As someone who has an unnatural obsession with iOS devices, I have gone through my fair share of productivity apps, searching for the perfect combo that will allow me to maximize my iPad as an on the go writing solution. Since I now do a majority of my writing from an iPad, I have found that there are a few key apps that keep me productive and focused while I am working, which I can do practically anywhere thanks to the portability of my iPad. I do use a ClamCase Pro keyboard style case to turn my iPad into an ultrabook, which I have written about here. But these are the apps that help me get not only my writing done, but also plan, organize and research my writing topics.
1. Plaintext
When it comes to a perfect writing app for iOS devices, nothing hits the mark like PlainText. It’s simple interface combined with a few key features, such as document organization and word count, make it a word processing gem. As someone who has used countless word processors, I can safely say that PlainText is one of those apps that just gets out of the way and allows the user to write. A full screen mode helps keep you focused on your words without distraction. Since this is one of the view writing apps that is available in a free version, you can give it a whirl without risk, but once you try it, I suggest upgrading to the paid version for a few bucks to remove the ads for a more more immersive and clean writing experience.
2. Paper by 53
A major part of writing for me is processing my ideas and sketching out thoughts. Paper is one of the best sketching apps for creating idea lists and artwork to help you explore your creative side. You can organize your ideas into virtual Moleskine like journals where, like a real journal, you can get creative with handwritten notes, lists and drawings. Again, its free to try but it has a plethora of paid upgrades that you can pick and choose from to customize your own experience. I use it to make lists and outline rough ideas for articles and posts, but it can be used an nearly an infinite variety of ways.
3. DropBox
DropBox is one of those apps that is so useful you hardly remember your using it! It can help you sync DropBox enabled apps like PlainText, so that all your work is available to you on all your devices, or it can be used to transfer and backup your work. Use it to store PDFs and images for reference that can easily be moved from your computer to your iOS device without using valuable space on your portable devices. DropBox is a free app with a limited amount of space on a free subscription, but if you need more you can always upgrade and pay for additional space.
4. MindGenius for iPad
A great add on app that I find infinitely useful is MindGenius, which is basically a full featured mind mapping application for in depth concept development. Its not something that every writer will find necessary, but many will appreciate its simplicity and free price tag. If you are not someone who usually uses mind mapping software, I suggest giving this app a try and see if its something you would find useful for developing your ideas especially for longer pieces of writing.
5. NoteSuite
Every writer needs an app to help them organize their ideas and research. NoteSuite is a simple, low cost app with a variety of uses. Type or handwrite notes, create to do lists to organize article topics, clip webpages for research and reference, and annotate pdf’s and images all from one app. It works with a variety of document and image formats and syncs with DropBox, Google Drive and your Mac, so you can easily backup or move files between devices.