Writing never stops. Even when I put the pen down, and the laptop away, my mind still churns; figuring out the next chapter, tying up loose ends, and chewing over character arcs. Once in a while, a really good idea will light up my mind, often at the moments when my laptop is far away, and my pen and paper out of reach. So what is the next best thing to capture those ideas before they disappear? My phone.
The Three Ways I Record Ideas on my Phone
I use my phone to capture my ideas in various ways:
Notepad app
I use the notepad app on the phone to jot down quick notes. These are notes that can be easily put down in bullet points, such as a list of character names and a light description, or a sequence of events. We are talking about things that don’t really need that much explaining, and things I am confident I understand even without much information jotted down.
For example, I was considering writing a novella revolving around a side character in my novel, and story ideas would pop into my mind at the most random times. So each time a storyline idea would come to mind, I’d quickly jot it down, adding it to the growing list on my phone’s notepad.
And the best thing is I didn’t need to download anything. I simply used the notepad app that came with the phone. I just opened a new note, jotted down the idea and saved it. I can add to that note whenever the need arises.
Sometimes bullet points are not enough to jot down an idea. Sometimes they need to be expounded on. So for this, I text my husband the idea on WhatsApp. I do this not necessarily for him to give his feedback, but just so that I have a place to put it down (I put a disclaimer at the top of the message so he knows I'm still mulling over the idea). Putting it down this way helps me to write it out as if I’m explaining the point to my husband, which makes me slow down a little and really think about what I’m writing. That way, even when he does read the message, he’ll understand what the idea is. If I can write it in a way he can understand, then it means I’ve understood.
Voice recordings
This is the main way I put down my ideas on my phone. I use the in-built voice recorder. I use this method the most because it helps me really chew over the idea as I am talking. These recordings end up being a bit long because I'm working out the idea (or the problem) as I record, and more often than not, by the time I’m done, I’ve discussed variations, different tangents, noted the value it adds, and listed the questions it raises in the story. Then it is much easier for me to go back and listen to those recordings and pick what I need from them. It is a messy process because I tend to ramble, but it works for me very well because it is through those ramblings that the idea becomes clear.
Using all those methods (notepad, WhatsApp messages, and voice recordings) helps me ensure I can always record ideas as soon as they pop up. What about you? What methods do you use to quickly jot down your ideas?
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