I Finally Found Something That Improved My Writing

/ Scott Waldyn

A couple of years ago, I posted about forcing myself to write on my phone. Part of the goal was to capture those thoughts that pop to mind throughout the other day. I also wanted to make use of the downtime that pops up sporadically throughout the day (15 minutes here, 10 minutes). Why? Because keeping that torch of creativity lit during busy work-weeks while juggling family obligations and errands is no easy feat.

I have creative friends who set aside an hour each day to write. I know others who are weekend warriors. For myself, I write whenever I can fit it in. Sometimes it’s on weeknights. When I’m lucky, I carve out some time in the morning or during lunch at the office.

But I found something, friends. I plunked down an easy $10 on a bluetooth keyboard I found in the wild at our local Aldi (of all places). It’s foldable and is about the same size as my smartphone.

I’ve been using it for weeks now. I carve out a little time at home without having to bust out the laptop. I’ve found time in the office during my lunch hours to find a quiet corner and type away.

They keys are strange, at first. Where the fold is in the middle, the gap feels wider than a normal keyboard, but after a few weeks of practice, I’ve found a groove. This keyboard allows me to type in my Google Docs, where I keep all the drafts of my upcoming short stories, novels, and essays. More importantly, it allows me to easily insert punctuation, which was a challenge when using my fingers to type on my phone. Plus, each side has little rubber feet, which do a great job of holding the keyboard in place.

There’s only one drawback I’ve come across. I need to find or carry some sort of phone stand with me. At home, I use my phone charger’s stand. At the office, I’ve used everything from books and walls to unopened soda cans as a way to prop up my phone. This keeps me from straining my neck as words flow across the screen. Long term, I may look for another solution that’s compact enough to carry.

The biggest benefit is in how I feel. Not only am I able to reclaim that liminal time throughout the day, writing in increments of 200, 300, or more words at a time, but I’m able to reset my mind.

2025 has been a challenging year for many of us. Finding ways to tap into that creative spirit, to keep that love and imagination alive, is one of the most empowering gifts we can grant ourselves.

Have you found something that’s enhanced your output?

Tell me about it. I’d love to know how you’re juggling your creative projects amidst everything else.

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