Writer's Software, Is it worth the price?
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." --Groucho Marx
There are tons of software programs out there. Programs that promise to turn the budding newbie into a full blown published author. The one thing that everyone seems to gloss over or just plain ignore is the "compatitbility factor". No, not the interfacing of the software to your pc, but the interfacing of your new software to the way your mind works! Each of us think differently. While a program might be great for one person, it sucks for another. I'm like that. It's taken me over a year to find a writers software program that really works the way my strange mind does.
Because most of us need to make sure our money is well spent we must be somewhat cautious and really investigate a software program before spending those hard earned bucks, pesos, pounds or Lira.
The biggest problem I faced as a newbie was not having the "time in" as a writer to have created work habits and to know what did and did not work well for me.
Just investigating one new program can be a great time consumer as far as the learning curve is concerned. It can also be quite costly if one has to buy it to try it. Months can fly by before coming to the conclusion that the new software isn't right for you. The first clue I had was when I kept going back to Word to do my outlines and first drafts.
In the words of Albert Einstein, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." That goes for the art of fiction writing as well. The less time one has to take worrying about format and jotting notes on pieces of paper, then trying to find them again, the better.
I've gone through quite a few software packages to finally come up with one that is perfect for me. It's called Liquid Story Binder. Another neat little bit of software I found is the Easy Article Generator.
Here is a list of the software I've tried. They are all great packages but, regrettably, their interface with my mind wasn't compatible.
1) Cinergy Script Writer (Free Version)
2) Dramatica 4.0 (Demo)
3) Story Weaver 3. (Purchased)
4) Story Bones. (Demo, Software no longer available)
5) Story Mind (Demo)
6) Story View (Demo)
7) Rough Draft 3.0 (Free)
8) Write It Now 2.0 (Demo)
9) YWriter 2.0 (Free)
Again, let me say that all of the above are fine examples of writers software and might be a perfect interface for you.
Having tested Liquid Binder by writing a short story I have found it to be outstanding. The pluses are as follows:
1) I can add notes, such as research, to the outline and have it available to me as I work on my story. No misplaced bits of sticky notes.
2) I can organize my outline notes by chapter and refer to them anytime.
3)A neat work statistics menu that includes a session timer, number of words typed.
4) Chapter Stats: Number of words, number of paragraphs, editing time etc.
Another great thing about it is that one can take it for a test drive for 30 days. The test version is complete and everything works (some test progs won's allow saving ones work, as and example).
Next is it's price. I found it to my on the inexpensive to moderate price range.
As of this writing I have completed the search for the perfect writers software for me. My suggestion for all of you other seekers of ways to get going on your next novel or short story is to test run as many software programs as you can before spending hard earned cash. Then, when you find one that is compatible with your own mental matrix, go for it!
Ok, enough, it's time to sit down and write something that will bring in the bucks.
Sites to see, places to go, freebies to try and groups to join
MyWriting Friend:mailto:writingfriend@yahoo.com
Nick Daws Writers Circle:Click link on this page.
Writing Workshop: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
Newbie Writers: http://www.newbiewriters.com/
Writers Prompts: http://writingfix.com/
Duotrope Digest:http://www.duotrope.com/digest.
Beginners Guide:http://www.beginnersguide.com/freelance-writing/
A Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
E Literary Agent: http://www.e-literaryagent.net/
Freebie Writers Tools:
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
----------------------------------------
Written by "Aelf" for the Aelf's Bloggery.>
Copyright © 02/07/07
There are tons of software programs out there. Programs that promise to turn the budding newbie into a full blown published author. The one thing that everyone seems to gloss over or just plain ignore is the "compatitbility factor". No, not the interfacing of the software to your pc, but the interfacing of your new software to the way your mind works! Each of us think differently. While a program might be great for one person, it sucks for another. I'm like that. It's taken me over a year to find a writers software program that really works the way my strange mind does.
Because most of us need to make sure our money is well spent we must be somewhat cautious and really investigate a software program before spending those hard earned bucks, pesos, pounds or Lira.
The biggest problem I faced as a newbie was not having the "time in" as a writer to have created work habits and to know what did and did not work well for me.
Just investigating one new program can be a great time consumer as far as the learning curve is concerned. It can also be quite costly if one has to buy it to try it. Months can fly by before coming to the conclusion that the new software isn't right for you. The first clue I had was when I kept going back to Word to do my outlines and first drafts.
In the words of Albert Einstein, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." That goes for the art of fiction writing as well. The less time one has to take worrying about format and jotting notes on pieces of paper, then trying to find them again, the better.
I've gone through quite a few software packages to finally come up with one that is perfect for me. It's called Liquid Story Binder. Another neat little bit of software I found is the Easy Article Generator.
Here is a list of the software I've tried. They are all great packages but, regrettably, their interface with my mind wasn't compatible.
1) Cinergy Script Writer (Free Version)
2) Dramatica 4.0 (Demo)
3) Story Weaver 3. (Purchased)
4) Story Bones. (Demo, Software no longer available)
5) Story Mind (Demo)
6) Story View (Demo)
7) Rough Draft 3.0 (Free)
8) Write It Now 2.0 (Demo)
9) YWriter 2.0 (Free)
Again, let me say that all of the above are fine examples of writers software and might be a perfect interface for you.
Having tested Liquid Binder by writing a short story I have found it to be outstanding. The pluses are as follows:
1) I can add notes, such as research, to the outline and have it available to me as I work on my story. No misplaced bits of sticky notes.
2) I can organize my outline notes by chapter and refer to them anytime.
3)A neat work statistics menu that includes a session timer, number of words typed.
4) Chapter Stats: Number of words, number of paragraphs, editing time etc.
Another great thing about it is that one can take it for a test drive for 30 days. The test version is complete and everything works (some test progs won's allow saving ones work, as and example).
Next is it's price. I found it to my on the inexpensive to moderate price range.
As of this writing I have completed the search for the perfect writers software for me. My suggestion for all of you other seekers of ways to get going on your next novel or short story is to test run as many software programs as you can before spending hard earned cash. Then, when you find one that is compatible with your own mental matrix, go for it!
Ok, enough, it's time to sit down and write something that will bring in the bucks.
MyWriting Friend:mailto:writingfriend@yahoo.com
Nick Daws Writers Circle:Click link on this page.
Writing Workshop: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
Newbie Writers: http://www.newbiewriters.com/
Writers Prompts: http://writingfix.com/
Duotrope Digest:http://www.duotrope.com/digest.
Beginners Guide:http://www.beginnersguide.com/freelance-writing/
A Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
E Literary Agent: http://www.e-literaryagent.net/
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
----------------------------------------
Written by "Aelf" for the Aelf's Bloggery.>
Copyright © 02/07/07
posted by Aelf at 8:11 AM
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