For centuries, texts have been scribed into scrolls- we can count ourselves pretty lucky to use word.
Without trying to stir any pot here, I'd like to point out WHY Word is the 'standard' to which every other wordprocessing software is compared. It's because most people use PCs and Microsoft products. Why? Because when computers first became popular for business, Microsoft and PCs were cheaper than the 'other.' In other words, the lowest bidder won, as usual. And once you get locked into a computer system and compatibility issues raise their heads ...well, it's a no-brainer, isn't it? You stick with what 'everybody' uses, because you want to be able to communicate with 'everybody.' The quality was high enough to work, but work flawlessly? I dunno. I have used both Microsoft and Mac products for many years. While they are 'coming together' in terms of function and compatibility, there is no question which one I prefer. And which one, ironically, is now 'cheaper.' My latest version of iPages cost me £35 back in September 2013, and it does the job beautifully. And it's also compatible with Kindle submissions as well. Word ....erm, not in the same ball park at all, at least not if price is an issue. It's nice to see other platforms entering the fray, though. I've heard a lot of good stuff about Scrivener, and I'm tempted to have a look at it.
T and I also write chronologically, but especially our first drafts are so massive that we have to seperate them into different files, "parts." I've been wondering if this would be easier to organize with Scrivener. Like you, I'm tempted to try it after this WIP is done. Won't hurt, and then I'll know better what's my thing.
Word becomes infinitely slow and glitchy if a 200k manuscript is in a single file (we save it all the time in case the computer crashes, and just saving takes too long if the file is too big). I don't know why; either our PC sucks or Word sucks.
That's weird. I keep mine all in one. Four books, all over 100K words. No issues. I have no idea why it would be glitchy. :-( That would be frustrating!
Funny, I don't see any issue with using word. What's wrong with it, that you have to do everything yourself?
Isn't there a type of software out there that basically asks a few questions then writes the whole novel for you? That's the one I want. Seriously, I did hear there was something out there like that for short stories!
Maybe it's like running tights. I swore I'd never get those 'cause only wannabe runners run in stupid-looking tights, but I got a pair as a gift and went to test-run them... and felt like flying. I do run in sweatpants every now and then, but it's more enjoyable in tights designated for that very purpose even if it made me look dumb. So maybe software that is designated for fiction writers in particular is useful especially to those who write a lot?
There isn't really any issue with using Word. If it's working well enough for you, go ahead and use it. It does everything a fiction writer needs. It's just that, for fiction writers, Scrivener does those things better. Word is a pain in the ass next to Scrivener. As I write, I take tons of notes. Scrivener has several note-taking features that allow me to associate my notes with scenes, chapters, individual words or phrases, or the whole document. Word has a comment feature, but it screws up the way the document looks on the screen - frustrating. Scrivener shows the notes in separate panes. Scrivener has a "snapshot" feature that backs up your current version of a scene or chapter. You can then make tons of changes, decide you don't like them, and revert back to the snapshotted version. I use this quite a bit. Scrivener also allows you to have several different versions of the scene all there in the project file, and decide later which version to include in the final manuscript. I use this all the time. Scrivener allows you to include research materials (other documents, web pages, etc.) in your project file, so they're there when you need them - you don't have to hunt the web for them each time you want to refer to them. Etc. etc. etc. You can accomplish most, if not all, this stuff with Word, but Scrivener makes it easy. As I say, Word works and is kind of good enough, but Scrivener is better. Better at just about anything a writer needs. So there is no issue with Word. There's nothing wrong with Word. You can write your story with Word. But, if you try Scrivener, you will probably want to keep using Scrivener. It's not that Word doesn't work, it's that Scrivener works better, at least for writing fiction.
As Minstrel points out, neither he nor I are attempting to tell anyone that our way is the only way, and most certainly neither of us would make the crass claim that our way is the only "professional" way. We are both pointing out that there are choices, good choices, professional choice, from which a writer may pick. For he and I, Scrivener is a platform tailor made for a novelist. Everything you need and not a single button you don't. He and I have both, on several occasions, said that this choice is very probably not going to be the best choice for everyone. If you see us in the thick of it as earnestly as we are, it's because there has been a great deal of argumentation that other ideas are not even to be considered, that other choices mark you as "unprofessional" (a sentiment I find offensive on numerous levels), and because as moderators in a diverse writing forum, we have a duty to defend the forum from hostile take-over by monolithic ideology. Choices. All we are saying is that there are choices. This is our choice and we have found it to be excellent for us. If you try it and find you like what it does for you, you may rest assured that the end product it creates, the manuscript you will give to your prospective publisher, is EXACTLY as professionally presented and technologically compatible as one made from MS Word.
I played around with Scrivener over the weekend, and I found it to be very helpful. It helps me stay organized, which is something I'm not usually very good at. I'm going to buy it right now. A big thanks to everyone who recommended it.
Notepad. Easy peasy livin' greasy. Been writing long hand lately to feel the old school vibe and remember what it was like when you had to stop and think if what you are writing is worth the strain on your wrist.
You should really give a try to Google Doc or Google Drive. It’s a web application, meaning than you can reach your text editor and your texts from everywhere, just using your web browser. you can import or export .docx, .odt, .rft and .pdf . You can easily back in time and several people can work on the same document at the same time: you see the modifications in live and also who is editing. https://drive.google.com/
Being a web app I suppose it doesn't work in offline mode, which might be a problem for people who travel a lot and/or don't have access to internet on a regular basis.
That's good to hear. I suppose we can put Google Drive (or whatever it's called) together with Word and Scrivener then. Programs that all can be used for writing.
Yes, but I think you will have to re-export or re-import each time you want to edit a word document place in your Google Drive. The text file you actually edit in your google drive web app is a special format, not openable with another software. But you can re-export it after edition in what format you want!
Thought I'd resurrect this thread to offer this: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/george-r-r-martin-tells-conan-his-secret-weapon-a-dos-computer-20140514#ixzz31hvzR3eG Sadly, the fact that GRRM and I use the same word processor doesn't seem to mean we have the same level of talent, though stand by for my masterwork, Gang of Clones.
May I be so bold as to inquire what advantages you feel WriteRoom has over Scrivenor, when it comes to the writing?
