The Writer's software thread (Discipline? Moi???)

[Stella_Omega]

Stella,

I just ran across a tool that has versions for the Mac, it'a mainly a visual media tool but I think it has all the good stuff you could want in one package.

It's call Celtx and you can download it free at www.celtx.com - have fun.

ETA: It's actually a script writing tool but a novel is just a big script.

on my way

 

[Zeb_Carter]

on my way

Then again, maybe not...unless one day you would like to do a script for a screen play. Although it will help you organize your thought and pieces of work. But no harm in downloading and installing and it looks kind of cool.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Then again, maybe not...unless one day you would like to do a script for a screen play. Although it will help you organize your thought and pieces of work. But no harm in downloading and installing and it looks kind of cool.

it does look cool, doesn't it ?

The organization is exactly what I'm missing... Well, this'll be experiment number four.

I love the idea of a screenplay- casting would be so much fun....

 

[Vermilion]

My best mate has just had a script accepted by a London theatre - it's so cool and exciting (and a little bit jealousy-making if I'm honest!)
x
V

 

[Zeb_Carter]

it does look cool, doesn't it ?

The organization is exactly what I'm missing... Well, this'll be experiment number four.

I love the idea of a screenplay- casting would be so much fun....

Good, I'm glad you like it. And yes a screenplay/script would be fun, especially the juicy parts.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Trying to figure out what kind of freeware word processing sophtware to get.

Windows Office didn't come with this OS upgrade, so I'm Wordless and thinking that's a good idea. Word was getting more and more difficult to use and more and more crowded with useless complicated functions.

I don't want a whole desktop publishing thing, just something a little more sophisticated than Notepad.

I've heard of people just using Google Docs, but I don't like the idea of them scanning every word I write for data to sell to their marketers.

Any more recommendations?

 

[Euphony]

I have become addicted to Storybook (google) for my planning efforts. I tried scrivner but it was maybe TOO good in that it organizes everything so well I can't flip back and forth on ideas as easy as I need.

You could write on it I suppose but I use it to plan plan plan then a plain old word procs to get it to publishing phase.

 

[PayDay]

3) *keep secrets*: plot and story are all about secrets. What you know that the reader doesn't, and so you surprise them. Like you know these guys are going to kidnap the rich kid. Like you know that the woman visiting the photographer is a magazine editor. You keep secrets so that you can have a reveal--both to reader and characters. The revealing of these secrets moves the story into it's second act. Because the characters must react and re-adjust to the reveal and the change in the situation.

This. If at all possible, leave the secret reveals until the very end.

 

[topace]

I hate to say this but my plots are in my head. I just write down what logically should come next. Yet I manage to have antagonists and protagonists and all that jazz.

Then again I don't need to have my main characters do the dirty every chapter.

 

[PayDay]

Here's some stupid ideas after a few more minutes of thought:

Why not type up and print out an outline, and make notes on it in pencil?

This way you could keep the wp of your choice up and in full screen?

Also: There's nothing wrong with WORD if you spend the time to change the settings to your taste, and you only have to do it once.

You could always tag sections of the document by the bullet points of your outline, for easy access, so you don't have to scan through 25 pages of your document to add something.

 

[litfan10]

I'm mostly a Word user as well, but I'm trying to get use to Scrivener (it is for Mac and PC but costs a bit) as that offers so much more in the planning and organization aspect for bigger projects.

In terms of "bad guys" I find I make extreme versions of people in my life that piss me off,and even "extremed," they still come off believable, and people love to hate them (or so I'm told). I agree that in porn it is trickier; my bad guys make very, very brief appearances. I've never had a smuck for central character in porn. Mainstream and there is a need for a jerk it seems. Although for mainstream writing, I often use as a bouncing board into the plot creation trying to get into the head and rationale of the antagonist and end up with a convoluted character who has a reason for being bad.

Good luck with your writing Stella, I look forward to reading the results!

 

[Handley_Page]

Trying to figure out what kind of freeware word processing software to get.


I don't want a whole desktop publishing thing, just something a little more sophisticated than Notepad.

I've heard of people just using Google Docs, but I don't like the idea of them scanning every word I write for data to sell to their marketers.

Any more recommendations?

You want a dead simple thing?. Stores the file in RTF ?
And for a PC ? And would you like it based on Notepad?.
Try Jarte. It's free [and this is NOT an advert!]

However, for those demanding a little more, (and I have only just found these), try Lotus Symphony; and yes it is free, but it is a huge programme.

Then there's AbiWord, another free offering (and I've not tried this one yet; only found it tonight).

libre Office has been mentioned already.

I found yWriter a difficult concept to get used to. I don't craft my writings like that (obvious from what gibberish I scribble), but I think it could be OK for scripts or writing code.

Open Office is very similar to MS Word and it works very well. IT also uses a very similar command structure, so migrating is not too difficult.

I think that should cover it. When I can remember where I saw them, I'll mention a few for the Mac, bearing in mind that odd-ball expensive gadget keep rearing it's head [ try here ] or Here

For more idea, it might be worth taking a look HERE.

Further investigation found this.
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