Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Apps to Jot Down those Ideas

I have those days when ideas after ideas for stories, blog post, and novels bombard me.

The very next day, I struggle to meet my writing target for the day. Then there are days when I have a very vivid dream which could be converted into a good short story. By the time I find time to sit down and write, the images have become blurred and I don’t remember much about what I had seen.

So what can be done to capture these elusive creative ideas? I have found a solution.

Image Source

Now, I keep a small notebook in my bag to jot down the ideas that pop up randomly. I have apps on my phone where I can jot down ideas. I also keep a dream journal where I note my dreams. I don't write down every dream, only the ones I find interesting.

Evernote is one app that allows you to save notes, links and also help bookmark websites. It is kind of a secret box where you can keep all your magnificent ideas safe and organized.

It also helps while you are doing research for a write-up. The various links and data that you collect can be saved in one single folder, thus making it easy for you to re-check the facts or prepare your final draft.

The Notes app on my iPhone and the Quickmemo+ app in my LGV20 are other places where I note interesting tidbits that catch my eye. These can be random phrases from a newspaper, a dialogue overheard or a real-life story which had touched your heart.

Some other options to jot down your ideas are Microsoft OneNoteSimplenote, and Google Keep.

If you like hearing the sound of a typewriter when you type those ideas, HanX Writer developed by actor Tom Hanks, is the app you should use. Linking the app currently available only for the ios platform. If you google you can find the android version as well.

Make sections/folders like story ideas, blogpost ideas, dialogues, phrases, interesting words etc while you store them.

The best thing about these apps are that they are free and user friendly. Some of them do have premium versions, but the free versions itself is wonderful.


When I run out ideas to write a blogpost or a story, I go through these notes. Mostly, it triggers a new blogpost or story idea.


It always helps if you categorize these notes that you jot down. Otherwise, it will seem like a clutter that doesn’t make sense. 

Now that I have adopted this technique, I don’t lose many of those creative ideas that come to me. I receive them with happiness, jot down and keep them secure in my apps or notebook.

PS: If any one of you are thinking about stealing my pocket notebook, may God save you. Not only will you face my wrath, you will not be able to make head or tail of it. It is written in a special code that only I can crack. 😊



During this A-Z April Challenge, I am exploring the A-Z journey of writing a Novel with examples from Literature.
The Letter of the day is J


Linking this post  to Blogging from A-Z

Have you read the Letters A, B, C, D, EFGH and I ?

19 comments:

  1. I've never been one to take lots of notes, but last year during NaNo I needed something to keep me organised since I made a lot of planning while commuting.
    I started using OneNote because it was already available on my mobile, and I really find it useful and easy to use. And I love that all device connected sync :-)

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir

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    1. I developed this habit only recently. It is a very essential habit for us writers, I feel.

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  2. I use Evernote for work related things and Keep for other uses.

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    1. Glad to know you find it useful. Thank you for reading.

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  3. I don't have a tracking system outside of my brain. I'm not one to write down ideas that come to me in the middle of the night; my eyelids are too heavy. I just hope and pray that I remember things. Usually that doesn't actually work :(

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    1. Time to adopt some of these apps then. Bullet journeling type notes might work too.

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  4. I absolutely love using Evernote for everything.Save my ideas.Take down note s,curate articles everything.Great that you ae sharing these ideas.

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    1. I discovered them recently and found them very useful. I want others to benefit as well. :)

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  5. I love evernote, since you can attach links and images, makes things really easy and simple. Recently started using simplenote. Good enough. Will try the others. Thanks for sharing Preethi! 😊

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    1. I feel many of the bloggers love Evernote. It is a boon for us. Thanks for reading Ramya :)

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  6. I use the notes in my iPhone dear and a pink pocket diary and my secret code is my pathetic handwriting scribbled hurriedly 😄😄

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    1. Haha. No one can crack that secret code, I am sure. Thank for reading, Roma. :)

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  7. I just use my Notes app to scribble whatever I need to remember down. It works fine for me! ^^

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    1. Notes app works fine. The important thing is to remember to jot them down. Thanks for reading :)

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  8. I've been using and recommending Evernote since years. Have my first drafts of stories from 2011 still in it :)

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  9. I use the "Notes" app on my Iphone for those quick reminders and story ideas.

    Be assured, if your notebook comes up missing, it wasn't me!!!

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  10. Sounds very organised! I'm still guilty of using random scraps of paper. Need to get more into using apps.

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  11. I use SimpleNote. Thanks for sharing informative post :)

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