My Favourite Tools as a Writing Consultant
And Why Pen & Paper Still Wins
When people hear “writing consultant,” they often imagine a sleek laptop, Grammarly alerts pinging in the background, and endless Word documents filled with tracked changes. And yes — those tools are part of my daily toolkit. But the truth? Some of the most powerful tools I rely on aren’t digital at all.
Here’s a peek at the mix of modern and old-school tools that keep my practice thoughtful, smart, and (mostly) sane.
1. Microsoft Word: The Non-Negotiable
Let’s start with the obvious one. Word is still the gold standard for editing because of its Track Changes function. Whether I’m untangling a thesis chapter or refining a business proposal, the ability to show exactly what I’ve changed — and why — is essential. It’s transparent, efficient, and respected by academics, corporates, and creatives alike.
But here’s the secret: Word is only the final polishing station. The deeper work often happens elsewhere.
2. Google Docs: Collaboration Made Simple
When I work with clients who thrive on real-time feedback, Docs is unbeatable. It’s live, it’s flexible, and it removes the endless email back-and-forth. Students especially love being able to “see me think” as I comment and rephrase on the spot. It makes editing less intimidating and more like a conversation.
3. Grammarly & ProWritingAid: The Back-Up Editors
I don’t rely on these tools to replace my judgment — but they’re handy safety nets. Sometimes, after a long day, a quick grammar or style suggestion can save me from overlooking something small. My rule of thumb: machines can catch typos, but they can’t catch tone. That’s where human editing remains irreplaceable.
4. Canva: For Words That Need Visuals
Editing isn’t always just about paragraphs. Sometimes I help clients bring their ideas into visual formats — slides, one-pagers, or social posts. Canva is my go-to for creating clean, on-brand graphics that let words shine without overwhelming the reader.
5. The Underrated Duo: Pen & Paper
Now, for the real winner.
Despite all the apps and platforms I use daily, nothing clears my head or unlocks fresh insight quite like pen on paper.
Drafting a tricky section? I’ll sketch it out longhand.
Stuck on structure? I’ll draw a mind map in the margins.
Feeling creatively blocked? A page of journaling often sparks the breakthrough.
Writing by hand slows me down just enough to think more clearly. It strips away distractions — no red underlines, no pinging notifications — and lets the words flow raw and unfiltered. Later, I can polish them on screen. But the paper is where the first spark lives.
Why It Still Wins
The digital tools are powerful — they make my work efficient, collaborative, and professional. But pen and paper win because they keep me grounded in the very heart of what writing is: thinking made visible.
As a consultant, my job is to bring clarity to someone else’s ideas. Sometimes that clarity doesn’t come from the most advanced software. Sometimes it comes from a notebook, a scribble, and a cup of coffee.