Sincere Question for Real Writers Out There

I know real writers will roll their eyes at this question but please hear me out. I have a reason for asking it feel that I need some sincere assistance.

What tools do you use to write your novels or stories?

This can mean digital or analog solutions.

Now, whenever I see this question asked in the writer’s boards inevitably there are a lot of flip answers by writers. I hear the “the only tool I need when I write is between my ears.” or “never mind software, just a pen and paper.” or “Microsoft Word is all you need” or my favorite is “A Mac.” Those answers are all fine and dandy, but what I am looking for is a real solution to a real concern.

A little background here.

As I have mentioned in posts past, I am a person without rituals. I do not wake up at the same time, poop at the same time, workout at the same time, eat the same food and I certainly do not do what I hear all writers do: I do not have a specific time during the day that I write. Oh, I am ever-so-jealous of these people that can wake up at 4AM and write for 2 hours. This is not me. I sometimes do that. I also sometimes write during breaks at work, sitting in a cafe or on an airplane or at midnight. I am much better at the ritual of not writing at all.

I have parts of my novel on my home laptop, part on Google Docs, part at work, some versions on my flash drive. I also have some index cards that I carry around and a Moleskine to write when I am not on a laptop. I am also interested in the various writing software out there. I have used YWriter and some others. They are VERY helpful at keeping all files in a central location but the interfaces always seem juvenile. They also help me to maintain integrity of characters and timelines and notes. For example, in my novel, my antagonist is sometimes 34, 39 and 44 years old. I can never remember how old he is and those programs seem to keep that data on hand.

How do you organize yourselves? Where are notes about characters kept in relation to the actual draft of the story? In conclusion, where does your story live?

Thanks to both you for reading my rambles.

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