For a writer, the process often looks like a purely imaginative act, but in reality, bringing a novel to life requires a specific set of tools. Just as a builder needs a hammer and a carpenter needs a chisel, I have a personal toolkit—a mixture of low-tech, tactile items and powerful software—that helps me transform a fleeting idea into a sprawling world like Empire of Embers. This is the practical, behind-the-scenes look at the gear I rely on every single day.
The Physical Arsenal: Ink and Paper
While most of my work is ultimately delivered on a screen, the most crucial and chaotic part of my early process relies on the oldest technologies: paper and a good pen. I always start with handwritten notes because there’s something about the physical act of putting pen to paper that bypasses the internal, critical editor. This is where the initial brainstorming happens—where raw ideas for character arcs, spontaneous dialogue, and initial world concepts get scribbled out. It’s a dedicated space where every thought is welcome, ensuring the foundational creativity is messy and free from the formal formatting or distractions of a word processor.
These tangible tools are equally vital during my revision process. After printing out a full draft, I use highlighters to literally colour-code my manuscript. For example, one colour might track a specific character’s emotional arc, another might track a recurring theme or motif, and a third might track a key plot thread that needs consistency. This visual map is absolutely essential; it allows me to spot structural flaws, check the pacing, and ensure that every element is balanced far quicker than I could by simply reading the text on a screen alone.
Digital Powerhouse: The Essential Software
Once the scribbles and colour-coding have done their job, it’s time to transition the project into the digital realm where the true manuscript takes shape. Despite the proliferation of specialised writing apps, my final destination is always Microsoft Word. Its rock-solid reliability, industry-standard formatting, and clean interface make it the perfect environment for the focused, steady work of getting the chapter count up and turning those rough notes into clean, sequential prose. This reliable software is the final forge where the messy, raw material is hammered into a professional, cohesive final document.
For managing the sheer volume of information required to build a large world like the Empire of Embers, I rely heavily on simple digital organisation outside of the main manuscript file. While Word is for the prose, I maintain cloud-based documents for all the crucial lore—the specific history of the volcanic regions, the political hierarchy, and the rules of any magic system. This dedicated space acts as an encyclopaedia for my world, ensuring consistency across a series and preventing the overwhelming amount of lore from cluttering the main story.
The Final Philosophy of the Toolkit
Ultimately, none of these tools, whether a simple highlighter or powerful software, actually write the story for me. They are aids to the creative mind, acting as a supportive framework for the true craft. They help me manage the chaos, stay organised, and refine the prose.
What about you? Do you prefer the old-school feel of ink and paper, or are you all digital when it comes to your own creative projects?
A. R. Hurst 