How to write your novel on your smartphone

Finding the time to write a novel can be difficult, and having the actual drive to sit down at your computer can be a challenge in itself. Life’s little tasks can easily get in the way, and before you know it, the day has come and gone without a word being written. While you may be busy imagining scenes and plots in your head, sometimes you just don’t want to sit in front of your computer. And, it is here, that using your smartphone can offer real benefits.

One thing that can really help you write more is using your phone. Most smartphones have a notepad app of some kind; an easy-to-use digital notepad where you can write shopping lists and reminders. However, you can put this app to much more use than just listing your daily essentials, and it can be a quick and easy tool for typing words with minimal effort.

You may think that using your smartphone to write a novel isn’t the smartest way to complete your latest book, but if it makes your writing easier, then any extra word count is a bonus. Just think how fast you can write instant messages, texts, and emails on your phone. If you can put that to good use and transfer this speed to your notepad app, then you will be able to write a lot of words in the spare minutes of your day. Of course, you’ll still need your PC or Mac for the final format, but this is a relatively easy process. Most smartphones have an email option built into their notepad app, allowing you to email each other instantly. Alternatively, you can just cut and paste this into an email to yourself. Once home, all it takes is a few seconds to cut and paste the script, change a few formatting options, and voila, you’ve typed new words with minimal effort.

The great benefit of using your smartphone to help write your novel is that you’ll probably have your phone with you at all times. There’s no need to carry a tablet, netbook or pad of paper with you as you can simply slip your smartphone into your pocket and go. Coffee breaks, lunch breaks, commuting—even commercials for your favorite TV show—become opportunities to scribble down a few quick words. And while it’s unlikely that you’ll write the entire novel on your phone, you’ll certainly be able to make the most of every free moment in your busy life to further the novel’s progression.