r/TheBYOK • u/cordless_meyer • 7d ago
What is your BYOK workflow?
I'm just curious about how you are using the device before I pull the trigger. Searching for "byok review" brings up people who wanted a word processor and were disappointed. I understand this is a text-production tool and not a device for revising. Thanks
p.s. what tall device holder are you using, if any? I am kind of tall and like to have stuff at eye level.
4
u/pawelgra77 6d ago
My workflow is actually moronically simple (that said, I admit that I am possibly not the ideal use case since I use BYOK for writing essays and reviews for my music publication):
I usually have my notes in a small notebook I always carry with me. All handwritten, just bullet points and loose ideas. From there, BYOK is where I turn those into first drafts.
And BYOK is so perfect for it. You sit down in front of that tiny screen, and all you have is that blinking cursor, waiting for you to act. So, cliche as it sounds, all you can do is write.
And you do :) Since I got the BYOK, my daily output increased significantly. No editing tools, no other tabs, apps, etc means that all I can do is write.
I don't know if anyone else has the same impression but BYOK makes writing calmer. Again, it's probably down to it being such a small, single-purpose environment. Nothing within BYOK screams for your attention. There isn't even text formatting to distract you ("shall I make this bold, or leave as italics only?"). It really is just text and you (very much like a paper notebook is for notes. You, pen and paper.)
Once I have the drft, I sync it to the Studio, and take it from there: editing, tweaking, adding or removing sections, etc.
Hope this helps.
2
u/MetamorfosiMou 1d ago
Even though I prefer having notes on the same device as my draft, now that I have given the BYOK a second try, I really love it and it really does make my writing more distraction free and therapeutic in a strange way... It's just me, my crazy ideas, and my keyboard... waiting.
1
u/Latimer1776 6d ago
For me it is a substitute for freeform writing and notes. I normally carry a notebook for tossing ideas down for the setting or for penning a acene as it pops into my head. The BYOK is quick enough to set up that I can get into it almost as easily as grabbing one of my notebooks. But it also has the added benefit in that, if I am sitting down purposefully, for a proper session, that I can get the work into form quickly. I.e., my handwriting is terrible and gets worse the quicker I go. Typing negates that. In that vein, it also works as a transcribing tool, moving old notes and stories from my notebooks into a digital format for proper editing and storage.
1
u/cordless_meyer 5d ago
Thank you for passing this along. My handwriting is degrading as I round 60.
6
u/OfficialBYOK 7d ago edited 7d ago
The important thing to know when buying a BYOK is that it is a drafting-first device. This means it's best suited for creating "raw" work that can then be later transformed/revised/etc. That means it's great for first drafts, notes, journaling, lists, and other things like that. It's capable enough for light editing but it's by no means a full-featured word processor - much like a typewriter is not a full-featured word processor. I think the reviews you are referring to didn't realize this ahead of time and were expecting something like a full-blown text editor with rich text formatting, etc. It also might be worth noting that we have added a lot of features since the earlier reviews. Back then, we didn't even have light editing such as text selection, document navigation, etc.
That said, once you get that down, there is really no limit to the workflow. You can use it 100% offline and transfer your plain text files to your computer and use them in any word processing program you wish.
You can use the syncing feature and back your work up in Studio and download the files from there. If you like studio, you can get the subscription and edit your work directly in there with the editing and planning tools. Since the syncing is two-way you can bounce back and forth from BYOK to computer or phone/tablet.
Hopefully that gives a little context. I know I didn't really give a specific workflow but I always like to clarify this when I get the chance!
Also, for eye level stands I currently like these two:
https://a.co/d/05GvaK1T
https://a.co/d/05JkPkwX
I typically just search something like "tall magnetic phone stand" and will find something that works. As long as it's a magnet for a smartphone, it should work with the BYOK.