| Author |
Post |
|
 Anders BruceTopic: Software
I use a Mac, but I've listed Windows equivalents. My number-one priority was, of course, that the program have the features I need; almost as important was that it save to a non-proprietary format which is unlikely to become obsolete within the next several years. That means HTML for a database, RTF or OpenDocument format (in addition to MS Word so I can efficiently share the file) for a word processer. All of the software listed below can save to a cornucopia of useful formats.FOR PREWRITING *OmniOutline for outlining (try KeyNote by Tranglos, which though abandonware as of 2003 is still a fantastic program; Inspiration is also great, though it costs money) *FileMaker (Windows version available) for worldbuilding. It's a fantastic database program. FOR ACTUAL WRITING: WriteRoom (DarkRoom for Windows). WriteRoom is a full-screen word processor that can save as HTML, RTF, TXT, or DOC. This is very important to me because I don't like to save my work in formats which are proprietary and thus run a substantial risk of becoming obsolete. I set the background color to black and the text color to green. I can really rip along in WR. FOR REVISING Apple's Pages. (No equivalent for Windows, but OpenOffice.org or MS Word would serve as a decent editing and formatting tool.) It has a great search function, I like the interface and the speed, and it can save in a variety of formats. SOFTWARE WHICH I HAVE USED, BUT DON'T ANYMORE Not an exhaustive list, because I've used so much. *Jer's Novel Writer -- it's a one-man, beta project. Projects like this have a propensity for becoming abandonware, and JNW saves in proprietary format. You can export the actual manuscript to DOC or RTF, but its very useful database program cannot export to other formats; I don't want to run the risk of losing my stuff at a later date, so I don't use JNW. *MS Word -- Too many features, very distracting for actual writing, and slow as hell. Plus, NeoOffice is better. I only use MS Word to make sure that my other applications are exporting in a way that the Word-using world can read. *NeoOffice -- Like OpenOffice.org, only for the Mac. Version 2.1 improved its speed a great deal, so I may actually use it some more. However, its database program can only show one line at a time, and my worldbuilding database entries are typically 1-2 paragraphs. *Scrivener -- I just don't like it. It's confusing as hell to me, for whatever reason. It's a pain in the butt. *WriteItNow -- See "Scrivener." *Nisus Writer, Mariner Write, Mellel ... so many word processors, but my combination of Pages, WriteRoom, and occasionally NeoOffice is all I need. Some of my software is rather expensive. I would never advocate piracy, but fellow Mac users who are strapped for cash might want to check out Mac Serial Junkie. You have to post at least once to the forum to view its resources for software downloads, cracks, and serials -- or so I hear from my friend, who is quite the serial junkie himself. Windows users: check out NxSecure. What software do you use? |
|
 MattiasNotepad. XD |
|
Anders BruceI wrote the first ten thousand words or so of A Hungry Hades in Notepad. A great application, though WriteRoom (DarkRoom) takes the minimalist approach one step further by going fullscreen with green letters on black text (or any other colors you might like). Light-on-dark is much easier on the eyes when it comes to gazing into the computer monitor. The only tech I'm using for my current WIP is a notebook and a pen. I'm trying to handwrite an entire novel. Seeing as how typing almost everything which I write has led to my hand often cramping after a page of writing in the educational purgatorium, it's going to take an effort. | #3 Apr 09th 2007, 12:58pm | |
|
|
 TaleForgeI tend to use Microsoft Word, which helps with spelling and grammar, but it's a real pain when you try to write dialogue, especially when you try to make a character with any hint of an accent. Silly paperclip! |
|
Anders BruceI can't stand to write with automatic spelling and grammar check turned on. I do a massive spellcheck upon finishing a draft, but I rely upon my own grammatical prowess. |
|
HumeI've been using the yWriter (for Windows) program a bit. It's being written by an author, Simon Haynes. To be honest, I don't know whether his books are any good (they certainly don't look like my cup of tea) but he's written a really nifty little program. First of all it's free -- Huzzah! -- and it's great for organisational purposes. You can split things up into scenes within chapters, and it's really easy to move things around. Anyway, I'd recommend it, and to find out a bit more about it, check out his software website http://www.spacejock.com/ (There are a few other uneccesary, but fun programs that you may want to check out, e.g. 'Sonar' for tracking your short story 'subs' :D) Anyway, hope someone finds it useful! |
|
Anders BruceYou know, I'd always wanted to try yWriter on my Windows computer, but never had the admin privileges necessary. On Windows I was fond of KeyNote (ancient abandonware by Tranglos) plus RoughDraft. |
|
Anders BruceOh. And my writing software list can now be distilled to three products: Mariner Write, Scrivener, and WriteRoom. Mariner Write is for formatting finished manuscripts and is often not even necessary for that; Scrivener is an all-in-one solution to planning, revising, worldbuilding, tracking submissions, keeping random notes, organizing chapters, etc. now that I've practiced with it; and WriteRoom is for occasional bouts of unstructured writing. |
|
AshieTBGWell, another program for Windows is WordPerfect, which actually has about 5 different platforms. One of the platforms it has, which is the one I use, is the Microsoft Word platform (I think it's just a copy of MW in the program. It even saves the file as a .DOC file, against what it usually saves the files as.) It's funny, because I never liked using programs like that to write, but lately, I've been addicted to them. And the fact that I like the "" in those programs... They're soo much more appealing to me. (All nice and curly... wow.. what a weird obsession that is..) By the way, I've gone through the forums, and basically agree with everything you've had to say in them! |
|
Anders BruceScrivener will produce quotes as cute as WP's finest. :-D And thank you. Obviously you are of the most discerning taste :-P. | #10 Jul 19th 2007, 9:22pm | |
|
|
AshieTBGlol... and is that a challenge? As long as they are nice and curly, I'm happy! Sadly, as picky as I tend to be about writing, I have a pretty hard time applying it. I know how it should be, but sometimes my mind says, "REBEL! DO THAT INSTEAD!" I guess it's because I'm pretty much a beginner... But, although I don't like bragging, I like the way I write! I may go into word perfect and change the words and dialogue around, but I like it. And, In a way, that bothers me... Because if somebody reads your story, and then you reread it and decide to change things around, then those people that already read the story aren't going to read the revised version... But, I guess it's for the sake of new readers! | #11 Jul 19th 2007, 9:28pm | |
|
|
Anders BruceIndeed. On a related note, it always bugs me when people resubmit stories to the same critique group or message board. They're most likely not going to be able to add anything new; they'll pester you about "mistakes" they caught that you didn't fix (which is to say, about places where you decided as the writer to ignore some bit of opinionated drivel they threw at you) but that's about it.| #12 Jul 19th 2007, 9:34pm | |
|
|
FictionPress.com - let the words flow
Forums » Speculative Fiction Story Exchange » Software
Regular (on site for more than 6 months)
Camper (on site for more than a month)
Apprentice (on site for more than a week)
Newbie (on site for less than a week)