Whether your team uses Microsoft, Google, or another suite of products, chances are you've looked at outside apps to help you stay organized and write better.
This list isn't about software and apps that uses good UX writing, though many of them do. Instead, I want to focus on products that, well, keep me focused.
SPARK
This Ukrainian-made app brings all your email addresses and calendars together in one minimalist interface. I'm now able to view everything in one place, rather than have multiple tabs or apps open.
NOTION
I've downloaded a lot of organization apps, and I keep coming back to Notion. Mine is organized in three main categories: Work, Travel, and Personal. All feed into one to-Do board, so I can see that after that 4PM meeting, I need to run to the post office.
I personally don't like using Notion for actual writing; even though it's a fairly simple design, something about it feels distracting. Maybe because my tasks live in the same place?
HABITS
Setting aside writing time, going to the gym, answering outstanding emails: all these tasks give me a sense of accomplishment (and even contentment) when they're completed, but I still have to force myself sometimes. Habits is a simple app that lets you color in the day's date for whenever you complete one of my goals.
One of my phone screens has the charts listed out, and I color in a square every time I work out, work on personal writing projects, read, drink water (why is it so hard to drink water???), and read an article on design. Seeing every block that represents a good decision is a simple but effective way of keeping up the good work.
MEDIUM
There's a lot I don't know. Medium is a great place to find specific information; if I need a refresher on how to make tooltips more effective, I can find an article within seconds. I usually log onto Medium several times a day, especially between tasks when I need a mental break from whatever I'm working on.
Careful with this one. Just like Medium, Twitter is a great platform for content creators, and that includes writers and designers. I've found some great resources here, but it's good to note that it's easy for controversial opinions to be retweeted. Use it as a source of ideas, not a source of truth.
HEMINGWAY
I don't use Hemingway much anymore, but I loved it when I was first starting out. My early writing bent towards a robotic and academic voice, so Hemingway was a good way to challenge myself to write things more simply.
TITLECASE
If you use title case in your product, titlecase.com is a quick way to double check whether "that" should be capitalized or not.
CHARACTER COUNTER
Writing a title that has to squeeze into 40 characters or less? If length is important, I sometimes write directly in this site to make sure I'm following limitations.
TODOIST
If you're not a Notion fan, or just love lists, ToDoIst is a great alternative. It's function is in the name, but what's great is the capability to tag your tasks into different categories and priorities. Especially great for writers who have multiple projects happening at once.
COURSERA
Never stop learning. Coursera has some great courses on writing, design, information architecture and more. They're self-paced and vary in commitment. I recommend looking up their scholarship program if you're interested in one of the more expensive certifications.
Chances are you already knew about most of these resources and, of course, use Figma, Sketch, Outlook, Gmail, and some other big-named apps to get your writing done. And that's great: while I think the above tools are great, you have to find what works for you. Clear writing comes from clear minds, and there are sites that can help you get there.
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