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

[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.