My NaNoWriMo iPad Toolkit

In just a few weeks it will be the most wonderful time of year: NaNoWriMo! November is “National Write a Novel in a Month” month. I participated last year and had an absolute blast. I even “won” by completing 50,000 words of a novel! Of course, that novel will probably never see the light of day, especially since it was my very first attempt. But what I learned by participating in NaNoWriMo is that I really can write a novel (and so can you).

Last year I did all my writing on my Mac. Virtually every writer who owns a Mac knows about Scrivener by Literature and Latte. This is simply one of the best writing tools ever conceived, and sometime this month, Scrivener 2.0 will be out with a whole host of new features. I can hardly wait!

The other essential Mac app I used last year was Concentrate. I have no willpower. None. So, if I’m on my Mac and the little Twitter icon in my menu bar turns blue, I. Must. Click. It. If I get mail, I have to read it, immediately. You get the idea. So, I told Concentrate what applications I was not allowed to access while writing and the app shut everything down for the writing time I specified. No Facebook, Twitter, email, or Adium interruptions. Voilà! I worked uninterrupted (except for the kids and the cat—there’s no app to eliminate those cuddly distractions).

But this year, in addition to my Mac, I have another amazing tool: an iPad. Now, some people argue that the iPad is a device for consuming media, not for producing anything. But, I beg to differ. I think the iPad is the perfect tool for writers because you can research, brainstorm, write, be inspired, and communicate with a gizmo that you can take anywhere.

So, I put together a list of iPad apps that I plan to use this year while I write my newest bestseller. Of course, everyone is different, so the toolkit I’m planning to use might not contain all the apps you would use. Be sure to share your favorite writing apps in the comments.

My NaNoWriMo Toolkit

Unfortunately, there’s not a Scrivener iPad app, but the following applications make it possible to do many of the things you do in Scrivener on your iPad, and some even sync with Scrivener 2.0.

1.  Notebooks by Alfons Schmidt ($8.99). I wrote a review of this amazing application a while back. This will be my primary tool during NaNoWriMo. I’ve already set up a new notebook entitled “New Novel” (how original), and, with Notebooks’s wonderful hierarchical folder setup, I can include chapters, scenes, and all sorts of information within my notebook. Notebooks also allows you to insert notes directly from the web and via your clipboard. It’s a researcher/writer’s dream app. And, the best part is it will sync with Scrivener 2.0.

2. Simplenote (Free; paid version is also available). For short notes, character sketches, ideas-on-the-fly, etc., I will use Simplenote. I reviewed Simplenote, but several updates have happened since then, making it even better. It will also sync with Scrivener 2.0.

3.  Writer. ($4.99) This brand new app from Information Architects will be a great tool for NaNoWriMo. This app is created for writers, removing all but the most necessary elements for creating ideas. The developers provide a special keyboard that includes the most essential punctuation and cursor placement so you don’t have to remove your fingers from the iPad to reposition the cursor or use alternate keyboards for punctuation. I love how it provides a “focus” mode that allows you to see only the three lines you’re currently working on. iA has promised word count in the next update (which hopefully will arrive before November 1), so you can keep track of your daily word count. Unfortunately, it does not (as yet) sync with Scrivener though you can save your work via Dropbox.

4. Index Card ($2.99) is a great app for organizing scenes, doing character sketches, and outlining plots. It uses the corkboard and index card motif familiar to those who use Scrivener, and the developer states that Scrivener was his inspiration for the app.

5. iThoughts HD ($9.99). I reviewed this well-designed app several months ago. Many writers use mind mapping to map out a novel. See this great “Write for Your Life” blog post for tips on using mind mapping to build your story. iThoughts is, in my opinion, the best mind mapping app available for the iPad.

6. Outliner by Carbin Fin ($4.99). Many writers find outlines to be an essential element in novel planning. Outliner is a powerful outlining app for the iPad, so if you prefer outlining to mind mapping, or if you do both, it will be the perfect tool for your kit. It features online syncing via Carbin Fin’s website, so you can import and export outlines with ease (this means you can create outlines in Outliner and import them into apps like OmniOutliner).

7. SoundNote ($4.99). SoundNote is an app that allows you to record while you type. Although it’s really meant for taking notes during lectures and meetings, it would be terrific for taking notes during interviews. For example, I have a colleague who is an archaeologist. I plan to interview him to get pointers on how archaeologists work so that the scenes in my novel will be authentic.

8. Noteshelf ($4.99). If I need to take notes quickly and I don’t want to use a keyboard, I can use Noteshelf, an app that lets you do handwriting on your iPad. This will be great for bright ideas that hit in the middle of the night. I won’t have to turn the light on, and I can quickly jot down my revelation without waking the husband. Of course, what seems brilliant at 3:00 a.m. tends to look very different by the light of day.

9. I adore Dropbox (Free; but paid upgrades for additional storage are available). This is where everything gets stored so I can access my work anywhere and from any Dropbox-friendly application. Dropbox also allows me to save an additional copy of my novel (on top of Time Machine backups) in case tragedy strikes and something dire happens to my Macbook or iPad.

10. Terminology by Agile Tortoise ($2.99) is a dictionary app with a unique and pleasing user interface. Sometimes you need a little help to come up with just the right word. As most writing gurus advise, simple and clear is always better than obfuscated and tendentious.

11. Wikihood+ ($6.99) is a great tool for researching places. Just type a location and you’re there. Wikihood provides information about local people, geography, places to visit, etc., with photographs and maps. Much of my story takes place in Israel, so this app will help me navigate Jerusalem streets and give me local history all from my writing chair in lonely West Texas.

12. Articles ($4.99) is my go-to Wikipedia app (it won a 2010 Apple design award). I can research archaeology and ancient writing techniques (both essential to my novel) using this app.

13. Instapaper (Free; paid version is also available) is a great repository for any articles I find on the web that might be relevant for my novel. I also save helpful writing advice from my favorite writing blogs in Instapaper.

14. Kindle App (Free). I’ve got several books on writing in the Kindle App, so I can refer to them when I need inspiration or guidance. My favorites include Stephen King’s On Writing; Annie Dillard’s The Writing Life, and James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure.

15. OmniFocus ($39.99) is my favorite task manager (see my review here). November is one of the busiest months (especially for university professors), and NaNoWriMo adds another layer to the stress. To keep myself organized, I’ll be putting all my tasks and goals in OmniFocus.

16. ArtStudio ($5.99). Although my book won’t be illustrated, sometimes it helps me to sketch out a scene or, if I’ve got writer’s block, doing a quick drawing or just doodling helps get me back on track.

17. Astraware Sudoku ($2.99) and Crosswords ($9.99). These games are diversions for when I get stuck. Sometimes the best cure for writer’s block is doing something mindless.

One other thing that might just be essential for NaNoWriMo and my iPad toolkit: an Apple Wireless Keyboard ($69.00). Though I enjoy typing on my iPad, I’m not very accurate on it. And when I get a brainstorm that must be recorded, I want my fingers to fly. Hmm. My birthday is also in November. Maybe my hubby will get me an early present to complete my toolkit!