What do you do if you're an experienced writer seeking to maximize productivity with tools and software?

Tools and software are great. I have no idea how anybody did the amount of research a book (even a novel) requires before the creation of the internet. That being said, there is no substitute for a steady, disciplined work schedule. The key to writing has always been, and always will be, carving out the time to write. Figure out your best time of the day to write, and write. Every day. No excuses. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you get done.

Feeling overwhelmed by writing tools? We've all been there. Don't get lost in features! Before diving in, assess your needs! Do you crave a distraction-free zone for laser focus? Maybe seamless research organization is your priority. Target the perfect tools to complement your unique style & goals! Don't waste time on mismatched solutions – identify your writing Kryptonite and watch your productivity soar!

Assessing your writing needs is crucial. Know what you need and evaluate sticking points in your process where a particular tool or product may help. Do some research on the product and tool, and if you can, test it. Watch videos from users who have applied the tool in similar ways. Does it address your needs and solve your unique problems? The other side is understanding your future needs and growth points and how the product and tool might aid in them. Only invest in what is useful to you. The newest versions, and the most popular are not always the best for the particular way you work. Understanding those differences is key.

Before you go on a software shopping spree, take a breather and think: "What are my biggest writing roadblocks? Where could a little tech magic help?" Figure that out first.

The best way to improve as a writer is write more. Having someone else proof your work and provide feedback is vital. Don't be afraid of constructive criticism by writing through a social media channel or starting a blog. There are plenty of creative writing journals out there to submit your work and attending conferences might allow for the chance to workshop a piece you are working on.

Based on my experience, writing and editing tools, project management software, and productivity-enhancing applications can help to increase writing productivity. They include. ProWritingAid is an all-inclusive editing tool that can be useful for providing detailed reports on style, grammar, writing consistency, and readability. Notion is a perfect project management software for those who work on multiple writing projects as it provides a customizable workspace with calendars, notes, and databases. If you need help with productivity, Pomodoro timers can help with focus, and Evernote can help you gather your research and ideas in one place. It also allows for document scanning, web clipping, and note-taking.

If you need a lifeline statement, it would be, "your writing journey gets easier and valuable with the support of tools." You'll need tools for research, planning, editing, collaboration, scheduling, time management, SEO,... You'll need tools and the experience only gets better. It's valuable when you start to share these tools with growing writers or your readers. Tools in writing are like the roof that shelters the house. You will have to try out new ones too.

I regularly use AI writing platforms like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to curate ideas as a jumping-off point for content writing. Additionally, using Grammarly has been a game-changer for me. It catches basic grammar and spelling errors while helping you write concisely. Grammarly has a plugin that's easy to install and use with free and paid versions that are just as valuable.

AI Writing tools are a good point of adjusting and refining drafts of your written work. In the interest of time CHATGPT had been an awesome addition to my arsenal for proofreading, editing, idea curation, article, press release, website, and social media content. Grammarly is great for punctuation, spelling, and grammar corrections. Whereas, Hemingway Editor allows superb variations in the grade level of writing.

Customizing your setup can help you accomplish tasks easier. In the world of writing speed can often be key, especially when you have a rapidly approaching deadline. Customizing your tools to fit your preference can make a huge difference. Whether it is customizing your toolbar to display your regularly used tool or keeping your favorite font handy. Customization can save you lots of time.

Good tools are so important, but I find it useful to turn off distractions (notifications, pings, calls, etc.) so that I can focus

Write a to-do list of things that can help you with to-do lists.

As an experienced writer looking to maximize productivity, leverage advanced features of tools like Canva for design, Hootsuite for social media scheduling, and plagiarism checkers for content integrity. Explore additional software like Scrivener for organizing writing projects or Grammarly for real-time editing. Automate repetitive tasks with tools like Zapier, and consider using voice-to-text software to speed up writing. Regularly review and update your toolset to match your evolving needs.

Learn to leverage generative AI tools. AI will not replace writers, but those writers who make use of AI will eventually replace those who don't.