What program does everyone us to write

[A.M.]

Curious to see what different programs everyone uses to write with. I've currently been using 2013 Word but I'm looking at a program called Pro Writing Aid.
Thoughts?

[Liz]

I just use Word, but I use Autocrit (online program) to help with editing.

[Shae]

I use Scrivener and I love it. It really helps me organize.

[Emily]

I use word but I did use Scrivener when I had the free trial version, just haven't gotten around to downloading the whole version yet.

[Lin]

I use scrivener - here's a blog post I wrote about it, outlining some of the advantages. http://www.coinlea.co.uk/writing-tool...

[Doreen]

Scrivener. Love it.

[R.L.]

Word & Scrivener :)

[A.M.]

Thanks. Sounds like everyone is pretty much using Scrivener. I'm going to compare it to the Pro Writing Aid as well.
Looking on the Scrivener site, it looks user friendly and I like the cork board..

[Jack]

Big fan of Scrivener. I typically use Evernote to collect all my notes (novel, short story and flash fiction ideas; articles, research, etc.), then copy and paste into Scrivener when I'm ready to write. Having Evernote sync between all my devices and keep a backup copy online is über-important to me. Too many horror stories of computers going PFFT! when you least expect it...

[Daniel]

I used to use Wordperfect by Corel which was far superior to Word, until Word copied it.

Now I write straight into Indesign and when it is as good (it almost is) I will write into Scribus, which is free.

Once you have learned document preparation software word processing software feels weak and backward.

[Shelby]

I've tried them all! I tried Write Way Pro, Write It Now, Liquid Story Binder, Word. I really liked LSB but one too many times had heart attacks for losing saved locations. I also didn't like having my entire novel, notes and all, on the computer. Sometimes I wanted to be off the computer. Through it all, I've come back to index cards and Word to organize everything. I make a little binder for each book and outline with index cards. It makes it really easy to rearrange, take things out, find things and change, etc. It was just faster and easier.

[Phyllis A.]

I'm a Word girl for now as I don't want to take a day off to learn a new program. I have binders for the research I've done over the last 6 years (yes, Historical Fiction writer) Files on my computer are snuggled away in OneDrive.

[Anthony]

I've always used word and haven't even heard of any of these other fancy programs. I don't really think I need more than word for writing, and will probably just stay there.

[Philip]

Scrivener supported with Aeon Timeline after using Word and Writer's Cafe. Took me twenty minutes to start with Scrivener and it's formatting is excellent for producing standard MS, ebooks and so on. Barely touched the clever stuff but then I barely touch Word's capability. Still use Word for work unfortunately.

[Tokies]

google because of the comments. it also forces you just to write a lot like text pad really.

[Dan]

Another vote for Scrivener, at least for the first draft. The only caveat with Scrivener, in my experience at least, is that it doesn't play nicely with cloud storage - e.g. Skydrive. I keep getting corruptions and lost updates in the online copy, but at least there *is* a copy if my computer goes pfffft.

[Lin]

I use scrivener with Dropbox and have never had issues - I frequently switch between PC and laptop, so find it useful. And it's worth at least looking into scrivener if you jump around in your manuscript, as it works in scenes/chapters and moves easily into and out of a long document version, whereas it's much more fiddly to jump around like that in Word.

[Philip]

I also use Dropbox with Scrivener but from outside the programme. I store locally then use a product called Goodsync to synchronise between local and Dropbox and a Network Attached storage device. I am a little paranoid about backups so I like to have multiple sites just in case.

Totally agree with Lin (171) on ease of jumping around within the MS as well as ease or rearranging sections chapters etc. Having standard copyright front matter and closing matter is also helped.

[Dawn]

I'm using microsoft word...im not picky!!! but right now have writer's block!!! anyone got any ideas on how to get out of writer's block!!! Cause when i'm writing i listen to music...but lately it hasnt been working for me!!!

[Preston]

I use Microsoft Word. When I write, I turn the clock off on my computer because it bugs me to see the time while I'm writing. I also highly recommend instrumental music on Pandora, turned down very low. Rainymood.com is also excellent to pair with some easy listening.

[Mati]

I've tried Scrivener but Microsoft Word is still my go to for writing.

[Tony]

I'll be using scrivener for the next time I'm producing a first draft. I have been using Word alone but recently discovered Scrivener and just gotten used to it. Not great for retrospectively editing.

Is it bad form to link to my blog on the subject? It explains what I'm doing with it and my current writing habits.

http://tonydenn.com/2014/05/scrivener/

[Lizzie]

I use Microsoft Word. I've tried other formats but always seem to come back to Word.

[Lizzie]

Philip wrote: "I also use Dropbox with Scrivener but from outside the programme. I store locally then use a product called Goodsync to synchronise between local and Dropbox and a Network Attached storage device. ..."

When I get writer's block I read. Something new or one of my old faves. It seems to clear my mind and let's me go back to my writing with a fresh perspective.

[J.L.]

I use Word - love it. Works every time. ;-)

[Elly]

I use ywriter and Word, but I want to try Scrivener

[S.A.]

i love scrivener! it helped me organize better to finish my novel. will never go back!

[Jackie - Fire & Ice Book Reviews]

Google and Word.

[K.P.]

I used to be a huge word perfect fan was using 8 (!!)until I finally had to upgrade. After my stuff got stolen, got Word 2003 and rolled with it until it annoyed me and used Open Office 2.4. Now I use page plus 14. As for my arsenal, I use *deep breath* Ywriter5, Dramatica Pro 4, Storybase 2, Page Four, Smart Edit, Write It Now 4, Character Writer 3, StyleWriter 3 (hadn't upgraded to 4 yet, as it still works on my current machine.) and Weather Master (to keep track of calender/celestial events, depending on story lolz).

That's a lot of work behind the scenes to make something awesome! ^_^

[Lin]

How do you manage to use so many?

[K.P.]

Lolz, I can't afford an editor, so I go through all these programs (and I keep extensive notes). It's much easier than having multiple document windows open.

Ywriter is my goto program when I start. AFTER I run through Dramatica Pro (setup) and later Storybase (if I wrote myself into a corner). Character Writer is what it says on the tin. I like making realistic characters, so I run that last after I make my sheets (name, bday, run horoscopy charts, etc) then I narrow down their personalites (and neurosises if any) and such.

After the first run with Ywriter, I go through the second run with Write It Now to make sure my notes match up (timelines for example), and see with a bird's eye view of character relationships/development.

Last run is through Page Four and Smart Edit to catch all the repetitive use, cliches, etc and so on then through Style Writer to catch what's hanging left over and rewriting any boggy senteces, etc if necessary.

Lastly when I feel it's ready for print, I set it up in Page Plus and make sure my chapters are right. I can see if my chapters are too long (I try to keep it around 10 pages) and adjust as necessary.

To think, this takes me 3-4 months, between running 4 projects at once, and having beta readers go over my stuff when I can wrangle them in. lolz

[Lin]

Just out of interest, K.P., have you ever tried a sample edit, to see what an edit could add to the mix?

[Alex]

I use Scrivener and Word for writing (Word to start capturing ideas: then Scrivener for constructing and drafting: and then back to Word for revising and reviewing.

Pro Writing Aid, mentioned in the first post, isn't a writing tool or any kind of substitute for Word or Scrivener - it's a proofing tool, and an excellent one at that. There is a free version which is pretty good, and a paid version (which I use) which adds extra bells and whistles. It gave me much more help than Grammarly, at a much lower price.

[Tony]

Adding to Alex's comment, I use the lowest paid version of prowriting aid, which gives you an add-on for MS Word so you can edit in real time. The free version means copy-pasting into the web window. It's still great, but $35 is excellent value against autocrit and the like.

[Phyllis A.]

My head is spinning as I read all ths. I use Word and human editors. :)

[Tony]

HUMANS?!?

Is that a new app?

[Jamie]

I write on a Mac, and use Pages. I used Word when I was on my Windows laptop. And I learned word processing on Word Perfect back in the late 80's. (Much better than Word for a long time.) I love Pages because I can just write. I'm a raw writer when it comes to my ideas and notes, so my pens are still dear friends. On my phone, I use an app called "A Novel Idea" which allows me to record ideas, characters, scenes, and locations and link them to each other. I think a fancy program would become more of a game for me, so I just stick to simple.

[Preston]

I have started using Dropbox and back up any changes on it daily, so if my two internal hard drives ever crash, I'll have a backup.

[Tony]

I'd like to give an honorable mention to wikidpad.

This isn't a writing program like scrivener or MS word, rather it's an organisational tool. Scrivener is fine for my own work, but wikidpad allows you to create an entire localised wiki for your novel, allowing cross referencing and all sorts of features. Like Scrivener it's a lot to get your head around but writers of epic novels with sprawling characters and locations will probably find it very useful.

As I said, Scrivener is perfect for my needs, but budding Tolkeins and JRR Martin types, take note.

[Juliette]

I use WORD with grammarly, autocrit, and rightwriter. I also use Dropbox to backup everything. I have dropbox on my cellphone as well, so I can proofread no matter where I am.

[Eric]

I've been using Storyist on my iPad and really like it. It has some good tools to keep me organized like letting you have different files in the project for outlines, characters, notes, etc. It's pretty handy and easy to switch between them. I do my revising and editing on the computer in Word though as the mouse makes it a lot quicker.

[E.A.]

Up until the last month I was using Word only. I've started my fifth novel using Scrivener and I must say I like it thus far.

I'll still run everything through Grammarly before sending it out for betas and editing. But I really like the potential of the "all in one" use of Scrivener.

[[deleted user]]

I used Liquid Story Binder while I was writing my Nano 2011. However, I wanted to finish the novel and turn it into a series, and Liquid Story Binder doesn't have enough organization. I like the gallery (to organize pictures) and journal feature, but I haven't looked back since I switched to Scrivener. I love being able to organize folders and sub-folders of text or images. The only thing I don't like is that I made a table for outlining my story and Scrivener HATES tables and craps out every five seconds when I try to add material to the table.

[K.P.]

Lin wrote: "Just out of interest, K.P., have you ever tried a sample edit, to see what an edit could add to the mix?"

Sorry for not answering in a while (puters on the fritz again!)

Yes, I do. sometimes edits change things. :) If I'm not happy with the results for some reason, and make more edits than necessary (like overhauling a chapter), it's back into the grinder for processing. The results will spit out different ratings.