Thinking of buying NewNovelist 2.0. However, it lacks a word counter and grammar checker.

Anyone have any suggestions for good alternatives?

How about microsoft word? It at least has a word count, and it does grammar for that matter (kind of.) I've never looked at novel writing software, but can it really be that much different than any word program? If that program is missing something as well used as a word count what else is it going to not have?

You don't need crappy 'Novel-Writing' softwares. Don't mean to be rude, but you'll be wasting money buying softwares like that. A manuscript can be formatted perfectly in MS-Word.

Good afternoon NEO ... If you log on to google or even amazon, type writing software in their seachbar and they can give you an alternative list of programs that will be more suitable to your needs. :eek: :eek: :eek:

I am married to a software addict. Most of the "novel writing" software out there that I have seen is a clumsy, cumbersome fusion of database software and word processing software. With a minimum of file management, MS Office or even Open Office could be made to do the same things.

I'd just stick with Microsoft Word. It's the industry standard, and what most publishers would prefer for electronic submissions. Once you learn to use its various features, it will be your indispansable partner.

Or if you rabidly detest Microsoft, perhaps OpenOffice. I haven't used it, but it seems to be the most popular choice among the IHateBillGatesers.

Maybe we don't give a flying flip about Bill Gates either way and just like OpenOffice because it's free.

By the way, with OO you can save in .doc format and no one ever knows what word processor you use.

Oops - good point, Rose. I pretty much have to have Microsoft Office anyway, for reasons that have nothing to do with my writing hobby, so that point slipped by me.

But I hear so much from the anti-Microsoft croud that that aspect is burned into my brain.

This question may be a little off the topic, but:

What would be the purpose or benefit or advantage to a writer who purchases and uses novel-writing software?

Terry

Uhm, I use JDarkRoom simply because I can't stand the overly complicated UI of Word and Writer (from open-office). They are quite distracting for me, so I use this amazingly simple text editor (And it is always on fullscreen :p). The downside is that it doesn't have a spell/grammar checker, and can only save to txt. I use it to write, and I proofread on Writer. http://www.codealchemists.com/jdarkroom/sc_1.png

This question may be a little off the topic, but:

What would be the purpose or benefit or advantage to a writer who purchases and uses novel-writing software?

Terry

That would be my basic question as well. I also wonder about these programs that are supposed to be like plot creation-engine doohikies... What is that about?

How is a program going to create a plot better than the human mind? :confused:

Plots are easy, as are storylines. There aren't that many of them. But a developed story and rich, lively characters - just try to automate that!

Acglaphotis,

Why not use Microsoft Word or OpenOffice and simply remove the toolbars? I tried doing it with Word and all that was left was the page and the scroll bars. I imagine OpenOffice could be manipulated in the same manner. Word count, grammar and spell check, and a host of formatting options would still be available.

I'm disappointed. I saw the subject line "Novel-writing software" and was hoping I wouldn't have to do all the work anymore. Just type in names for your characters, push a couple buttons setting the plot, story pace and target reader profile...VOILA...440 pages of finished story, already formatted for the printer! LOL!

Oh well, guess some thing in life are just too good to be true....(deep sigh)

i can see bumperstickers reading:

REAL WRITERS DON'T USE WRITING SOFTWARE!

not referring to just word processing bases like ms word, or oo, natcherly...

Acglaphotis,

Why not use Microsoft Word or OpenOffice and simply remove the toolbars? I tried doing it with Word and all that was left was the page and the scroll bars. I imagine OpenOffice could be manipulated in the same manner. Word count, grammar and spell check, and a host of formatting options would still be available.

I also like the black background, green letters, and the fact that it uses a low amount of resources. I just like simplicity :D.

This is off topic, but I just had a flashback to a story-writing "game" I used to play on the computer when I was little. It generated story starters, and when you were finished writing, it had awesome graphics to create illustrations with.

*sigh* I actually kind of wish I still had it ...

Storybook Weaver (http://www.mobygames.com/game/storybook-weaver-deluxe)

I had that game too...

Storybook Weaver (http://www.mobygames.com/game/storybook-weaver-deluxe)

I had that game too...

YES!

Thank you for the link! That's so freakin' awesome.

Not to be rude, but if you actually need a computer program to teach you grammar, you should probably give up on writing. For everything else, such as proper format, that can be set up in any word processor without any trouble. Novel writing software was designed solely to trick people into buying it.

I believe that is an arrogant statement, especially to proclaim they should give up entirely. How would learning through a computer program be any different than being educated through a book? As long as it is learned correctly, the medium should not matter.

Oh, that's a bit harsh, Mythurien. If someone is willing to learn better grammar, by whatever means, there's no need to tell them to give up on writing.

Still, I have no use for novel writing software other than a good word processor, unless it helps me manage revisions more effectively (retaining previous versions so I can easily revert if a set of changes turns out to be a bad idea), or helps me better organize chapters saved as separate documents into a complete manuscript. I'm not saying I need tools that do that, but I could see a possible benefit in them.

I realize that I sounded arrogant, and perhaps I could have phrased it better, but I stand by my statement: computer programs do not have grammar checking software sophisticated enough to be reliable, and if you are expecting software to correct your improperly formatted sentences every time, then you are in for a rude awakening.

It takes an intuitive understanding of language to write it well. Obviously it must be learned somewhere, but there is a difference between learning from a book (or a computer program) and really knowing it, and this is what separates the lay person from the writer.

I'm not saying that the original poster doesn't have this knowledge (I don't know him, and thus would never make that assumption). I am merely stating that a program won't help you write, and it certainly won't help you write better, and if you are expecting it to then you ought to reconsider your choice (assuming this is a potential career choice -- if it's just a hobby, then go nuts).

I don't fully understand the feature, but MW has something like that. Although I couldn't tell you how to use it, but I know its there.

I wouldn't invest my time, nor money, in Novel Writing Software.
For me, Microsoft Word does job just fine.
Aside from that the only other tools I use to write is a pen and paper.
I don't see why you'd need anything else really.

I'm even more old fashioned. I use Wordpad. :D

But that's only because I can use it to format my work to HTML for online viewing. There's no spellchecker or dictionary, which is a shame, but I just took the dictionary included with MS Works and put it on the desktop. I use that a lot when writing, nowadays. I'm good enough at spelling that I usually don't need to use a spellchecker much, but when I'm in doubt I use the dictionary...

I'm always sorely tempted by novel-writing software, but in truth, I really can't see what the benefit of most of it would be. Most seem to be just glorified word processors, and while they might look snazzy, they don't really help you write.

I came across a page for a really nice-looking writing program a day or so ago and it had little areas for things like plot, genre, writing type (like novel or short story), wordcount, characters, outline, submissions, all these really cool things to keep track of, but I couldn't buy it and like I said, I can just do that sort of thing in a file of my own, I really don't need to spend money to get a program to do it for me (even if it did look nice...*sigh*).

Well, so far in this thread people have assumed that I obviously find word processors too confusing, or that I don't know the first thing about grammar!

I saw an advert in a writer's magazine, and thought to ask before I bought it, if I bought it, whether it was worth it!

The problem I have is length (no sarcasm ;) ). I can never seem to get a peice of writing long enough. Amazes me how everything I read about novel-writing tells me to "cut down like mad" because my 1st draft will be hundreds of thousands of words long! I can't get to 20 pages!

I'm even more old fashioned. I use Wordpad. :D

But that's only because I can use it to format my work to HTML for online viewing. There's no spellchecker or dictionary, which is a shame, but I just took the dictionary included with MS Works and put it on the desktop. I use that a lot when writing, nowadays. I'm good enough at spelling that I usually don't need to use a spellchecker much, but when I'm in doubt I use the dictionary...

I'm always sorely tempted by novel-writing software, but in truth, I really can't see what the benefit of most of it would be. Most seem to be just glorified word processors, and while they might look snazzy, they don't really help you write.

I came across a page for a really nice-looking writing program a day or so ago and it had little areas for things like plot, genre, writing type (like novel or short story), wordcount, characters, outline, submissions, all these really cool things to keep track of, but I couldn't buy it and like I said, I can just do that sort of thing in a file of my own, I really don't need to spend money to get a program to do it for me (even if it did look nice...*sigh*).

There's a freeware program called jarte that is essentially wordpad (rtf) but with the added features. It has spell check and word count and formatting options. All in one nifty, free, compact bit of freeware.

http://www.jarte.com/

Well, so far in this thread people have assumed that I obviously find word processors too confusing, or that I don't know the first thing about grammar!

I saw an advert in a writer's magazine, and thought to ask before I bought it, if I bought it, whether it was worth it!

The problem I have is length (no sarcasm ;) ). I can never seem to get a peice of writing long enough. Amazes me how everything I read about novel-writing tells me to "cut down like mad" because my 1st draft will be hundreds of thousands of words long! I can't get to 20 pages!

That happens to me too, so what I do is that i keep a really big files with all the possible dialogue and ideas I might use in the main story and edit the main story accordingly. The reference file is several times larger than the actual amount of writing I have :/,

The problem I have is length (no sarcasm ;) ). I can never seem to get a peice of writing long enough. Amazes me how everything I read about novel-writing tells me to "cut down like mad" because my 1st draft will be hundreds of thousands of words long! I can't get to 20 pages!



This simply means that your muse has yet to deliver to you your novel. No software in the world will make a short story into a novel, and counting words is, in my opinion, a fruitless venture.

I have never read a book, and then later extolled, “That book was seven hundred pages long, the longest I have ever read, ergo the best I have ever read!”

I absolutely never, ever, count words when I am writing. I only ever ask Word to give me the word count when it is a requirement for submission. During the writing process, never, ever, ever. It is the least important of all criteria in any piece of writing.

Acglaphotis and Neo,

Twenty pages of good writing might equal a good short story. Nothing wrong with polishing those efforts up and submitting them.

Terry

I can never seem to get a peice of writing long enough. Amazes me how everything I read about novel-writing tells me to "cut down like mad" because my 1st draft will be hundreds of thousands of words long! I can't get to 20 pages!

Neo,

Your problem has little to do with "writing" per se. Rather, it is a problem of choice. You have chosen to only tell "part" of a story. If your writing is only 20 pages long, then view it as a chapter. Every chapter of every story is merely a snapshot in time. I would ask myself, "What comes next?" Even if my MC dies, time continues on. Perhaps the MC's child carries on. Or the villain begins a reign of terror that eventually must end. REMEMBER...AN AUTHOR MAY BRING A STORY TO A CONCLUSION, BUT HISTORY IS NEVER FINISHED! There is ALWAYS a continuation possible for every story. Within a book, it is called the next chapter. Outside the book, it is called a sequel.

I recently wrote a story about POW's on an alien planet. One of the captives escapes into the nearby jungle and is hunted by alien masters. When I wrote the beginning of this story, I had no idea what would happen if the aliens caught the human. All I wanted to do was develop a sense of the importance of freedom to the human spirit. When I got done with the escape scene (18 pages), I did not know where to go with the story. But I DID know one thing...my MC was still alive, so there must be more "story" to tell.

The next chapter unfolded: It began in the obvious place...my MC survived alone in the jungle for several days. I chronicled him overcoming basic needs until his pursuers caught up with him! It was night when they entered the same clearing that hid my human. The MC had learned to sleep in trees to avoid lethal carnivores on the floor of the jungle. He watched from above as his enemy set up camp. Then, a family of predators attacked the scouts, driving them back into the jungle. My MC escaped and ran in the opposite direction as far as his legs could carry him. In the early morning light, he got glimpses of a distant mountain peak and some strange force drew him toward it. When he started up the slopes of the foothills, he is discovered by another human dressed in odd clothes made from animal skins. This man speaks the same language as the MC and brings my escapee into a secret world of "free humans". Turns out, the same human need for freedom that compelled my MC to escape from the labor camp...this need has driven others to escape over many years. Some survived and they built a secret world of free humans.

Oooops...that little story tidbit about the colony of free humans needed expansion, leading into more chapters. When I got done telling this tale, I was over 440 letter-sized pages (144,000 words). I edited out more than 50 pages and when I got the MS back from the print layout people this week, it will still be 508 pages in a PB 4 1/2 by 7 1/5.

It all started with a single 20 page "story" that kept unfolding because I chose the tell the next major event in the time line. Even now, while the book came to a climax, the "story" is not over. I am working on the sequel.

So Neo, take your short "story" and ask yourself, "What happens next?"

On the subject of useful software to help with novel writing:

Has anyone here heard of Source Control software? It's a database system, primarily used by software engineers (like me) to keep track of changes to source code. You start by creating a "repository" and then add files to it. Once the repository contains the files you want to work on (more can be added later, as you add more chapters) you "check out" a working copy of it to a folder on your file system.

The system tracks changes to these working copies, and compares them to the last known repository versions for differences. Through shell extensions to windows explorer installed with the version control client, it puts a little green tick or red exclamation mark over the file icon, to indicate whether the file has been changed since it was last updated from the repository, or since the last time any changes to it were committed to the respository.

When you make a change to one of the files and "commit" the changes to the respository (through the right click menu in windows explorer), the system will record the differences between the current repository version, and the updated version you're committing. What this means is that the system stores every single version of the file ever committed. If i deleted a section last weekend, but now want it back, i just have to find the nearest commit date before the deletion, and "check out" that version of the repository. You can even add "notes" each time you commit, which are also stored in the database, to remind you of the changes you made. This can be especially useful during redrafting.

Obviously this only works if you remember to commit after every writing session. I for example, commit every night before i go to bed, when i'm sure i've finished writing for the day.

I realise all that sounds rather complicated, but it's actually really simple - honest! Imagine having a filing cabinet which contains your novel. Next to the filing cabinet you have a photocopier. Every time you want to work on your novel, you photocopy the sections you want to edit, make your changes, then file the photocopies back into the filing cabinet in date order. Now, if i want to get at either copy - the original, or the editted one - i just look in the folder with the right date!

Imagine having a filing cabinet which contains your novel. Next to the filing cabinet you have a photocopier. Every time you want to work on your novel, you photocopy the sections you want to edit, make your changes, then file the photocopies back into the filing cabinet in date order. Now, if i want to get at either copy - the original, or the editted one - i just look in the folder with the right date!

i don't have to imagine it... i have something that does all of that and more, in a single much simpler, easy-to-use gadget... and i use it all day, every day... it's called my laptop, w/ ms word... ;-)

Whatever method (such as Mammamaia's Word document files or Flightlessfoofaraw's Source Control database), backing up files on a regular routine is something to be done. Much saddness, frustration and despair can be avoided while hours/days/weeks/months or more can be saved.

Terry

**I know a bit off topic, but figured it was a good place to insert the suggestion/reminder.

Like SVN or git? Isn't that a bit overkill?

i don't have to imagine it... i have something that does all of that and more, in a single much simpler, easy-to-use gadget... and i use it all day, every day... it's called my laptop, w/ ms word... ;-)

To be honest i'm probably not doing a great job of describing exactly what source control is! It wouldn't replace a text editor, like ms word. Rather, you would use it to track the changes to your ms word *.doc files. The alternative to using source control, would be to save a new file after every day of editting with a different date code. So, for example:

chapter1_10012008.doc
chapter1_11012008.doc
etc.

The source control system however, only records the changes made to the files, rather than storing multiple whole copies of the files themselves, and therefore takes up less space on disk. The result is a continuous record of your work, from the very earliest content, to the very latest revisions and edits. And - let's imagine you commit once a day in the evening - you can retrieve copies of your files as they were on any given day since you started work on them.

Whether or not any of that is useful to you is debatable. Let's say for example you decide to remove a whole section. Then, a few days later, you realise there might have been some stuff in that section you could have used. If you've been using source control, you can "check out" a copy of your files before the delete, and easily get the lost data back. I have to say, that's only been useful once or twice for me in the couple of years i've been using it, but imo even that warrents the small effort it takes to commit changes to your files once a day.

It also provides a date stamped record of all the work you've done on something from start to finish, which might be of some use if you're ever in the unenviable position of having to prove your work is your own. I'm aware you've worked in the business though, and therefore you'll have a much better idea of whether or not that's realistic.

Like SVN or git? Isn't that a bit overkill?

Yeah, or CVS. Whether or not it's overkill depends on the individual :) I think for the computer literate it's very easy to use with a GUI client like tortoise, although i concede a little complex to set up. I only suggest it because i find it very useful.

A revision control system like CVS doesn't usually store diffs for .doc files - the binary content usually requires full version storage. The Word 2007 docx files would probably fare better, though.

A revision control system like CVS doesn't usually store diffs for .doc files - the binary content usually requires full version storage. The Word 2007 docx files would probably fare better, though.

Thanks for the tip there, cog! I hadn't realised they were anything other than plain text, although i guess given all the formatting in them i probably should have.

The size point was more a semantic one though, i feel. Word docs are so small compared with disk sizes, it should present too much of a problem. And OO odt files are even smaller. I just like the convenience of having a historical backup of my work, although i concede that it wont be as attractive/useful for everyone!

Actually, I do agree, but the configuration and maintenance of a revision control system is not within everyone's technical level. Nor is navigating a revision tree, especially with binary file storage - the version control system isn't usually well-equipped for showing differences in non-text content, so you have to be fairly meticulous in providing good revision comments as well.

I use revision control for all manner of content in a corporate environment, so I am pretty familiar with the practical drawbacks, unfortunately.

Well, if you are going to use a revision control system, why not just dump odt and docx and go LaTeX? They have a load of formatting options and they can render pretty well after your done with the content. And if you want to pass the file around you just have to render it as pdf. This sounds like a good idea for a plugin for some text editor, a miniature offline revision control system for day-to-day writing. I like it : p.

Thinking of buying NewNovelist 2.0. However, it lacks a word counter and grammar checker.

Anyone have any suggestions for good alternatives?

I use Liquid Story Binder which, I think, is great.

I mainly use it because you can write in full screen mode but apart from that you can use it to organize your files and snippets, and you can customize the interface and use only the tools you find useful. You can have dossiers for your characters, add notes, storyboards, timelines, and much more. But you can use the tools that *you* find handy so every user/writer probably uses a different interface. :-)

I once tried... Dramatica (I think), but I didn't like it. At all. Because it tries to write the story for you and it's not even that handy.

Liquid Story Binder, on the other hand, is just a very useful tool that allows you to have all your information, resources, writings, notes, etc. in one place.

I use OpenOffice when I write, which works just fine=) However, since I am the kind of person who needs to plan her stories I use StoryLines for that. It's like Liquid Story Binder in the sense that you can plan every aspect of your story; you can add plot lines, scenes, character information and everything you could ever wish. You can even write out whichever scenes you want, to store before actually using them in your text.
StoryLines doesn't have somewhere for you to write the story though, but that's the only thing that differs it from Liquid Story Binder.

I gave that Liquid Story Binder a download and have been playing with it all day.

I think I love it.

I must report that I find this platform is really great for someone as organizationally challenged as I am.

I am writing a complex novel with multiple threads involving multiple characters. I would like to know if there are any software programs that facilitate the process of developing the structure for such a novel.

Specifically, I would like it:

(a) to show all the action for a given character across chapters and settings

Thus, to show how a given character is being developed across time.

(b) to show the all the action and characters involved in a given thread

Thus, if the overall plot involves a crime, a thread might be the forensic investigation. I want to see the scenes involved in this thread as organized across time.

(c) to show how different threads are related to one

Thus, how might a forensic investigation relate conceptually and temporally to other aspects of the overall investigation.

(d) to show all the action organized sequentially

That might be very hard to find (not to mention code). It's far easier to do this yourself because just doing something like this to show all the action for a given character across chapters and settings Would be next to impossible! You'd have to outline when that happens yourself because I don't think there is an english parser THAT smart and powerful.

Clarification: I didn't mean that the entire substance of the novel would be put into the program, only summary items (e.g., Jake searches for blood stains in the bedroom) .

I have come across a program called Storyboard for script writing. Does this program do the sort of thing I want.

Liquid Story Binder Rocks all over outer space!

Give it a try!! :D

what's wrong with just doing up your own outline?... that's how the pros do it!

lol. My novel writing software is called MS Word XD.

I've been using this little thing called Write It Now for a while, just because it allows for simple access to different chapters, whereas in Word I would either have to scroll or use the search feature. It doesn't have a word count, but it has everything else I'd need, plus a bunch of little extras. Personality graphs for characters and such.

Lord of Hats,

And maybe your novels are conceptually simplistic and poorly integrated. What is that
LOL all about? You seem to be flying on egotism.

And maybe your novels are conceptually simplistic and poorly integrated. What is that
LOL all about? You seem to be flying on egotism.

What was that for :(. I wasn't making fun of anyone but myself. Besides I fail to see how the program I write in automatically makes my writing simplistic and poorly integrated. I could write in Note Pad if I wanted to and it would still be the same story (oh boy that is a lot of scrolling though XD).

I agree with mammamaia. Putting the plot together, no matter how complex it may be, is something you should be doing - not a programme. It's part of the craft.

I honestly believe that there's nothing a piece of software can offer you that a standard wordprocessor like Word or Office cannot. (OpenOffice is also quite good because it exports straight to PDF if you want, very handy for digital copies)

But perhaps I believe in a more romantic notion of writing - that it's something you produce out of nothing and a solitary endeavour. (well, the first draft anyway! :p )

As lordofhats said, there's no reason you can't write in wordpad and that has nothing to do with egotism. Your comment was uncalled for, psywriter.

Wreybies - where did you get the software you are raving about? ;) Did you do the free trial thing, or did you go through trialpay? I wouldn't mind checking it out - I love gimmicks and am not ashamed to admit it.

You go with your nonintegration, lordofhats. :) If you can write the way you do without any assistance, you don't need it. Some people are just jealous. ;)

Wreybies - where did you get the software you are raving about? ;) Did you do the free trial thing, or did you go through trialpay? I wouldn't mind checking it out - I love gimmicks and am not ashamed to admit it.

You go with your nonintegration, lordofhats. :) If you can write the way you do without any assistance, you don't need it. Some people are just jealous. ;)


I downloaded the program direct from the website.

Liquid Story Binder (http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/)

The free trial is a complete and fully functional version of the software, no missing bits. Read through the tutorial at the website before you download. There are MANY different features to the program which may seem extraneous and redundant, and the tutorial will even tell you as much. The whole reason for this is that you pick the parts that work best for you. Not everyone writes in the same way or through the same paths of process to get to the end goal. So, you kinda' customize the program for yourself and how you work. I think the program is brilliant because I am ridiculously unorganized. I am also a lover of all gimicky things!! (Yeay, I'm not alone!) I don't really find anything at all wrong or second rate about using a program like this. Everything I do in the program, I would do anyway, on paper, in the old-school way. I don't see what the issue is about having the process put together and made convenient for the writer.

I remember when hand held calculators first started to become available and teachers thought this little convenient device would make troglodytes of us all. Seems to me like kids today are smarter than ever. :rolleyes:

I remember when hand held calculators first started to become available and teachers thought this little convenient device would make troglodytes of us all. Seems to me like kids today are smarter than ever. :rolleyes:

Hmmmm. You're nudging one of my pet causes here. Students enter college these days less well prepared than ever for college-level mathematics. That is the main reason I am so determined to teach undergraduate mathematics when I retire from software engineering.

I'm not prepared to blame it all on handheld calculators, but your comment hit a wee bit close to home!

I'm with Cog on the calculator, which I don't think becomes evident until you have children going through school (or the electricity goes out at your favorite store and the teenage clerk has to give you change while doing the math in his head). It's scary how my kids think they can just use a calculator for everything.

As for the Liquid Story Binder - that thing is pretty awesome. I checked out a software that had a similar concept several years ago, but it was very glitchy. This one seems pretty cool. You can get it for free if you go through trialpay, or just download the trial.

Thanks for the suggestion, Wreybies!

You can get it for free if you go through trialpay, or just download the trial.However, we do not in any way condone software piracy. If you use it beyond the trial period, please pay your fair share. Otherwise, no one will bother creating the tools you find so useful.

As far as I can tell, through trial pay, it is completely legit. You have to take advantage of one of their offers. And the software creator, Black Obelisk Software, actually steers you toward the trialpay site when you try to buy or download the software.

I am against any type of piracy, as well.

It's scary how my kids think they can just use a calculator for everything.

But you can! My friend learned how to program a number guessing game onto her graphing calculator in her geometry class. And since graphing calculators let you type letters, there is an improved way of writing notes using the excuse of letting your friend borrow your calculator!

But that's beside the point.

I tried that Liquid Story Binder thing and it was confusing for me. But I didn't play with it for too long.

I like MS Word better. I have the 2007 version. I love the thesaurus on it to death. It has word count and checks spelling and grammar (though proofing it yourself afterward is a good idea because it doesn't catch everything).

I love that you can make little side notes with it too. I can decide that I need more detail in one section and make a side note right next to it, "add more detail."

Also, I found out that you can make it track your changes. Everything you add to the doc. is typed in red, anything you take out is crossed out in red, but it's still there so you can see what you had before you made the change.

You can password protect stuff too.

Then there is MS OneNote, which is pretty much the equivalent to a huge folder with never ending tabs and pages in each tab. It is soooo good for organizing everything! I don't know where all of my stuff would be without OneNote.