How to Write a Novel Part 4: Software

There's a lot of good software out there that can aid you with the creative process. Sure you could just use a pen and paper, and maybe a thesaurus and dictionary--if you're Amish.

For the rest of us who have discovered fire, here's a short list of software that I find most useful:

Spacer software created by author Simon Hayes offers yWriter for free which allows you to write, edit, and keep track of just about everything from character descriptions to locations and timelines. Did I mention it's free?

For you Apple snobs who can afford to part with your beer money there's also Scrivner, with it's fancy dancy cork-board and hoity toity formatting features. You can also buy Scrivner for your PC but I'm pretty sure if you do Justin Long shows up at your house and makes fun of you.

Scrivener does have a nice feature which allows you to compile your manuscript into eBook formatting in case you'd like to self-publish and give your books away for free sell your books on Amazon.

While this software is nice, if you really want to push your creativity into overdrive the following is a must:

Planetside 2: Simply one of the best MMO FPS games out there. Battle for the planet Auraxis as one of three factions: the Terran Republic (Go team!), Vanu Sovereignty (nancy-boy Prince wanabee's in purple spandex), and the New Conglomerate (Vanu's bitches.) But be warned, it's not for sissies. (Unless you're playing as Vanu.)

Red Orchestra 2: You get to shoot WWll Germans IN THE FACE. Or you can be German and shoot someone else in the face. Either way it's win/win.

Batman Arkham Origins: Because if you can be Batman, hey, be Batman.

What? Hey, I said it would increase your creativity, not productivity.

You might want to invest in a headset to trick your significant other into thinking that you're actually writing and not...being creative. Luckily all your swearing as you're being team-killed should be enough to convince them that you are, in fact, writing.

Software can be a boon to your creative process. Just remember to back up your work or you'll have to play that level rewrite those hard won words all over again.

I keep several copies--one on my laptop, one on my desktop, one on a flash drive, and most importantly one I burn so the Russians don't get it.