I used to try and optimize my distraction-free writing setup, until I realized that by doing so I was distracting myself from writing. I’ve come to realize that if you want to write, then just write. It sounds oversimplified, but that’s the crux of it. Once you get over the initial hill and form the habit of writing, tools no longer matter.
Seems similar to people who keep buying tools, say for woodworking, and never really start a project. Like a kind of procrastination. Although there are people that are aware of that, but they have just pleasure with it. I guess is ok.
I agree with this. I would add that the important part of the practice of writing is not the tools, but once you are writing you can try tools that help you continue. For my creative writing (that I do mostly as a hobby) I have a nice notebook with a nice pen that I use to write short stories and world building excercises, and characters, etc. I don't need the nice notebook, I did not get it before starting, but it does feel nice to come home having thought of what to write and have a pleasant notebook and pen.
My job includes writing technical documents but I use latex and emacs because that's what I have always used.
But practice > tools!
I am hoping that someone (maybe me!) will make a "write/program in the sun"-friendly e-ink Linux computer, A5 sized.
Use cases: Patio bars in Austin Texas, sunny Medellin Colombia, outside plaza cafes in Barcelona.
Thank you!
Not a Linux machine, but 14 and 16 inch MBPs with something like the Vivid app do really well in sunlight in light mode. I enjoy working outside on mine.
They seem like a better razor for your Yak Shaving than an actually useful product (generally, I'm assuming some people do benefit from them).
Honestly if constant online distractions are an issue - just put your laptop/PC in airplane mode, if you don't have the self control to not turn air plane mode off you likely aren't going to have enough to not pull your phone out/grab your laptop.
I use an Alphasmart Neo to write my novels. It's incredibly easy to focus with such a machine. If it just had bigger storage capacity and a microSD slot I'd never consider another option.
PocketMage I wonder if it could go in there, there is a video says "writer deck"
My solution: drafts on scraps of paper away from phone/laptop, then type it up on machine.
I use and am a big fan of the pomera.
That said, I'd issue a warning to aspiring writers here on HN: the writer deck culture is really just a big distraction from writing to which technically inclined people are especially prone, and I say this as a huge fan of the concept.
Ultimately, you need discipline to write, period. A writer deck is not going to solve that problem for you. If you already have a functioning laptop you can likely save yourself some money and work on being disciplined and conducting dedicated writing sessions first. After you've done that, writer decks are a good investment if portability is important for your practice and a laptop is too much to lug around.
Otherwise, resist the tantalizing urge to dive down the writer deck rabbit hole. You are really just distracting yourself from writing and spending more time on romanticizing the idea of writing than actually doing it—at least this was the case for me.
I've seen the pattern again and again: I'll finally be able to write once I acquire <foo>. I'll paste something I wrote on a previous similar topic:
[Regarding the devices] The various iterations all look quite attractive, and the final one especially looks kind of like if an Apple IIc and a computer from Brazil had a baby – in a good way! I congratulate the creator on producing so much real hardware and not just renders; I’ve designed and made hardware and it’s hard as hell!
But I’ve also written a pretty good bit (not just code documentation and emails but fiction, short stories), and it’s also hard as hell, and like a lot of people who want to write things I’ve dabbled with all sorts of instruments that I’m convinced will finally be the trick to make the words come out good.
I’ve used legal pads, and composition books, and spiral notebooks, and grid paper notepads.
I’ve written with pencils, and ballpoints, and fountain pens, and dip pens with a whole variety of nibs and inks (admittedly that was mostly just for fun).
I’ve written in Acme on Plan 9, in Emacs and Vi on Linux, in Google Docs on a cheap Chromebook, and in BBEdit on a Mac SE/30. I’ve also used a mechanical typewriter, a Selectric electric typewriter, and an AlphaSmart Neo 2.
So I say the following from experience:
* Writing is difficult to do well, regardless of how you’re getting the words down.
* It’s easy to distract yourself, regardless of how you’re getting the words down.
* One of the easiest ways to accomplish #2 is by dreaming about the next perfect writing tool that will really make your writing sing just as soon as you muster up the courage to click “Buy”.
* Once you get your latest writing toy^H^H^Htool, it’s easier to write blog posts about it than to write the things you actually want to write but are deep down too timid to try.
In summary, I applaud Unkyu for making these, and I don’t think they’re likely to help you write better.
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