Software to help you write your novel!

I use other tools for organising my work, but actually write in Word or OpenOffice.org.

 

(quoted from another thread)

If there are any problems, they are with advanced formatting functions like image placement and diagrams. As long as you are writing something as simple as a novel or script, anyone should be able to read the documents you produce with OpenOffice. (Well, you need to specify Microsoft Word format when you save the documents, of course.)

IMHO, getting MS-Word in order to write a novel or script is huge overkill. A lot of the time I just use the Wordpad software that's included with Windows XP. It removes all formatting it doesn't understand, but it can read and write MS-Word documents, and is adequate for the purpose. The only reason I load OpenOffice is to have access to the built-in thesaurus.

 

a script is as far from 'simple' as writing can get!

as for wordpad, i get material sent to me daily by all kinds of writers, as agents and publishers/producers would, and i find wordpad totally unworkable in re adding notes and such, as all of the above would be wont to do...

whether you like it or not, ms word is the lingua franca of the writing/publishing world, so for those serious about wanting to be professional writers, it's definitely not 'overkill' to use what the pros do...

 

I mean with regards to formatting, not content...

Aha, they use the word processing program for the revision process, by adding pop-up notes and the like? Then I understand why it may be worth using a real word processor.

I haven't tested the compatibility between Microsoft Office and OpenOffice with regards to notes and revisions myself.

 

I just use Open Office and customise it to how I want it. Simple.

 

i've no idea... i don't ever use that fancy stuff... but i constantly use font colors, highlight, underline, line-through and such, for editing and critiquing...

btw, formatting a script is also far from 'simple'... that's what i meant...

 

I believe you, getting the formatting right for a script is probably not trivial. I meant that typefaces, colours, text styles and the like are basic formatting functions in a program, and I pity the word processor that doesn't get it right.

For those who think OpenOffice/MS-Office is too big and cumbersome, AbiWord is a free light-weight alternative. I'm not sure how compatible it is with MS-Word, though; when I've saved documents in Word format, I've had trouble reading them on my iPhone.

 

Storyist Software

Hello folks, I was just curious to see if anyone uses storyist software or any other writing program. I'm a mac user and I've tried the trial version and it looks to be pretty easy to use as well as practical.

 

The only software I use for writing is a little program called Word, made by a small company in Redmond, WA.

 

I always use Microsoft Word; it's easy to format and is really easy to use.

 

What would really help if there was a "virtual coach" program that constantly nagged me and gave me motivation to keep writing

 

Well, I do have a program I wrote for myself that pops up a random writng prompt every day. The writing prompts themselves are user provided and maintained.

 

What writing software is available?

I am currently using a Power Structure demo. I like the layout and some of the useful tools but as a word processor it is really lacking. Unfortunately you can’t cut and paste out of the demo, so I am going to use it for the structuring of my story but not for the bulk of the writing.

I like Office word 2010, but before I upgrade from my 60day trial I just wanted to know if there are any other programs out there better suited for book writing?

 

This subject was gone over in this thread, which would be worth reading if you have not already.

 

Thank you Perdondaris.
I did not read this thread as I am looking for a word processor, not software to help me write it.

I should also mention that I have dramatica pro demo and didnt really like that ether.
Someone has mentioned OpenOffice so I'll give that a try.

 

This is the thread for your inquiry nevertheless. Please stop creating new threads for it.

Microsoft Word is the de facto industry standard, and if you can afford it, you should use it. There are other programs, notably OpenOffice, that claim full compatibility - take that on faith at your own risk.

 

Thank you for moving my post. Though I did think I had gone mad when it kept disappearing.

I now have Open office as I don't want to pay £109 for ms word.
The program seems fine enough but the thesaurus is quite awful.

Power structure has a wonderful thesaurus which divides all related words in to nouns and verbs and also separates the different word meanings. The thesaurus also has a word definition box so you can identify the accuracy of the word. I really like this tool and I would love to be able to use it without having to open power structure.

Does anyone know of a program I can download that is as helpful as this?
Please note I do most of my writing off line so I can not use a web based thesaurus.

 

Manofkent, it seems to me like you're overthinking this, and maybe getting obsessed with software when you should be writing.

As an exercise, I suggest you try writing a story with pen and paper. All the way through to the ending. This will convince you that you can write a complete story without any software at all, using only the tools God gave you (God invented pen and paper, probably, maybe, who cares ... ?).

Once you do that, you won't care as much about software. Anything that can produce a Word-compatible file will do. All this Power Structure stuff will start looking like icing on the icing on the icing on the cake and you'll probably facepalm (that seems like a popular word around here these days) yourself for thinking you need it.

 

Thank you for your input, however I already tried this and I ended up with 150,000 words of badly written rubbish.
I am starting again. This time I am learning how to write properly, structuring and grammar are my main priority. If I use a good thesaurus I can write reasonably fast. Without a thesaurus I have to stop half way through every sentence to bang my head against the wall trying to remember the word I need.
If you are reasonably intelligent and remember all these things from school then you might be able to write with a pen and paper. But to think that everyone can do this shows a real lack of intellect.
I know that I am not academically clever so I am looking for things to help me learn.

Also, thank you for giving your opinion instead of an answer. I wanted to add my question on to this thread as Cogito asked me not to create another thread about software. With any luck people will still scroll back and read my question but the chances are now quite reduced.

 

Argh, know what you mean about the Open Office thesaurus - namely, "What one?"

I haven't looked, mostly 'cause I'm already connected to the internet all the time anyway so going to the thesaurus websites isn't difficult for me, but try doing a search for a Thesaurus add-on for the program? I know there are so many programming geeks out there who love modifying programs. You should try your luck and see if you can just download a custom mod for Open Office first.

Also, if you do find one, let me know...

Also also, I like playing with software that's supposed to help writing. I can write a whole novel without ever touching a computer screen if I wanted, but I find it fun to see what it's like to plan for a change, even if I'm not taking it that seriously because I think the software's not flattering my intelligence, I still end up learning from it anyway... And sometimes it is genuinely helpful. I don't use stuff like that as a rule and generally only plan ahead a little in hand-written notes, but it's not a bad thing to mess around with sometimes. It can't hurt, anyway. I don't think people who use it to help them set things out and stuff are any worse writers. There've always been OCD writers who'd do the same on paper... Just that software makes it easy to organise a plan, re-arrange scenes, and keep notes on everything.

 

What softwear should I use?

Hello all. 1st post so like many before me I ask you go gently with me.

I'm not a writer but wish to see if I have some writing talent. I intend to research how one goes about structuring and writing a book but before I start I think it would probably be a good idea to make sure I have the correct materials to write.

By that I mean what is the preferred software of most writers? I currently don't have word on my lap top but am running the Microsoft 'works' program instead. Would you say this is sufficient? And would it be easy enough for me to share my writings with others using this software?

Advance thanks

The working man.

 

I'm working on Works as well since I've only had my new laptop a few weeks now. It serves its purpose, though I do intend to get Word when I'm not feeling so lazy.

When I first started writing, I tried a couple Novel writing software programs, (can't remember which ones right now) and thought they were great, until I realized I wasn't doing any actual writing. I got so bogged down in trying to use all the fancy tools for organizing scenes, plot points, characters and such, but found that in the end, it served only to get in the way.

That's not to say someone else might not find them helpful, but I prefer a blank sheet (screen) a pen (keyboard) and my imagination.

 

Microsoft Word is the industry standard, apparently.

 

yes, ms word is the 'lingua franca' of the writing world...

and no, as naiyn said, you don't need anything more than that... though some may think it's helpful, imo fancy software is just a waste of time and money... none of the world's greatest authors in pre-computer times needed any and none of the current greats use any, so why should you?

the best way to learn how to write well is to constantly read the best examples of whatever it is you want to write...

 

I'm constantly amazed at how much software out there is of the "solution in search of a problem" variety. I get irritated at Word from time to time (mostly when it automatically does something I never intended), but it does the job.