Zoho Notebook Review
Zoho Notebook
As writers sometimes our brains don’t work in a nice logical order. Sometimes we get a really cool scene and we have no idea where it goes, or who it belongs to, but we know we need to write it.
That’s where an amazing freebie app comes in: Zoho Notebook
Note Taking App - Add Text, Images, Audio, Checklist | Zoho Notebook
Its avaible on most platforms and devices. I have no affilation with the company, and they’re not paying me for this review - I just like the app and have found it extremely helpful for novel writing.
It works in similar ways to Microsoft Notebook - but its much better. I consider it a poor author’s Scrivener.
You can create a notebook dedicated to a novel or a character. Within each of the notebooks are notecards. There are several types.
Dictation (free but limited to a total of less than 30 minutes)
Drawing
Photograph
List
Files - (such as pdf based research)
Text
I wrote Tinfoil Fedora: Roswell Revisted in this file format, using text cards. I kept my research on some of the file cards, as well as the photos.
When I found out it was a series, I added a list card, writing out future plans.
Text files can be exported to RTF or PDF formats. For Microsoft Word or other word processing apps you’ll have to copy and paste, but that means you have more flexibility in moving events around, before you place them in a linear document.
I have found Zoho to be extremely helpful for epic series with multiple characters. Its as easy as having a notebook for each character and writing the scenes for that character in their notebook, so you can find them later when you figure out the chronology.
For those of you who like color coordination - that can happen in Zoho Notebook too!
Cards can be moved, copied, and placed in any order, so that you can rearrange chapters.
There is no word count within the text cards, but as I mentioned last week, I’m indifferent to using word counts.
Sometimes it helps our brains to have a new uncluttered space to do writing. With NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) nearly upon us, I thought I’d share Zoho Notebook. It’s simple, free and flexible for our next novels, short stories or ongoing writing projects.
Good luck!
Your stories are amazing!
Chronic Writer
Share Chronic Writer by VintageInkSlinger
Chronic Writer by VintageInkSlinger is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
