If anyone is feeling adventurous, a couple of months ago, I started working on StoryBox, after I couldn't find any PC writing apps that worked the way I do. It's still under development, but I've released an early version at http://www.storyboxsoftware.com, and I'd love to find a few people that would use it and give me some feedback. It's essentially free to use as there are no limitations on the demo and it doesn't expire.
Some basic features include a full screen editor, dockable and collapsible tool windows that allow you to configure the environment how you wish, project and document word counts and targets, session and project timers, import from plain text, export to plain text and .rtf, multiple document interface, and index card and outline views.
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Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
38,304 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 13 49
This looks like an awesome program, but unfortunately I'm running Windows XP on my netbook, and I don't know what installing a new framework really means... Good luck on getting support for it, though. =]
----------Characters Killed: 1
Rolls of Duct Tape Procrastinated With: 12
Days Without Writing: 4
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 14 45
I have XP on my netbook... All it takes is going to windows update and getting the framework update. Depending on when you bought your netbook, you may have it already. It was already on mine when I bought it.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
38,304 / 50,000
Okt 3, 2009 - 16 48
Thanks. I figured it out and it works now!
----------Characters Killed: 1
Rolls of Duct Tape Procrastinated With: 12
Days Without Writing: 4
50,188 / 50,000
Okt 4, 2009 - 20 30
Looks interesting Mark. Simple, but it provides a nice visual organization that looks like it might help me out. I'll give it a try and if it does work, I'll buy. I don't suppose you'd think about adding a mindmap type brainstorming software to each level of the story/chapter scene hierarchy would you?
----------__________________________
Metaphors be with you.
yangnome
ML, Monterey, CA
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 5, 2009 - 21 06
Mindmaps look interesting, but complex to implement in software in a way that doesn't destroy what a mindmap is supposed to be all about. I'm looking, but I couldn't even begin to hazard a guess as to whether I could do something worth including. I don't know enough about them.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 04 40
That's very interesting. I'll check it out!
Edit: After installing the software a window with errors pops up and I'm unable to run the software. I'm using Windows Vista and the error message says:
----------at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)at System.Number.Parse.Double(String value, NumberStyles options, NumberFormatInfo numfmt)
at System.Double.Parse(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
at System.Convert.ToDouble(String value)
at storybox.Program.ReadSettings()
at storybox.mainForm..ctor()
at storybox.PRogram.Main(String[] args)
They call me Nanda.
17,032 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 04 44
If you're looking for a mindmap program, Plucko, then try here: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
It's completely freeware. No hidden costs or registration. I've been using it for plotting out my novel as well as mapping out character relationships and I'm really liking it.
----------~ Mish
"I don't merely write a story. I slit the wrists of my soul, bleeding it out in a readable form and hope that someone else can make sense of it."
~2008 - Dragonrise 50,562
~2009 - Witchery
17,032 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 04 49
Edit: After installing the software a window with errors pops up and I'm unable to run the software. I'm using Windows Vista and the error message says:
at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)at System.Number.Parse.Double(String value, NumberStyles options, NumberFormatInfo numfmt)
at System.Double.Parse(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
at System.Convert.ToDouble(String value)
at storybox.Program.ReadSettings()
at storybox.mainForm..ctor()
at storybox.PRogram.Main(String[] args)
You have to download Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5. It has to be 3.5 and it's probably a good idea to update your Vista (I had to). Once you have that DLed and installed, you're going to have to reboot your computer.
----------~ Mish
"I don't merely write a story. I slit the wrists of my soul, bleeding it out in a readable form and hope that someone else can make sense of it."
~2008 - Dragonrise 50,562
~2009 - Witchery
0 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 07 09
Very nice. I suspect I saw this somewhere else. Maybe when opening Scrivener?
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.html
Paolo
43,223 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 06 27
It looks pretty interesting. I'm going to install it and give it a try later on. That's exactly the kind of program I'd like to work with.
----------http://yzabel-writings.livejournal.com
2005: Unsung Heroes | 2006: Over Yonder | 2007: Oraison d'Être | 2009: Was
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 11 12
Are you sure that is the problem? I have .Net Framework 3.5 and my Vista is fully up-to-date.
I wasn't looking for a Mindmapping program, thanks. I've already got Freemind installed on my PC but to be honest I rarely use it. :-)
----------They call me Nanda.
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 11 15
I've made a change that may solve this problem which will be up in the next build (0.0.31) tonight or tomorrow. I'm trying to add template functionality so you can set up the each of the document types with a default template.
One question - is your copy of Vista 32 or 64bit?
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 11 21
Mark,
It looks great. But when I switch to 'Full Screen' view to start writing, how do I turn on the key press sounds like I can in Q10 or Writemonkey?
I need my typewtiter sounds!
Thanks
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 11 41
Thanks! I have Vista 32bit.
----------They call me Nanda.
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 12 07
I've been contemplating those :) The toughest thing is finding a good typewriter sound that I can use. I've added that to my todo list.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 12 26
The typewriter sound on Q10 is excellent.
For me, if you add that i'll purchase!
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 22 25
I've just upgraded to Version .31 and found a bug
If I go...
Document>New Document>View>Full Screen and start typing, the letters don't show!
If I then escape from full screen the letters are there. Then if I go back to full screen it's fine. The letters are there.
One other question. Where is the save button?
Love the typewriter sound though :-)
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 23 03
Wow. This piece of software really looks promising and it works fine for me after the update, thanks. I'm definitely considering buying it.
Edit: When I open Full Screen mode the "View" button on the bottom of the screen is very hard to see.
----------They call me Nanda.
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 23 20
That bug has been there for a little while. If the cursor is at the very end of the text (which happens when there's no text, as well) it doesn't accept the color change correctly. I've made a note of it, and will attempt to fix it in the next update.
There is no save button. It saves frequently and often. Any time you switch documents, it saves. When you go from normal view to full screen, it saves, and it saves when you close full screen. It also saves a few seconds after you stop typing. It's probably overzealous with the saving.
Can you believe, earlier when I said that finding the sound would be the hardest part, I had forgotten we had an old manual Underwood typewriter in the house.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 6, 2009 - 23 23
Yeah, that button is really annoying. So much to do :)
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 01 26
Haha. Well, thanks for writing great software like this. I'm considering using it for NaNo. It looks really good so far and I'm sure it'll get better with every update.
I have a question, though. Does the project get saved automatically? Because I can't find a "Save" button anywhere. Thanks.
----------They call me Nanda.
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 01 34
I love it overall, but I don't like the fact that I can't save it 'manually'
I never use the autosave feature in an application, especially if there is no 'undo' button. I need the ability to revert back to how I had it previously, even if only 30 seconds earlier. If it continually autosaves. That could be an issue for me.
21,761 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 01 51
I think there should be an option to turn on/off autosave and perhaps a feature that allows you to revert back to a previous version/save.
----------They call me Nanda.
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 01 57
I have to agree with that. That would be more like it.
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 06 29
Undo and Redo are available in 0.0.31 by hitting Ctrl-Z and Ctrl-Y, respectively, within the document. They are also under the Edit menu, but of course, they're broken. I've got them fixed for the next version.
One thing on my roadmap that I've kept pushing off is a versioning system that lets you save different versions of the document tree within the project. You'll be able to limit the total number of versions that it keeps, and mark specific versions to save no matter what. I guess I'll try to get that done by the end of the week.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 09 44
What about the ability to save as and when you want instead of automatically?
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 10 55
Try out the version I just uploaded (0.0.32).
The auto saving of the current state of things can't really be changed easily as there are many properties tied to them. If you think of it as "this is just the current state of the document", and the version saves as saved states, it is essentially what you want, but better, as you can close the app, and return to it where it was at when it closed, but you can still revert to a place you had saved prior to that closing and repopening of the app.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 11 25
Sorry !
You've lost me now :-)
13,665 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 11 49
That's how my novels turn out, too :) No one can figure out what's going on.
The Save Version menu options will save the current state of your document to a "file" within the project. You can reopen that "file"at any time by using the Restore Version menu option. And that should work, essentially, the way you want it to.
The "autosave" essentially works by keeping your current state just as if you were to leave StoryBox open all the time. You can pretty much ignore the "autosave", if you wish, and just work with Save and Restore like you would if the autosave wasn't there.
----------Mark Fassett
www.markfassett.com
www.storyboxsoftware.com
46,782 / 50,000
Okt 7, 2009 - 12 20
Now I understand. Sorry it's taken me a while.
That sounds great. I love it so far.
Thanks