How are you reading this blog?
Are you on your Laptop? Tablet? Is someone reading it to you via a tin can on a string?
I’m assuming a lot of people are here on their Smartphone. I mean, why wouldn’t you right? I do almost everything on my phone (Much to my Girlfriends annoyance with how long I spend with my eyes glued to the thing). I’ll check Reddit, I’ll play Hearthstone, I’ll WhatsApp or Snapchat. Only recently, though, have I started to write.
At first it felt quite alien, to write my novel or my blog on my phone. I needed the tactile keyboard at my fingertips, the big white word document filling up before my eyes. Likewise, I felt I couldn’t take a photo on my phone. I need my DSLR in my hands, the weight of it resting against my palms and the satisfying “click” when I took that shot. Then I needed to edit it sat down, at my high-end PC, with all its power going into that one specific shot.
Well, scratch all that. I’ve gone Mobile.
See, I wasn’t making any progress before. I was too busy “waiting”, waiting for that “perfect” time to write or edit, when I had my PC, my keyboard, my screen. Nothing was getting done. Now I do a lot of work on my phone. I jot down ideas, I write blog posts, and, very recently, I’ve started editing photos on the Lightroom Mobile app. It’s amazing how much more I’m getting done. In fact, the very reason this blog has reached the level that it’s reached is because I’ve opened myself to writing on my phone. I can pen whilst walking, whilst waiting, whilst eating lunch or dinner. I can utilise the spare seconds of the day and put them to a productive use. Fantastic!
Even better, I’ve started to read on my phone. I was always annoyed at how little I read, considering my dream goal of being an author, but now I’m sailing through books because they’re all right here, on my smartphone. One little button press and I’m there at the page I left off at. It might not be for some people, but it is definitely for me. Since “Going Mobile” I feel my productivity soaring and I’d recommend everyone give it a try.
Clockwork Clouds 
I don’t even own a phone… No, seriously.
I’m reading this blog (as I read all things on the internet) on a desktop computer. Well, I suppose technically it’s a laptop computer now (ever since the old computer died), but the laptop is connected to a full-size monitor, keyboard, and mouse, because I find laptops rather small and unpleasant to use.
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What I love about this blog post is I’ve had a fair few different answers. It truly shows we’re all quite different in our lifestyles and writing/reading habits. Sadly my phone broke shortly after publishing this article (an omen, perhaps?) so I don’t currently own a phone either. Any reason you choose not to own one?
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The short answer; I have no use for one, and I don’t see the point in spending money on something I neither need nor want. I don’t like talking to people on the telephone, and I never have. Also, the only person I talk TO with any regularity is my twin, and I don’t need a telephone for that. 🙂
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Similarly, I absolutely despise talking on the phone. I will avoid telephone conversations at any length. That said, I’m a bit of a text addict!
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I’m amazed. I was in my mid-20’s before there were mobile phones. My first was as big as briefcase! I was 30 when we got an Atari and that was a big deal. Fax machines were state of the art. Ha ha. I have a smartphone but don’t use it much as we don’t have cell service where I live. It’s for travel and taking pictures. I can’t imagine writing on one, but know more and more people who do. I have a gigantic laptop that sits on my lap all day and an ipad for reading. I’m afraid that’s as techy as I get…for now.
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It’s amazing to hear how far it’s come in a relatively short space of time… How far we’ve all come since Quills and Ink, or Wall Paintings… I wonder how the future authors will create their best sellers?
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It’s hard to imagine…implant a “reader” chip under the skin, scan in books, and live them 🙂
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I use my phone a LOT! Just because ideas often come to me when that’s the only thing I have available. Fortunately, my ‘pages’ files are in the cloud and I can write wherever I am. Love the mobility but definitely prefer the computer, though.
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I agree! My best ideas are when I’m out and about… Never when I’m actually trying to write! I much prefer writing at a laptop, but if I didn’t have my phone a lot of my ideas would disappear into the ether.
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Precisely!
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There is a convenience to using my mobile phone but I will always prefer the functionality of a computer.
Phone to read sometimes, my computer to interact.
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I’m almost exactly the same. It’s convenient, for sure, especially with everything else in my daily schedule. But I’m beginning to embrace that convenience and utilise it more. I’d still much prefer to use a laptop or computer, but sadly I don’t always get the time! Thanks for reading, Stuart 🙂
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My phone just about makes phone calls. I’d like to see anyone do anything else with it, apart from chucking it on the ground and stamping on it, of course.
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Haha, perhaps your phone hasn’t quite entered the modern era then, Jane! May I ask what you use to write all your lovely poems? Are you a pen and paper person? Or a laptop/computer?
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The phone has all the usual stuff like camera and the apps kind (interfering) children have stuck in it, but it’s so tiny! And slow! When I send myself photos I’ve taken it takes weeks (literally) for them to get as far as my computer.
I only use a laptop for writing. If I’m working on a poem while I’m out, I just have to remember it until I get home.
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You have a more reliable memory than me 🙂 If I have an idea I always convince myself I can remember it… I never can! It always sounds naff as soon as I try and write it… I have to make a note or it’s gone!
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I reckon if I can’t remember it it can’t have been all that good to begin with.
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Nice post Shaun and good to see you have embraced the 21st Century. Unfortunately for me I am still entrenched in times when a phone was used to speak to people, photos came in two colours, black and white. Books had hard covers and paper pages. I am writing this response sat in my museum with my teenage daughter shouting “dinosaur” at me :0 P.S. best of luck when they switch off the internet lol 🙂
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Haha, well without it you wouldn’t be able to enjoy my blog from a Museum of all places! 🙂 I think it’s both a blessing and a curse. It’s easier, more accessible, but I do still love the hard back books for instance.
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I am being dragged into this modern tech world Shaun, but not without putting up a fight 🙂
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Right now I’m on my laptop (in front of the television) but generally during the day I have my phone with me. I read, comment, jot notes and take photos with my phone. Generally though I”ll write a full post on my laptop as I find the phone for posting a bit unreliable. But in all other cases it’s become my all round best friend so I can totally relate to your post.
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Glad it’s not just me, Miriam! I much prefer writing at my Laptop but it’s been quite liberating getting used to using my phone.
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Definitely makes things easier that’s for sure.
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