Just wanted to ask how many people use their mobile phones instead of notebooks when on the travel? I commute into London everyday (sympathy?) and have started using my Ericsson to keep mini notes for the novel I'm writing.
It's really useful when a line of dialogue comes out of the blue, or I see someone on the train who would make a fantastic character in that scene I've been planning.
Sorry, I don't want to come off as a mobile salesman but surely this quick, simple and effective method of getting basic ideas down before they are lost forever is worth getting excited about?
I'd be interested to see if anyone else has a mobile crammed full of creativity.
Happy writing.
Luke

Hmm, Luke, I love my phone for text messaging friends, but prefer a pen and a beautiful little refillable notebook from a wonderful old shop called Pettinaroli in Milan (see, two can play at this advertising game ).

Adele

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http://www.fpettinaroli.it/eng/catalogo.asp?Livello=2&categoria=LA_TRADIZIONE_PETTINAROLI

Interesting, other people I've spoken to say the same - they prefer to use paper and pen to jot quick notes. Which is strange considering most (if not all of us) use digital technology to actually write.

If my phone had a full size key board, I might think about it. I might also use a Blackberry if some else paid for it!

Adele.

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Make that someone else. I still have a Palm Pilot and have tried that for notes, but my notebook is much lighter and nicer to look at.

Yeah, when I get my first book deal I'll treat you to a Blackberry (pie maybe!)

Luke

Luke, you are too kind But having read this article, I think we should stick to the fruit!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3561-1580254,00.html

Adele.

Crikey! Does that mean we need to get off these message boards before the precious few brain cells still devoted to writing are digitally removed for good?

Don't listen to all these Technology Grinches!

There's 2 ways to use the newer models for notetaking - one by typing like in SMSs, which admittedly is not ideal without the full-sized keyboard, (Blackberry's aside), but how about recording audio? Anyone thought of that? Still feeling so churlish??? I used to use it this way. Now clearly you can't start speaking into a gadget on a packed commuter train, as people will think you insane, but you can once you get off.

Travelling from s.e london into the throbbing metropolis, I noticed once how magnificent Southwark cathedral looked at night, all lit up. I was on my way home, after a pretty tough day, and the sight lifted me. Immediately I got an idea, and recorded a couple of mins of audio there and then, as there were few others still trudging their way home.

Mobbies are the future!

I use my ipaq. Find it great. When an idea hits me I take it out and write anything from a few lines to a couple of paragraphs. Then when I get home I synch with my computer and voila the idea is permanently saved and ready to be cut and pasted into a word document. I have an 'ideas' file that I record these thoughts in. I go to it whenever I want to start a story and don't have a current idea. The file is now 40 pages long.

My story 'Close Encounter' was written pretty much right after it happened. It was a sunny Suinday, so I sat down under a shaddy tree after the client had left and wrote the whole story on the ipod. Later it was a simple thing to transfer it to my computer and edit it a little.

Brian.

On the subject of gadgets and writing, I'm really looking forward to reading FT columnist Lucy Kellaway's novel, Who moved my Blackberry, when it comes out this summer. The Martin Lukes e-mail columns on which its based were very funny (unless you take meaningless managementspeak BS seriously, in which case you'll have hated them!)

Adele.

Me! Great for saving those killer lines, plus any comedy place names you come across, or snippets of dialogue.

The problem: my phone got nicked. Make sure you copy it all out when you get home, people!

K

I don't know how to make notes on my mobile, but I was intrigued to see someone in a cafe last week using a small square device sticking up from a very thin keyboard. The user appeared to be typing up notes. I was really envious because I find my laptop is too heavy for casual carrying about. At Rymans they told me the device is something called a 'palmer'? The sales assistant launched into a lot of jargon. Does anybody know where I could get the cheapest one of these that would serve for writing chapters, etc, to be uploaded later into my laptop?

Sheila

This is much like what I use. Palm pilots use a different operating system. Ipaqs use a system similar to your laptop. The foldable keyboard is great, you can put it in your pocket.

I would go to a tech store and look at the different kinds first. Then you may want to check out Ebay. That's were I bought mine and invariably get things cheaper there. Of course I am in Canada so it also saves me the 15% tax which is nice. Most of the time I am buying stuff from people in the States so I don't know how it would work for you.

Brian.

Whatever it is, I want one!!!

Is this the sort of thing?

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/h725-oqo-model-01-review.htm

Dee



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Brian, can you give us a weblink to yours? It sounds good.

Cornelia,

I think you're talking about PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Kelkoo is good for price comparisons:
http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/c_114501_pdas.html

You could buy one online, or, since you're in London, it might make sense to find the cheapest price then to go to one of the many electrical goods stores on Tottenham Court Road (where I bought my Palm Pilot years ago) and get them to match it (having lived in China, I imagine you're good at haggling.) Alternatively, if you want decent service then Never Knowlingly Undersold John Lewis would be a possibility, although they no longer guarantee to match internet prices.

Happy shopping,

Adele.

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Sorry, I realise your name is Sheila.

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Brian, this is a chance for you to feel happy that you can probably buy at half the UK price!