Best Software for Fiction Writers

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Image courtesy of Literature & Latte

Scrivener has long been the standard for novelist on Macs, but in the last year has crossed into the Windows platform. Scrivener's most outstanding option is the virtual corkboard, which allows you to make and move index cards around on a board. This is an awesome planning tool that I have really enjoyed.

Scrivener is as much a project management tool as it is writing software. You can work in the program from the start of your program all the way to the finished manuscript. You can organize your research, view it aside your writing and you can write your chapters separately or in sequence. Scrivener gives you the ultimate freedom to write your story, your way.

You can easier navigate through long documents using the binder, and moving sections of your manuscript is simply a matter of dragging and dropping. You can format your text with the same tools offered in Word (which is an awesome bonus), use the font of your choice, and Scrivener will even help you format your finished manuscript.

Your final project is exportable to multiple formats including Word, RTF, PDF and HTML. You can even export to Kindle and ePub for those of you interested in digital publishing. No matter what the size of your project, you can't lose with Scrivener.

Image courtesy of Black Obelisk Software.

If you like programs to look pretty while you are using them, Liquid Story Binder is the program for you. I find it nothing short of beautiful to work with. The options are endless. You can customize the program to display exactly how you want it to--so whether you write on a laptop or a multi-screen desktop, it will work for you.

You can also choose the color scheme that you like best from a list of pre-sets or create your own.I like to customize the look and feel of the program according to the story that I am writing. It really sets the tone for my writing session and helps me get into the groove much faster. You can even create MP3 playlists, organize pictures into Galleries or Storyboards and even record yourself reading your latest chapters.

Liquid Story Binder also offers a distraction free writing environment (you can even prevent yourself from editing previously typed text) and offers a full screen writing option perfect for writing sprints. You can open as many or as few windows as you want as well as use it for mind mapping, outlining and a built in daily back up.

Liquid Story Binder can run off of a flash drive, if you wish, so it provides the ultimate in portability. You can download a fully functional trial and use it for 30 days. If you like it, you can get it 1/2 price during the month of November thanks to National Novel Writing Month.

Try Liquid Story Binder for free.  (This is a direct link to the download file.)

Find out more. (Screenshots and more detailed information on Liquid Story Binder's features.)

Image courtesy of Space Jock Software.

There is no better program than yWriter to outline and write your first draft in. This the first writing program that I ever used, and with good reason.

It's free.

Writer Simon Haynes designed the program when he couldn't find a program on the market to meet his needs. I find it particulary easy to outline in yWriter. Your entire story is laid out before your eyes, and you can split chapters into scenes easily. The file is exported to word or the program of your choice with a few simple clicks.

This program is easy and intuitive to use. I have recommended it to non-technical friends who have been very successful writing in it.

The features included in yWriter include:
--Add scenes, characters, items and locations.
--Display the word count for every file in the project, along with a total.
--Saves daily word count and tracks progress
--Saves automatic backups at user-specified intervals.
--Allows multiple scenes within chapters
--Viewpoint character, goal, conflict and outcome fields for each scene.
--Storyboard view, a visual layout of your work.
--Re-order scenes within chapters.
--Drag and drop of chapters, scenes, characters, items and locations.
--Automatic chapter renumbering

yWriter has a strong user support community, and Simon Haynes addresses most user problems himself via the yWriter Google Group. He also entertains suggestions for additions and improvements to the program.

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