My Top Writing Tools of 2025

For gift ideas or to treat yo'self!

Forgive the mess (packages and gift wrap are everywhere on the other side of my desk), but here you can see my Boox Mira + Desk Cycle Ellipse in action here. Also, there’s my reMarkable 2!

As mentioned in the last newsletter, I had a year that far surpassed my greatest writing output dreams. And while I credit a lot of that to quitting social media, I absolutely had some more tangible tools that helped get me there.

Some of the items below will be familiar if you’ve followed me for very long. Some will be new.

That said, at this point—fifteen years into my publishing career—my routine is pretty locked-in. Sure, I love to try new things…but I rarely discover something new that truly disrupts my process. Although a few items below have been game changers!

Read on to see what they are! (And note, none of these links are affiliated. I get zero kickbacks. These are just things I really love and use a lot!)

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1. reMarkable 2 ($629, but can be cheaper with sales)

You knew this not was coming. My love for the reMarkable 2 knows no bounds, and it is still my most used tool aside from my laptop.

I have been awake since 5AM, and until right now, it’s the only tool I’ve used today. My favorite work hours are the ones when I never have to crack open my laptop and I can work “analog” with only the reMarkable 2.

I stand by everything I said in this review from almost two years ago¹:

And yes: I know the reMarkable 2 might seem expensive once you add on the Type Folio (I highly recommend getting the keyboard!) and marker with eraser…

But given how much I use this item, my only regret is letting the price tag keep me from buying sooner.

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2. Scrivener ($60, one-time purchase)

Yep, I always recommend Scrivener.

It’s the most used app on my computer, hands down. Do I even know all it can do? Nope. I doubt I use even half of its functionality—and that’s just fine.

I’ve got my setup; it works for me; and other than changing the font between projects, I always use the same layout.

(Note: as a “circling” writer, the snapshot feature is truly INVALUABLE. Same goes for the binder tool and being able to rearrange scenes at will.)

See how I use the software here:

I realize some people love Word or Google Docs, and that’s great. Use what your brain is happiest with! But there’s a reason Scrivener is so beloved by so many writers.

Plus, there’s a weeklong free trial—so why not give it a try?

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3. Voice Dream Reader ($79.99/year)

I added this app to my lineup two years ago at the suggestion of two of my friends with visual impairements.

What does it do? Read documents for you in a not-that-great AI voice. (This is not the kind of AI that is built off real people. It’s…robotic, at best.²)

Initially, I set up the app with the intention of using it when my migraines make screens agonizing to stare at. What I discovered instead was that I love listening to my books read in a clunky, only vaguely human voice.

Again: as a “circling” writer, I go through the same parts of my manuscript many, many times. And as a writer who jumps around often, I have to reorient myself in a book each time I return.

That means I get sick of reading the same pages again and again and again.³

To help alleviate some of that “ugh, I have to read my words again” feeling, I now upload my document to Voice Dream Reader, listen to it at 250% speed, and reorient myself in the manuscript while I’m doing other things. It lets me cram the reread into the parts of my day I otherwise can’t work—while driving, cooking, doing the laundry, walking the dog, etc.

Truly: this app has become an invaluable part of my process.

It’s also great for a final reread before your book heads off to your editor. I catch typos, clunky sentences, etc.

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4. Becca Syme’s Resources (prices vary)

I’ve been singing the praises of Becca Syme for so many years now, I feel like a broken record. But I truly cannot overstate how much her “writing alignment” resources have impacted my writing output and creative happiness.

No, you won’t get results from simply reading some books or even from taking a workshop or two. You have to apply what you learn—which isn’t easy. Yet here I am, four years after discovering Becca, and I am the happiest writer I’ve ever been.

Try her podcast if you want free resources.

Try her books if you want cheap resources. ($)

Try her workshops if you really want to dive in and get to work. ($$$)

Try coaching if you want help tailored just to you. (−$)

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5. Voice Memo app (free on iPhone)

I record voice memos so often that I’ve actually made a shortcut on my home screen. All I have to do is tap the icon, and bam: it starts a new recording.

What do I record? Anything! There is no wrong answer.

If I’m stuck, I brainstorm aloud as if I’m talking to someone. The ideas flow out, and I don’t have to worry I’ll forget something useful. It honestly feels like brainstorming with another person, since so often all we really need is a sounding board.

The simple act of translating a problem into words that I then articulate out loud frequently reveals my solution. With a voice memo, though, there’s no “middle man” necessary—so I don’t have to feel guilty about bothering a friend.⁴

Sometimes I will dictate actual words I want to write into a scene, and then I will copy/paste the transcript⁵ into Scrivener.

Other times I describe what I want to come next in the story—broad beats or dialogue that’s on the horizon. Basically, it’s a vocalized version of my scene screenplay that I use to guide me when I sit at the keyboard.

And sometimes, I simply map out my overall life and work plans. Like, here’s a literal transcript from one such “conversation”:

Okay, I’m going to finish editing Three Mollys in the Well this afternoon. Then I’ll take a break and teach the taekwondo class. Then it’s dinner and redacted’s bedtime. So I’ll basically turn off the brain and let the subconscious chew. Then tomorrow I can dive into Sector 26, if I’m feeling it when I open the document. But where did I leave off? I know I was stuck, but was it because the emotions weren’t clicking. Or was it that the plot was missing something? I don’t want to get to dug in like I always do when I squeeze a problem too tightly…

As you can see, the words just flow out, and the act of speaking them feels differently for me than simply thinking them. The insights and planning sinks more deeply into my brain, and since I know everything I’m saying is recorded, I don’t worry I’ll say/think something brilliant…then forget it.

If you’ve never tried just talking at yourself in a memo, I urge you to try! Truly! It’s such a critical part of my process now!

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Other Stuff I Use — at varying price points:

6. Boox Mira e-ink monitor ()

The Boox Mira monitors are not cheap. And as such, I would never have bought this for myself (I dragged my feet on the reMarkable 2 for years!). But my husband gave it to me as a gift, and…

Wow.

I use it all the time now.

As with the Voice Dream Reader app, the initial aim was to help with my migraines. Screens become truly unbearable to look at when I get a migraine, but I can’t just miss a work day. I have too many migraines for that.

What I discovered with the reMarkable 2, though, was that I could handle the e-ink screen. No, the migraine didn’t miraculously go away (lol, if only), but at least I could keep working without exacerbating the problem.

What happened with the Boox Mira, though—again, just like with the Voice Dream Reader app—was that I found it useful way beyond migraine management.

Because it’s boring.

Like, looking at your desktop with e-ink makes the damned thing an absolute drag. I have zero desire to click on Safari and start surfing news or gaming sites. I have zero desire to check my email or pop onto Discord. There’s no color. There’s a delay (e-ink has a slow refresh rate). The screen isn’t very large. And on top of that, it’s such a pain in the ass to unplug the monitor just so I can get a dopamine hit…

So I don’t. I take the path of least resistance, and that happens to be the document I already have open in Scrivener. Next thing I know, I’ve spent hours with laser focus.

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7. Canva ($15/month or $120/year)

I did a lot of self-promo this year, and I did so with the guidance and help of a team. So not only was having a subscription to Canva Pro 100% worth it for the wider graphic options, it was worth it for the team functionality.

Canva has its quirks, but it’s more than enough for most authors. Plus, having it sync across my laptop and phone is great. If I’m stuck in a waiting room or at the airport, I can still pull together a graphic or finish one I’ve already started.

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8. Desk ellipse ($179)

Ever since I read the book Exercised by Daniel Lieberman, I’ve known that being still all day is deadly. Even just a little movement can have major overall health impacts.

So I invested in a Desk Cycle Ellipse. It goes right under my desk, and I just let my feet spin. I keep it on a low resistance because I discovered I would stop pushing (and not realize I’d stopped) when the resistance was high. But at a low difficulty? Yeah, I just spin…and spin…and spin.

Who knows if it does anything for me, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. And at the very least, I definitely feel less blergh when I eventually rise for a meal or bathroom break.

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9. Dumb Phone app ($9.99/year)

About a year ago, I discovered the Dumb Phone app for iPhone. It’s pretty straightforward to set up, and after create a few shortcuts to smooth out my workflow…

Well, I’m pleased to say I have the most boring phone out there. Like with the Boox Mira monitors, my phone is just unfun to use. I won’t say I never get distracted by it, but it certainly happens far less.⁶

I mean, look at this:

As you can see, there ain’t much here, and I’ve intentionally made it so freaking boring to look at. I have a brown shortcut for recording a voice memo (the microphone icon), a brown shortcut for opening Voice Dream Reader (the ear icon), and the rest is self-explanatory.

If I swipe right, I have access to my other apps, but there aren’t many installed on my phone. And the only one that can be a problem for me is Safari, which Dumb Phone allows you to BLOCK yourself from it.

So I do.

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10. Freedom ($39.99/year)

Lastly, to ensure I’m truly blocked from distraction during my prime writing hours, I have Freedom installed across my laptop and phone.

This app blocks whatever you want it to block. For me, that’s specific websites (news, Discord, gaming sites, email, etc). And while I might not have social apps, you can certainly use Freedom to block those too!

What I love most about the premium plan for Freedom is the ability to set a schedule. My best work hours are as soon as I wake up, and the last thing I want is to be derailed by the siren call of “just real quick, I’ll check [insert website].” Because it’s never “just real quick,” and it inevitably fills my head with noise that I don’t want in there.

So I have the hours of 5AM - 7:45AM scheduled on Freedom to automatically block me, and everyday, I awaken to a phone and computer that are just ughhhhh, so boring!

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As you can see, my theme for the year was “ugh, boring.” But in a world built for distraction, boring is exactly what we all need. Being stuck with only your thoughts (gasp!) means you have the mental space to brainstorm, to daydream, to wander and drift exactly like our creative subconscious needs.

And I have clearly had a wildly productive year because of all that enforced boredom!

Now you tell me! What were your top tools in 2026? Share in the comments!

I’d love to know what you’ve learned you can’t create without or what simply makes your life easier to navigate. Maybe I’ll try something out and discover it’s a game changer! Or maybe you’ll try something listed above and discover it’s exactly what you need…

Until next time!

💚 - Sooz

1. And I also still stand by this review of the reMarkable Pro. The 2 is still the better device.

2. If you want more natural voices, Speechify is popular (and more expensive). But my understanding is that the documents you upload into Speechify are not as protected as they are in Voice Dream Reader.

3. And if you’re wondering why I can’t just jump in where I left off, it’s because I’m an “emotional dominoes” writer. I cannot sense what my characters will do next unless I’ve ridden through the emotions of every scene that came before. Only then can I feel the next domino.

4. You may recall my recurring resolution of “get better about asking friends for help.” Yep…still don’t like doing it. Haven’t gotten better at it.

5. Which admittedly isn’t great—Otter is much better, but it also costs.

6. There are times I get genuinely angry at my phone. WHY AREN’T YOU FUN?! GIVE ME DOPAMINE! I WANT TO BE DISTRACTED. But there’s nothing, so I go back to my work or I read a book instead.