There’s this little program for the Mac called Scrivener (they have a Window’s version, but it was once Mac only). You can put your character info, your setting info, and all your research in the same place as your actual novel without a single hitch or hiccup. Honestly, I’m sold. This is product endorsement. I’m in love. Yeah.
So this makes me wonder, fellow writerly peoples, what’s your favorite writing program?
I like Scrivener (the Windows version), and it’s a very nifty tool for doing the handy things like OUTLINING (ahem!), and keeping track of notes and stuff. Sometimes, though, I really like just plain ol’ MS Word. The 2010 version has a great little feature in its document map view which allows you to grab headings in the pane, select their content with them, and drag-and-drop them up or down on the hierarchy. What a boon for writers! Use headings to make sure you have the map entry for each scene then those who love to drag their scenes around are set! No more cutting the document into small pieces with scissors after printing all 280 pages of it so you can do the same thing.
Scrivener’s corkboard view is similar and works well.
The one I used to write my last novel is called Power Writer. It’s very expensive, and does have a plethora of features. I like it, and the word processor is slick and easy to work with. It does lots of great things with notes and inserting things, keeps files for your characters, settings, props, etc., but things aren’t as easy to move around as Word’s drag-and-drop document map. Scrivener is up next for me, but I also have one called Write Way Pro which I haven’t given a fair shake yet. I like what I have seen, but I haven’t seen it all and probably won’t until much later.
The fact is, most of this software doesn’t do a very good job of outputting files suitable for conversion to an ebook format, so I’m waiting for that to happen. Even Scrivener’s built-in ebook exporting feature doesn’t do a stellar job, and I think Write Way Pro has added that too. I’ll have to see about how that works.
You’re touching a subject near to my heart now! Software! I’m a software slut. See my blog for more details. Heh, if you want them, that is.
Huh, that’s interesting. I’ve been told that Scrivener converts to the Kindle format really well if you know what you’re doing. That’s partially the appeal for me because I can convert it to Kindle, take it to calibre, and convert it to ePub too.
As far as I’m concerned though, I adore the fullscreen mode Scrivener has. It blocks out everything for me, and that’s really important.
Also, having all my stuff in one place is just amazing. One Note was like that, but it’s a little too much clicking. This is all on one side and stuff. I don’t know, it works for me really well. How much more expensive is the other software? (That was a lame sentence).
I just watched a video on Scrivener’s Kindle formatting. You have to have KindleGen, which turns other formats into Kindle (I do), and you have to tell Scrivener where it lives, but once you do, it should be a snap. I’ll let you know unless you get to it before I do. I’m doing the final edits on my WIP right now (almost halfway! W00T!), so I can’t experiment with it until my next book.
The other software I mentioned is very expensive. Forget it, and stick with one you’ve already paid for.
I’m still very old-school when it comes to writing. MS Word and a notebook for character info and stuff like that. I don’t always have a “sit down and write” time, so, what I usually do is bring a tiny notebook around so I can jot down ideas as they come to me. That way, when I finally do have a chance to pull up word or one of my larger notebooks, I can see all my ideas from that day (or week xD) and try to do something in MS Word as far as the actual script goes.
And my favorite font is Calibri. I spot SO many typos/grammar errors with that
Well in your situation, a notebook makes the most sense — and I’d probably use a notebook too. I like writing down stuff, and I still do, but since I have designated times a day to sit down, grab out the computer, and try to write, it’s different. MS Word is good, I still use it, but I’m really liking Scrivener’s all-in-one-place design.
Calibri is pretty awesome. I love catching grammar errors.
Microsoft Word. I don’t use anything else to write with on the computer. Current version is Word 2010. I have a portable handheld which runs Pocket Word – same software. The weird thing is that I don’t use 99% of what Word does – I just use it as a typewriter that lets me change what I’ve typed. Other than that, I use paper, especially for planning. And when it comes to final check-and-edit before sending my MS in to the publisher – it ALWAYS use paper.
I should explain a little further on this – it’s nothing to do with being technophobic. I find that our writing tools inevitably frame what we write. Software is insidious for the way it does this – we have to work to its limits, to what the programmer thinks we should be doing or envisages. In the case of the computer, we’re framed by what can be displayed on screen, and a lot of the tools offered for writers are designed as ways of getting around those limits. What they are usually emulating is the old tried-and-true technique of writing everything down on file cards and strewing them around on the floor. But that technique still works – and it’s often more flexible than the software.
I use paper printouts for a final read because there is such a lot that appears – suddenly – once the material is translated from screen to another medium. It’s incredible how this happens. The key arbiter for me isn’t the capability of the tool used for writing, but the nature of the end of product.
That said, it takes all sorts – it’s equally important to find a tool that works for your own style and way. What I’ve outlined above works for me. But it won’t necessarily work for everybody.
I guess the end point is the obvious one – when writing, you’ve also got to have fun and enjoy it!
I edit my final manuscripts on printed paper, but as far as documenting things on paper, I’ll write my random notes, scribble some character info here or there, and then I lose it, haha. I’m not the most organized person, and Scrivener keeps all the basics in one place, which is great. But other than that, I just write, edit on paper, write some more. When I self publish, the ebook conversion function might help, or it might not. I can’t say yet.
But I think you do have a point, and I think all sorts of techniques work for various writers. It all just depends on how they prefer things.
I just use plain, old Microsoft Word for my writing. Not for lack of interest in Scrivner or other similar programs, however. At one point I gave a lot of thought to investing in something like that, even though I was dreading the learning curve that would come with it. Then I was reading a Q&A of an author I like and he said he just uses Word. It was sort of freeing for me! I realized that I had almost felt like I HAD to get some sort of software to do my writing. I’m not saying someday I won’t. But at this point, I’m pretty happy keeping it simple.
Well the beauty of all these programs is that you have options! No matter what, you use what works best for you, not for someone else.
My favorite writing program is a notebook and a fountain pen. I’ve tried almost every computer program you can name, but my brain just works better in analogue. I highly recommend trying a fountain pen if you’ve never used one before.
I’ve used fountain pens before — and I adore collection notebooks and spiffy-looking pens, haha. My brain is so random, and like my emotions, it just depends on my mood when I’m writing as to what medium I want. Note taking is sometimes on Scrivener, a lot of times in a random, awesome-looking notebook. It works.
Fountain pens are gorgeous, but you and I, Elisa, we’re of a mind. I have fallen in love with Scrivener, and I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what it’s capable of. Simple things like setting word targets, full-screen editing and ePub compiling (yes!) make this an absolute must for me. I love the ability to have an index card representing each chunk of writing – all my bullet points go there, and the split-screen view means I can have them visible as I’m writing the chapter. I can’t wait for their iPad version to come out (later this year, hopefully hopefully!).
The index card function has been wonderful for me, too. I also like that you can put your research in the same place as your novel. My modified stories all involve a lot of animal abilities and such, knowing technical details of how animals do what they do. Having that in the same place as the novella is just fantastic.
Having an iPad version would be really cool.