Hey local NaNos,
I have trouble writing in a full word processor, like Word, due to all the distractions of formatting, indenting, etc. To overcome this I went on a search for a distraction-free but feature-rich word-wrangling software before I completed my previous (unregistered) NaNo journey. I tried several programs, but the best that I found was called Q10 (http://www.baara.com/q10/)
It's free, full screen, customizable in appearance (background and text), has automatic word counts, a built in timer, and several other useful features. It's completely portable, so if you work on multiple computers you can carry the program and your file around on a USB drive. It also has typewriter sound effects, if you so desire (they can be turned off), for that authentic old-world feel.
I found the program incredibly useful in focusing me...it's just you and the text. No buttons, ribbons, or other computer windows to distract you. I highly recommend it, if you're looking for something other than your typical word processor with which to produce your masterpiece.
Let me know if you decide to try it out. (Note: Windows only)
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43,552 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 10 24
Good idea! I too find myself distracted by all the wonderful Word formatting gadgets!
----------Rachel Celeste
http://rachelcopland.wordpress.com
2008: 50,219 words
2007: 25,524 words
2006: <1,000 words
2005: 15,034 words
2004: 11,093 words
13,644 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 18 14
Clever subject line. ;)
I will definitely check this out. I never had a problem with word until I got a laptop with Vista. It is now a constant frustration...
----------45,078 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 05 52
For a minimalist 'processor' plus some...added incentives to keep writing, try Write or Die. A number of us had good luck with this last year, especially during those sticky spots when it's hard to force yourself to keep going.
You can enter a word goal or time goal, and if you stop typing for long before you reach that goal, well... Write or Die does not forgive easily. =)
Check it out!
----------ML for Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge
"merp! merp!" --bunnyhero
0 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 08 04
write or die is pretty much the best thing I have ever been introduced into. I started getting the daily wordcount done within an hour :D
----------I'm gonna eat your socks!
13,644 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 22 18
OMG, looks amazing! You've refired my excitement. Honestly.
I can't wait to play with this!!
----------13,311 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 05 08
That's why I prefer to write pen and paper. Much less distractions...though, more paper cuts.
----------Bryce V. Giroux
-- Fate drove me here...then told me to get out of the car...
26,631 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 11 07
I know someone mentioned Write or Die but it now has a desktop version!
(and it's beautifully terrifying)
I have only used it the tiniest bit because I didn't want to tempt myself to start writing before November 1st but it's customizable and pretty sexy for a writing torture program :D
8,666 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 12 01
I use Rough Draft. http://www.salsbury.f2s.com/ Its fairly feature-free and gives a nice blank surface for writing on, it auto saves (yay!), and it has a nice notepad section on the side for all those helpful notes you take to remind yourself of the shopkeeper's name in chapter two that you find yourself needing again in chapter forty seven. Also, there is no built-in spell checker (or not when I downloaded it a couple years ago), so there are no little red lines screaming 'edit' at you when you're trying to get your wordcount in. There IS a word count feature though.
----------Sandra Regina
Hope Springs Eternal
1,083 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 19 30
+1 for Write or Die from me. That thing bailed me out like you wouldn't believe last year. If only I had known about it when I was writing research papers :)
For my own sanity I always kept a text editor open beside that and copied-and-pasted everything into that whenever I paused to think, just in case the browser crashed or something. I usually keep the permanent version of my novel on Google Docs, that way I don't have to remember to bring a thumb drive with me to wherever I'm writing.
----------Twitter (because I really need another distraction during Nano): http://www.twitter.com/SpatialJames