Programs and file formatting

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Just wondering what program everyone is using. I downloaded yWriter last month and though it's still a bit overwhelming, I'm forcing myself to use it for organizing, and I think it'll come in really handy when I'm halfway through my novel and can't remember what this guy's last name is or what color hair that woman has. But, I'm doing my actual writing in Word 07. I tried Q10, and may use it again for timing word wars, but the lack of ability to format the text is a real downer.

Also, how are you handling file formatting? Meaning, are you writing in a single document, from start to finish? Are you saving a new file for each chapter? Scene? Day's work? Here's what I'm doing: I start a new file for each day's progress, and add it to a master file at the end of a writing session. I also add each day's progress scene by scene to yWriter, as well as any new characters that have popped up.

Comments

[alpha-orionis-v.livejournal.com]

I've been using Google Docs for the past few years. I'm quite in love with it.

I've been doing sprints tonight, and in the middle of one, my computer randomly restarted. Didn't lose a single word. <3

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

I ctrl+s compulsively, usually at the end of every sentence, so I wouldn't lose much if that happened to me. It's a scary thought, though!

[crazy-onna.livejournal.com]

I'll remember that for next time. Power blinked off for a sec today; I had almost finished a sentence, too.

[bellipotens.livejournal.com]

I just use Microsoft Works and save it in one big document. When I write at work, I'll be using Google Docs and then just transferring those bits to the master document. It worked well for me last year and I like having everything all in one place :)

[racquelin.livejournal.com]

I start a new file for it, and then I just add every day. I tried Q10 and like you said, the lack of formatting bothered me, as well as the full-window-ness. (I was writing Pokemans and needed to stat check like every three sentences XD )

I may try yWriter for organizational purposes again. It was slightly overwhelming back when I tried it... uh, forever ago. Hm.

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

I'm overcoming the overwhelmingness by ignoring all the stuff I have no use for (or just don't understand). So far I'm only using the chapter and scene creators (description and content only), character list (1st tab only), and locations list (also 1st tab only).

[racquelin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sounds good. I just re-downloaded it and we'll see what happens.

Yay NaNo procrastination! XD

[inkydragon.livejournal.com]

Scrivener <3<3<3

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

Your icon!

Sarah Palin made the Doctor cry!

!!!!

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

I'm writing on my Alphasmart, then divvying things out into scenes in yWriter. It's working pretty well so far!

I'm using yWriter because I made it my goal to PLAN this year. Usually I don't plot at all beforehand, and just do everything by the seat of my pants, so I wanted to try planning this year as a challenge to myself. It's going well so far! I hit 11,022 today :)

[misslucyjane]

I use OpenOffice: I switch between a Linux and a Windows computer, and the files are compatible for OOO for both OSes.

I usually write in a single file. Easiest to transfer back and forth. I save every time I stop to think.

I use OneNote on my Windows maching for keeping track of character details, and a notebook for scene/chapter notes and for when I'm away from home.

[cedara]

Ditto on the OpenOffice - I can use it in both Linux and Windows, as I have a dual boot system.

[jolteons.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm just using word 2003, and doing everything in one big document. Whenever I forget something, I just ctrl+f whatever it is I'm looking for. It's working well enough for me thus far :)

[themournfulduck.livejournal.com]

I'm still experimenting with this. I've written some of it into an online journal, I wrote some of it into a notepad document, I wrote some of it in a paper notebook, and today into the library I put it all together plus more into a word document which I am now discovering is not compatible with past versions of word. I HATE YOU MICROSOFT. Yeah, I just have to find a file type that's going to be compatible with all of the computers I am using. (And I cannot use google doc because one of the computers I use does not have internet. I might use it to backup though.)

[itmustbecarly.livejournal.com]

I'm using Q10. I actually love that I can't format words individually because usually that's just a time waster for me. Plus it's full screen so it keeps me from being distracted by everything else that is going on on my computer. If I put iTunes into mini mode, always on top, and put it in the corner, I can go for hours. Also, I can set it to do crazy things like sound like a typewriter (auditory reinforcement FTW!), time myself, display word count out to 50 000 (which updates as I type) and have it tell me what percent of the whole shebang I've written, save and make backups automatically, and when I open it, it pulls out my novel right away.

I'm typing the whole thing in one .txt document. Q10 doesn't have pages, but I can toggle between chapters or notes by calling them "...Chapter One" etc.

I found Q10 on Oct 31, and it was like finding the holy grail. I get distracted unbelievably quickly, but as of now I'm officially ahead of the necessary WC. Yay.

[seph-hazard.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with every last word of this comment [grin]i

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

I had planned on changing the background color for blocks of text I knew I wanted to change later (mostly because it sucked and needed a total rewrite, or I needed to research something that would take time), so that I wouldn't be tempted to do it immediately. Q10 wouldn't allow this. :(

It also has no scrollbar! Whaaaaaaaaat.

[wonderlandwords.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with this! n_n I love Q10 and it's really kept me on track.

[solookup.livejournal.com]

I've just using good old Word and I've always saved it as one file. Never had a problem with a faulty computer yet *knocks on wood*

I don't like yWriter because if you want to start a new story, it does this weird thing or something. Unless they fixed it, I'm not a fan of it despite its functions.

[misskirie.livejournal.com]

I'm using Q10, Microsoft Works, and a Alphasmart 3000. I loooooove Q10 because it takes away all the distractions that would otherwise keep me from writing anything at all. It's one of the most useful programs I've ever used. I use Works to store the whole novel in, so I can format it however I need to. And when I need to be away from my computer, my AS3000 (lovingly named Felix) comes into play. It's fantastic to have on the go and has even less distractions than Q10.

I've tried yWriter, but I felt it was all just too much to bother with. Same goes with other writing software like WriteWay. I like simplicity. =)

[mteson.livejournal.com]

Scrivener. The outlining software kicks butt and I love that I can portion my word count goals with my chapter breaks.

[peppermintwords.livejournal.com]

Oh, it looks really interesting! Too bad it isn't free :(. Does it have spell check and grammar check?

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

I think I checked that out and fell in love with the prettiness of it (I am so shallow), but then realized it was for Mac. Or is there a PC version I don't know about?

[nepthys6669.livejournal.com]

I totally use notepad, just so I don't have to see all those little red and green squiggly lines... I copy pasta to word just to get a word count about once an hour... I found that I get more done when I don't see how bad my spelling and grammar are

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

ROFL, those red and green squiggly DRIVE ME CRAZY. I wonder if there's a way to disable it in Word. I'd use Notepad if it had formatting, but alas. I need my italics and highlights.

[nepthys6669.livejournal.com]

wah, I figured it out (google is my friend), go to tools, options, spelling & grammar tab, if you uncheck the two boxes that say "check as I type" it makes the stupid little lines go away... I never thought of trying to turn them off

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Now if I could only figure out where tools is... damn you, Word 07, damn you!

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

AHA, Google is my friend, too. For anyone else who uses Word 2007 and wants to disable squiggly underlines: flick the round windows button at the very top left corner of the program, then click the Word Options button in the window that pops up. Go to the Proofing section and uncheck "Check as I type." YAY! Goodbye squiggly lines!

[nepthys6669.livejournal.com]

yay for friendly google

[tauriosiris.livejournal.com]

I use Q10 and Writer's Cafe for scene notes and storylining. I don't mind the lack of formatting in Q10, since that'll all be done post-Nano in the editing stages.

[ticklemecheeky.livejournal.com]

The new word scares me, so I downloaded a free program that I found on google.

I've been writing on one document, because I like to see how it grows over time. :)

[peppermintwords.livejournal.com]

I'm using NeoOffice, where the word count feature malfuctions sometimes but other than that, it's all good :).

[faedreamer.livejournal.com]

Using Word 2007. One document, sent back and forth between my desktop and my laptop. I switch computers fairly frequently so when I do I just send the most recent version to myself and copy it over the previous version.

If I can't remember a detail, I'll simply stick it in brackets [CHECK IF THEY"RE NAKED!!!] and use the highlight tool on that so I can easily find it when I go back and edit later. And yes, that is an actual bit in brackets currently residing in my novel. Got so caught up writing the sex I couldn't remember if I'd had them get undressed or not. :D

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

That made me giggle. CHECK IF THEY'RE NAKED!!!!!

I'm using highligting a lot for things I need to change later. It's really helping me let go of my inner editor!

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

Open Office 2.4 on my Linux Ubuntu distro. I like it a lot. :)

[darkknightjrk.livejournal.com]

I decided to use Google Documents for the first time this year. Now I wonder where the hell that's been all my life.

[dieteeniescum.livejournal.com]

I'm just using OpenOffice Writer, one big file, constantly saving, 'cause that's how I almost always have written. I desperately need to learn some organizational skills.

[banyangirl1832.livejournal.com]

I'm using AbiWord, one big document, although I have Q10 in case things get really dire and I just need to pound out words. And I used yWriter for story planning this year, but I'm not actually writing in it because I couldn't figure out how. Fail.

[slash-dotdash.livejournal.com]

I've been using Liquid Story Binder, I don't even know why.
I just like the fact that I can keep everything there, from checklists to actual chapters to pictures to songs... I love it!

:D

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I WANTED to try that so much but every download I found wouldn't work! I was very sad.

[slash-dotdash.livejournal.com]

Someone posted a link here is this comm, maybe... two days ago? That one worked, you could try it. :)

[jediknightmuse.livejournal.com]

I was doing it where I just had one file for chapter one, but then I decided to resave that one and make it the master file. I might end up still putting everything into separate chapter files, though. And, I use Word.

[rednuck.livejournal.com]

I'm not using any special program because to try and learn how to use it at the last second would not work for me. When I've tried using something in the past, I play around with all the outlandish options and never get to writing. Sometimes it's because I can't stop tweaking this and that, and sometimes it's because I'm so sick of the story when it's time to write it because I've been playing with everything so much.

So I just use Word, and I save my story in one document in a new folder on my desktop. In that folder, I keep pictures of my characters and any info or notes I want. It keeps it very simple that way for me, and allows me to write write write.

[inksmudged.livejournal.com]

Scrivener. I'm a post it note nut, and the corkboard is really saving my room from looking like the inside of a stationary shop (a happy thought) and I can keep all my research (ha!) neat there including visual references, silly little notes that made sense at the time and well, everything.

I heart it muchly.

[13-stories.livejournal.com]

I have been using Word 2007 and Microsoft One Note to store character descriptions. I never heard of yWriter before but I checked it out after reading your post and I have downloaded it and am going to try using it for a day or two to see if it is helpful. I'm not sure whether I want to write in it or not but I think it will help to copy stuff over at the end of each day as you say you are doing.

We'll see how it goes.