Tools of the Trade

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that to construct a story, an author requires tools. Whatever technique; pantser or plotter; gardener or architect, it begins with an idea, pen and notebooks, lots of notebooks.

Before typewriters, these were the only tools available to aspiring authors. Now, although some writers still prefer the feel of pen in hand or the rhythmical tip-tap of typewriter keys and the ping/clunk of carriage returns, many writers utilise and trust computers to record and store their words.

In the modern world, word processing programs are the workhorses of many writers but there are also specialist programs for world-building, creating time lines, recording character descriptions, traits, back-stories, and relationships. Also, there are programs to check grammar, spellings and sentence variations and complexity.

But the most important help comes from collaboration with fellow human beings. Critique partners, beta readers, manuscript appraisers, editors and proof readers, all provide indispensable assistance.

A good tradesman never blames his tools; a good writer always acknowledges the team behind the book.

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If Ifs and Ands were Plots and Plans,