Useful Writing Tools Every Writer Swears By

Are you looking for the best writing tools? Here’s a guide that covers every writing tool you need to spark ideas, stay organized, and write with ease, from classic notebooks and pens to modern apps and editing software.

Writing has always found its way onto whatever tool the times offered. First, it was clay tablets with little scratches on them. Then came quills and ink, a messy yet charming combination. Typewriters followed with their clack-clack echo. Then, fountain pens and spiral notebooks, before Word docs, took over our lives. Now we’ve apps that follow us across every device, grammar tools that catch mistakes before we do, and distraction-free screens that promise focus.

Still, nothing beats the feel of a pen flowing on a fresh page of a notebook. I know because I’ve bought way too many notebooks, each one meant to be “the serious one.” Most of them ended up filled with half-written stories, random doodles, or even grocery lists. But that’s what I love about writing tools, old or new, they always carry possibilities.

Over time, I’ve come to realize how the right tools can change how you write. A journal slows you down, an app keeps you on track, and a good editor gives you the push to hit publish.

For me, tools evolved with my life. As a schoolgirl, seeing my poems in the annual magazine was thrilling. Later, corporate life killed that spark, and the notebooks gathered dust. Travel blogging brought it back; suddenly, I was overwhelmed by drafts, photos, and story ideas. I discovered how much the right tools could help keep the chaos in check. Freelancing sharpened that lesson. A good pen. A solid app. A digital editor that catches your silly mistakes before anyone else does to save you the embarrassment. Each one is a lifesaver.

I still can’t say no to pretty stationery. I’ve bought so many notebooks and journals that I’ve lost count. Every time I tell myself, “This is the last one,” another pastel-colored one catches my eye, and I end up bringing it home.

This guide is me opening up my own writer’s drawer for you. It’s full of apps I swear by, old-school favorites I can’t let go of, and little creative sparks that make writing fun again. Whether you’re writing a novel, journaling before bed, blogging in between deadlines, or just trying to come up with a caption that feels like you, there’s something here for you.

Best Writing Tools to Keep the Words Coming

Here, I’m discussing a range of classic and digital tools for writers, from free writing tools you can start with today to paid writing tools that might find their place on your desk.

Classic Tools for Writing

These days, we have apps for everything, but I still find myself going back to the old-school methods: a notebook, a pen, a pile of sticky notes; those never let me down.

I believe writing by hand has its own mood. Doodling in the corners, scribbling a line too fast, even the ink smudges; it all feels alive in a way no screen ever has. That scratch of a pen on paper is still magic for me. Here’s my stash of classics:

Notebooks & Journals

To me, opening a fresh notebook always feels like a reset button. I can’t explain the feeling.

Moleskine and Leuchtturm1917 are the ones I keep reaching for. They are solid, good-looking, and dependable.

Pens & Writing Instruments

Every writer has that one pen, right? The pen that feels good in your hand.

For me, it’s not about the brand. I need the ink to flow smoothly when it touches the page. I’ve tried them all—fountain pens, gels, rollerballs, even those fancy ones that always seem to quit when you really need them.

The ones I always go back to are the Parker Jotter, the Lamy Safari, and my favorite for journaling, the Pilot Hi-Tecpoint. They’re simple and reliable. Plus, they make me want to write more.

Creative Prompts

When my brain goes blank and I keep staring at the blank page while it stares back at me, writing prompts come to the rescue. I have a little jar on my desk with scraps of paper: half-sentences, random words, even a photo or two.

I pick one, set a timer for ten minutes, and write. Sometimes it helps me write a beautiful paragraph, or sometimes just a line; either way, it gets me moving again. Books like 642 Things to Write About, free prompts on Reedsy, or even looking at an old photo on your phone work the same way.

When I’m really stuck, I use the fun ones. Magnetic Poetry (the fridge word magnets) always surprises me. Moving those little words around somehow makes them click. Oblique Strategies is even sillier, giving the weirdest prompts that make me laugh but still get me writing. They’re not serious tools, but perhaps that’s why they help. Sometimes a little silliness is exactly what you need.

Sticky Notes & Index Cards

Sticky notes save me all the time. I grab them when an idea hits at 2 a.m. or when I need a loud reminder on my desk to quit fiddling and write. They’re everywhere in my house, stuck like colorful little warnings.

Typewriters

Typewriters still have a weird charm. They’re heavy, they’re loud, and kind of a pain, but hitting those keys feels good in a way a laptop never does. And that little sound (ding) at the end of the page makes you smile.

Loose Papers & Random Scraps

Some of my best ideas have been written on the back of a receipt or a coffee-stained napkin. You? Notebooks are nice, but sometimes your brain doesn’t wait for the “right” page. In those moments, yesterday’s bill works just fine.

Modern & Digital Tools for Writing

Writing in 2025 isn’t only about pens and notebooks. Now we have apps that set timers, music that helps us focus, and software that edits our work in seconds. They may not give that nice smell of fresh paper, but they keep our drafts safe, organized, and stop us from running off to watch cat videos.

I used to avoid new tech because I felt safer sticking to old habits. Then a writer friend told me, “Even if you don’t learn the new tools, the world will and you’ll be left behind.” That hit me hard.

Since then, I have tried every writing app or tool I can find. Some I keep, most I don’t, but at least I know what they do. With technology, you don’t have to stick with it forever; try it long enough to see if it helps.

Funny thing is, I was the last one to start using banking or payment apps, but now I’m usually the first to download a new app I come across. More than chasing trends, it’s about keeping up so the world doesn’t leave you behind.

Here are the tools that really make writing easier for me.

Focus, Flow, & Productivity Tools

The hardest part of writing (or anything for that matter) is not the writing; it’s starting. Apps like Brain.fm and Focus@Will play special music that helps your brain focus: no singing, no noise, calm sounds that keep you working. A Pomodoro timer also helps: 25 minutes of writing and a 5-minute snack break.

Sometimes I sit down to write and end up searching silly things like “why pigeons bob their heads.” That’s when apps like StayFocusd, Freedom, or Cold Turkey help. They block social media and other time-wasting sites, so I stay on track.

Clockify is nice for tracking hours if you work freelance. RescueTime quietly notes how you spend your time and shows you when you waste too much of it on sites like Pinterest.

When I need a real push, I use The Most Dangerous Writing App. If I stop typing for a few seconds, it deletes everything. Scary, right? However, it makes me keep writing without stopping to overthink.

Then there are the everyday helpers, such as Gmail and Nozbe.

Gmail helps me keep all my emails in one place (I’ve connected my work emails to Gmail), saving the hassle of opening five tabs to check.

Nozbe is my task manager, where I keep drafts, deadlines, and reminders. It’s way better than sticky notes that get lost under coffee cups.

Word & Idea Generators

I use Wordnik or the OneLook Reverse Dictionary when I can’t find the right word. You type something like “that thing when sunlight comes through trees,” and it gives you the word—komorebi. Magic.

For normal word-finding, I still use Thesaurus.com or Power Thesaurus. Sometimes “nice” isn’t enough, and you need a word that feels stronger, softer, or smarter.

OneLook Thesaurus is also super handy. It helps me find the right word or phrase when my brain goes blank.

If I’m only testing page layouts or want something silly, I use Hipster Ipsum. It throws out funny lines about kale or vinyl records. Useless for real writing, but perfect when I need a laugh or a quick reset.

Research Tools

Writing is not only about putting sentences together. It’s also about making sure what you write is true and clear. Half the time, I’m chasing facts, quotes, or that one little detail I thought I saw somewhere. That’s where research tools save me.

They may not be flashy, but without them, most of my drafts would look like random guesses. I learned this the hard way while blogging. Once, I wasn’t sure about the spelling of a small village in Georgia. I spent half a day checking maps, local sites, and forums before I felt brave enough to publish. A tool could have saved me hours.

For quick saves, I use Evernote Web Clipper or Notion Web Clipper. They grab a page and store it for me, so it doesn’t vanish into the internet. Pocket is another favorite, it’s like a bedside table for articles. I toss in anything I want to read later instead of keeping twenty tabs open.

For serious study, I go to Google Scholar and JSTOR. JSTOR feels like stepping into a giant library where everything is stored neatly.

If I want to look for books, I use WorldCat, Internet Archive, and Google Books. Once I start, I can spend hours there, but I always find something useful. For checking facts, I use Snopes and FactCheck.org, because the internet is full of things that seem true but are not.

Wikipedia also helps. It’s not perfect, but it gives me the basics and points me in the right direction.

Zotero is like a helper who remembers everything for you. It stores sources, keeps them organized, and even makes citations so you don’t stress over formats.

Google Trends shows what people are curious about right now. Many of my blog ideas have come from there.

For inspiration, I like Reedsy Discovery. It connects me with new indie books and reviews, great for writers who also love reading.

Project & Draft Organizers

If your head is full of half-written drafts, ideas, and notes, Todoist helps you put everything in order. You can set deadlines, make checklists for blog posts, or even track word goals. It’s like keeping your writing life in neat little boxes.

Notion, Trello, and Evernote do the same. They help gather all your random thoughts, such as characters, chapters, quotes, or blog post ideas, into one place where you can actually find them later.

If you use Apple, Bear is a sweet app. It’s simple, clean, and makes your notes look nice, so you actually want to read them again.

If you like your writing projects to feel super organized, Linear is another option. It’s quick, easy, and helps move tasks forward without making things complicated.

Writing Software Basics

For novel writers, there are a few tools that everyone talks about. Scrivener is the big one; it has tons of features that help you turn messy drafts into a neat book. Dabble is easier to use, online, and comes with plotting boards to keep storylines straight. Atticus is the newer tool that does everything, from writing and editing to even formatting your book for print or Kindle.

Then there’s the old favorite, Google Docs. It’s free, simple, and works anywhere. Mac users love Ulysses because it’s clean and distraction-free.

I’ve also tried Wavemaker, which feels like a digital corkboard. You can pin chapters, scenes, and ideas, so they don’t get lost.

yWriter is another smart one. Crafted by a writer, it divides your story into scenes and chapters, making it easy for you to move things around without confusion. It’s free and pretty useful if you like structure.

If you think in pictures, Spines is great. It shows your story like a roadmap, for you to see your plot and fix any gaps or pacing problems.

If you want speed, Squibler is a great choice. It calls itself “the world’s fastest writing app” and helps you write drafts quickly without distractions, perfect for NaNoWriMo or fast writing sessions.

Revision Tools

For me, revision is that pause between writing and editing. I don’t use anything fancy here, like sometimes I just read my draft out loud. Hearing the sentences makes the awkward bits obvious.

Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud feature helps, too. It’s underrated but so useful for catching clunky sentences when you hear them spoken out loud.

If I’m moving things around, Scrivener comes in handy for shuffling paragraphs or sections. The Writer’s Diet is another quick check I like. It points out when I’m rambling or leaning too hard on certain words.

My favorite way to revise is still printing a draft and grabbing a pen. Somehow, scribbling in the margins or circling a clunky line makes me see it more clearly than any screen does.

Grammar, Editing, and Proofreading Tools

Every writer needs a little help to catch mistakes. Tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and Hemingway App act like friendly editors. They fix things like missing commas or words that don’t fit, so your writing makes more sense.

Sometimes I also use The Writer’s Diet. It’s a smaller tool, but it helps make writing cleaner and stronger by removing words.

If a sentence feels weird, I try QuillBot. It rewrites the line in a simple way that often works better. I don’t use it to change my style but to help when I’m stuck.

Thesaurus.com is handy when I need better words than “nice” or “good.” Tools like the WebFX Readability Test or Readable show if your writing is easy to read or if it sounds difficult.

If you’re sharing your writing, plagiarism checkers like Copyscape or Turnitin give you peace of mind. They make sure your work doesn’t accidentally overlap with something already written, so you can share it knowing it’s truly yours.

Voice & Dictation Helpers

Not everyone likes writing at a desk. If you find it easier to talk, apps like Otter.ai, Descript, or even Google Docs voice typing can change your voice into text. You can even use them to save your late-night or random shower thoughts if you feel like saying them out loud.

Backups & Safety Nets

I’ve learned the hard way that nothing feels worse than losing hours of writing because the laptop died. Once, I almost lost a whole travel story when my computer crashed in the middle of a sentence. Thankfully, Google Drive saved it, and since then, I have always trusted it.

I use Dropbox when I need to send drafts to friends or clients, and iCloud keeps everything safe and the same on all my devices. They’re simple tools, but they’ve saved me more times than I can even count.

Design & Formatting

If you want to publish your work, Canva is great for making pretty covers and graphics, and Vellum makes your book look like it’s from a real bookstore. Even if you’re not publishing, Canva is quite a helpful tool for writers who also blog, post on Instagram, or love making their journals look nice.

AI Tools

At first, I didn’t care about AI. It felt like being lazy, like I was letting something else do my work.

Then I remembered what my writer friend once told me: stop being so stubborn about new tools. Around that time, there was quite a noise and controversy about AI. Some said it was cheating, others said it would take writers’ jobs. I just felt confused. I didn’t want to lose my own style or let a robot write for me.

Still, I got curious and tried a few. Now, I use ChatGPT most, and sometimes Google Gemini, Bing Copilot, Jasper, or Claude. I don’t let them write my stuff, but they help me with quick research, ideas, or making a line sound better. They make things a little easier, and that’s enough.

But I don’t trust them blindly. Sometimes they get facts wrong or give outdated information. So I always double-check. For me, AI is just a helper. The real writing still comes from me, and I like it that way.

Learning & Growth Platforms

The best writers (actually, all humans) never stop learning. Sites like MasterClass, Coursera, or Skillshare give you small, easy classes that can help when you need a boost. It’s kind of like a fun night class, but without the boring school lunch.

Publishing & Sharing

I don’t think words should sit hidden in old folders. Sites like Substack, Medium, Lulu, and Wattpad let you share them with real readers. Maybe it’s an essay, a chapter of a story you’ve been writing, or something you want others to read; these places make it easy.

If you enjoy short-form writing, Typefully is great for Twitter/X. It keeps things simple, lets you draft full threads, and cuts out the noise so you can focus on your words.

If you’re ready to go further, Reedsy Book Editor is perfect. It’s free, works in your browser, and makes neat book files for Kindle or print. Pair it with Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, or IngramSpark, and your book can reach real readers.

WordPress is where I built my blog. It feels like my own little home on the internet. Unlike Medium or Substack, WordPress lets you design everything, from fonts and layouts to plugins and more. It can feel tricky at first (I’ve wasted hours worrying if my sidebar looked too empty), but it gives you full control. If you want your writing to last and live in a space that’s really yours, WordPress is worth it.

Publishing, whether it’s a short post or a whole book, always feels both scary and exciting. These tools make pressing that “publish” button a little easier.

Getting Paid for Your Words

After you publish your work, the big question is, how do you get paid for it? For me, PayPal has been the easiest. Most clients use it, and it’s simple to set up.

For work with people in other countries, Payoneer is great. The fees are lower, and money transfers are smoother.

I’ve also used Stripe, which feels more professional, especially when payments come every month. If you want readers to support you directly, Patreon and Ko-fi let them send small amounts to cheer on your writing. If you wish to sell things like e-books or journaling templates, Gumroad makes it super easy.

It’s not the fun or fancy side of writing, but without these tools, publishing wouldn’t mean much, because getting paid keeps the work going.

Modern-Meets-Classic Tools

Some tools feel like a mix of an old notebook and new tech. They look classic and bring back the charm of paper, but they quietly run on modern technology. Tbh, they’re some of my favorites.

The reMarkable tablet feels like you’re writing on paper, but everything saves to the cloud, meaning no more losing notebooks under a pile of clothes. The Livescribe smartpen is fun too. It records what you write and the sound around you, so your notes and the whole talk stay together.

The Freewrite typewriter looks like something a famous old writer would use, but it connects to Wi-Fi and saves your drafts. There are no distractions and no extra tabs, only the sound of keys and plain writing.

These tools are a little quirky but very clever. They show that even in a world full of apps, writing still feels nice when there’s a touch of nostalgia.

If you enjoy journaling and want a digital way to do it, Day One is a great choice. It feels like keeping a real journal, but it’s on your phone or laptop. You can carry it everywhere.

That’s my little drawer of writing essentials; some shiny and digital, some old and stubborn, all carrying their own kind of magic. We all know that no two writers swear by the same setup. I’m curious to know what’s in your drawer, the pen you refuse to share, the app you can’t live without, or that one notebook that’s been with you through a hundred false starts.

Let me know in the comments section. Let’s discover our next favorite tool from one another.

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