 In 09, I saved all my data on an external hard drive and three years later it crashed. Lost everything and learned to have two back ups.

[@ZyairesReign]

Cooki33munstar 876655 Wdym not 2-4 years old? She is an amazing KZbin writer

[@scirufic1147]

​@@ZyairesReign Nothing bad, just that every referred video I get, is 2-4 years old. She is amazing and I've stated in another comment all her suggestions have been helping me in my writings. Not only that but her videos are amazing, too. In the end, it was exciting to receive a new video!!!

[@ZyairesReign]

Cooki33munstar 876655 oh I get what u mean haha, I though u meant her advice for for like “2-4 year olds” sorry for the misunderstanding, I love her vids too, have a great rest of ur night/day!

[@scirufic1147]

​@@ZyairesReign No problem. You have a great night/day, too!

[@CarolinaBury]

Do you know instead of copy and paste your files you can just syncronize your folders automatically?

[@ShaelinWrites]

This is life changing

[@mystic_tacos]

This may very well sound stupid but here goes, is myWriteClub mostly for novels or can it be for short stories also? I ask because I have a feeling that a LARGE percentage of the users are going to be novel writers (for the sprint section).

[@ShaelinWrites]

I use it for short stories! You can use it for anything, it's all about how personally you want to use it, so even though most users might be using it for novels, you can use it however is most helpful for you.

[@EverSpec]

Have you ever tried your hand at song writing?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Nope but I have tried out poetry!

[@proximashining776]

I write in Evernote because sometimes I write on my PC and sometimes on my tablet, sometimes on other computers elsewhere, and I need to have all my stuff accessible on all devices without having to copy and paste everything all the time. I also have my research, notes and character bios in Evernote for that same reason. I would like to use Scrivener, as I like it's features very much, but since it doesn't sync between different devices, it's unusable for me at the moment.

[@dismantledbrain5910]

Grammarly is in the team 'color' \o/

[@CupCakeUnleashed]

I just use Scriviner. Its just so simple and has so many features. Keeps all my stuff neat and clear.

[@ShankYanker]

Definitely Dropbox. I just recently spilled soda on my laptop and lost ALL of my writing, because I'm an idiot and had no backups.

[@3polygons]

it should be possible to extract the HD and save the data by connecting it to a pc or other laptop...

[@ShankYanker]

@@3polygons I'll try it. I didn't even think of that. Thanks.

[@MishaGerrick]

Ooh! I've never even thought a reverse dictionary is a thing. I'm so going to try it. I think my favorite tools right now would be Trello (my life is in that App, I swear), Scrivener, and... No... That's it. I HATE Word so much I can't even describe it to you.

[@lesliwilliams4616]

You need a laptop for milanote😭

[@musi2994]

WritingPal is a FREE IOS app made to make writing easier. It has multiple formats for your convenience such as book, poem, essay, ideas (notes), article, and blog (with pictures). Also, you can just create a custom document if you do not want any of these. WritingPal provides tools such as speech to text and text to speech (in many languages), and includes sharing formats like rtf, pdf and google docs. IPhone, IPad, IPod.

[@InfidelProductionz]

Is that a new tattoo?

[@edwardfreda3335]

#FavoriteCanadian

[@manlikenathan8668]

I’m lazy and ask google home 😭😹😹

[@hatezis]

Do you have a tattoo on your forearm?

[@ShaelinWrites]

yep

[@hatezis]

@@ShaelinWrites cool 😊

[@vickimicki1989]

Is smartly a word???? Idek!!😂

[@kurtisscriba2137]

Spoilers!