For those of you who buy Digit Magazine, there is a limited function demo of a writing aid called Dramatica Pro on issue 59. As you can't save or print, it sadly seems a bit pointless, although it did help me clarify some of my ideas about a story I've been writing, simply by requiring me to list it for the program to work with. It also left me wondering if anyone here has used any of these types of software, and if so, did you find them of any use? Shanna :-)

Writing software is like trying to teach writing in school: sure you can teach the mechanics, but not the art. The method of rough draft and proof taught in school only works if you have something to say. Writing software has a method. If you can't work with it you're lost.

Well, I've tried one or two in my time, but it doesn't seem to do much for me. The time you take to organize it could be better used actually writing. Frankly, a simple spreadsheet tracks characters just fine for a novel (assuming you have quite a few to track) and a few notes in a notebook or on a notepad probably will do to capture scenes, dialogue scraps, and plot points. My biggest problem (other than a fluffy style resistent to change) is plotting and I've yet to find any help in the writing software. It won't cure things that you don't like to do anyway (I bet it's no secret I hate to write narrative...well, the software won't do it for me, alas). So, I think, it might be helpful if you are truly hapless about getting organized, but I wouldn't expect to become a good writer (or even a better writer) as a result of buying a system. But I also hate those time management tools that make you set goals, objectives, and detail out your life in fifteen minute intervals. It may just be my personality rather than the software that is the problem. The one exception might be in the arena of screenwriting which has a specialized formatting that is used. It won't help you with the writing, but it will help you laying out your product so it can look professional when you go to sell it.

Attached Link: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/Entertainment/screenplay_030317_csm.html

Humorously enough, I read an article about that very program the other day. Read it and weep. (And I do mean weep. It explains a lot about Hollywood if this is the preferred method for making movies.) Cheers!

Crescent, I have just followed your link. I was indeed on the verge of weeping, but they were tears of laughter. I wish I could write like that. Shanna :-) ps I agree, I'd rather spend my money on a word processing program.

I have used Dramatica, and most of the other programs out there (I was an assitant Literary Agent in Hollywood a little while back, now I'm an entertainment lawyer, but that's another story). Bottom line, Dramatica is the pits. It's interface is visually impressive, but it gives the impression that you only need to push a few buttons and a story structure will pop out. What the program actually generates is a vaguely-worded outline that literally requires its own dictionary to understand. Even when decoded it comes across with the pinpoint accuracy of a newspaper astrologer. Save your money and hard drive space. A better option is to buy a few books on screenwriting. I highly recommend Robert McKee's "Story," so beautifully satirized in the recent movie "Adaptation." I hope this helps.

I think we're finding out that the best software is inside our skull.

There is no chance of me buying writing software, I'm still using Word Perfect Works 2! All my "pocket money" is tied up for the next year or so in my efforts to save up for Cinema 4d, then of course I'll have to upgrade my computer. I just like to try the demos and free versions, which is how I ended up buying every program I've got. I actually pulled out an old completed draft and used that to fill in the details on the demo, well, up to the point where I would have wanted to save. Shanna :-)

Attached Link: http://www.openoffice.org/

Shoshanna - if you would like a step up from Word Perfect Works 2, not that there is anything wrong with it, you might want to try OpenOffice. It is a very nice office suite with all the power and flexibility of good commercial applications. For free! If it's too big a download, ask around and see if someone you know can cut it to a CD for you. It's OpenSource, so there is no issue with that. I use it all the time, both at home and at work and love it. It won't write your novels for you, but it's a nice tool to have in your kit. jon

 
~jon
My Blog - Mad Utopia Writing in a new era.

Thank you jstro, handy link to have, but to be honest, I'm perfectly happy as I am. I only use it to save paper, so extra features don't really seem necessary. Shanna :-)

Whatever makes you happy. I like the spell checker and find the thesaurus is real handy. jon

 
~jon
My Blog - Mad Utopia Writing in a new era.