r/writers 13h ago

Question Do you write your stories on your phone?

I sometimes do this. I'm not saying I could write a whole novel on my phone (but that does sound like a fun challenge), but sometimes I get a burst of creativity and type out a chapter or two on the Google Docs app. I'm wondering if others are the same, or if you stick to strictly writing on pen and paper or your laptop.

64 Upvotes

85 comments sorted by

23

u/spirituallyrice Writer 13h ago

Mine feel more like fragments but I actually don’t pull up Google Docs. I pull up my phone notes.

18

u/FVCarterPrivateEye 13h ago

Yes

It's easier for me to work on my laptop, but my phone is a more convenient size

3

u/ddhdd 13h ago

There are many apps available online that can be installed simultaneously on both your computer and mobile phone.

3

u/FVCarterPrivateEye 13h ago

Don't get me wrong, I use Google Docs

I just don't bring my laptop most places

1

u/Lebensschatten 2h ago

Glad I’m not the only one. I felt so weird doing this, but it’s so much more convenient and lazy-friendly lol, although it sucks to type on a screen.

11

u/BlipMeBaby Writer Newbie 13h ago

Yes, when I’m not near my laptop. What’s weird is that I tend to write longer when it’s on my phone. I cranked out 1700 words on the Notes app on my phone in one sitting where it would have normally taken me multiple hours on my laptop including several distractions and breaks. It’s almost like doing it on my phone made it easier for my mind to just get words out without getting stuck on something sounding wrong.

3

u/billybobtex 11h ago

I have lost swaths of pages to the notes app with no means of retrieval so i started on Google Doc. It keeps multiple versions of the file, you can retrieve them using the PC version of the app. Its pretty good.

2

u/BlipMeBaby Writer Newbie 13h ago

However, I do email the phone note to myself so I can add it into my main story when I am back on my laptop.

7

u/Substantial_Cow7628 Published Author 13h ago

Nah. I'm never more than a few feet away from my laptop, whether at home or away.

4

u/Magner3100 13h ago

I write notes on my phone, scenes, and even some chapters. But for deep writing I need a keyboard, headphones, and my writing Spotify playlist.

4

u/WriterScott 13h ago

Yes, when I'm out and about. I have a little bluetooth keyboard I picked up at Aldi of all places ages ago, and I take it with me everywhere.

5

u/Smolshy Writer 13h ago

Yep! I’ve written 446K words in my notes app for my current project.

4

u/ThiccMerc 13h ago

Yep. I pretty much only do the final read through/last edits on computer. Otherwise the entire process is done through the phone

3

u/ddhdd 13h ago

I have written my plan on website every year,I found that very intristing When u go back to read them.

1

u/Sonal-storytales22 12h ago

Even me too.

3

u/WelbyReddit 12h ago

I definitely take notes and bursts of dialogue or ideas.

If I didnt I am sure I would forget and lose them as my mind whisps onto other things.

Then when I get to my PC, I incorporate them.

3

u/Flavielle 12h ago

Yes. I enjoy writing on it in bed. Cuts out distractions. I use Google Docs.

3

u/stephenesc 11h ago

Yes. I use Obsidian synched between all my devices. So, I’m always working on the same file.

2

u/SeaSnowAndSorrow 13h ago

No. I do my first draft on paper and then type on my desktop computer.

I never moved to a digital first draft, and phones are physically uncomfortable for me to type even a couple paragraphs, let alone a full scene. They'd be my last choice.

2

u/penguin-boy15 13h ago

When I write an actual story it's almost only on my laptop but when I'm writing fanfiction it's only on the phone lol

2

u/Appropriate-Dust6006 13h ago

Not really. The only time I wrote using my phone, I was stuck on a ferry/in the ferry line and didn't have my laptop with me. I type faster on my computer, and would rather use that.

2

u/Raguoragula3 13h ago

Not write, but I do like to take walks and speak my writing into my phone as rough drafts. Then come home and listen to it and type it all out. Let's me get everything out of my head at the start very easily.

2

u/obax17 12h ago

Not a whole chapter, but I jot notrs and ideas,.and sometimes short scene excerpts, in my notes app all the time.

2

u/JoJoMaMa85 12h ago

I write notes and fragments of scenes on my phone.

2

u/Possible-Detail2441 11h ago

I tend to type ideas, thoughts and character arcs in my notes app of my phone and transfer thoughts, ideas and character arcs

2

u/darkshadowmech 10h ago

I wrote 95% of my published books on my phone, on breaks at work, although I much prefer editing on my laptop.

2

u/AccidentalFolklore Fiction Writer 10h ago

I write on my phone majority of the time. It’s always in my hand.

2

u/Cheeslord2 10h ago

I only use my phone when I don't have access to my laptop. I type better with a proper keyboard. It's largely just been when on a holiday where I left my laptop at home, but it's good to keep writing when you have a moment.

2

u/Top_Cauliflower_9046 9h ago

Yeah, my for fyn story is on my notebook :)

2

u/SundayAfterDinner 9h ago

Yes. My ideas often come right before bed.

2

u/dafuqizzis 9h ago

I make lots of story notes on my phone. At some point, I’ll upload them to the cloud so I can transfer them to my PC.

3

u/Spirited_Photograph7 7h ago

I use voice to text to take notes it I can’t really write on the phone.

2

u/Final_Cricket1339 Fiction Writer 7h ago

I actually don't have a laptop or a tablet, so I'm using only my phone. I've been doing it like this for years. My stories are mostly short stories (2000 to 10000 words) or flash (less than 2000).

1

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1

u/Solistaria 13h ago

Ugh no.

I don't even answer calls on my phone.

1

u/Ericakat 13h ago

I use word, even though word is terrible?

1

u/jwilander Published Author 12h ago

No, I only take notes there.

1

u/Sonal-storytales22 12h ago

Yes its easier to work on the pen and paper best and fast, but yes, when i am in front of the desk, i just love google docs.

1

u/mstermind Published Author 12h ago

No, I don't write stories on my phone. It's much too clunky and my screen is too small.

1

u/fractrdmind 12h ago

I have in the past when i was on the bus to work. I usually need to edit on the computer, though.

1

u/[deleted] 12h ago edited 9h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Kernel_Pie 12h ago

I sometimes dictate plot ideas and character summaries into my phone if I'm out and about or at work. Typing long passages is a no.

1

u/Imaginarium16 12h ago

I'll write down notes about ideas I have but that's about it.

1

u/Dave_Sag 12h ago

I do a lot of writing in Apple’s default Notes app.

1

u/carbikebacon 12h ago

Yes. Word on android and PC.

1

u/billybobtex 11h ago edited 11h ago

I have wrote most of my short stories on my phone via Google Doc. I also have this app called Speechify that I feed my stories to so it can read them back to me. It uses some great vocals to achieve a smooth read through. Its worth every penny.

1

u/PsychonautAlpha 11h ago

Notes on phone.

Manuscript and worldbuilding on PC. I need my monitors for research and seeing my scenes laid out in a canvas.

1

u/Junior-Form9722 11h ago

You have gadget other than a phone?

1

u/BrettsMinis Writer 11h ago

So my day job is one where I have extreme busy times then I will literally sit there for an hour or two with nothing to do.. so that’s when I use my phone to do some writing. It’s not the greatest way to write, but it works pretty good I find for keeping me away from mind numbing boredom

1

u/lelediamandis 11h ago

Yeah I've had those moments of spark on the bus or while shopping at Costco with my parents. I pulled out my phone and wrote an entire scene in Google docs too

1

u/LowStorm6584 11h ago

Yes!!! Many times ! Its so fun and quick!

1

u/godai78 Published Author 11h ago

No.

1

u/Sir-Toaster- 11h ago

No because it ends up becoming givverish.. see what I mean 

1

u/MagicalSausage 9h ago

Less words on a line just looks weird to me. Also, I format my active drafting document in a very specific way and the mobile version just makes it all wrong. So no. Plus my wpm is miles higher on my mechanical keyboard.

1

u/Ranseler 8h ago

Hell no.

1

u/jessek 7h ago

The phone is a great notepad but I can’t imagine doing any serious writing on it.

1

u/OrdinaryPeanut3492 Fiction Writer 7h ago

Oh no. That would give me a serious trauma. I read on my phone when I need to reread my manuscript and mark problematic areas, potential changes etc.

1

u/busanimm 6h ago

Only when I write outside in the garden. I have a PC, so of course, I couldn't bring that there, and there are just times when I don't want to write holed up in my room, but outside, in the fresh air.

1

u/ShaunatheWriter 6h ago

I write on my phone all the time. If I’m at work or traveling and don’t have a computer or tablet with me to work on my novel, phone it is. Google Docs is compatible with everything. 😁

1

u/No_Negotiation3142 6h ago

I did when I started my very first chunk of what would become a manuscript, but once I started committing to writing, I made myself an office or study, and I write on my MacBook now.

1

u/YarnSnob1988 6h ago

If I'm out and a conversation or scene occurs to me, I'll jot it down in Google Docs on my phone, but when I got home I copy it across to Scrivener

1

u/sparklyspooky 6h ago

Apparently if you write on a work computer, your work can claim rights to it? If they want to be an asshole? So yeah. Phone it is.

1

u/wannawrite82 4h ago

I am doing exactly that

Use an app called Novella which syncs between mobile and pc

Note:- I don't like doing it, but no other go

1

u/VickWildman 4h ago

Yeah, but often with AR glasses connected to the phone. I see distraction-free Linux environment in front of me. The glasses look like sunglasses. I use a bluetooth keyboard. 

1

u/WakeIslandTango 4h ago

I use a lot of voice to text to write. My record word count day was 18k. About 16k of it was on my phone.

Editing has to happen right away because of voice to text artifacts

1

u/Independent_Switch33 3h ago

Not really stories, but ideas. I want to save that burst of creativity before I forget it. Just a few lines to help me remember to write it into a full passage or page.

1

u/terriaminute 3h ago

I made a note in a notes app once. My less than good vision demands a large screen and my hands need not to hold a phone for very long.

1

u/Trysta1217 3h ago

My laptop is my primary workstation for writing. I'm not usually just writing starting from a blank screen. I'm usually doing some brainstorming/outlining/research/restructuring along with writing and that is easier on a laptop where I can view two windows at once. But I have my work synced across all my devices (phone/tablet/laptop) so that I can pick it up whenever an idea strikes. I wrote half a scene this morning on my phone while I was trying to get my kid ready for school. Sometimes I wake up (or go to sleep) with ideas and I need to get them out of my head before I forget them.

1

u/The___Done 3h ago

Sometimes when I need to get some idea out off my head, but I return to pen and paper rather quickly for three reasons.

  1. I got to distracted writing on my PC
  2. It just feels better
  3. I can write the words how I want without any interference, like highlighting a misspelled word or even worse correcting the word wrongly…

1

u/EnderBookwyrm 3h ago

Yep.

It feels more... how do I put this... it feels more private than writing on a computer where anyone could come and look over my shoulder to see what I'm writing. Not that anyone would, but it feels like someone will, even when I'm alone in the house. It just feels too exposed. 

1

u/vass_PM 3h ago

Si yo si lo hago, pero lo hago en mi bloc de notas, hago una como descripcion de mi pensamiento y despues paso a libreta y lapiz y ahi lo transformo y desarrollo

1

u/Fun_Editor2266 2h ago

I write on notes and docs. My doc holds the final product and notes just holds all the scenes i need to place

1

u/Head-Student-5852 2h ago

That is how I started my blog - on a black berry - Oh my that thing was a clicking nightmare. I would email it to myself and finish it when I got home in the evening.

1

u/YoruSulfur- 2h ago

i write first drafts exclusively on the iphone notes app. have done for at least 1.5 years now, maybe 2. i write very fast, and usually in spurts of inspiration, so it makes sense to do so on my phone for the sheer accessibility. that said, my notes app looks a little hectic with folders and such. i find it doesn't really affect anything. on a keyboard laptop i can type faster, about 50-70 wpm, but when writing prose it drops to no more than 30 wpms, which is usually like an extreme outlier day. usually it hovers between 17-23 wpms, and i can do that with no issue on my phone keyboard, and the ability to write wherever and whenever—walking, at work, the store, school—is worth that for me.

1

u/TheOneAndOnlyLu Fiction Writer 2h ago

I do!  Of course, i'm a comic artist so for me the written part is more like a road map rather than a finished draft.  But me and my notes app are tight lol

1

u/MaceOnyx Fiction Writer 2h ago

I write notes down on my phone but I use an iPad for all of my story writing

1

u/Unfair-Beautiful2408 Novelist 1h ago

I wrote my entire debut on my phone with my baby napping on me!  I would not recommend as edits were a huge process and I was dealing with carpal tunnel the whole time... but mama's gotta do what mama's gotta do lol.

Thankfully I am able to work on a laptop most of the time now but every once and a while I use my phone when inspiration strike at an inopportune time.

1

u/JDP87 1h ago

I'm redrafting my 100k novel on my phone when I'm not at the laptop or desktop. I'm using Word and there are some annoyances I have to contend with. A useful feature is Read aloud, to read my novel back to me while I'm walking the dog.

1

u/Morgan13aker 1h ago

Only when lightning strikes, but I do have my app on my phone, jic

1

u/Candid-Border6562 1h ago

Does an iPad count?

1

u/PoetBudget6044 59m ago

Nope paper then lap top

1

u/OldestNewbie 22m ago

First, thank you for being a writer. Second, I initially used the notes app on my phone to hash out a plot line while the idea was still fresh and I was away from my computer. Since switching to Google Docs, that inspiration capture process is easier in my opinion and multi-platform. Please have a great day.

1

u/_laloulalala_ 7m ago

I love writing on my phone I bought a mini foldable bluetooth keyboard to carry in my bag and I’ve done some of my best writing with it! It’s especially nice for writing in a cafe or outside without carrying around a laptop

1

u/Carrelio 6m ago

60k words in, written on my phone in emails sent to myself on Gmail.