Writerdeck.org

netule

I used to try and optimize my distraction-free writing setup, until I realized that by doing so I was distracting myself from writing. I’ve come to realize that if you want to write, then just write. It sounds oversimplified, but that’s the crux of it. Once you get over the initial hill and form the habit of writing, tools no longer matter.

paulorlando

My solution: drafts on scraps of paper away from phone/laptop, then type it up on machine.

blueferret

I use an Alphasmart Neo to write my novels. It's incredibly easy to focus with such a machine. If it just had bigger storage capacity and a microSD slot I'd never consider another option.

voidhorse

I use and am a big fan of the pomera.

That said, I'd issue a warning to aspiring writers here on HN: the writer deck culture is really just a big distraction from writing to which technically inclined people are especially prone, and I say this as a huge fan of the concept.

Ultimately, you need discipline to write, period. A writer deck is not going to solve that problem for you. If you already have a functioning laptop you can likely save yourself some money and work on being disciplined and conducting dedicated writing sessions first. After you've done that, writer decks are a good investment if portability is important for your practice and a laptop is too much to lug around.

Otherwise, resist the tantalizing urge to dive down the writer deck rabbit hole. You are really just distracting yourself from writing and spending more time on romanticizing the idea of writing than actually doing it—at least this was the case for me.

floren

I've seen the pattern again and again: I'll finally be able to write once I acquire <foo>. I'll paste something I wrote on a previous similar topic:

[Regarding the devices] The various iterations all look quite attractive, and the final one especially looks kind of like if an Apple IIc and a computer from Brazil had a baby – in a good way! I congratulate the creator on producing so much real hardware and not just renders; I’ve designed and made hardware and it’s hard as hell!

But I’ve also written a pretty good bit (not just code documentation and emails but fiction, short stories), and it’s also hard as hell, and like a lot of people who want to write things I’ve dabbled with all sorts of instruments that I’m convinced will finally be the trick to make the words come out good.

I’ve used legal pads, and composition books, and spiral notebooks, and grid paper notepads.

I’ve written with pencils, and ballpoints, and fountain pens, and dip pens with a whole variety of nibs and inks (admittedly that was mostly just for fun).

I’ve written in Acme on Plan 9, in Emacs and Vi on Linux, in Google Docs on a cheap Chromebook, and in BBEdit on a Mac SE/30. I’ve also used a mechanical typewriter, a Selectric electric typewriter, and an AlphaSmart Neo 2.

So I say the following from experience:

* Writing is difficult to do well, regardless of how you’re getting the words down.

* It’s easy to distract yourself, regardless of how you’re getting the words down.

* One of the easiest ways to accomplish #2 is by dreaming about the next perfect writing tool that will really make your writing sing just as soon as you muster up the courage to click “Buy”.

* Once you get your latest writing toy^H^H^Htool, it’s easier to write blog posts about it than to write the things you actually want to write but are deep down too timid to try.

In summary, I applaud Unkyu for making these, and I don’t think they’re likely to help you write better.

axblount

It's hard for me to see the advantage of using one of these over pen and paper:

- distraction free (except doodling)

- lower power consumption

- expressive in a way that typing can never be

- tends to discourage editing as you write

edit: and less eye strain

zgk7iqea

it's the same kind of "workflow optimization" that notion and obsidian users suffer from. You spend so much time making your tools more productive but don't get any actual work done.

pickleglitch

I don't use anything like a "writer deck" but for me pen and paper is a non-starter due to hand fatigue. I can type for much, much longer periods than I could ever hope to write by hand.

basscomm

> but for me pen and paper is a non-starter due to hand fatigue

You may want to look into writing with your arm instead of your hand

voidhorse

It also introduces significantly more lag, at least for me, between the thinking and actual writing down of the words.

Sometimes slowing down the process like this is helpful, in other cases it's better to make the emission of the words onto the page as immediate as possible, depends on the piece.

UltraSane

I can type about 10x faster than I can write sustained. And handwritten drafts will need to be typed anyway.

presbyterian

Ergonomics. I can type for far longer than I can write by hand.

JKCalhoun

You can pick up Alpha Neo's on U.S. eBay for a pretty good deal. I have a pair of them.