If I don't write things out, I have trouble remembering them.
I need to put things down on paper, otherwise I don't really remember things very well.
この場合、次のような言い方ができますよ。
ーIf I don't write things out, I have trouble remembering them.
「書かないとなかなか覚えられない」
ーI need to put things down on paper, otherwise I don't really remember things very well.
「紙に書かないとちゃんと覚えることができない」
to write ... out や to put ... down on paper を使って「書く」ことを表現できます。
ご参考まで!