software for writing books - Page 4

MrPLD · 10-07-2010, 09:10 AM

I think a good guide is, the less you have to massage your original writing software to make it format how you want (in the editor) the less you'll have to fiddle with the output to convert it into an eBook.

Certainly go for strict adherence to templates or styles - try avoid at all costs doing individual tweaks.

Paul.

Metal Mick · 10-08-2010, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

<snip>

Hence my plugs for Scrivener and LibreOffice. They're creative tools which can feed technical conversion tools later.

Hi James, et al,

Scrivener looks to be quite interesting, and I've signed up for the Windows Beta email updates/info that the authors have set up.

LibreOffice at the moment is little more than a rebadged OpenOffice, a suite I have used since about V2 or perhaps even earlier. I am on the mailing list at present for the new UI project but may not remain too much longer. I'd like to see LO succeed and to do this it needs resources, like those IBM has poured into its own fork of OOo, Lotus Symphony.

Meanwhile, I will play with what I have - yWriter, WriteWay (new version out soon), Story Book, and Story Box.

Cheers,

BookCat · 10-25-2010, 04:51 AM

I've recently downloaded StoryBox on the recommendation of someone in this thread. I'm still learning the program, but it looks great. Seems like a less nerdy version of YWriter, which I could never get on with. StoryBox is more intuitive, at least to me, than YWriter, which always looked like some sort of maths project.

crich70 · 10-25-2010, 05:09 AM

Another program that's good (for organizing and writing) is Liquid Story Binder XE which isn't too highly priced (about $45.00 if I recall) and they have a yahoo group if I remember correctly for some documentation and such as well. There is also FaceGen Modeller 3.4 (which has a free version and a pay) and which you can use to model potential faces for characters with. Last I knew the free version didn't come with hair and such but it does give you the ability to model heads so you get your character's face (if it's a human character) just how you want him/her to look.

BookCat · 10-26-2010, 01:29 AM

Many peeps on the nano boards dislike LSB for its complexity, some have even returned it and had a refund. It seems to be a common theme with LSB. I downloaded StoryBox free, though it has a nag screen begging for money, the trial period doesn't run out. I'll pay for it when I can afford to.

I think if I was going to splash out on something like LSB, I'd wait for the PC version of Scrivener.

MrPLD · 10-26-2010, 04:55 AM

If you're going to take the hike up the learning-curve for complex software you may as well get something that's worth your investment.

Of course, the trouble often is that people want the simpler software but want the features of the more complex package. Unfortunately it's not always possible to merge the two wants successfully.

Paul.

GeoffC · 10-26-2010, 05:38 AM

I prefer simple (just like me)

Luke King · 10-26-2010, 05:49 AM

When this thread started I was using MS Word. I took the tip from jax6166 and downloaded Scrivener. I like it a lot.

Lemurion · 10-26-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Many peeps on the nano boards dislike LSB for its complexity, some have even returned it and had a refund. It seems to be a common theme with LSB. I downloaded StoryBox free, though it has a nag screen begging for money, the trial period doesn't run out. I'll pay for it when I can afford to.

I think if I was going to splash out on something like LSB, I'd wait for the PC version of Scrivener.

Speaking of which, the beta of Scrivener for Windows was released yesterday, and can be found here.

Dr. Drib · 10-26-2010, 12:39 PM

An updated version of WriteWay Pro, [1.9] is now available free to registered owners.

It's a HUGE improvement of an already very fine program. Please check it out. This is the program I own and use for my writing.

Don

(I am not affiliated in any way with the program.)

DavidRM · 10-27-2010, 12:55 AM

The trick with writing software is finding one designed by someone who writes like you do.

Otherwise, you find yourself trying fit the square peg of your approach into the round hole the developer carved out. So it's worth trying all of them. One of them might actually be perfect for you, free or otherwise.

-David

GeoffC · 10-27-2010, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRM

The trick with writing software is finding one designed by someone who writes like you do.

Otherwise, you find yourself trying fit the square peg of your approach into the round hole the developer carved out. So it's worth trying all of them. One of them might actually be perfect for you, free or otherwise.

-David

Assuredly so.

stxopher · 10-27-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRM

The trick with writing software is finding one designed by someone who writes like you do.

Writes like I do? Why would I want software by someone how works without a plan, wanders aimlessly through their project and then quits halfway?

Lemurion · 10-27-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stxopher

Writes like I do? Why would I want software by someone how works without a plan, wanders aimlessly through their project and then quits halfway?

So you could do that more efficiently! And take the solace of having special software specifically tailored to meet your personal needs!

GeoffC · 10-27-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stxopher

Writes like I do? Why would I want software by someone how works without a plan, wanders aimlessly through their project and then quits halfway?

to place the blame somewhere other than on oneself ....

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10-07-2010, 09:10 AM	#46
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	I think a good guide is, the less you have to massage your original writing software to make it format how you want (in the editor) the less you'll have to fiddle with the output to convert it into an eBook. Certainly go for strict adherence to templates or styles - try avoid at all costs doing individual tweaks. Paul.

10-25-2010, 04:51 AM	#48
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I've recently downloaded StoryBox on the recommendation of someone in this thread. I'm still learning the program, but it looks great. Seems like a less nerdy version of YWriter, which I could never get on with. StoryBox is more intuitive, at least to me, than YWriter, which always looked like some sort of maths project.

10-25-2010, 05:09 AM	#49
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,306 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Another program that's good (for organizing and writing) is Liquid Story Binder XE which isn't too highly priced (about $45.00 if I recall) and they have a yahoo group if I remember correctly for some documentation and such as well. There is also FaceGen Modeller 3.4 (which has a free version and a pay) and which you can use to model potential faces for characters with. Last I knew the free version didn't come with hair and such but it does give you the ability to model heads so you get your character's face (if it's a human character) just how you want him/her to look.

10-26-2010, 01:29 AM	#50
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Many peeps on the nano boards dislike LSB for its complexity, some have even returned it and had a refund. It seems to be a common theme with LSB. I downloaded StoryBox free, though it has a nag screen begging for money, the trial period doesn't run out. I'll pay for it when I can afford to. I think if I was going to splash out on something like LSB, I'd wait for the PC version of Scrivener.

10-26-2010, 04:55 AM	#51
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	If you're going to take the hike up the learning-curve for complex software you may as well get something that's worth your investment. Of course, the trouble often is that people want the simpler software but want the features of the more complex package. Unfortunately it's not always possible to merge the two wants successfully. Paul.

10-26-2010, 05:38 AM	#52
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	I prefer simple (just like me)

10-26-2010, 05:49 AM	#53
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	When this thread started I was using MS Word. I took the tip from jax6166 and downloaded Scrivener. I like it a lot.

10-26-2010, 12:39 PM	#55
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,730 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	An updated version of WriteWay Pro, [1.9] is now available free to registered owners. It's a HUGE improvement of an already very fine program. Please check it out. This is the program I own and use for my writing. Don (I am not affiliated in any way with the program.)

10-27-2010, 12:55 AM	#56
DavidRM Addict Posts: 203 Karma: 1007768 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Device: Kindle	The trick with writing software is finding one designed by someone who writes like you do. Otherwise, you find yourself trying fit the square peg of your approach into the round hole the developer carved out. So it's worth trying all of them. One of them might actually be perfect for you, free or otherwise. -David

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