Re Scrivener, I haven't used it because when I was exploring writing software it wasn't available for PC and I bought Writers' Cafe instead (which is very similar). Having tried it a few times, it doesn't work for me for fiction because I already have ways of making notes that involve scrappy bits of paper and notebooks. If I want to plan and brainstorm, I have a couple of simple mindmapping programs that I use. If I want to write, I use Word. Basically, I felt Writers' Cafe was overkill for fiction and I suspect I'd feel the same about Scrivener. I did, however, use it for collecting and organising material for my dissertation and it worked well for that.
I'm currently exploring YWriter (http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html), which seems to be much more useful and less cumbersome. Basically it allows you to write a story scene by scene and make notes about characters, what happens etc. I'm going to try using it to sort out the mess that is the first draft of one of my current novels.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rosecarmine
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-26 01:34 pm (UTC)Re Scrivener, I haven't used it because when I was exploring writing software it wasn't available for PC and I bought Writers' Cafe instead (which is very similar). Having tried it a few times, it doesn't work for me for fiction because I already have ways of making notes that involve scrappy bits of paper and notebooks. If I want to plan and brainstorm, I have a couple of simple mindmapping programs that I use. If I want to write, I use Word. Basically, I felt Writers' Cafe was overkill for fiction and I suspect I'd feel the same about Scrivener. I did, however, use it for collecting and organising material for my dissertation and it worked well for that.
I'm currently exploring YWriter (http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html), which seems to be much more useful and less cumbersome. Basically it allows you to write a story scene by scene and make notes about characters, what happens etc. I'm going to try using it to sort out the mess that is the first draft of one of my current novels.