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One of my biggest distractions is playing with new tools (both digital and analogue) that helps me to maximize my time and output. Now, I might have a problem becoming too distracted with these tools but I tell myself it’s worth it! Below is a list (and links) to what I’m using now. This will likely change but, for now, it’s working.
**Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a license I’ll get some kick back. BUT these really are tools I use AND as mentioned throughout, I’m trying to use this site to allow me to continue to do what I love…research, writing, and teaching. As mentioned in other posts, this isn’t a career path that supports a family anymore. So I’m getting creative!**
It is difficult to under estimate the power of DT. This is a database that can literally do it all. I primarily use it for my research (primary and secondary sources) but it is SUPER powerful. Many people use it to scan and store important personal documents as well. The best part of this database for me (and there are LOTS of great things about it) is the ability to OCR anything, I’m looking at you thousands of image files from archives. In practice, this means you can search a word and wherever it sees it (in article or book PDFs, in primary sources, in annotations) it can show you a colored scale of it’s occurrence. It is quite simply a game changer. At some point, I’ll do a screencast of my database but until then just give it a try. You won’t regret it.
This is another incredibly powerful note taking/writing app in which I’m using only some of it’s actual power. BUT, so far I really like it. The bonus of Obsidian, similar to DT, is that it stores your notes in individual files on your computer. This means that when/if Obsidian ceases to exist, your notes do not go with it. As someone who wrote all her notes in FileMaker Pro, which doesn’t really exist anymore, I cannot tell you how important it is to have access to your work OUTSIDE the proprietary file names (think .doc). Obsidian and DT are both written in Markdown, so you’ll always have access to it. More about that later in a separate blog post. If you’re just getting started on your research, or even if you’ve been doing it for decades (like me), I HIGHLY recommend a pause in your research/writing to think about how and where you’re storing your notes and research (see DT above).
What is Scrivener? Well, it’s what is going to replace your use of Microsoft Word, or something like it will. Scrivener was created by writers. It appealed to me, initially, because it recognizes that writing isn’t linear. In other words, when we write it’s not usually from beginning to end but rather a big mash up that you then edit into something that has a beginning, middle, and end. I’m still actively using Scrivener but I’ve recently change how I’m using it. More about this later in a different post, but I realized I was taking notes in Scrivener and it was totally unusable. I don’t think it’s best suited for that, although many people would disagree with me. Also, as with Microsoft word, your Scrivener project is saved in their formatting, not as Markdown. This might be an issue for me in the future. Right now, I’m sticking with it.
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