How to choose the most suitable program / software for your writing - PART THREE
- bkntouris
- Aug 9, 2023
- 10 min read
This post is the third (and second to last) in the 'How to choose the most suitable program / software for your writing' series. Apart from options meant for novel-writing, this post will contain options for screenwriters, too. If I'm being honest, I never imagined I would learn so much by diving into this subject.
Let's pick up where we left off.
21. Reedsy Book Editor
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Reedsy Book Editor is a free book writing software that also handles formatting for publication while you write. This online editor is one of the few writing programs that lets you see what the published version of your book will look like while you’re still writing it. It has fantastic editing features compared to most other free writing software tools. It’s a free alternative to expensive writing programs like Atticus, which format your book for a large fee.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Once you’ve finished your final draft, you can export your book as an EPUB or PDF file, in a format that looks beautiful and clean. Reedsy Book Editor allows multiple people to work on a document simultaneously. If you’re working with a co-writer, this free website might be a great option.
PROS:
User-friendly: All the functions are super user-friendly and geared toward a single goal: creating a beautiful book. This is a production tool that typesets as you write, turning your manuscript into a fully formatted book or ebook that can compete with traditionally published, professionally formatted books.
Easy handling: In "Writing Mode," you can insert chapter breaks, scene breaks, images, and endnotes. You can view previous versions of your manuscript, in case you removed a passage you now want to re-add.
It Comes With a Spell-checker: Reedsy Book Editor offers an automatic proof as you write.
Easy Exporting: When you've completed your book on the RBE, you can export a distribution-ready EPUB or PDF file.
CONS:
No Offline Functionality.
Simple Features.
No Writing Templates or Outlining Tools.
PRICE:
FREE!
22. WriteItNow
HOW DOES IT WORK?
This is a novel writing software, and it's currently on its sixth version. It is an interface that helps to keep you organized, which is a great feature for intuitive writers.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
WriteItNow helps you organize by key folders called: Chapters, Characters, Events, Places, Ideas and Notes. These folders are all shown on the best tree outline of them all in the left column. The pages in each folder are listed by titles you give them. You click on a title in the tree and go right to your page. You also have easy cross-linking that works with little mini menus to choose from. It means you can go quickly anywhere in your text divisions, like chapters, events, characters, and whatever you use the Notes and Ideas folders for. WIN has also graphs that show your timeline of events. You have a timeline with calendar functions to date any of your events according to your storyline.
PROS:
Great for Organization: By buying WriteItNow, you can take dozens of documents and save them all in one location, accessing them with the click of a button.
Exceptional Customer Support.
Well Laid Out and Easy to Use.
CONS:
Not Available World-wide: It appears the vendor does not recognize all locations, meaning you might not be able to purchase this.
Basic Tasks are Tricky & Complicated : If you don't like the font settings, changing them 1) requires a program restart, and 2) changes the font of the entire user interface.
Not the Best Solution for MAC Users.
PRICE:
Buy unlock codes for the download version (runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 and OS X): $59.95
Buy WriteItNow 6 CD (runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 and OS X): $69.95
Buy WriteItNow 6 USB (runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 and OS X. Includes presentation case): $73.95
23. iA Writer
HOW DOES IT WORK?
First things first, this is NOT an AI writer! :)
IA Writer is a popular free writing app. Like Ulysses, it also supports Markdown, and is minimalistic and distraction-free. You can easily export drafts from iA Writer to the web or other formats. It works particularly well on a tablet. It’s available on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
It focuses on the text rather than formatting and other extraneous user interface options. It is relatively inexpensive, and it supports Markdown.
PROS:
Free Trial: iA Writer offers a 14-day free trial, allowing you to test its features before upgrading.
Pleasing Interface: The app comes with three custom fonts: Nitti, iA Writer Duo, and iA Writer Quattro. These fonts and the black and white contrast of iA writer look great and a joy to write with.
Support for Markdown. (Find more info about markdown here: https://becomeawritertoday.com/what-is-markdown/ )
CONS:
Lack of Features: While it Writer is great for those writing short articles, blog posts, and plain text essays, anyone writing a book or screenplay will probably be disappointed in its lack of features.
Pricey: Compared with other similar softwares, it is too procey for what it offers.
PRICE:
iA Writer is available for macOS, Windows, Apple, and Android devices for a once-off fee of $29.99, on desktop and mobile.
24. Final Draft
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Final Draft is screenwriting software for writing and formatting screenplays.It offers all the features you need to write a fantastic screenplay, this includes line-by-line formatting, content analysis, appropriate implementation of elements like dialogues, character names, and fade-ins and outs.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Final Draft is the industry-standard software for professional screenwriters. Its intuitive, easy-to-use interface helps you organize your script down to the page level, allowing you to concentrate on your storytelling. Final Draft also features the industry’s only Story format conversion with Multicam and Synchronized Scene Detection. These two functions ensure that your scripts retain their formatting no matter how they were originally written.
PROS:
Collaborative Feature: It allows you to bring in editors who you can work within real-time.
Content Analysis
Easy converting: Final Draft makes converting from another application or moving between formats simple.
CONS:
Too Expensive: This product cannot be purchased by struggling writers.
PRICE:
Regular price: $249.99
Special price (during promotion time): $199.99
25. Scribus
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Scribus is free and open-source desktop publishing (DTP) software available for most desktop operating systems. It is designed for layout, typesetting, and preparation of files for professional-quality image-setting equipment. Scribus can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms. Example uses include writing newspapers, brochures, newsletters, posters, and books.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Scribus is a page layout and desktop publishing program for Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku, and Windows. Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK colors, spot colors, ICC color management, and versatile PDF creation.
PROS:
Good Compressing Option: There is a very good WYSIWYG pdf compressing option. It is quite capable of scaling down file sizes without losing or compromising in quality.
A Well-designed Interface: This includes an Intuitive user interactivity.
Free & Solid: It is free and works fine with a good speed.
CONS:
No Spell Checking Available: The biggest drawback of this program is that it lacks the "spell check" option which is one of the primary requirement for any word processing program.
Easily Confused: You need to keep the pictures integrated into the document in the same location of your computer, lest the program will lose track of them.
Lack of Memory: If you're working with multiple pages on XP, it runs quite slow. You have to face unnecessary long pauses while making changes into your documents. It seems that the program needs more memory to work on large files.
The Menus and GUI: All these need to be redesigned in quite a number of places and on few occasion there are issues in erroneous undo steps, and for some usages of SVG gradient import.
Documentation Remains Incomplete: Because of the open source nature of this program, the documentation process and the Help resources are a little bit disorganized. Though there are many options to explore, if you face a problem or have a question, it can take a long time to get the answers for them.
PRICE:
FREE!
26. Trelby
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Trelby is a free and open source screenwriting program which focuses on providing a simple, uncluttered interface to writing screenplays. It is a rebranding of an older screenwriting program called Blyte. It currently runs on both Windows and Linux platforms
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
It’s a great open-source screenplay software that’s downloaded and recommended by many aspiring screenwriters. No locked features, no watermarks, no script limits. And if you know how to code you can even modify the software yourself to suit your needs.
PROS:
Fast & Simple: Trelby is able to import Final Draft software, Celtx, Fountain and Fade In Pro. Likewise, it can export to PDF, Final Draft and Fountain, as well as HTML and RTF.
Identical Output: The software generates the exact same output, meaning it behaves identically across all platforms.
CONS:
Limited availability: Currently only available for Microsoft Windows and Linux, although a Mac version is said to be on the way…
Support & Updating: They might not be as frequent as they need to be.
PRICE:
FREE!
27. Fade In
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Fade In is developed by Kent Tessman, a film director and screenwriter. The software was first released in 2011; the latest version 4.0 was released in 2021.
Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is screenwriting software for writing screenplays in the professional, industry standard format[1] used in Hollywood and elsewhere. It can also be used for teleplays, stage plays, radio plays, multimedia, graphic novels, and other similar script formats.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Fade In implements the standard functionality expected of a specialized screenwriting program, including formatting scenes, action, characters and dialogue in industry standard screenplay format.
Fade In provides key features needed by professional screenwriters. These features include revision management and page/scene locking which are required in a professional environment for managing a rewrites through pre-production and production. The developers have implemented a number of features that the other professional screenwriting programs lack, including full Unicode support, revision page colors, changing character names, full-screen editing, batch watermarking, and support for formats such as Final Draft, Open Screenplay Format, Fountain, and Scrivener. Some of Fade In's advantages in terms of text rendering and platform compatibility may be due to its more modern software architecture.
PROS:
Excellent Accessibility: The desktop version of Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Fade In Mobile is available for iOS (including both iPhone and iPad) and Android devices.
Multi-screen Display: It includes scene-to-scene navigation, side panel for notes, revisions, and research.
Built-in PDF page manager: Handy for producing industry-standard PDF files.
Collaboration Tools: including script comparison, redline comments, and revision history.
Automatic Backup to Dropbox and Google Drive.
Easy to Use: Quickly move between sections using the outliner view.
CONS:
Does Not Work Well with Chromebook.
Switching from Computer to Phone App is Tricky: Fade In Pro could improve its product by making the switch from computer to phone app easier to handle and understand.
PRICE:
$79.95
28. Celtx
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Celtx is a screenwriting software designed to make it easy for anyone to write and create a screenplay. The software includes templates, character sheets, customizable timelines, and more. It was founded in 2007 by John Fusco who wanted an easier way for him and his friends to share their scripts with each other without having to print them out first.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Celtx is a screenplay and scriptwriting software program that helps you turn your ideas into scripts. It has the ability to create complete screenplays, treatments, outlines, scenes and synopses. This program features a powerful script editor with a built-in library of production elements to help you organize the look and feel of your film. It also has features that allow you to collaborate with other people on your script or just keep track of the progress you’ve made so far.
PROS:
Easy-to-Use: Celtx is an easy-to-use screenwriting software that can help you write, edit and share your screenplay.
Variety: It includes templates for both short films and feature-length scripts, as well as all kinds of formatting options.
Availability: You can use Celtx on desktop computers as well as mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
CONS:
Interface Issues: users are reporting the interface can be annoying, especially when trying to switch between formats, e.g., scene direction vs. dialogue
Exporting Issues: Sometimes the margins are set wrong and the page number won't show when you export to PDF or you print.
PRICE:
All prices below are on monthly basis, billed annually:
Writer (entry-level writing features tailored for beginners): $11 .24
Writer Pro (for robust writing, includes story development tools): $18 .74
Team (unlimited writing and planning tools, plus private projects, up to 5 people): $44 .95
Classroom (first-in-class media production tools for creative industries, up t 10 people): $52 .
29. Writer Duet
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Writerduet is a collaborative writing app that allows writers to work together and edit each other’s drafts. It can be used in the classroom for group projects, or at home as a way to give feedback on one another’s writing. The app works by uploading your document and then opening it up with another person who will make edits to your draft.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
WriterDuet is a word processor that allows writers to collaborate in real-time. It’s easy to use and accessible from any device with an internet connection, making it perfect for long-distance collaborations or writing groups.
PROS:
Accessibility: You can upload from Google Docs if you’re working remotely with someone else who doesn’t have WriterDuet installed on their computer or phone.
Features: WriterDuet offers all the features you need for writing: distraction-free full-screen mode, speedy paragraph formatting shortcuts, automatic saving and versioning of your work in progress, keyboard shortcuts galore—even spellcheck.
Cool Extra Tools: You will have access to built-in research tools (including Google Scholar), text highlighting, chat functionality, and more.
CONS:
Pricey.
Confusing Interface: There are some features that are labeled similarly and aren't intuitive to use. Navigation is also confusing.
Learning Curve: There's a little bit of a learning curve involved with navigating all the tools and menus. The best way to handle this is to simply play around with things until you learn where everything is. After that, you're able to customize the docket menu system to make it more convenient for your specific needs.
PRICE:
FREE: three projects, industry standard template, rewinding through editing history, Google Drive/Dropbox backups
PLUS: unlimited projects, real-time collaboration, offline writing, desktop app - $9.99 monthly
PRO: more control with writing, editing, and revising - $11.99 monthly
PREMIUM: Includes all the tools WriterDuet has to offer - $13.99 monthly.
30. Storyist
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Storyist is “a powerful writing environment for novelists and screenwriters.” Like Ulysses, it runs on Mac and iOS and provides just about every feature you need except collaboration. Unlike Scrivener and Ulysses, Storyist offers story sheets that help you work out the details of your characters, locations, and plot.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Storyist has formatting options galore, including style sheets, which help writers create a consistently formatted works. It also has all the tools a long-form writer would need, such as a corkboard view, folders for plot notes and character development, and so forth.
PROS:
Clean Interface.
Tools: It includes tools for storyboarding, outlining, character sheets.
Good Exporting & Importing Options: There are lots of options for PDF export. You can now select parts of your manuscript that you want to compile and export. If you want to send your title page and sample chapters only to an agent or reading group, you can make the right PDF easily.
Dark Mode Available: The app now supports dark mode (for macOS Mojave and later). Storyist switches to dark mode if you have your Mac set to Dark Appearance in your General Settings. You can also turn on dark mode at the app level if you want to keep everything else on your computer in Light Appearance.
CONS:
Collaboration: There are no collaboration features, and no track changes.
Mediocre Auto-save Functionality.
Few Templates.
MAC only: Storyist does not have apps for Windows, Android, or the web
PRICE:
MAC: $59
iOS: $14.99
PART THREE (THE LAST PART IN THIS SERIES) COMING UP TUESDAY AUGUST 15th
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