Creative Writing Software Programmes

Many would have heard of these and wondered about the big deal, being quite satisfied with their trusty word processor. After all, word processors nowadays can do almost anything, except make coffee. But therein lies the problem; all the bells and whistles can get so distracting. If you are writing a relatively short piece that you have already thought through, it works just as well on a word processor. But if you have a more complicated piece with many timelines, characters, subplots and scenes, Microsoft Word can make it a right royal mess although all the tools you need are actually available in the programme. Hence, the Creative Writing Programmes where you can stash away all your research material (be they notes, websites, photographs, videos, or whatever) just a click away. You can switch from one scene to another at the other end of a novel for consistency and compare facts, all in one click. Or even view them side-by-side (or top and bottom), or write in full screen mode for minimum distraction. And then, after everything is done, one can format the whole thing in a fancy word processor.

MacWorld reports that Ulysses 2 writing program has just been released. I have never used Ulysses -- I have only taken Scrivener, Z-Write and Writers' Cafe for a spin -- so I can't say much about how good it is, but it appears to be worth a try-out at least. It comes with a full 60-day trial. (The full licence costs around RM200.00 -- a bit pricey compared to some of the others.) The report says that it sports a brand new interface, as well as new project templates, project-wide search and replace, enhancements and improvements to the browser and editor to include the ability to add bookmarks, wider export format support, and more. According to the Ulysses 2 website: "Whether you're a blogger, a poet or a published novelist: Ulysses 2.0 is the definite package for all your creative writing needs. Brainstorm, draft, revise, submit; distraction-free and fully focused. No strings or styles attached." But, it is a Mac-only programme

Literature and Latte's Scrivener is my favourite. Says the website: " Writing a book, short story or research paper is about more than hammering away at the keys until it's done. Research, scrawling fragmentary ideas that don't seem to fit anywhere yet, collecting faded photos from old newspapers, shuffling index cards to find that elusive structure -- most writing software is only fired up after much of the hard work is already done. Enter Scrivener: writing software that stays with you from that first, unformed idea all the way through to the first - or even final - draft. Outline and structure your ideas. Take notes. Storyboard your masterpiece using a powerful virtual corkboard. View research while you write. Track themes using keywords. Dynamically combine multiple scenes into a single text just to see how they fit. Scrivener has already been enthusiastically adopted by best-selling novelists, academics, lawyers, scriptwriters and journalists - whatever you write, grow your ideas in style." It cost RM140.00 and does everything it says, and comes with a 30-day free trial. Again, a Mac-only programme.

Before readers start wondering if Windows and the word 'creative' can exist in the same sentence, let me introduce Writers' Cafe.

"Writer's Cafe is a set of power tools for all fiction writers, whether experienced or just starting out. The heart of Writer's Cafe is StoryLines, a powerful but simple to use story development tool that dramatically accelerates the creation and structuring of your novel or screenplay.

"Designed by published novelist Harriet Smart, Writer's Café also includes a notebook, journal, research organiser, pinboard, inspirational quotations, daily writing tips, writing exercises, name generation, and a 60-page e-book, Fiction: The Facts, distilling 20 years of writing experience."

I have given Writer's Cafe a spin as well. While I can see where they are coming from, it does not address the way I think or write. I find it a bit too structured for my comfort, but I am sure others will find far more potential in it than I did. It is available as a demo download with no time limit on it, but with a few key features defeated. The licence costs approximately RM160.00 and is available for Windows, Macs and Linux.

Z-Write costs about RM120.00 and is another Mac-only programme. The website says: " Z-Write is a unique word processor designed for creative writers. In the process of writing a story, writers tend to create dozens or even hundreds of pages of notes, character bios, rewrites, reminders, and bits of research info. Organizing all that material within the linear structure of a traditional word processor is awkward at best." All that is true, but when compared with the rest, it is pretty basic. Try it for yourself. It comes with a two-week trial, after which it reverts to a 'demo' mode.

Bottom-line: if you are serious about writing, perhaps you'd like to give these creative writing programmes a spin. It is quite an enjoyable experience.