Fiction Writers’ Toolbox #4 – Xtreme Portability – Write Anywhere

Years ago, in the pre-digital, pre-cellphone age, I used to dream of outfitting a van with enough portable electric power that I could rumble off to some random location–a quiet sylvan setting, a Wal-Mart parking lot–where as far as the rest of my world was concerned, I would cease to exist for 3 hours.

Most writers entertain some version of this fantasy: to escape, as it were, from all distractions. Only, with complete office capability–at minimum, a keyboard writing device. I mean, duh, who can write 1,000 words by hand anymore? Ouch….

(Actually, thanks to early training, I can, but I’m amazed at the number of fiction writers I know who claim it’s just impossible: their hands would curl into a permanent cramp.)

This morning’s NY Times “Circuits” Section features a few smallish PCs that render the van unnecessary…. These small PCs are about the size of a hardcover book, but their extreme portability and extended battery power make even the desert a plausible option for a writing getaway.

But wait–similar capability has actually been available for years in less bally-hooed form.

The AlphaSmart, for example, is only 2 pounds, has a full-sized keyboard, downloads to Macs and PCs, and runs for 700 hours on 3 AA batteries. There are two models; the more expensive one has wireless connectability (but who’d want it? Isn’t isolation and focus–ON THE WRITING–the whole point?)

Actually, for 4 or 5 years I’ve had the simplest solution of al: my trusty Palm Pilot (Tungesten E2) with: a fold-up keyboard that turns the tiny slab into enough of a word processor (Microsoft Word for Palm) for me to write away, and upload to my computer later. Problem solved.

Forget the van: all I need now is a bicycle and a fanny pack!

Tagged as: fiction writers, keyboard, portability