Thanks for all the recommendations, folks. You’ve been a great help!

Like Scrivener a lot.

One thing not in the review - I really like the feature in Scrivener that lets you black out everything on the screen except for Scrivener. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I find I use it every day during writing time.

It reduces digital distractions and sends a clear, visual message to the parts of my brain that are easily diverted by bright, shiny objects. The visual message says: “OK, we’re writing fiction now. That is all we are doing. We’re not IMing or surfing the Web or doing e-mail. We’re just writing fiction.”

Really great full screen text editor. Completely configurable color schemes, adjustable background transparency, word count, almost no other functionality. Its just write, write, write, revise, revise, revise. And you can’t argue with the price.

I tried Ywriter but found it clunky to use. I decided to pay for a program because I wanted help organise complicated plotting issues.

I paid for a program (only about £19) which is fantastic. It is so easy to organise all your notes and scene descriptions, ideas on magic etc. into a cohesive structure. the it has a word processor fro you to write it. It stores them by chapter. I usually write in word and then copy and past into the program (although you can import,I believe) because I prefer it.

They do a free demo..to try. Click on my name to have a look.

Adam

My workflow is generally to use a command line tool called maruku to convert from markdown to HTML and LaTeX/PDF when I need it, and it all happens in a couple of seconds, most of the time I’m content to just work in text files.

Last time I did a novel length project I was using a PC and did it all in word, and while it wasn’t ideal, it worked.

I also use a program called WriteRoom to black out the back of the screen so I can write distraction free. It’s a great idea and there are times when this kind of mode is just great. But it’s still text files all the way.

–ty

Scrivener looks great, if only because I usually have some pictures or photographs on display in Photoshop, and my plot notes jotted down in a different file, and the story arc but vaguely visualized in my mind. I think it would be fun to lay it all out, play with the cork board, and get it all down right there before my eyes. I don’t think it would really help with the writing, per se, but might simply prove diverting to fiddle with while mentally tongueing a plot problem or the like.

But I’m on a PC, so no dice

Ultimately I end up transplanting everything into Word (with the Spell and Grammar check turned off) in order to check word count, etc, and tidy it all up. Like vainly combing your redheaded stepchild’s hair once or twice before sending him out before the photographer!

But I only use it lightly. My main workhorse writing software is a plain text editor, TextWrangler. That’s because I write for the Web. On the PC, I use NoteTab Pro. ($20).

I’m eager to try out CopyWrite. yWrite looks very interesting, but it lacks CopyWrite’s apparent ability to annotate text to be able to keep track of character descriptions, etc.