Thread: Writing Software

You probably thought this was a thread asking what the best writing software is, but you would be wrong in that assumption. For the last month I have been trying to find actual writing software. You know the kind that will allow me to write my story well keeping notes without using side software like notepad, saving in a different document, wasting time with so called writing software, or wasting money on binder paper and notebooks.

Now ever writer may like what software is out there well others prefer a more old school approach like a simple notebook or 3x5 cards. But let’s face it this is 2010 and you think someone would have create actual writing software that does as the name depicts it to be. In fact I am not sure why most writing software is even called writing software as it’s more like organizing software.

You see when I think of writing software I think of something like Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works (my preferred word processor), but it has extra stuff to allow me to take notes, keep track of characters, towns/cities, etc. So this means that the software is a TRUE word processor, but has features a writer needs.

Looking at what is out there most if not all fail at this simple task and are organizers not actual writing software. Let’s break it down by giving some examples.

Dramatica Pro

Besides this costing $265.95 it lacks TWO of the most used features found in a word processor: word count and spell check. Plus if you were expecting this to be a word processor with extra writing features for writers you are sadly mistaken. It says it has a word processor, but it is not used like a writer would use say Microsoft Works word processor. This is nothing but a gloated organizer and nothing more.

Write Way

Will cost you $59.00 and though it has a word count and spell checker again it is just another gloated Dramatica Pro only cheaper. It says it has a word processor, but need I mention again what these are already?

Story Weaver

$29.95 and guess what it lacks spell checker, word count, and even the fake word processor. A gloated organizer claiming it is writing software.

yWriter

Now yes this is free, but it is claimed to be made by a writer for writers? I downloaded this and messed with it and by the time I was done testing it out it turns out that this software was clearly NOT created by a writer for writers. It is basically a free down sized version of Dramatica Pro, Write Way, and many others. Furthermore I’m not sure if I should be insulted because it is free or that a writer claimed to have made it. How the hell does a writer screw this up?

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When I think of writing software I think of something that:

When I click NEW it asks me what I am going to create: novel, short story, novella, screenplay, comic book script, teleplay, poem, non-fiction, how to guide, magazine article, web article, blog article, etc.

Now from this the software will pre-format the page to the standard format used by most publishers. Plus it will auto hide stuff I don’t need; so for example if I want to create a magazine article I don’t need to see a character section for example!

Plus in this beginning part if I was creating a novel it will ask what genre the book will or might fall into. So if I pick Fantasy I will be presented with the actual Word Processor and a verity of TABS for keeping track of characters, main events, cities, etc.

That is what I think writing software is when I think of it and those who claim to be fail at providing this!

So what do you think they are lacking or what is your vision of writing software?

i find one's that organize well, but then can't offer spell check, or an auto tab.

i prefer microsoft word.

hear me out...
i only need to get my spelling right, that's it, so why bother using anything different.

Everyone around here knows by now what my answer will be, but I see you are new, so I'll say it again.

When I'm writing I want nothing from the computer except a willingness to sit there quietly and let me put one word after another. I want a blank piece of electronic paper. I do not want a word processor or a writing programme or anything else that will get in between me and that blank piece of paper.

Everything I write, I write with Notepad unless I happen to be on a Linux machine in which case I use Vim. I can have my outline sitting down in the corner. I can have my background notes on the other side. I can have reference material in three or four windows open but stacked so I can get at whichever one I want when I want it without having to go and search for it. And I can have that blank piece of electronic paper sitting in the midst of all of this where I can put one word after another with no interference from the machine. Or if I'm writing a commentary or a personal essay I can have only that blank piece of electronic paper in front of me.

When I've finished writing I copy and paste into a word processor to spell check and to format. That's what word processors do very well.

If you ever try using a text editor instead of a word processor to write, you'll discover just how powerful a writing tool a computer can be.

Edit - Notepad is also the best html editor I've found, if you are into building web pages.

Originally Posted by Lamperoux

hear me out...
i only need to get my spelling right, that's it, so why bother using anything different.

Some people need more and may not want to spend money on notebooks and 3x5 cards. Some genre's require more thinking and constructing; world building. My main complaint is that they call them writing software when they are writing note/organizing software. Plus who me a software that can display and point out this error:

"Matt wood have fed the pigs, but he got stuck chopping would most of the day"

Word processors lack this find and yes the writer could reread his work to catch the mistake or have others read it to catch it; even catch it during the revision. But being a programmer as well it would not be hard to have a word processor be able to notice and point the mistake out.

Originally Posted by garza

Everyone around here knows by now what my answer will be, but I see you are new, so I'll say it again.

When I'm writing I want nothing from the computer except a willingness to sit there quietly and let me put one word after another. I want a blank piece of electronic paper. I do not want a word processor or a writing programme or anything else that will get in between me and that blank piece of paper.

Everything I write, I write with Notepad unless I happen to be on a Linux machine in which case I use Vim. I can have my outline sitting down in the corner. I can have my background notes on the other side. I can have reference material in three or four windows open but stacked so I can get at whichever one I want when I want it without having to go and search for it. And I can have that blank piece of electronic paper sitting in the midst of all of this where I can put one word after another with no interference from the machine. Or if I'm writing a commentary or a personal essay I can have only that blank piece of electronic paper in front of me.

When I've finished writing I copy and paste into a word processor to spell check and to format. That's what word processors do very well.

If you ever try using a text editor instead of a word processor to write, you'll discover just how powerful a writing tool a computer can be.

Yes I have read your replies, but this type of software is geared toward those who don't wish to buy notebooks everytime or have 5 or more other useless programs open at the same time. Plus you have to save each one in a diffrent file well such software will save it in one file. As I said every person has their own uses and reasons for those uses.

I think you misunderstand, but that's okay. Most people don't like Notepad simply because it comes bundled with Windows and so is automatically bad.

Originally Posted by garza

I think you misunderstand, but that's okay. Most people don't like Notepad simply because it comes bundled with Windows and so is automatically bad.

I understood, "you simple want no distractions." Which is also understandable. I personally find Notepad useless and always uninstall it. I prefer a word processor as I don't find it distracting in any way. I barley take notice of what it is doing, marked incorrect. Like reading when I'm writing I am in my own world.

Well, truly, to each his own. I've sold four books and lord knows how many magazine articles written with Notepad, and today I earn a few extra dollars putting together websites with Notepad, so for me it's not useless. Just don't waste your writing time looking for that perfect writing software that probably dosen't exist.

Originally Posted by garza

Well, truly, to each his own. I've sold four books and lord knows how many magazine articles written with Notepad, and today I earn a few extra dollars putting together websites with Notepad, so for me it's not useless.

Well being a webmaster and web developer for 13 years and software developer for 6 years notepad by web developers and software developers do not use it. Preferred method is Dreamweaver, HTML Kit, Visual Studios, etc. But like you said to each their own.

Originally Posted by garza

Just don't waste your writing time looking for that perfect writing software that probably doesn't exist.

Actually I'm not. I don't take notes except in my head; every writer is different as we both have said. I'm also a software developer so I made this topic to get other peoples opinion and posted my own opinion as a writer.

So let me ask your opinion on something. I have Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007. I mostly use Word 2003 for formatting. I'm thinking of getting Office 2010. Do you have it, and is it worth the price?

I'm too old to learn those complicated programmes like Dreamweaver. I'll stick with html, Java, Perl, and such. I know how to use them to do what I want to do and the clients are happy.

Liquid Story Binder v4.81 I think it is. I have 7 books sitting in this prog right now. I was looking for just about everything you cited in the original post and then I stumbled across LSBXE. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm pretty satisfied with it. It's addictive actually. You can integrate web dictionaries/thesauruses, do spell-check, ready your docs for submissions, import images, use those images in sequences, dossiers or galleries, you can import songs, you can record yourself reading out loud . . . . Really, the possibilities are ridiculous and LSBXE does too much to list here. I'd planned on blogging about it very soon. If this sounds like what you need Google their site. See what you think. I believe it's by Black Obelisk.


Kaia

Seems like everyone's a web designer these days.
Yes, me too - I use dreamweaver (and love it).

With writing software, I use yWriter. I've really no idea how you've lumped this software with Dramatica Pro (which I've used and discarded).

yWriter handles nearly everything that the LSBXE does: Can integrate dictionaries/thesaurus, organise stories into chapters and scenes, set up characters, locations, notes, and other items. It accepts images, and will export your work. It has a spell checker, word could, progress log, daily word log, and other charts that can be set up to display the content and scenes your characters are in. It will even read your work to you.

It's essentially a program that collates txt files into an organised format for you. Which is what I want out of a writing program.


On a side note.. some comments in here explain a dissatisfaction with programs not correcting grammar. And I've something of an easy solution for you:

The earlier versions of MS Word do correct grammar as well as spelling. The earliest of them will even detail what the error is and suggest methods of fixing it; even reordering your words.



My advice is to use yWriter for your writing, and get your hands on a copy of word 95 or 97. And get ready for grammar errors like 'written in passive voice' (my favourite...).

Originally Posted by Kevan

Some people need more and may not want to spend money on notebooks and 3x5 cards. Some genre's require more thinking and constructing; world building. My main complaint is that they call them writing software when they are writing note/organizing software. Plus who me a software that can display and point out this error:

"Matt wood have fed the pigs, but he got stuck chopping would most of the day"

Word processors lack this find and yes the writer could reread his work to catch the mistake or have others read it to catch it; even catch it during the revision. But being a programmer as well it would not be hard to have a word processor be able to notice and point the mistake out.



Yes I have read your replies, but this type of software is geared toward those who don't wish to buy notebooks everytime or have 5 or more other useless programs open at the same time. Plus you have to save each one in a diffrent file well such software will save it in one file. As I said every person has their own uses and reasons for those uses.

you insinuate that i don't write complex stories. I write very complex tales. I don't need a computer to restrict my imagination though. I do admire garza's old-fashion style. You have to realize every writer in the world before the invention of these softwares only a few years ago was created in the 90s had to go without organizing their work on a software like we can today. and somehow, they have managed to make so many great books. There is no need for something to organize your thoughts for you.

Originally Posted by garza

So let me ask your opinion on something. I have Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007. I mostly use Word 2003 for formatting. I'm thinking of getting Office 2010. Do you have it, and is it worth the price?

I'm too old to learn those complicated programmes like Dreamweaver. I'll stick with html, Java, Perl, and such. I know how to use them to do what I want to do and the clients are happy.

2010 is nice, but you don't need to get it, it's not amazingly different in my opinion. I got it cuz i'm a computer geek .

Originally Posted by lullabyofthemoths

Liquid Story Binder v4.81 I think it is. I have 7 books sitting in this prog right now. I was looking for just about everything you cited in the original post and then I stumbled across LSBXE. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm pretty satisfied with it. It's addictive actually. You can integrate web dictionaries/thesauruses, do spell-check, ready your docs for submissions, import images, use those images in sequences, dossiers or galleries, you can import songs, you can record yourself reading out loud . . . . Really, the possibilities are ridiculous and LSBXE does too much to list here. I'd planned on blogging about it very soon. If this sounds like what you need Google their site. See what you think. I believe it's by Black Obelisk.


Kaia

it doesn't auto-indent does it? For a writer with a lot of dialogue, it's a big problem.

Originally Posted by garza

Edit - Notepad is also the best html editor I've found, if you are into building web pages.

I cannot imagine trying to write code without syntax highlighting, code debugging, line numbers, and the ability to "find" phrases in your code. That's why I use Notepad++. Though I suppose I could deal with writing HTML in Notepad because of its structural simplicity. That would still bug me.

As to writing, I usually save my characters, plot outline, etc. in different Word (2007) files and have them all open as I write. I personally have never seen a need to invest in "writing" software to help me organize my thoughts.