Writers - what do you write on? An app? Word document? Hand written?

[stirling]

About to take the plunge and begin writing not just one book, but a few. A couple are educational, one fictional, one medical. I have so many ideas and the procrastinating has gone on for far too long.

So, what do you write on (paper /word document /an app) and what would you recommend for me if I have a chromebook?

I do have an older laptop too. I will be writing with a view to submitting my works ( hopefully!) further down the line.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

Google Docs is great on Chromebook, or you can use Word via Microsoft 365.

I’ve written two books on Google docs on my phone with my thumbs, lying flat on my back

I use a desktop Mac and write notes and storyboards in a very simple text editor. I create a new folder for each new story and keep everything to do with it in that folder. Random pictures, snippets of dialogue, links to relevent YouTubes. Once I've got the story blocked out (I write fiction) I switch to Pages (which is the Mac version of Word) and write the scenes and dialogue with formatting that the publisher likes.
I always write a semi detailed version of the ending first.
Gives me something to aim at.

Thank you everyone. I'm glad it doesn't have to be a specific app.
When using Google Docs, do you choose a book template or just start on a blank document?

Just Word. Every novelist I know just uses Word.

I'm wondering why you are thinking of writing several books at once when you haven't written any books before. None of the books seem to have anything in common with the others. I think you should choose one and focus on that and make it the best it can be. That on its own will take you several months. And every writer I know uses Word.

determinedtomakethiswork thank you, good advice. Just had an intense moment of inspiration on several different topics!

I much prefer using something really basic that isn't connected to the Internet when I write. I use an Alphasmart a lot of the time (Google it, widely available at reasonable cost on eBay). Really nice to use with absolutely no distractions, and can transfer text to just about any device out there.

I also use a 40-year-old portable computer, but that's just because I'm weird. :)

Google docs , would work with a Chrome laptop.

Use either Word or Libre Office both of which have all the tools you need. There's no point using anything else and Word (don't know about Libre Office but I use it about half the time) is what most writers use. It's easy, and will produce an acceptable manuscript. You can set up each chapter and keep the whole book in one folder, with its plan and its notes. Whether submitting to a publisher or self-publishing both will fit any formatting you need to do.
Try to concentrate on one book at the time btw. For the other ideas make notes and put them in individual folders. Also keep a copy and two back-ups of everything - the Cloud does not count as a back-up - one on the hard disc of your computer, one on a USB and a third copy on an external hard disc (computer shops sell these and they come in various sizes). Have fun. As Terry Pratchett said, writing is the best fun you can have on your own!

This is a surprisingly good little app I used on my Android phone - I had it for about a month and used it so much I bought the full app - not that you really unlock anything that important TBH - it's perfectly usable at it is: I like it a lot.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=core.writer

I use Word, and always have done. Hoeever, most modern word processing apps will be absolutely fine - the main thing is that you find it easy to use so you can focus on getting the words down.

Plenty of writers still do handwritten first drafts, so by all means do that if it works for you. However, you will need your work in an electronic form once you're ready to start submitting. Best of luck!