Fiction Writing Software

[wow]

 

[yakkmeister]

If anyone has made 'fiction writing software' then they should be shot.

All you need is a pen and a notebook; an Idea and a point you need to make; an in depth knowledge of the subject and a decent plot.

To use a computer all you need is a wordprocessor.
You can get two types and 2 catagories;
Commercial and Free types (MS Word VS Abi Word) in the catagories of good and bad.

AbiWord : http://www.abisource.com/download/

Possibly the best wordprocessor known to man!!

 

[Rainbow.]

Quote: If anyone has made 'fiction writing software' then they should be shot.
what an angry negative little man you are having seen the mean comment you posted about my poem and other various mean things you say in general, i have to wonder why you would join a site like this?!

 

[wow]

 

[yakkmeister]

Quote: If anyone has made 'fiction writing software' then they should be shot.
what an angry negative little man you are having seen the mean comment you posted about my poem and other various mean things you say in general, i have to wonder why you would join a site like this?!

There is a *big* difference between critical and mean.

Now: have some respect for Wow's thread and don't go starting arguments in it.

As for Wow:

Seriously. Has anyone here ever used Dramatica? Or PowerStructure? Or StoryCraft? Or Truby's Blockbuster? Or Plots Unlimited? Or CharacterPro? I understand that some of these programs are instructional. And some of them are supposed to be quite good for formatting manuscripts for submission.

I havn't heard of most of them; although I have used a product from the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

Go there for 'Script Smart',
It's for writing scripts, but then it's regarded as the best for the purpose.

I still suggest you for get about any helper-programs untill you have finished your work.
Overheads are so much lower when you aren't chasing after specialised software.

However: for the educational properties of a suite such as what you are talking about; you can get just as good; if not better, features in a book.
Also; reading is the single best thinkg you can do to increase your writing skill.

 

[yakkmeister]

Seriously. Has anyone here ever used Dramatica? Or PowerStructure? Or StoryCraft? Or Truby's Blockbuster? Or Plots Unlimited? Or CharacterPro? I understand that some of these programs are instructional. And some of them are supposed to be quite good for formatting manuscripts for submission.

It is my opinion that successful fiction writers use accepted structure and are creative within that structure. It is my understanding that these programs simply enable writers to be more time efficient working within those widely accepted structures.

I'm your basic unemployed schmuk. Three graduate degrees. Two professional licenses. Good references. Respectable employment history. And unemployed for nearly a year now with no prospects of finding anything resembling traditional employment in the forseeable future (or at least until after businesses have an opportunity to assess the results of the next Presidential election). While I have written since I was a child, I am not contemplating writing for the sheer pleasure of doing so. Rather, I am thinking of writing as a career change. I do have a particular storyline in mind. A storyline that I have discussed with several who are widely read. A storyline that is a bit out of the ordinary with respect to its subject matter and likely to be somewhat controversial.

As Rainbow alluded to earlier, I already have pens, notebooks, ideas, a point to make, fairly in depth knowledge of the subject and a decent plot. Oh, yes, and a wordprocessor.

I have a firm belief that my intended storyline could attract substantial reader interest and offer the commercial potential necessary for publication. I would like to tell my story in the best possible way - and in the most efficient way. Hence, my interest in some of the currently available fiction writing software programs. If anyone can offer any insight into any of these programs it would be much appreciated.

OK:

advocating violence in any form is deplorable. What if I said you should be shot?

I'd laugh at you.

In Australia, 'to be shot' is not an advocation of violence but a simple, innocent joke.

2 things:
You guys need to relax more.
and my sincere apollogies for any honest mistake of my intent.

 

[wow]

 

[oncewaslost]

nope, can't say i am. i personally just sit down with a pad of paper and work on one character at a time, borrowing different traits and characteristics from friends and people i know. people watching does wonders

 

[katelyn]

Sorry, I haven't used any of those programs. I am kind of curious about what they would be like though... I agree with yakkmeister about reading books from the genre you are interested in writing in, to get a feel for what style might be appropriate.

A good book to read about character development is Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins.

Good luck finding out more about the fiction software. If you try any out, let us know how it goes!!

 

[yakkmeister]

Then we have no argument.
Cool.

I certainly havn't used them.
If you do; be sure to let us know.