Increase your writing output with distraction free text editors

Increase academic writing productivity by using quick capture tools.

Many academics only write when they have large blocks of uninterrupted time, waiting until there’s an alignment of optimal conditions. This results in sporadic batches of writing that can cause writer’s block and stunted productivity.

You can avoid this outcome by writing in short, consistent batches using tools designed for the quick capture of ideas. In the last post I talked about the role of the first draft in getting ideas out of your head and onto the page. However, your writing tools must enable you to capture these ideas quickly. How many times have you held off on expanding a piece of writing because you’ve resisted the idea of opening the file explorer, navigating to the project folder, finding the right version, and eventually opening the document?

Word alternatives

The next time you have 15-20 minutes in your diary, aim to fill it with a writing session, but instead of opening up a blank Word document, try using a tool that’s optimised for quick note-taking. I use Obsidian but you can experiment with apps like Simplenote, Evernote, Keep, Bear, and Joplin. These all provide distraction-free environments focused on words, not formatting. Their simplicity frees you to write quickly and iterate easily, enabling the quick capture of ideas and resources on any device.

Read: Reduce the friction of writing.

Writing with these kinds of tools daily, even if only for a few minutes, helps you prepare for longer writing sessions by ensuring you always have something to write about. Ideas and fragments you capture in the moment can be compiled and expanded into more formal documents later. But the key is to write regularly and without pressure, capturing ideas when they arise.

Regular short bursts of writing with distraction free text editors will add up over time more than more sporadic long sessions.