Writers Cafe/Storylines software - any users?

[Alex De Kok]

I was reading a computer magazine t'other day, as I do from time to time. One of the staff writers recommended a writing software package. Now in the past, I've had a look at one or two of these and been unimpressed. This time however, the package looked good. It's written by a published novelist and her programmer husband.

The software is called Writer's Cafe and includes a plotting tool called Storylines. An evaluation copy can be downloaded from www.writerscafe.co.uk so I did. First impressions are favourable, although I've been a bit too busy with other things to really give it a proper try as yet.

I was wondering if anyone here has used it and has any comment to make before I consider parting with the proverbial hard-earned?

Alex

 

[TheEarl]

Alex: My personal POV is that no computer can ever recreate the creativity of the human mind and using any software as a crutch will make your writing a little bit stilted. That said, I've never heard of this 'Writer's Cafe.' However I'll bet you it won't ever create anything genuinely new.

Your brain is good enough on its own. Keep writing.

The Earl

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Computers will never do anything creative (unless you are a believer in Found Art) but they can make the repetitive ancillary activity about a creative effort less onerous and even more productive.

Think of the effort that computers save you in rewriting, using cut & paste, even some spell checking, now that those procedures have been automated. That doesn't make the writer any more creative, but it allows said writer to spend more time on creative endevors, instead of retyping each new version of a manuscript?

I have not seen Writer's Cafe so I will not offer my opinion on its operation.

In any case, most writers develop a particular methodology which works to aid them in their creative work. Writers’ aides, hardware, software, even mental exercises, will either assist or get in the way of the creativity, depending upon how that writer works.

Just because it was created by a writer to assist him in how he works, does not mean it would do anything but hinder me, if my creativity flows through different procedures. Nor does my lack of success preclude your finding it a most helpful tool.

What I am saying is that each writer has their own method of creating. If the tool works for one writer, it is for that writer, a useful tool. If it hinders another writer, for that writer, it is a useless tool.

It all depends on the writer, but computer assistance with the drudgery can help.