Week 18: Apps: Time Wasters or Savers?
I thought I wouldn’t have much to write for Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop for this topic. #MFRWauthor.
Then I picked up my phone and tablets to view my apps. Whether or not apps are time wasters depends on how we use them. Wasting time is beneficial at times. A fun game app can be a good escape as can a Kindle or other eBook reading tablet, or a music app for relaxation. Many apps are necessary for business. I wonder how I got along without some of them.
The topic doesn’t ask for the apps I use though I listed them.
Apps I use:
Pleasure:
Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Internet Radio App
Amazon Music to listen to my purchased Music
Kindle app on my computer and iPad – Pleasure and Business
iPad – Pleasure and Business
Note Taking:
Google Keep – Note taker but so much more. Keep has so many options. Check it out.
iPad Notes
Social Media
Twitter –
Buffer – For scheduling Tweets (If only I used this more often.)
Facebook –
Business
KDP Rocket – Keyword Generator for my Amazon Ads. This app both kills time and saves time.
WordPress – Access to my website and blog when not on my laptop.
Kindle – Other than reading, I use this to proof my own books by having it read to me. It’s amazing how many times I use though instead of through. I check my formatted docs on the Kindle app too.
One of my favorites is Google Keep—a note taking app but it’s so much more. Here are some links with information about Google Keep to give you an idea why I like it so much.
Grab it here if interested.
Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Apple, Google or Google Keep, nor am I being compensated for mentioning this app. Simply, I like the app. Maybe you will too.
A few of my apps are time wasters. Most aren’t.
I could live without some of these but I choose not to today.
Since this is a blog hop, other authors are participating. Links to their blogs can be found HERE.
All the counties around me, including mine, are in a State of Emergency due to flooding. You might’ve seen some of the Metro Detroit area on the nightly news. It’s bad for some. Luckily for me, I’m at a higher elevation. Near where my brother lives, it’s flooded around them, but not their immediate area though my sister-in-law said getting out takes some strategy in navigating. My brother is living on oxygen 24/7 now, so it’s important that they can get out if necessary.
Stay dry. Everyone stay safe no matter where you live.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
20 thoughts on “#AmWriting Week 18: What About Apps? #MFRWauthor”
Teagan R. Geneviene
Hmmm… I should look into Google Keep. I’ve never heard of it.
I hope you’re having a great week, Mary. Hugs on the wing.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Let me know if you tried out Google Keep, Teagan. You might like the shopping list if you add it to your phone. It’s been a busy week so far, but chilly. Warmer today but with Lot’s of rain. Have a great end to your week.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
We had a couple of good showers yesterday. Not bad for the desert! Cooler temperatures this week too, which is welcome. Hugs.
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D. Wallace Peach
I never thought of using Kindle to (proof)read to me. I use Word, but kindle is much easier when I’m on the go. Thanks for the tip, Mary!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Diana, the Kindle voice is much better than Word or a PDF, and you can control the speed. It reads a question as a question. I love it for picking up errors, even a missed period because it’ll keep reading straight through without a pause. (Yes, I do stupid things like that.) I used to use a PDF voice because my first Kindle didn’t have the Read Aloud feature, but the PDF was so monotone it put me in a daze. I hope you like it. I just send my document to my Kindle address. In the Manage Device section in our account, we can then delete the file from there when we no longer need it. Or just remove it from the device, but I like to remove it from my Amazon account.
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D. Wallace Peach
Thanks for telling me how to do it. That was going to be my next questions. I’ll give it a try!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Not all Kindles have the read option. I think it was in settings and had to be turned on. Then when you have the document open, tap the page and a little arrow will appear at the bottom. It will also read your purchased books.
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D. Wallace Peach
Oh, I’ll have to check. I’m not sure I have that, but I haven’t looked for it either. I’ll check. 🙂
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Kate Hill (@katehillromance)
I’m sorry to hear about the flooding and I hope your family stays safe. My favorite app would have to be Amazon Kindle. I don’t spend a lot of time on any others.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you, Kate. So far so good for my brother’s family. So many states have been hit hard recently. I love my Kinde too. I think the only app I use on there is for music. My Amazon Music and Pandora.
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Cathy Brockman
I’m going to check out google keep. It says I already have it I just had to sync or something. I didn’t think about social media and music ones. I seem to be an app junkies lol. Great list you have.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
My list looks long, but I’m not too much of an app junkie. I don’t have game apps to steal my time, for that reason. Haha. Last year I mentioned Google Keep in a similar topic. Maybe you looked into it then and downloaded. I used mine minutes ago for some book notes. Then it’ll sync with my other devices. It’s great for the grocery store. I always have my list with me. Even if I forget to write something down, chances are, it’s something I’ve already purchased and will be listed at the bottom of my current list.
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Ed Hoornaert
I’m unfamiliar with Google Keep, but I’ll look into it. Thanks for the tip.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Welcome, Ed. I like it a lot, and the fact it syncs is nice.
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Jacquie Biggar
Sorry to hear of the flooding in your region, Mary. Sending thoughts and prayers to everyone affected.
One of my favorite apps is OneNote. I use it as a virtual file cabinet- so handy!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks Jacquie. Lot’s of people can use and will appreciate the thoughts and prayers.
I played around with One Note before but didn’t get anywhere because I didn’t spend enough time figuring it out. It does look like something I’d love though. One day.
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henhousepublishing
I spend a lot of time at the computer, but little of that time for entertaining myself. I suppose I’ve always considered the computer a tool.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I entertain myself after I’m done writing, but the computer is my tool too and the one thing I can not bear to live without. I’ve had to before. It killed me. My apps are mostly on my phone and tablets except Google Keep is on everything because it syncs.
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Rhonda Gilmour writing romance as Sadira Stone
First of all, I love your book covers! Very tasty.
I’m sorry to hear about your family’s struggle with flooding. I hope the flood waters recede soon.
And thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check out Google Keep.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks Rhonda. Water is beginning to recede. A dry weekend will help. This happened some years ago in the area too. At that time, my DIL (before she and my son married) had been hit, and her basement flooded to over two feet.
My cover designer will be happy to hear that about my covers. Thank you. She’s done all my books. I send the pictures I want, plus she adds some of her own and does her magic. ❤
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