Cafewriter

Hi there
Any opinions on writer's software? I'm thinking of Style Writer. I'm interested in an editing program.
thanks
CW

mammamaia

i wouldn't use any or recommend any...

imo, a vital part of being a real writer, is to know how to develop and edit one's own work...

i don't know of any really good professional writers who would use such stuff...

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Queasy Dillo

I expect I'll draw some fire for saying this, but I consider writing software to be cheating.

I understand that everybody needs help writing ever now and again, and for that we have the forums. Personally, I figure that if a person can't construct their own story through trial, error, and experience they might be advised to find a new hobby.

Just my $.02, though.

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Cafewriter

The rights or wrongs of it I'm not interested in. I'm simply wanting to find out people's experiences with these softwares, and what they thought.
CW

demonic_harmonic

I haven't tried any because I don't want to. I would play around with it just for the fun of it, but not to write anything for real.

Jan_Itor

Try notepad, or word, or appleworks. (Yeah, I know. Not funny)

I used a few programs like that when I started writing longer projects. They tend to make the feel of the whole thing more impersonal. I wouldn't reccomend it.

Besides, sometimes it helps being able to do what you do with a pen.

Dexnell

Microsoft Word tickles my fancy. Just kidding around but word is the best program I suggest with it's quick spell checks and advice though I argue with it a lot over foolish advice.

:d

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Yoshiko

I use Microsoft word...but I don't use it for anything else but spelling...when I read through my work though I still find some small errors...punctuation small stuff like that...Although what really annoys me is that it tells me how to word my sentences and it irritates me....I like the way my sentences are worded, damn it! At least in my stories.....anyways...that's just my little opinion there...

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bobgelinas

Writing "software" (other than a word processor) is to a writer what a player piano is to a musician. [you can quote me on that]

Then again, for a SCREENWRITER (ONLY) where formatting is an obsessive necessity, there are some good programs out there that take care of all that minutae and free the writer to just write. They have some value, but none in terms of helping them write the substance of the scripts.

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Philo

I use Word to write although I sometime paste into a simple text editor such as SimpleText (Mac) if I'm going to post it online because I have better luck with character's appearing correctly.

I used to use index cards to organize my thoughts though and I have recently found a ShareWare program call Miss LonelyNotes by Mindola software ($29) which allows me to make cards and visualy organize them, track sub-plots with color codes, add flags, keep track of characters and their traits and will export text files in Outline or Story formats.

You can download it for free and check it out. Its available for Mac and Windows.

Darkhaven80

Wow, a lot of people are down on these software programs. Most I have downloaded as trials I didnt enjoy, but not for reasons listed above. I do like Power Writer and Power structure.

A lot of people here seem to be saying writing software is to write the story for you; nothing does that.

"imo, a vital part of being a real writer, is to know how to develop and edit one's own work... "

This is true, and the writers software is another tool to help you organize said work. I havent seen writers software that thinks of plots for you, or arranges scenes (although some may do this) For the most part they're more of organizing tools to help you keep them straight. A few are simply fancied word processors for writers exclusively, with a little section for you to fill in your outline, etc.


"I tried a couple of free downloads (trial versions) of writer software but found them too distracting to be of much help. Some are also a little too complicated for the small benefits they bring. "

I agree with you there. Some of it helps you organize but I could just as easily do the same on word or another program. The one with a D, keep wanting to call it dreamweaver but that's not it, ah yes - Dramatica Pro - this can help scramble up ideas and have you list what your thoughts are but the whole thing is simpply confusing and a lot to learn for really nothing. IMO anway, although some swear by it.

" use Microsoft word...but I don't use it for anything else but spelling...when I read through my work though I still find some small errors...punctuation small stuff like that...Although what really annoys me is that it tells me how to word my sentences and it irritates me....I like the way my sentences are worded, damn it! At least in my stories.....anyways...that's just my little opinion there..."

If that is what is distracting you about word, turn that feature off. It doesn't have to check grammar and use the auto-replace feature.

"I used to use index cards to organize my thoughts though and I have recently found a ShareWare program call Miss LonelyNotes by Mindola software ($29) which allows me to make cards and visualy organize them, track sub-plots with color codes, add flags, keep track of characters and their traits and will export text files in Outline or Story formats. "

This is exactly what I meant. Most of the stuff just helps organization adn free up the writers mind. You can have a character list saved, etc. It's a tool to help some, nothing more. It doesnt write the story for you or even help construct plots all that much.

Some of the software can try and help you come up with more ideas like themes, but that's the same thing many how to books do, not to mention this forum with games and such. Nothing new thre, just an area of the program.

Power Writer, which I like, is very basic but useful. It has you write you plot points and what happens per chapter. Helps me keep track.

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