This post probably constitutes heresy considering I’m currently typing on my Surface Pro (which I also love, Microsoft, thank you), but this work is made infinitely easier with my iPad Pro (with Apple Pencil – because, duh) and the note taking app Good Notes.
First off, the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil – no, this is not a sponsored post, though my bank account sure wishes it were – are just the most amazing tools for writing short of an actual PaperMate Flair (the best pen, fight me) and Moleskine journal, and, it pains me to admit this, but they’re actually better. Not for writing quality, though it comes close, but for functionality. And that’s where Good Notes comes in. I’ve imported my manuscripts into Good Notes (under category “Audiobooks I’m Narrating,” as opposed to say “Auditions”), and am able to take notes in margins about pronunciation, definition, emotion, what have you. On top of that I can use a seemingly infinite number of highlighter colors that correspond with each individual character (29+ currently) for their lines and background info.
On TOP of all that goodness, I can create an infinite number of notebooks for whatever needs I have. Currently I have one for notes on each of the books – where I put questions I have, character notes, and can write out my IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) and accent work, etc, as well as personal journals for morning pages, my Bullet Journal, a notebook for my Freeing the Natural Voice work, as well as miscellaneous accent work. Being able to have all these notebooks without cluttering my personal space is liberating. Being able to keep all my work on these books (currently three books in the Bennet Wardrobe series, by Don Jacobson) in one place without having to have 29 different physical highlighters, flags, dog-eared books, etc, is just amazing.
I suppose I could write on my Surface – I do have a pen for that as well – buuuuuuttttt…the Apple Pencil writing quality is way better. Sorry Microsoft. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt a stylus come to writing on real paper, and I actually *like* the way it feels now. It’s way more responsive, less buggy, and flows so easily, I honestly don’t feel like I’ll need a physical notebook again.