As long as I’ve been a writer, I’ve wondered how other authors wrote. What is their writing setup like? What type of device and software did they use? What tools do they use? So, I thought it might be fun to describe my current writing setup.
While I’m not the most successful writer yet, and I’m also putting off writing at the moment, the following is what I use to write, including equipment, writing software, and more.
My Writing Setup 2022
Like everything else, there is no correct answer to the best computer for writers. A good writer could write with anything if needed, and I have done just that. But these are the devices in my current writing setup.
Writing Desk
When I moved into my current home, I decided to get a sit/stand desk. We moved in the fall of 2020 after spending most of the year in lockdown. I had spent most of that time sitting to write. I wanted to get something flexible for my new writing setup. I wanted to be able to stand up and stretch while working if I needed to.
I went with the Uplift Standing V2 frame with a 60″ x 30″ walnut top. I could have gotten a cheaper desk. I mean, all I need is a place to work, but I wanted something nice. I knew that I wanted to eventually leave teaching and spend time as an author, so I wanted something nice for the future. It came with a few other extras, like a lamp and a bamboo balance board. The lamp stayed on the desk for a few years, but eventually, I replaced it with a floor lamp connected to a smart home presence sensor. I have the sensor set to turn on my lamp when someone is in the room at night and in the morning while it’s dark.
While my life has taken a turn I didn’t mean for it to, I have found that my writing time is minimal. I write in short bursts, usually while the kids are asleep. That means I’m hardly at my desk for long. However, on the rare occasion that I get to work at my desk for a while, if I use the desk in standing mode, I will break out the balance board. It feels like it takes the pressure off the knees and lower back a little. Until those moments, though, it is a fun toy for my three-year-old.
Assembling the desk took some time, but the instructions made it pretty easy to assemble.
Most of the time, the desk is in the sitting position. I love that the height is adjustable even while sitting. With a touch of a button, I can raise or lower the desk to almost any position. That allows me to change my position while I’m writing. After a particularly long time working, it is nice to have the ability to stand up and work.
2019 iMac
Since I’ve been home, most of my work has been done on my 2019 iMac. Of course, it is a few years old, so I recently spent some time trying to get the machine to work faster.
When working on the website, I usually have a few pages open, and it is nice to spread my writing setup over the larger canvas. I love that I have all this space on the desktop. I also love that Apple has done so much to improve the interaction between the Mac and the iPad. Most of the time, my iPad Pro sits next to my iMac so that I can use it as well. With Universal Control, I don’t even have to remove my hands from the iMac’s keyboard or trackpad to use it. But I need Apple to fix a little problem with Universal Control. If another user is signed into the Mac, Universal Control stops working completely.
For input on the iMac, I use the standard Magic Keyboard. I know many people love different keyboards, but I’m okay with the one that came with the system. The key travel feels good to me, and the battery lasts a long time. If I were to get an Apple Vision Pro eventually, I know that it works best with the Magic Keyboard, so that also factors into my plans—although I doubt I will get it anytime soon.
I also use the standard Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse. The mouse has never bothered me other than having to flip it upside down to charge. When I do need to charge it, I have the trackpad to use, or I do it at the end of a session. I have a battery widget on my desktop to monitor the battery level. But I have heard great things about other mice, like the Logitech MX Master 3S. I’m just not sure I need that much mouse. I find that I’m using the Trackpad much more these days. Using the gestures allows me to get around macOS quickly.
MacBook Air M2
My other writing device is a 2022 MacBook Air with M2 in space gray. The machine is fast and easy to carry with me. I miss the wedge shape of the older Air design, but this laptop is so light and easy to carry that it doesn’t matter much. The words flow quickly on the M2. The keyboard is responsive and feels good to type on.
Sometimes, I need to leave my home office to get the words flowing, or I need to get some work done but can’t leave the kids alone while I go to the office. I love the portability of the MacBook Air, and I have never run into a program or file I can’t work with on this machine. The MacBook lives in our living room, so I can break it out at a moment’s notice. It boots up so quickly that I never lose an idea waiting to get into an app. I’ve also taken it with me to the playground to get a few words on the page while the kids play.
The screen is bright, and while I would love the high refresh rate of the MacBook Pro, I don’t think I need that much power. Also, static words on the screen don’t need a lot of refreshing. I like the smaller screen of the MacBook when I get into the creative zone. It limits me much more than the iMac does, and my focus tends to stay on the app of the moment, instead of getting pulled away to check social media.
iPad Pro 2018
I also work on an iPad Pro from 2018. My usage of the iPad has dropped significantly in the last few years. I love the iPad and iPadOS for the most part, but I can do much more work on the Mac. However, when I go on vacation or travel a long way, I only bring the iPad. It is an older device, so if something were to happen to it, it would be easier to lose or replace than my Macbook. Also, it is easier to download shows on the iPad. Most streaming services don’t put out apps for the Mac, so if you know you’ll be on a plane or somewhere without the internet, the iPad can come loaded with movies to watch.
I do most of my reading on the iPad these days, and that’s mostly it. Reading, movies when I travel, and the occasional writing. I love that the iPad is so versatile, but the OS is still lacking in a few ways to make it a real contender for me to get all my work done. I can get some first draft writing done, but only when the iPad is attached to the Magic Keyboard case. However, I haven’t come across a good editing flow. I do have an idea about that, which I’ll get to in a later section.
When I’m not reading or traveling, the iPad docks next to the iMac. I like to use Universal Control on my iMac to control the iPad. While my iMac is technically newer, the iPad connects to my AirPods Pro better. It’s also nice to offload things like music to the iPad.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
My most recent purchase is the iPhone 14 Pro Max. I spent the last few years with the smaller Pro version of the iPhone, but this year, I upgraded to the larger screen. I thought it would be easier to write on. I’m unsure if my thought process was correct because my hands still cramp. I will say that when I’m home and watching my son play, it’s much easier to bust out my iPhone to write on for a few minutes instead of running and getting my MacBook Air.
The iPhone has been useful for quick sessions or when I’m stuck on the couch with a sick kid, but I would prefer to have my MacBook to write on. Also, it took a while to find the right software to make it all useful to me.
A year later, the iPhone 14 Pro Max still has enough power to get anything done that I need to. My one complaint so far, besides the hand cramps, is the battery. The battery lifespan seems to go fast. I’m already at 85% capacity.
But the best tool is the one you have with you. I always have my phone with me, so it’s great if I need to get something done quickly.
Software
For writing, my app usage has changed dramatically since I wrote the first version of this article. Before, I used Scrivener to plan and write my (attempted) novels, Final Draft for screenplays, and Safari to write in WordPress for the blog. I grew tired of some aspects of Scrivener, like syncing. When I needed to work on my phone, I had to wait forever for all the files to be synced. When I reached a point where I could work, my inspiration or time would be gone. So I needed something new. I tried out NovelPad for a while, and while it worked, they didn’t offer apps. It was all browser-based. It also has issues, which made it not fun to work with.
After getting a job for a short while writing for MakeUseOf.com, I was encouraged to find a MarkDown text editor to do my content writing. So, I explored some of the better Mac options. Knowing as I was leaving teaching and a steady paycheck, I wanted something cheap. I started to write my blog posts in Obsidian, which worked great for my blog posts and probably would have worked great for most of my writing since it is so flexible. But I also tried out Ulysses, and since then, it’s been my go-to writing app of choice for my blog posts and novel writing
Ulysses
It took me a minute to get hooked on Ulysses. I was so used to Scrivener that anything else felt weird. But once I started to write more in MarkDown and as I used it more, it has become hard to write anywhere else.
Ulysses keeps all my writing in one place. I don’t have to look for files anymore because everything lives in the app. Ulysses has a library, similar to the binder in Scrivener, but it houses all of your writing. In the library, you can make folders and organize your writing. You can also create projects, a place to keep your current longer works. Inside each folder, you can make as many sheets as you want.
So, for example, I have a folder that houses all my blog posts. Each post gets its own sheet, and then I place it in the JSwordSmith folder. This makes it easy to go back and see what I’ve already written. I don’t have to search for a file to open, and there’s a search inside Ulysses, plus tags you can use. The app also integrates with my blog. Once I’m done drafting a blog post, I have to push a button, and it gets uploaded to WordPress for me to publish it.
Projects inside Ulysses act like Scrivener projects. You can make folders inside the project, use sheets to create scenes, drag them around to reorder them, and export them to a different format once you’re done. It makes it super easy to use. Plus, with projects, you don’t see all your other sheets. Each can help you focus. Once you’re done with your project, you can export it to several different file types like doc, pdf, or epub.
While you do have to learn how to use MarkDown to get the most out of the app, it is pretty easy to understand. Now, I’m so used to it that I’m not sure I could work in a different word processor style. One feature I love about MarkDown is that I can leave notes in line. I use two plus signs in a row and leave myself a note for revisions later. The text changes color, and you get a link to it in your righthand sidebar.
Syncing works super fast using iCloud, and there are apps for my Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Recently, Ulysses added widgets for quick access to your projects or inbox. Ulysses only has apps for the Apple Ecosystem, and there are no web versions, but if you are living that Mac life, I would encourage you to try out Ulysses
The only drawback I’ve experienced so far with Ulysses is the subscription. Unlike Scrivener, a pay-once model, Ulysses is subscription-only. Luckily, when I started using it, I was still teaching. Ulysses offers a steep discount for students and teachers. However, the regular yearly price for the software isn’t too bad at $40. Usually, this isn’t a bad price, and it makes sense to keep supporting software you like. However, subscription fatigue is a thing. If I decide not to pay the price, I would probably go back to something like Obsidian
Final Draft
The only thing I haven’t been able to do in Ulysses is write screenplays. I haven’t spent much time on them lately, so if it hasn’t been a problem, once I get an idea for a screenplay, I would continue to use Final Draft.
Final Draft offers a Mac, PC, or iOS version. Syncing is super easy. I’ve just used iCloud and put all my saved files there. I’ve never had a problem.
I know there are other options, like FadeIN, but I’ve had a nice workflow with Final Draft. Like Ulysses, there are plenty of ways to help plan your screenplay here. I like the BeatBoard to plan things out. The BeatBoard is like a giant white board I can throw anything onto and move around. It helps me visualize the story
Final Draft has a plethora of templates to choose from, even outside of screenwriting. They even have options for writing a novel. The iOS version of the app works well and even has an editing mode, which most of the writing apps I’ve tried don’t.
Grammarly
For grammar and editing feedback, I subscribe to Grammarly. Grammarly has an app that goes anywhere you type, and sometimes, it does get in the way. However, you can drag it around. When I’m writing, usually in Ulysses, Grammarly checks me as I go, which I don’t always like. It will highlight little errors that need to be fixed, just like Word might if you misspell a word.
Once I’m done with a draft, though, I can press the Grammarly button that’s been hovering. Grammarly will then offer you finer suggestions on improving your grammar, flow, syntax, and more. While I find most of their suggestions useful, they aren’t always right. Still, it helps more often than not.
And sometimes, editing with Grammarly can be frustrating. If you accept or ignore their corrections, your focus jumps to the following issues. If you have a few problems back to back, it’s not a big deal, but if it skips paragraphs, it can be frustrating trying to get back to where you were. Some of this can be fixed by proofing before you bring in Grammarly or importing your work into Grammarly’s web app. It seems to work a little better there. I’ve played with exporting it to the web app and editing it there, but I didn’t have much luck getting it back into Ulysses. I haven’t had much time to experiment with the best way to get the workflow to work. I bet there is a shortcut or something I could use.
I also like Grammarly compared to something like ProWritingAid because Grammarly offers iOS and iPadOS apps. They are a little more limited than the desktop version. On the iPad, you have to use the onscreen keyboard to get the benefits of having Grammarly, and that’s not the best workflow. However, if I can find a good workflow to get things into the Grammarly web app and out, I think it could solve some editing issues on the iPad. Still, I’d rather have something that works on the touchscreened Apple devices than nothing.
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Future Setup Goals
My setup works for me, but a few elements are getting too long in the tooth. While I sped up my iMac, there are still limits to the computer I’m starting to hit more often. I would love to replace it with a new Mac Mini and Studio display. While I have lived the all-in-one computer life for a long time, I’m starting to see the benefits of breaking the display out from the computer. Once this iMac slows too much, I can’t use it as a monitor, even though it has the same panel as the Studio Display. It would be nice to have such an excellent display and be able to update the CPU when needed.
Also, I’m interested to see what the future holds for the Apple Vision Pro. Using smaller screens helps me focus more, but what about a screen that could be anywhere? What about being able to block the entire world out? The Apple Vision Pro uses your eyes to track your movement around the system, so would that increase my focus? There are tons of questions that I need answered about the device, but I will have to wait.
What’s Your Writing Setup?
That was a look into my writing setup, writing software, and other writing apps that I use. If you came here looking for some inspiration, I hope I helped out a little bit. Just remember, there’s no one right system. You have to find what works for you. Try out some apps and systems, and you’ll find your flow.
What is your writing setup like? How do you like to write? Have an app I should try out? Let me know that as well.
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