Awesome Writing

(PG-13: Language) Creative writing requires persistence and a willingness to accept failure far more than success. J. Marcelo Borromeo of 101 Things I Learned About Fiction from Film created this video essay on the challenges and rewards of writing, told using footage from the films of Wes Anderson. (Thanks, Rob!)

Lightkey Pro improves productivity by suggesting text and correcting spelling and grammar as you type. The Windows app can predict up to the next 12 words you were going to type using AI tech. Plus, it has dictionaries for more than 60 content domains to adjust to your specific needs. Save 70% in The Awesomer Shop.

This unique electronic gadget encourages distraction-free writing. It has no web browser, email, or notifications to bug you – just a sharp E-ink display that’s easy on the eyes, and a full-size scissor-switch keyboard. It stores up to a million pages, and backs up to the cloud. Save $20 with code FREEWRITE20 in The Awesomer Shop.

Interested in turning your writing from a hobby into a source of income? This series of online courses will help you improve your efficiency, quality, and distribution, and includes lessons on publishing on Medium.com and generating an audience for your content.

A durable variant of the ubiquitous sticky note. 3M’s Post-It Extreme Notes will stay whole and stick even when they get hot, cold or wet. Use them in the kitchen, the garage and more. They just won’t stick to surfaces that are already wet.

Whether you’re a journalist, author, poet, blogger, or write screenplays, you can appreciate the sage advice on Boredwalk’s hoodie, which reminds us that it’s okay to tie one on to get the creative juices flowing, as long as you’re clean as a whistle when you proofread. Also available in t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops.

Want to publish your creative writing? This series of online courses will help you take your craft to another level, with training in good writing habits, story structure, software tools for writers, and how to get your books distributed onto Amazon’s popular Kindle eBook reader. Another great deal from The Awesomer Shop.

Behind the Curtain takes us inside the organized chaos that goes into the making of the Adult Swim hit Rick and Morty. Combining interview clips from creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, you’ll learn about how they come up with ideas for characters, stories, and scripts, then how the animation process is intertwined.

These smartly-designed tools make it easy to crank out straight lines, circles, grids, and other smooth and consistent drawings. The complete set consists of a straightedge and a curved arm, and a swiveling base. Available in aluminum or stainless steel.

Are you over your job? Remind yourself of your general state of corporate ennui with these all-black pencils, each embossed with a phrase that echoes your true feelings about having to work when you could be outside having fun. Sold in a set of five nihilistic designs.

Smartphones and tablets might be the new notepads and journals, but there’s something so satisfying about writing and sketching on paper with a pen. Everyday Carry shares their list of five great writing instruments that feel great in the hand, and won’t let you down.

You’ll want to put your headphones on to get the most out of these videos from Dani Ochoa, who figured out a way to pace her writing so it makes music as the pencil hits the paper. Turn up the volume and enjoy her renditions of Star Wars’ Cantina Theme and Imperial March.

Evil Mad Scientist Labs‘ borderline magical AxiDraw now has a variant that reaches up to two sheets of US Letter or A4 in one go, making it faster and more efficient. Just like the V3, it can use normal pens and markers to make “handwritten” letters and drawings.

Formerly known as Hemingwrite, this minimal device for writers offers a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, a basic word processor, and displays your words on its front-lit E-ink display. It stores a million pages, or Wi-Fi syncs docs to email or the cloud. Ships 9/16.

A plug-and-play writing and drawing machine by Evil Mad Scientist and Lindsay Wilson. The AxiDraw can write or draw precisely on almost any flat surface using most pens and markers, creating a handmade look with perfect accuracy and consistency.

Make your to-do lists more specific – or at least more eye-catching – with Poketo’s Pie Graph sticky notes. Use them to divide tasks, offer different choices or doodle different pies and pies charts.