Writing Tips: Choose Your Weapon

Ernest Hemingway preferred writing with a pencil; Charles Dickens used a quill pen and ink; Ian Fleming used a Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter; and Stephen King uses a pocket knife to cut himself and writes everything in his own blood. (Okay, I'm not sure about that one.)

But when it comes to what YOU use to write, what does it really matter? (except I think the blood thing is a bit excessive). Write with what you're comfortable with. In the end, it's not the "tool" that makes great writing, it's the author who makes great writing.

Want to use a laptop to pen your Greatest American Novel? Go for it, just remember to save everything, back it all up, and maybe back it up a second time just to be sure.

Do you prefer writing with a ballpoint pen on a yellow legal pad? Many great writers have done the exact same thing. Just don't put the pen in your pocket because you know how much you hate sticky ink stains all over your brand new khakis.

Want to use red Mary Kay lipstick on the mirror in the bathroom? Okay, that's a little weird.

It really doesn't matter what you write WITH, as long as you write!

As for myself, I jot notes down on my iPod, transfer them to a computer, and pray to heaven above that I hit the "save" button and not the "delete" key.

Here's something I read on the Internet: "What is the one thing all great writers have in common? They write!"

So what are YOU waiting for?