What software will you be using to write your novel?
WriteRoom, Microsoft Word, a basic text editor -- let us know what works for you and why.
Have you used any of the specialized plotting and character development software on the market?
Do you use any software to help you research?
No tool is a substitute for hard work, but when it comes to hard work you want the right tool for the job.
Personally, I am a Mac user and don't have strong feelings for any writing tools. I am interested in what works for you.
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http://anthonypafford.com
http://twitter.com/pafford
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Okt 6, 2009 - 12 44
I do a good amount of my pre-work on SuperNotecard; but I do my writing on Word.
Here is an article on SNC -- http://www.lazette.net/vision/Vision53/SNC.htm
I'm used to Word, so it doesn't bother me. And I spent some time as an editor for a small press/electronic publisher and had to fight with odd formats from some of the other programs, even though they were supposed to be fully compatible. I decided not to get myself into that sort of problem with an editor, even though a few of them look interesting!
I haven't used the programs that help you actually create plots or charcters and such. I've looked at a couple, and I found their method to be too much of a formula -- if this/then that sort of thing. I think characters and plots are best formed by surprise. Filling in the blanks can be a good start, but the real creativity comes when you look beyond the lines.
----------Lazette Gifford
http:/lazette.net
Ninth Year NaNo Participant
NaNo Blog: http://zette.blogspot.com/
50,702 / 50,000
Okt 8, 2009 - 05 38
When I started journaling, Word was the easiest choice simply because I already had it on my PC. After a debacle with organizing the huge amount of daily files I've accumulated, I decided I needed something that had a database backend or at least something close to it.
I found YWriter. It was free and had everything a writer could need. The best about it was the fact that it was free and it only took minutes to figure out. It allowed me to break everything down into chapters and scenes and a life-saving feature in which it does autobackups!
Then as with most PCs, mine decided to have a meltdown. After many years of being a faithful PC user, I decided on a Mac instead. Thank goodness for backups! I was able to retrieve all my journals and writings. I am currently on Scrivener. It's a wonderful piece of software. Feature rich and worth every penny. I believe this is what I will be using for my very first foray into Nanowrimo.
As for other writing developent software, I did not know such things existed! Plotting software? Hmm, that sounds interesting. If anyone else has had any experience with these, I would love to read about your experiences.
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Okt 18, 2009 - 16 10
I started up Ywriter for another project, but really think I'm just going to stick with word. I don't really need anything else.
Some of the notecard software looked like fun to use, but I'm still an old fashioned pen, paper, and regular notecard person in the planning stage. I did fill an entire steno notebook with my planning notes for the novel.
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Okt 19, 2009 - 17 37
yWriter for organization, OpenOffice Writer for writing.... and good old fashioned Pen and paper for note taking (especially when I'm in the car) and pencil and paper for world building .... or maybe I'll use AutoRealm.... hmmmmm....
-C. Anderson
100,576 / 50,000
Okt 20, 2009 - 08 59
Microsoft Word, all the way. I turn off grammer and spelling and just type. For world building, character maps, notes, ecterta, I used to use note cards. This year I'm trying 18"x24" poster paper that I have leftover from an art class. I pinned them up on the wall and so far it's working really good.
69,601 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2009 - 08 02
I use Word, yWrite and Dragon Dictate. It takes a long time to train Dragon, but it's worth the effort. It's also great for brainstorming out loud and getting the results into text format.
I use Dropbox so I have my files on hand, no matter what computer I'm using. (www.getdropbox.com).
----------Respectfully,
Guy Anthony De Marco
http://www.guyanthonydemarco.com
Member, Horror Writers Association
I recommend http://www.critique.org
41,886 / 50,000
Okt 26, 2009 - 10 05
I love Microsoft Office's OneNote for collecting notes and ideas. It's like having a giant set of spiral notebooks in my computer. I start a new notebook for each novel, then create sections for plot, characters, setting, or anything else I want to keep information about. I can cut and paste from web pages, outline, or jot notes and ideas, rather the same way I would in an old-fashioned spiral notebook.
When I'm writing I usually have four open windows on my desktop. Word for the actual writing, OneNote for my outlines and notes, Explorer so I can quickly find that essential bit of information that eludes me, and iTunes, complete with a playlist for the novel at hand.
Here's to getting started, no matter whether you prefer laptop, or longhand with a pen and ink!
----------Lisa
Lisa (Heacock) Kovanda
http://critiqueladies.weebly.com/
69,601 / 50,000
Okt 30, 2009 - 23 28
Joe Nassise, who writes SF and fantasy novels, put up an excellent novel/NaNo planning guide for plots here.
----------Respectfully,
Guy Anthony De Marco
http://www.guyanthonydemarco.com
Member, Horror Writers Association
I recommend http://www.critique.org
46,378 / 50,000
Nov 22, 2009 - 04 56
Jer's Novel Writer for me.
It's automatically makes you an outline, has full-screen option, notes on the side, a 'drawer' in which I can put character descriptions and settings and such. Plus it breaks things into chapters. Makes writing streamlined, so you barely notice the presence of a word processor. Also dig the center-seeking thing. Where the line you're typing is always in the middle. Best. Stuff. Out. There.
----------Q: What did Bellatrix Lestrange say to Harry Potter after she murdered his godfather?
A: "Why so Sirius?"