Writing Software

by Jacklyn Craft

I’ve been struggling with writing for a while now. Not so much the story ideas, but plotting it out from start to finish. I’m always curious to learn how writers do it. How they plan their novels. Do they start with a rough draft? Do they plan every detail before sitting down in front of the computer to get the words on the page? How many hours a day is devoted to writing? How do you fit writing in if you have a full time job? I want to know. And I want to know because I want to find a way that’s going to finally work for me.

I’ve tried a variety of writing software with varying degrees of success.

Final Draft is a screenwriting software package that’s very highly rated and respected. It’s fairly easy to use, and it’ll format your script properly with a few keystrokes. Plus there’s also this cool template sampler where you can see the first couple of pages of some of your fave TV shows like CSI, Bones, Desperate Housewives, etc. It retails approx. $229 US, and I was lucky enough to win a copy by filling out an online survey sponsored by the fine folks at Final Draft. The script templates are varied from one-hour dramas and half-hour comedies, to stage plays and feature length movie scripts. There’s something for everyone. They also have excellent customer service and assistance, along with newsletter updates.

Dramatica Pro is for novel writing and has a learning curve to it. It retails for about $269.95 US, and I did buy a copy. I think I was a bit put off by how it makes you think more intently about where you’re trying to take your story. Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, but since I wasn’t sure how to plot a novel, I found it hard to sit at the computer and fill in the screens. I’m sure I’ll sort through it one of these days. I don’t want to discourage anyone from trying it. I really do think it’s a topnotch program, just it’s a bit more than my brain can handle these days. (I’m in a new job which has a huge learning curve of its own.)

The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing Template Generator is another one I’ve tried recently. I received a copy of it from Evan Marshall (agent/author) to evaluate. It retails for $149 US and does work well. The only drawback for some is that it wants you to stick to a formula that Evan has developed. He’s also published the book The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing which is something I’d purchased prior to receiving the program. Both will help an author, but I’m finding it hard to stick to a predetermined formula. There’s also a relatively new website created by Evan Marshall that’s geared to writers using his product. It’s a great place to touch base with others, ask questions, and get feedback on projects.

YWriter is a freebie from Spacejock. (I did make a donation to them though.) It’s simple to use, has the basics to develop scenes and chapters, and it also has a neat little character generator where you can input pics of your characters. I like that feature, especially if you’re modeling a character after a real-life actor. It seems to be a very user friendly program, and it was developed by a writer. I think it’s the easiest to use of all of them.

There are other programs out there, but these are the four I've had the opportunity to use.

Regardless of the genre of a book, it takes a lot of work to produce a novel - good or bad. I grew up in the days of typewriters and carbon paper. I thought software would be the answer to finally figuring out my story structure. Hasn't worked that way so far. But... life has gotten much easier with computers and home printers. I haven't had to purchase White Out in years, and the fear of making a typo has been eliminated.

So… If anyone would like to share their writing experiences with me, I’d love to hear them.