Writing Software - Writers Forum

Dark_Elf · 08-13-2005, 07:04 AM

Hi there all.

I am someone who would LIKE to write but dont really know how to begin.
As in even generating an Idea for a book or short story.

I would like to find some software - Preferably freeware that I caould use to document ideas and lay them out in a structured way.

Does anyone know of any?.

Thanks

mammamaia · 08-13-2005, 10:04 AM

the best way to learn how to write isn't by using any program... it's simply to READ... if you read enough of the best writing by the best writers of all time, both historical and current, and if you have the talent it takes, you won't need any program to do it for you...

good writing isn't so much about structuring, as it is about just being able to tell a good story... or to write about whatever, in a way that others will find enjoyable or enlightening to read...

i mentor thousands of aspiring writers per year, and would never recommend a program [other than final draft for script format]... if you really have no clue where or how to start, a creative writing course is what's needed, not software...

others may know of software that's available, but i don't think any of it can teach you how to get ideas and develop them, if you haven't the inherent ability it takes to be a fiction writer...

if you want some one-on-one 'live' help, you can drop me a line...

love and hugs, maia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

Dark_Elf · 08-13-2005, 10:25 AM

well im at work most of the time and Im on front of this infernal piece of modern technology called a pc and I thought it would be eaiser

mammamaia · 08-13-2005, 10:30 AM

there ARE programs that you can use to turn out stories and even books, de... but using them would be sorta like using bisquick and a recipe off the box, to learn how to be a cordon bleu pastry chef... get the diff?

Monkey King · 08-13-2005, 10:51 AM

Everytime I see writing software in a subject line I think it might actually be about writing some software. I actually know about that.

I'm not quite sure what you're looking for. A simple word processor is all you really need to lay out ideas. If you need a free one of those OpenOffice is what I use and I love it.

I used to work in a customer service call center. I'd still have a big desire to write though and would do as much as I could. I tried useing Notepad but since I wasn't able to copy or e-mail what I had written I just started uses a legal pad. It was good, I could write timelines, draw maps or just write. I had a colleuge who wrote an entire novel this way.

Hodge · 08-13-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Elf

Hi there all.

I am someone who would LIKE to write but dont really know how to begin.
As in even generating an Idea for a book or short story.

I would like to find some software - Preferably freeware that I caould use to document ideas and lay them out in a structured way.

Does anyone know of any?.

Thanks

Pen + legal pad.

Or:

Pencil + notebook.

Monkey King · 08-13-2005, 05:21 PM

Some of the best writers I know are fellow programmers. Not a lot mind you but they do exist.

bmroyer · 08-14-2005, 12:34 AM

surley you can plot all of your ideas on a piece of paper...
If you are looking for writing software, head on over to www.download.com and search for what your looking for under "software." Some are free, some cost money, but they do give you a 30 day trial. Writing software costs 400$ +.....

Dark_Elf · 08-14-2005, 01:38 AM

ok let me rephrase as I was thinking about this last night......Imagine a word processor similar to Excel with sheets at the bottom that you could tab through. making your first sheet your first draft and the second your second draft of the first and so forth.....Thats kinda what Im looking for.....i have then pen and paper trust me and then I copy it on the comp every day but do you get something liek that?

Saponification · 08-14-2005, 04:57 AM

Butchers sell some great software. It's paper and they wrap up things like ham in it.

Dark_Elf · 08-14-2005, 05:02 AM

are you always this funny?

Savant Deviance · 08-14-2005, 05:13 AM

Hey, hey, eaaaasy people.

Dark Elf- Have you tried googling it? lol, because often enough it turns out that that's one of the easiest ways to find something.

Personally I use MS Word, and just save each draft as i edit and revise. I find that it's easy enough to organize everything into some semblance of structure just by doing that, and opening multiple pages of documents.

Hope this helped a little bit! And good luck finding that program.

Dark_Elf · 08-14-2005, 05:28 AM

I have tried google......And am currently using word the way you describe but i just wish it was a little more easier thats all

*give up sigh*

midlandsmuse · 08-14-2005, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Elf

ok let me rephrase as I was thinking about this last night......Imagine a word processor similar to Excel with sheets at the bottom that you could tab through. making your first sheet your first draft and the second your second draft of the first and so forth.....Thats kinda what Im looking for.....i have then pen and paper trust me and then I copy it on the comp every day but do you get something liek that?

There is a program called EditpadLite. http://www.editpadlite.com/

It's a free text editor but warning. It's a pure text editor so you can't do any layout but if it's just for ideas I don't see why that would be a problem.

It's lightening fast, handles numerous documents using tabs and when you've finished you could copy and paste your text into Word.

If you save all teh drafts in the same folder then this might be a way. Though I know it's not exactly what you are looking for.

Dark_Elf · 08-14-2005, 05:46 AM

thanks Midlandmuse youve been a great help! Ill go over ther now and check it out