In reality, all you need is hustle.

I have a lot of tech set up to help me write more, write better, and get more done. And even so, I recognize that all of the bells and whistles aren't what matters. Especially when I see a post like the recent one in a writer's group I belong to where the author suggested it was time to quit.

The post in question was from a writer who, like me, is in her tenth year of indie publishing. The post was a long list of complaints, including that her laptop broke in 2020 and she has been writing on her phone since.

I didn't respond to the post, even though I was tempted to do so. Everyone else piled on, giving the OP advice about marketing, restricting herself to one genre only (and a specific niche within it), offers to review her covers, and a million other things in her post that didn't stick out to me.

Had I responded, I likely would have suggested that she invest in a cheap bluetooth keyboard to make writing on her phone easier. She's got Google docs at her disposal for free, and a keyboard like the one I'm using right now will only set her back about $15. And that's for the cheap kind that runs on batteries and doesn't fold up. They can take a good beating--just don't slop any beverages on them (that's what usually happens to mine). 

Ultimately, though, I recognized that post for what it was--regular venting. The OP has everything she needs to not quit--anyone who writes on their phone and keeps going has the hustle required to be a writer. 

Sales and advertising? Those are different from the actual writing part. Here are some of the different things I have in my writing arsenal. None of these cost more than $100.

• Google Docs: Free. I can access my files there on any device that has internet connectivity. And I can export files as Word and PDF.
• Bluetooth keyboard: The one I'm typing on now (ProCase) cost less than $15 during Prime day and it has the same feel as an Apple keyboard. It runs on AAA batteries and has an off button so when I throw it in my bag to go somewhere it doesn't run the battery down. I snagged another one from my sister-in-law recently during her moving sale and now have one specifically for my tablet.
• An android tablet: I used to have a Fire (actually I had two of them) and I loved it, but didn't love the hoops I had to jump through to get the Google Play store access I really need. I use Google Docs a lot for all of my projects, and I also use Google Books for The Octave Thanet project as I can highlight and take notes in those eBoooks and have them synced to Drive. I'm currently using an Onn Pro 8 inch (32GB  memory and 2GB RAM) with a 64GB SD card in it. The device is far and away better than the Fire for my needs and can do just about anything I need my laptop to do. This device is currently selling for $79.  One advantage of writing on a phone or tablet is that it's slightly more difficult to shift from one tab/app to the other which slows me down in terms of getting out of the screen I am writing in to scroll mindlessly. 
• My trusty NEO2: One of the things I struggle with is falling in a scroll-hole. I think most of us do. You get online to check your email and the next thing you know you've binged six hours worth of whatever it is you're prone to binge. I bought this a couple of years ago after I decided my Alphasmart 3000 was a bit too clunky. The NEO2 was the last version the company produced and they stopped in 2012. I paid around $35 for this one. It runs on AA batteries, can be used as a usb keyboard for any computer, and I recently scored a receiver for it that will allow me to drop my files wirelessly. These keyboards were originally made to teach kids how to type and for kids with issues that made writing by hand difficult. They are pretty indestructible, batteries last a good year or better, and you'll find Reddit and other communities on Flickr and elsewhere devoted to them. Note: Alphasmarts (NEO, NEO2, Dana, 3000) get pricey in the month or so leading up to NANOWRIMO. Do not spend more than $50 on one. 
• Scrivener: The software is cheap, does a great job of allowing flexibility while drafting and planning, and it's so handy in revision. While I do use Google Docs for file management and back up, Scrivener allows me to drag and drop chapters and rearrange without having to scroll through hundreds of pages and copy/paste.  This requires a computer or laptop for me, but if you have an iPad, you can get the app for it. The only downside? There's no Android version. That's ok, though, as I can draft in Google Docs and drop it into Scrivener later. (I know, there are ways to use Jotterly and sync things on Drive, too, but Docs are free.)
• Grammarly: I snagged a year of premium for 1/2 price during Black Friday sales. The key is to turn off the auto-renew so you don't get slammed with the full-price on renewal. And now, Grammarly is integrated into Scrivener!! It also works on my tablet.
  

Do I NEED all of this to write? No. Various notebooks and beloved ink pens (I'm currently obsessed with Pilot Frixion pens) are truly all I need as long as I still have hustle.