The Write Tool
When you’re ready to craft the next great novel what program do you rely on? Are you an MS Word fan, or do you despise all things Microsoft and turn to the world of the Mac allowing Apple’s Pages to capture the denizens of your imagination? There are choices out there. I was an MS Word man for years before moving on to healthier pastures (yes…I said healthier… sorry Microsoft). I remember sneaking away to my bedroom as a kid and pounding away on an old typewriter my parents had bequeathed to me as an alternative to its inevitable trip to the dump. Then came my 23rd birthday when they presented me with a state of the art word processor. Small screen, barely legible green type, 2 pages a minute… incredible. A pen and quill might have been more efficient.
As technology developed the word processor gave way to Windows 3.1, and 15 years later my love affair with all things Mac. Along the way I’ve used, tested, and enjoyed other programs designed to enhance the writing experience. One in particular that I’ve found interesting is Scrivener. You have to be a Mac disciple (or convert in my case) to download and use it however. I gave the trial version of Scrivener a shot when Tripping the Muse was unleashed on an unsuspecting world. I figured Scrivener would be a unique way to keep my thoughts in order. The software’s author also coded it with the ability to pen a screenplay (something I might just take advantage of). One reviewer labelled the product as “The biggest software advance for writers since the word processor.” I’ve found the description apropos.
So what do you use when your muse has laid his or her head to rest on your shoulder?
Photo Courtesy of tonybo
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Comments
Your comment made me laugh. I think I have heard of paper. Didn’t people use to make airplanes out of it at one time????
Rick
Yes, that was before they came up with balsa wood and rubber bands. Now planes go further and faster! Progress!
Scrivener is special. I’ve used it myself on a Mac and I think it’s unbeatable. However the biggest advancement for me in relation to the tools I write with, comes from the use of an AlphaSmart Neo, a simplistic word-processor primarily aimed at schools
Ironically the technology isn’t an advancement, it’s a step back. However that ’step back’ brings with it a zen-like distraction free writing experience. What’s more it runs for 700 hours (yep I said *700* hours) on 3 AA batteries.
Anyway I better stop evangelizing before I sound like a salesman for AlphaSmart :o)
Regards
Robert
Thanks for the feedback Robert. I can’t imagine anything running for 700 hours on batteries. Not in these days of 4 hour iPods and 3 hour laptops!
Rick
I use different things. While I am fruity, I don’t have a apple. I’ll use either MS Word, or I’ll travel back in time and use this stuff called paper and pencils. In some cases the paper has been bounded together to form a thing called a journal. I have been known to write in one of these things. I try not to do that too much in public as it draws a crowd of curious people wondering what I’m doing. I end up spending too much time explaining and demo-ing the process. Sorry you asked? he he :O)