Distraction-free Devices
For the technophile writer
There are many ways to write distraction-free, and a lot of writers who seek out solutions to do so, such as myself. To me, this means writing without access to the internet or time wasting apps. And giving your pet/child/spouse something to occupy their time.
I’ve tried a few devices that offer this as the main service, so I thought I’d share that with you today. I’m sure some people reading this article will just say, “why don’t you turn your phone or laptop to airplane mode?”. To that I say if you have the willpower, go for it. I don’t.
Some of the methods that I’ve tried are more expensive than others, so I thought I’d provide options with varying costs. Outside of price, I think it’s important to think about how much extra time was taken up by each method. Please note I am not sponsored by any of these products (but that would be amazing if I was, seriously).
Starting out this list are the Freewrite devices. I’m a fan of the Freewrite products. This is mainly because I like typewriters and mechanical keyboards. Simply put, they are auditory delights. Freewrite sells three main types of devices, with aesthetic variations of each:
The Smart Typewriter: This is their most expensive unit, but the one I use the most. It looks similar to a typewriter and a child’s toy version of a laptop mixed together. The keyboard is mechanical, it has a lit screen, and is the most fun to work on. I’ve had mine for about four years and I’d say the biggest negative is that it doesn’t hold a battery charge well, especially if you forget to turn off the wifi. When it’s freshly charged, it can last up to two weeks of use, which is fantastic. If I haven’t used it in a month though, it’ll be dead.
The Traveler: The purpose of this Freewrite is to make it more compact to travel with. It has a clamshell body, a decent sized screen, and the same essential functionality of the Smart Typewriter. The keyboard is more like a laptop, so it’s not as fun as a mechanical keyboard, but it is very smooth. It also has a tough time holding a charge, but I would say once it’s fully charged it lasts a little longer than the Typewriter. This one has two negatives for me. The first is the clamshell case is a shiny plastic, which easily shows fingermarks. I keep the cloth it came with on hand for constant wipe-downs. Second is that the screen doesn’t light up, making it less useful for night time writing shenanigans.
The Alpha: This is the newest Freewrite device, and the cheapest. It is more of a flat tablet mainly made up of the keyboard. The screen is smaller, further reducing distractions, and the keys are easier to use and more fun than the Traveler. The Alpha is very lightweight and fits more easily in a backpack or bag, similar to how a laptop would. It holds its charge the best out of the three. Because of this, I’m thinking of selling my Traveler as I see the Alpha as a better alternative.
The idea behind the Freewrite devices is to foster hyper focus on writing. Not only does it provide a distraction-free experience, it only has a small screen to see the typed words. This forces the writer to push forward instead of worrying about going back and editing. Some people really hate the screen (they do, I’ve seen reviews), but it has trained me to work faster on my drafts. I don’t worry about what has been written. I don’t think about adjusting anything. I’ve been able to turn off the background noise in my brain and create a tunnel vision for my words. I’ll also say that I’m more of a pantser than a plotter, so this works well for me.
Each Freewrite has a “send” button, which sends your work to a linked app like Google Drive. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to smack that button and push back from a desk. Your document is instantly uploaded.
The Freewrite devices overall are very expensive for what they are/do. The regular prices range from around $350-$1000 USD. I do have a few tips for cutting costs, but they are only for the patient. When a new Freewrite device is in development, they usually launch a Kickstarter or an Indiegogo campaign. The devices are cheaper during the campaigns than when they finally make it to the Freewrite website. This is how I bought both my Traveler and Alpha. The other option is to wait for their sales. The sale prices haven’t been as good as they used to be, but sometimes they also sell refurbished. I bought my Smart Typewriter during a Boxing Day sale at a decent price. If you’re interested in a Freewrite, but not interested in the cost, I’d recommend giving them a follow or sign up for their newsletter and play the waiting game like I did.
When I was first researching Freewrite, I read every review and watched every video I could find. One competing device that came up often was the AlphaSmart Neo 2. If I can remember correctly, these were created for high school typing classes and there are a lot of them kicking around in great shape. They look similar to the Freewrite Alpha and essentially offer the same service, but at a much cheaper cost. The main disadvantage to the AlphaSmart Neo is that it doesn’t link to an app. I believe there are a couple ways to transfer data, with the main being plugging it in via a USB cord to a computer. I’ve also read a couple of reviews that mentioned people losing their work, so I didn’t want to take that risk.
If you want the original distraction-free device, as well as an obnoxiously cool decoration, consider a typewriter. Yes, typewriters can be anxiety inducing because you really can’t go back and fix errors (you can on a Freewrite, but they don’t make it easy) and you don’t want to lose your pages. However, typewriters have lovely keyboards and they remove the need for a printer. We all know printers are a pain in the ass. Obviously it is not easy to get your work on a digital screen after it’s been created on a typewriter, but there are apps now that easily transfer text images to devices. You just need to take a picture of each typed page. Otherwise, you can type out the words after on a computer, which could be a useful editing practice.
A lot of typewriters being sold online now are by sellers that have taken the time to fully service them before selling. Typewriter ribbons are very easy to source online for most models. The cost of typewriters range almost exponentially, so I’d say do your research and find one that works for you! I have an Underwood 315 with cursive text and I love it. The text is beautiful and I use it for shorter form prose, letters, and photo ops. If you’re mechanically inclined, they are fun to work on. For me personally, it gives that warm feeling of nostalgia. I’m only in my 30s, but I used to have a job that required typing out bank drafts on an electric typewriter, and it was my favourite task. I also used to work as a film projectionist, before digital took over at the cinema, and it reminds me of working on a projector.
Recently I’ve invested in a Remarkable 2. I wanted an e-ink tablet for a few reasons, with the most important for me being my vision health. As I near closer to 40, my previously perfect vision (thanks to laser eye surgery) is starting to wane. Last year I discovered I was going cross-eyed. My left eye now has a small prescription for distance, and both eyes need readers and prism lenses. I work remotely on a computer and I write after work, so if I can reduce my blue screen time, the healthier my eyes will be.
I also wanted to journal more, and I only like journaling at night before bed. A pen and paper is not fun to use while propped up on pillows. My Freewrites have an e-ink screen, but I wanted to handwrite my thoughts.
I opted for the Remarkable 2 with the keyboard, and I like to write that way as well. Outside of journaling, I mostly write blog posts, notes, or ideas on my Remarkable. I find that I’ve been carrying my Remarkable with me often. It has helped me stay organized, keeping all of my notes in one place, instead of three rotating notebooks and my phone’s note app. The pen writes just as smooth as paper and it’s very enjoyable.
The Remarkable is a bit trickier than the Freewrite to send work along to a different app, but it’s still pretty easy. I also like that there’s a Remarkable app, so that I can access all my work on any device, and add more notes as needed. Changes can be easier to make on a Remarkable than a Freewrite, if you feel the need to do so. I prefer to do all my editing on my laptop. The Remarkable 2 is also very expensive. I saved for months and waited for a sale day before purchasing mine. I bought the bundle with the keyboard, but I believe the basic bundle is around $550 USD.
When researching the Remarkable 2, I also looked at the Boox e-ink tablets. I ultimately didn’t buy a Boox, as it has access to many of the apps that a phone can download, so I didn’t see it as distraction-free. However, if my eyesight continues to worsen, I may revisit the Boox Palma, which is their alternative to mobile phones offered in e-ink.
Handwriting is obviously the cheapest option on this list. I don’t do it very often, as my handwriting has turned into a mix of print and cursive, and looks awkward. The most handwriting I do is probably on my murder boards in my studio. Again, if you have legible handwriting, there are apps to convert it to digital/typed if needed!
I hope this list was helpful for those looking for a more minimalist approach to writing. There are many other options out there, these are just the ones that I’ve tried. If you have any that you really like, or have any questions on the above, please feel free to reach out or comment! I’m always interested in learning about new or different technologies.
~Nichelle