Writing Software

[TanyaSue]

The topic of writing software has come up a few times. I wanted to give all those interested a heads up: Writer's Digest, August 2007 issue, has a feature article on writing software. :)

The article is about three pages of basic info, their guide to what's available; then another two pages of "at a glance" spreadsheets comparing 36 different programs. The spreadsheets are broken down into four categories: prose writers, screenwriters, specialty applications and "for all writers".

Unfortunately, the article is not available on their website, but if you've got a B&N or Borders near you, you should be able to find a copy.

Hope this is helpful to someone!

[righter1]

Definitely! Will be picking up a copy as soon as I can!

Thanks, TanyaSue! !thumbsup!

[wgjones3]

Please tell me that by writing software they mean stuff like Word and OpenOffice Writer, not Dramatica Pro and its many contemporaries...

[TanyaSue]

Hmmm ... sorry, Jones. Here is a list of the software featured:

BookWright
Character Pro
Dramatica Pro
Dr. Format Screenwriting
Final Draft and FDAV
Great Dialog
Hollywood Screenplay Pro
LifeJournal
Movie Magic Screenwriter
PlayWright
Power Structure
Power Tracker
Power Writer
Quick Query Tracker
QuickStory
Save the Cat!
Scriptware
Storybase
StoryCraftPro
Storyspace
StoryView
StyleWriter
Truby's Blockbuster
TotallyWrite
Visual Thesaurus
Word Menu
Wrigh Works Utilities
Write Again
WriteBoard
Writer's Blocks
WriteItNow
WriteWay
Zillion Kajillion Rhymes & Cliches

Can't tell you any more! You gotta buy the magazine. :)

[wgjones3]

The screenwriting software like Final Draft is good, but despite the glowing testimonials of so-called NYT Bestselling authors, these miracle-working software packages that let you dump in character names, traits, backgrounds, and pick a vague plot outline, and then "magically do this hard work of writing for you" are nothing but a rip-off.

[Phy]

I'd rather see an article detailing the difference for writers between a notepad text app, a Word-like word processor, FrameMaker, and InDesign.

There are different places that each can really shine, and I have used each for different things.

Texturizer is my favorite notepad on steroids app. It is fast, lean, and has built-in HTML support. I use it for scratchpad use such as writing things for forums posts. I've lost too many missives when something didn't work with my browser. Sadly, Texturizer is no longer in development, and I mourn the loss of one of my favorite killer apps.

Word 2003 is a workhorse app for me (whether I like it or not). I use it as much for simple things as the Word Count field as anything.

FrameMaker is still absolutely incomparable when it comes to long, text-based docs (like books). For my NaNo novel, I gave each chapter its own file and then combined them together into one book. The ability to change things globally without affecting anything else is priceless.

InDesign CS3 is arguably the best desktop publishing app around and has added some of my favorite FrameMaker text abilities like cross references and variable page heads.

My favorite word processor was Word Perfect for Windows. It was the most intuitive app I ever used and gave me access to the underbelly of the code when I needed to tweak things under the hood. Sadly, it has been so eclipsed by Word that knowing WordPerfect is like knowing Dvorak versus QWERTY; it may be a superior way of doing things, but if you're the only one using it, it becomes problematic when doing anything with THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Open Office Writer looks like it has a nice mix of Word / Frame features, but I just don't have the time to get used to yet another word processing app.

If one does manage to pick up a copy of Frame or InDesign (and they aren't cheap), I highly recommend books such as the Adobe Classroom In A Book series. They walk you through the basics of their apps with hands-on examples from the enclosed CD. I'm going through InDesign CS3 Classroom In A Book, and it's superb.

[kriswrite]

I agree wholeheartedly, wgjones.

Kristina

[TanyaSue]

Personally, I am perfectly content with Word. :) Just wanted to give the "heads-up" for those who aren't.

[Samwise]

A notepad/pen & Word works best for me. I can't type fast enough to keep up with my thoughts so my first draft is always by hand. Then, typing it up becomes a revision prcoess.