Tools | Red Pen

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TOOLS

Things that might help.

Focusmate

This site is amazing! You choose a time that you'd like to write, get matched up with someone, and work together for one hour. Instant writing partner!

Online
(Free version available)

Use the Pomodoro method to help you work. Set a timer for 25 minutes of writing, and then take a five-minute break. Or, if you'd rather work for a different length of time, set a different schedule.

Online
(Free)

Marinaratimer

Engross

This app helps you use the pomodoro method—25 minutes of work and then a five-minute break. It also includes lists of what you want to work on and a calendar. It can even block distracting apps!

iPhones and Androids
(Free)

This app blocks the sites and apps that distract you—all of them. It also has a "lock" mode that won't let you turn it off for a specified amount of time.

All devices
(Free trial)

Freedom

Cold Turkey Writer

Cold Turkey Writer

This app keeps you writing. Open it, and you won't have access to anything on your computer but the page you're working on. It runs until you reach your target word count or until the timer is up (you choose). Perfect.

Macs and PCs
($9)

Open this page and start writing! That's all there is to it. Toggle to fullscreen mode and you'll be distraction free. Save your documents to your Google Drive.

Online, Macs, and PCs
(Free online and $11 to download)

Calmly Writer

A Soft Murmur

This beautiful site provides a dozen background noises you might like—from rainstorms to coffee shops. You can adjust the layers and volumes of sounds.

Best used online
(Free version available)

Atmosphere for Androids

This app provides background noise for working to. It lets you mix and match sounds. You can also choose an environment and let it do the rest.

Androids
(Free version available)

Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Atmosphere for iPhones

This app provides background noise for working to. It lets you mix and match sounds. You can also choose an environment and let it do the rest.

iPhones
(Free version available)

This app lets you write out all of your ideas in bubbles and then drag and drop to organize them afterward. It's a great alternative to outlining.

Macs, iPhones, and Androids
(Free version available)

Mindly

Zen Flowchart

This site allows you to make flowcharts of your ideas and explore how they relate to each other. Those who don't like traditional outlines might want to give this a go.

Online
(Free trial)

This app makes it easy to write in traditional, hierarchical outlines. It lets you add infinite items and makes it easy to move them around.

Online and all devices
(Free version available)

Dynalist

Evernote

This app lets you take notes everywhere and about everything. You can organize them into kinds and categories. It's also useful for drafting on the go.

All devices
(Free version available)

Scrivener is incredible. It allows you to see your work as sticky notes, outlines, or text. And it lets you rearrange sections and outline them as you see fit. Scrivener is best for longer projects, and it's almost hard to beat.

Macs, PCs, and iPhones
(Pricey but with a free trial)

Scrivener

Scapple

This app integrates well with Scrivener, but it's brilliant on its own as well. It helps you get thoughts on the page and then draw lines to connect them however you like.

Macs and PCs
(Pricey but with a free trial)

This app lets you write. That's it. There are no options you won't use or distracting interfaces. All you can do, when you open it, is start writing.

iPhones
($10)

Simpletext

Google docs

Really, any writing software will do. But Google Docs syncs seamlessly across all of your devices, and it's easy to use both online and in the app. It works well for writing and formatting.

Online, iPhones, and Androids
(Free)

Researchers need to organize their references and documents. This app not only organizes them for you, but it will insert citations into Google Docs and other writing software.

Macs, PCs, and iPhones
(Free)

Zotero