Do you use any note-taking tool, a text editor or a scratch book that would be useful for copywriters, or lyricists? You know that writing texts/lyrics is creating lists of random words, phrases and ideas written on paper in random places. Or starting from the inside and growing outwards like a tree or a network of loose words. Working with Notepad or Word is not a clever way or useful at all.

PS. I have just found that MS OneNote can do it but it is online

 

Last edited: Sep 10, 2023

No songwriters here??? Does nobody use electronic apps for writing? Nope!

Any useful tools, please!

 

No, OneNote isn't online only. You can download it from Microsoft store (indeed I don't know if you need active subscription for Office to use it). May be, it's the best option. Or one of the best. You can use it everywhere and sync all your notes.

You may look at Joplin, but it is enormously ugly (IMO).

For now for notes I use markdown files. It's very simple text files with formatting. It can be very complex indeed as you can draw diagrams, insert images etc.

How to use it? There are tons of options in any OS. On my desktops I prefer Obsidian (free) or Typora (paid but cheap). On my Android devices I use Markor (you'll find it in Google Play). You may search for other options (Logseq, QOwnNotes etc.) And you can open markdown (.md) file in any text editor, even in Notepad.

No cryptic formats, no dependency on a particular developer. Just text files in folders. Find a good way to sync all your notes and you'll get all you need to make notes.

 

I use OneNote generally but I'm a huge fan of The Journal for actual writing work.

https://www.davidrm.com/

 

I just write on lined paper and an erasable pen, a Pilot Frixon. Before I discovered these pens I used a #2 pencil. I never liked writing with a keyboard, it's just not my thing.

We don't write the same way, I guess. My songs have never come from random words strewn about in random places growing outward. If that's good for you then keep on keeping on. Everybody does it their own way because it works for them.

I'm trying to think of a time when the poetry that I create became a song lyric but can't think of a single instance. Some of my songs are poems though, but for me the way I go about it is very different, though both still involve taking pen to the paper. Whereas a lyric is written with a musical instrument in my hand, resting on my lap or in front of me on a stand, a poem is just me with pen and paper. My poems must also look a certain way to me which I hope can contribute to the visual conceptualization as well as just the words themselves to convey objective understanding and meaning to the reader...

but I digress....

 

Not exactly what you asked for but maybe it sparks some ideas

Non Google link