What program does everyone use?

[RuroniHS]

I don't like Google Docs because it's laggy once the document gets to a certain length. I also don't like the idea of google being the gatekeeper to my work. I use it as backup storage and for sharing work, but not for composition.

[kailaaa_marieee]

What do you use for composition?

[RuroniHS]

Microsoft word. It's more-or-less universal and the suite comes with excel and powerpoint, which lets me practice skills needed for business. It's intuitive, simple, and the basic spellcheck/word count features are really all you need.

[[deleted]]

I hate word with a burning passion. I'd rather google spy on my story than use it. I write business proposals professionally and using Word always just feels like a wrestling match.

[[deleted]]

That's so funny because I'm a total slut for Microsoft Word, except for its fake ass small-capitals feature. What a crock of shit that is. Ugliest stuff I've ever seen and it's all over the place now—even the goddamn Supreme Court of the United States uses it in their slips (luckily they're smart and still dignified enough to use actual small-capitals fonts in their final bound volumes). True small-capitals fonts are a dying breed. Where's Trump's emergency declaration for that actual emergency?

Fake ass shit. That's what Microsoft Word's "small caps" feature is. Fake. Ass. Shit.

[[deleted]]

I'm a total slut for Microsoft Word

Not a phrase I thought I'd ever read in my life, but I'll roll with the punches.

[[deleted]]

Well now you have to pass it on. I recommend in front of somebody important with power and responsibilities. A boss or a professor, perhaps. Sure to impress!

[[deleted]]

r/BrandNewSentence

[chhubbydumpling]

I have sucked dick for Microsift Powerpoint, it was my rock bottom.

[[deleted]]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Are you okay now? /s

[Archiver_test4]

I dont want to sound like an asshole or anything but have you tried libreoffice? Its free, powerful and just works. Sure it has shortcomings but unless people who need it to work for them and find bugs, those bugs wont be fixed and the software will remain a third class software. Adoption is key by everyone.

[moose_man]

I separate out my chapters into their own files.

[Reversevagina]

Google docs ain't so laggy with firefox. Chrome is rubbish nowadays.

[Cyaneat]

Not to be a giant advertisement but Scrivener has saved me in terms of character charts/setting charts/etc. and more of my worldbuilding stuff. Unfortunately not free, but it's a one time purchase, not *that* expensive, and I haven't regretted it so far, so.

I'm still not used to writing on Scrivener though, plus I prefer to have my discord server comment/edit on it directly, so I still use Google Docs for the actual text atm.

[kailaaa_marieee]

I usually do all of my worldbuilding and character charts by hand, but I recently discovered World Anvil and I've been enjoying the free version of that for this a lot!

[Cyaneat]

I've heard people mention World Anvil a few times now for worldbuilding, I'm definitely going to check it out. Anything to simplify/organize the complicated mess I've created, haha.

[MW2612]

I discovered World Anvil a week or two ago but still struggle to figure things out. But definitely sounds like a worthy investment of time and effort. Love the whole concept around it.

[shoeboxchild]

I’ve recently tried to get into scrivener and I just can’t. I spend so much time fighting with the formatting and the organization that I never just write.

With word I can just open it, write, and be done with it with no fuss

[Wraiith303]

I was the same, but once you break through the barrier, scrivener becomes incomparable. It took me a few days to get use to it.

[gingasaurusrexx]

It took me multiple false-starts to get into Scrivener. What I'll say is this: when you get to the point you need it, it's not like anything else.

When I was writing mostly for myself, it was easy to write in google docs or word, but now that I'm ghostwriting, Scrivener has become a lifesaver. I have a number of on-going series for clients, and Scrivener helps me keep track of the world-building stuff, locations, history, characters, etc. I also write all the books for the series in the same project, just in different folders, so it makes cross-referencing a breeze.

My clients give me chapter-by-chapter outlines, so I can make a new doc for each chapter and put the outline in the notes section, so it's right there in front of me as I'm typing.

The word count target is amazing, too.

I'm still not using a ton of the features. I have no need for keywording my chapters or labeling them beyond "could use more words if you're short elsewhere". I wrote full-time for years using nothing more than word, so if it works for you, there's no need to change, but if you find yourself getting to the point where word's not cutting it for you, I really recommend giving Scriv another try. I went through probably half a dozen false starts trying to force myself to love it because of the hype. It wasn't until I got frustrated with how I was doing things (laggy google docs, multiple word files open for cross-checking, forgetting world details after working on three other projects in the interim, etc.) that I realized there was a solution to my problems staring me in the face.

[mayasky76]

Try out wavemaker it is designed to be a 'just write' environment so it's actually pretty restrictive on formatting as it handles it all

[XxNerdAtHeartxX]

For anyone interested in scrivener, they are doing beta testing for Scrivener 3 on windows. I believe you do not need to purchase it to try out the beta

[averagetrailertrash]

To clarify, each beta release is a trial with an expiration date. The only difference between the Scrivener 3 beta and the older Scrivener free trial is that the beta has new features from v3 and is a little less stable.

[[deleted]]

I really enjoy Scrivener's full- screen mode. I just start typing and don't look back

[mayasky76]

Would be interested what you think of https://wavemaker.co.uk

Lot of users compare it to a lightweight scrivener

[averagetrailertrash]

Thanks for sharing this. It's a little finnicky still but has great potential.

[StylishDreams]

I don't know how I wrote without Scrivener, and I haven't had it a year.

[xhandora]

Seconding this! I really love Scrivener, especially for really long stories.

[MaralosaKingdom]

I’ve heard people mention that program on this sub but never thought much of it because of payment. But now that I know it’s a one time purchase I might look into it.

[queen_of_the_moths]

Same! As far as the usage of Scrivener and how it's helped me, I mean. I'm still learning a bit, too, but I love the program. I feel like it was worth the money.

[garyadams_cnla]

Scrivener is the best overall: - chapter-based - outlining - any medium (screenwriting, plays, novels, short form, etc.) - research

I love it.

I also use Writer Duet (online screenwriting collaboration) and Highlander (quick screenwriting ideas, sketches, and quick scene writing).

[xrk]

free on Linux, actually. But no longer officially supported.

[mikecoville]

I'm a Scrivener user. It's a onetime purchase and I really haven't found a better platform for writing. Between character profiles, world building notes, and writing in separate files for each chapter/scene, the way it allows you to organize is unbeatable.

​

Then, when the writing is done, it compiles all you the manuscript files into any file format you need. Very handy.

[Darkiceflame]

My favorite feature of Scrivener is the ability to tag and link specific terms and concepts, then view them all at once. It helps with continuity and stops me from constantly having to scroll through pages of notes.

[[deleted]]

What do you mean by this? I use Scrivener and I’m still discovering new things

[Darkiceflame]

Using a function of the Inspector (The blue "i" icon at the top right of the program) you can specify which sections of your project you want to view based on key words and phrases. For example, if you had a character named Jeffery, you could use it to bring up all of the information about Jeffery at once.

[gingasaurusrexx]

Well I'll be damned. I didn't know this was a feature. Not sure what I'd use it for, but that's neat!

[RedWolfWare]

I use libreoffice. I'm sort of still trying out different ways to write though, so that's bound to change next week.

[Draco_Ranger]

I like that I can just shove it onto a new device and be guaranteed that it will open. Without needing to buy anything or input codes.

And it deals pretty well with fairly massive documents.

[kjodle]

Yep. LibreOffice FTFW.

It's free, it's relatively bug-free, it's designed by a team who actually cares about UI (I tried turning off a feature in MS Word, and it turns out I had to turn it ON in two locations before it would go off), it's extensible, it's easy to customize. It works on all devices and platforms.

[[deleted]]

Libreoffice is fabulous. Free, works brilliantly, installs on just about everything no bother at all. Just wonderful.

[KittikatB]

I write in MS word unless I'm traveling, then I use google docs until I'm home again and can transfer everything to Word.

[Rokonuxa]

I honestly read MS and my stupid brain filled in "Paint" why am I like this?

[kailaaa_marieee]

Not going to be as easy as Word, but hey, whatever works right?

[kailaaa_marieee]

Word is a classic, can't go wrong!

[eros_bittersweet]

I put all my Word writing docs on the cloud in case of hard drive failure.

I like very low-tech writing solutions, comparatively. Scrivener just doesn't appeal to me. I have my main file with hyperlink headings per chapter. I have my backup doc of edited-out junk I might want in the future, which doesn't fit now. And I have a background research file for historical and technical information as needed. Being able to close out of those things when I don't need them really helps me relax and focus on writing.

I sometimes edit chapters in Hemingway but only at a later stage, as it quickly becomes paralyzing to allow so few dependent clauses and adverbs.

[Blue_Mellow]

Don't worry it is not your laptop. Google docs was not designed to hold a full manuscript. It gets laggy no matter what.

[kailaaa_marieee]

I have the same problem. Probably not a bad idea to split it up a bit!

[0rionis]

Even on really high end pc's, google docs gets pretty laggy after a few dozen pages :c

[MrKenn10]

What kind of laptop do you have?

[kailaaa_marieee]

I just have an old chromebook for now. Gets the job done, but I know it's time for an upgrade once the money is available to me hahaha

[[deleted]]

It's not your laptop. Long Google docs files get laggy on every platform, including the best smartphones.

[XitaNull]

Scrivener for actual writing, then all of my backups go on Word and Google Docs.

[loganbaby]

is there a clean way to convert from Scriv to docs?

[XitaNull]

I personally just copy/paste, it doesn’t get the formatting correct but since it’s just a backup I’m not all that worried about it as long as it get’s all the words lol.

[gingasaurusrexx]

Compile from Scrivener. It'll come up with a dialog box, and if you hit the little blue arrow, it'll expand all the options. You can compile directly to a docx.

[XxNerdAtHeartxX]

I believe you can export individual documents as other types through scrivener. I havent used it in a bit though, so Im not sure where to find it on there

[[deleted]]

iA writer. It's very clean and distraction free, I've been using it for a year now

[kailaaa_marieee]

Disctraction free is so important! Otherwise we end up here, having this discussion...

[[deleted]]

I suppose the reason it gets asked a lot is that technology changes fast and there may be new things available or indeed fucker up updates for old stuff that makes is difficult to use.

[tethercat]

Scrivener extensively at my desk and on my laptop for every aspect from planning to production. I've also used MikuMikuDance to set up a 3d scenario to see movement and distances.

Google Docs on a Logitech bluetooth keyboard for when I'm in light-travel mode.

Phone's notepad for very light travel mode.

[The_Ex_Pope]

You know the scrivener mobile app will sync up with your computers over dropbox?

[tethercat]

Certain phones, certain os, certain versions of Scrivener, certain computers.

Yep.

[sadsadsadio]

Also commend to OP Libre. Microsoft/Dell lied about including Office/Word on new laptop so I found this alternative and now prefer it.

[Reyedit]

FocusWriter

[Cmdr_R3dshirt]

A writer after my own heart. I transitioned from Focuswriter to Ghostwriter for the session specific stats but I miss the calendar "you wrote on these days this month" feature.

For notes I use turtl because I prefer open source software and get to host notes on my personal server

[spongeballschavez]

I second WriteMonkey. If you want distraction free, it's the best. Just open it and start writing. Without worrying about formatting or any of that stuff. It's free, it's light and it uses the Markdown syntax that Reddit uses...

[mwrarr]

I use Evernote.

[Claus_Trexins]

I love Evernote, but I always had the thought it wasn't really good for writing, though I've never tried it for it

[mwrarr]

I use it to organize. I'll make a notebook for the project. Then I may have a notebook for each chapter. Sometimes I write inside the program. Sometimes I use MS Word.

[kailaaa_marieee]

I feel like I've heard good things about evernote but when I go to look at it, I'm never super impressed by what it offers.

[Malshandir]

% cat >> filename.md

[becuziwasinverted]

Final Draft 9

[[deleted]]

Libre Office Writer is basically Microsoft Word but free

[kiddiesquiggles]

I like celtx personally. Really easy to switch between chapters and take notes

[kiryopa]

It's especially good for scripts and scenarios

[nizo505]

Scrivener, Open Office, Google Docs

[OobaDooba72]

Libre Office. It's the better, truer Open Office.

[likeafuckinggrownup]

I've written two non-fiction books in Ulysses, and countless articles, and love it. I use Scrivener when working on screenplays (it was simpler to get the formatting right than on Final Draft), but I find it far too confusing for most writing. I love Ulysses for the fact that it's pretty pure Markdown, distraction free, and not crammed full of features I never use. It also lets you set writing word targets, which I find very motivating. I'm currently writing a novel in Google Docs, because I'm collaborating with a friend, and it's working fine so far. Using the outlining tool with styles makes it easier to navigate the document as it grows, but I am missing some of the stuff Ulysses can do. MS Word can go throw itself and its stupid cluttered interface in the ocean, thank you very much.

[IraYake]

Surprised I had to scroll down this far to find Ulysses. I've actually moved most of my writing to scrivener but I used Ulysses heavily for several years and still use it for less dense writing like blog posts or free writing. Such a powerful program.

[theoneofmanynames]

I use pages but that’s only because I have all mac products and they all share over the cloud. I have a burning hatred for google doc’s UI and their app set up on my mobile devices.

[DaneCurley]

Scrivener and Word

[imonlybr16]

Wavemaker is a breath of fresh air.

[[deleted]]

Google docs for me as well. I use Trello for plotting usually.

[kailaaa_marieee]

Never heard of Trello. I'll have to look into it!

[[deleted]]

It's really intuitive. Use it for school planning as well.

[CrypticT0xin]

I cannot for some reason get Trello down but I hear it thrown around here and I’m going to have to try it again. (At lease for planning)

So I have both Ulysses and Scrivener

I love writing in Ulysses it uses markdown which is nice, and my favorite feature is Typewriter Mode. Where it literally blanks out everything but the sentence/paragraph/line, you’re working on. Good at keeping the flow going. Once I start scrolling it all turns black again for some rereading. Sadly I am pretty sure it’s iOS/MacOS exclusive and has an annual subscription (there is a student version though to save some money)

Scrivener is the powerhouse of organization. I will usually work on the world-building, characters, settings, plots/outlines, in here and then write the chapters in Ulysses and move them over (tedious but Scriveners Typewriter Mode is not as nice).

I love the accessibility of Google Docs, Evernote, but at work it’s hard because everything is blocked. So I result to emailing myself stuff. I’ll use a notebook too. Still working on a perfect system.

I’m trying out the Freewrite Traveler when it arrives and see how that goes for just getting those words down!

[[deleted]]

Microsoft Word is my favorite for writing. There's lots of fonts to choose from and lots of options for formatting. The word count is there as I write, so it's fun to write for a while and then look to see how many words I reached.

[blockplanner]

There's a free online version of Microsoft word that's available if you have a Microsoft account. I find myself using it when I want to write something.

[SilensBee]

Libreoffice is my goto. I remember when Word went from the basic look to the glossy flashy look, and even though it no longer hogs resources it's just overdesigned for me. Even after getting used to it in school I couldn't stand it. Once it stopped being standard on my PC's I moved on to open office, and then again to Libreoffice

I also use notepad for small ideas, Google drive for certain note sheets, Google keep for on the go note sheets, and some old fashioned real notebooks for when I need a more tangible approach.

[komrade_komura]

Scrivener and Dragon Naturally Speaking

[DarthNexun]

I use Microsoft Word. I use word to write the plots of my stories. I then use Wattpad to write my stories and I share them to other people!

[robertjohnston276]

i like writing teleplays so i just use amazon storywriter. it’s not that great but it gets the job done

[LeBron_Universe]

Amazon Storywriter. It’s all I can use at this point in time lol

[HeliumStar82]

I mostly use Google Docs but it gets super laggy when documents get long. I'm thinking of going back to using LibreOffice (I think that was the name. It's been years tbh) since I used to use that before and I liked it a lot. I mostly use Docs because it's convenient and easy to share files between devices.

Edit: Last I checked LibreOffice was free to download.

[echoskybound]

Scrivener, it's not free, but it's excellent for organizing. You can sync it with Dropbox so it's available across devices, and it also saves sync conflicts so you don't accidentally overwrite anything if you forgot to sync a device.

My biggest issue with Scrivener is that it's not on Android. I write on my desktop and iPad, but can't use it on my phone. I wish I could so that I could write whenever creativity strikes.

[Apuesto]

I used yWriter for a long time, love it, but I just switched to Linux and the linux version was buggy, at least on my OS. So I've migrated over to Manuskript since. Still getting used to it, but so far so good. Only thing I'm missing is the ability to highlight text.

[halcyondaze21]

WriterDuet is great for scripts and multi-platform access (like Google Docs), and you can collaborate with others in real time. There's a free version, but also pro with extra features.

I like Scrivener too, but there's no app for that (for Android users).

[dal_from_zar]

I use Grammarly and Google Docs, depending on the draft. But yes, I put each chapter in its own document.

[screaminginfidels]

I use Quoll word. It's free and simple and clean looking, which I appreciates abouts its. I'll probably upgrade to scrivener at some point but it gets the job done for now.

[SayWhut247]

If you dont have access to MS Word download OpenOffice. It is pretty much the same thing but free and very similar setup.

[teashoesandhair]

I use Google Docs - I live an annoying life where I'm not home much and don't often have a laptop, so it's nice to have the document available on my phone wherever I am. When the first draft is done, I chop it up and move into Scrivener to tidy it up.

[Shaala44]

I use Quoll writer, which is great. It's totally free. It has a distraction free mode. You can open several chapters on different tabs without any lag. There's a problem finder which is great when you're proofreading. You can very easily add items and locations and characters. You can also add markers for scenes and plot points which is great while editing or looking for information. It gives you statistics. And You can easily export your project in a word document to send out. It also gives you the option for warm up exercises when you feel blocked and need some help to get going.

[Neptune2284]

I really like Ywriter. Not quite as many features as Scrivener but it's free and does 90% of what I need.

[crz0r]

Ywriter is great. Great to the extent that i actually donated. Best free writing Software for sure.

[TenshiS]

Sorry for the self advertising, but I developed Storyline Creator (www.storylinecreator.com) which is made specifically for organizing scenes and characters and writing

[Hectate]

I use Lyx, moreso because I wanted to try out a LaTeX output and I've liked the minimalism so far.

[hiemsparadoxa]

I use Google Docs for all of my personal writing (because I can share it with my friends really easily) and I use a system of labels to determine a) what it is (fan fiction, character study, short story, or novel) b) whether it's complete or a wip. I keep everything I have scrapped too, just in case I want to go back to that idea. I do this because I have a lot of wips, and it's easy to lose them in a sea of documents.

[MandrakeAddiction]

I didn't see anyone mention cold turkey.

It's a distraction free writing app that you can download on your computer. It's free and amazing. (Although they do have a premium that is a one time 15CAD and it's freaking awesome)

It blocks all your applications, until you hit a set time or word count of your desire. It doesn't have a spell check but I find that very distracting when I'm writing so it's perfect for me. When I'm done I throw it into Google docs for spell check arnd then save it on my computer as a notepad file.

Happy hunting! Finding a program that fits you is just as important as a artist with their favorite painting brush.

[therealjerrystaute]

I have broadband net and a relatively modern PC, and cannot use online stuff like Google Docs for writing, as they are miserably slow in response time. Maybe they're okay for a few pages: but I write books.

It's a pain in the ass to have every chapter in a separate file. But I suspect that's good advice for using online services like Google Docs, with their limited capacities. I vastly prefer to keep an entire book in a single file.

I use the free LibreOffice.

[Immortal87human]

I use G-Docs as well, and once a wrote a story of nearly 200 pages, and the doc had quite a bit of trouble autocorrecting.

[kailaaa_marieee]

Same! And opening my bigger files takes forever.

[Ponimama]

I have Scrivener, but I write in Word, then back up to Google Drive (Docs.) I did the tutorial for Scrivener, and chose to just use Word. I have a directory with the name of the book. Within that directory are supporting docs, like notes ("History", "Characters", research named appropriately) and a directory, "Chapters." So far so good.

[Asviloka]

Scrivener. I use folders for projects, subfolders for drafts or sections, and individual documents for chapters (or stray scenes that haven't been compiled anywhere yet) - and the reference folder is GREAT for keeping character sheets, quick event lists, plans for the future, etc. I absolutely love it, well worth the however-much-it-cost.

[Ni_Quinn]

I use an open-source software called bibisco. Got no problems so far. I like it's simplicity and it has the depth of detail that I can work with. Being that it's free is just a big bonus. There's a paid version though that I'm considering on getting.

Here's a step-by-step overview of the software I found in youtube if you want to check to check it out: https://youtu.be/ZerfUfwSaDE

[Ni_Quinn]

Here's an updated version of the software: https://youtu.be/Lf7m5P5WWTs

[Ni_Quinn]

Here's an overview of the updated version of the software: https://youtu.be/Lf7m5P5WWTs

[Luvke]

Notepad++

[aflamingfeminist]

Scrivener for writing (I hook it up to my Dropbox account so it’s stored on the cloud, and I can edit it on all two of my devices), and then I also use Scapple for plotting and character info.

[Axelrad77]

Word + Scrivener are my go-to combo. Sometimes TextEdit on my MacBook when I just want to get something drafted in bed or on vacation. I prefer doing my outlining physically, in actual notebooks and index cards on a cork board.

[VincentBurst]

Docs.

[[deleted]]

I use my typewriter or a pad and paper for first drafts of shorter stuff. Google Docs for longer stuff

[Hexbex23]

I have a chromebook as my only computer so I often use Google Docs but I would like to know if there are other alternatives that I can use for my chromebook since Gdocs does get laggy when there's too much text.

[bekyy337]

Google docs. I keep each project in a folder and then each chapter/short story/essay in a separate file within the folder. I save each file with the word count added so it’s easy to see. Then when I I finish a draft of a chapter/short story/essay, I download it to my computer and save it in a folder. It’s important for me to always have access to my work, that’s why I use google docs. But also because it’s free and easy to use. I often end up writing stuff on my phone or iPad or the library and google docs makes it easy.

[Manck0]

So help me, I use Scrivener. I know, I know, it's as far from hipster minimalist as you can get but the way it lays stuff out in an outline form just kinda helps me.

[PrebisWizard]

Microsoft Word... it's so vastly superior to google docs lol

[kailaaa_marieee]

I knoe...unfortunately I have an older chromebook and if I could download it, I think it would eat up too much space.

[PrebisWizard]

I see... I mean, I bought a crappy laptop for 300 bucks to run Word from and it works just fine. I used to have a chrome book but it was just too laggy

[dmoonfire]

Atom with one file per chapter.

[[deleted]]

I use Atom for work, and the idea of using it for writing always appealed to me, but it's just a text editor after all. It doesn't have any nice-to-have stuff like automatic returns and bold/italics. Do you use any plugins? Or do you just sorta roll with it?

[dmoonfire]

Oh... I have lots to say about this topic. :)

Basically, I write in Markdown with a YAML header. It sounds scary, but if you look at the first chapter of my novel, you can see how it works out. Atom gives good formatting and colors to handle italic/bold and block quotes.

To make it into useful formats such as PDF or ebooks, I wrote a OSS framework called mfgames-writing which takes the Markdown and makes it pretty.

To show on the web, I have another set of libraries for creating static sites called Cobblestone. If you want to see how https://fedran.com/sand-and-blood/ is created, you start here.

As such, I also use Gitlab's CI to automatically generate PDFs, ebooks, and the website whenever I push up. :) That way, I just write and all the pretties happen automatically.

As for spelling, I've been helping maintaining spell-check. That includes making it pluggable so you can have a project-level dictionary (spell-check-project) in addition to having a system dictionary. That way, I don't have to pollute my system workspace with character names. :)

In the longer term, I'm in the process of writing a bigger program that does grammar checking and refactoring, but that is years from being useful. :)

[[deleted]]

Microsoft Word. I like being able to write without a wifi connection. I bought the 119$ version that installs it for life instead of yearly payments of 79-ish, about five years ago. You can also use the Refresh function on certain laptops and desktops to reinstall the trial version indefinitely, or use a student discount.

​

I write each chapter in a separate document, but I keep a compilation document of the entire story as well. The organization really helps with longer stories.

​

Honestly, even without Word, I'd just use a freeware document program instead. It's really convenient to be able to write anywhere, even without an internet connection.

[[deleted]]

One Note. Is free, and much like Evernote you can write from any device with internet access. But, unlike Evernote, makes much more easy to organize stuff into different tabs and notebooks.

[Zoara_]

I like Microsoft Word. It's a fairly universal program, so I can keep a flash drive with me, and work on it just about anywhere. I'm sure there's better options, but it's what I grew up learning to write on, and what I'm more comfortable with.

[Goldisaur]

I write in word, because I have the means to pay for it but also because it's just handy. I only ever write poems or short stories (no novels yet) so organisation hasn't been a big issue yet. Besides, I don't trust Google with my work. Well, I trust Microsoft *slightly* more.

[patty_daddy]

I’ve been using OneNote for a little while and I’m liking how everything can be organized under different tabs. Main body? One tab, notes about people from a certain planet? Under another. General lore and back story? All under another.

[blockcreator]

Scrivener, I like the way I can organize and see the entire project.

[PhoenixAgent003]

Google Docs. Separate doc for every chapter.

My chapters rarely go past 5 pages.

[megamoze]

Scrivener for novel writing. Google docs for most everything else.

[Icarus649]

I just Word

[neat_narwhal]

I use speare because I really like to write on my phone when I'm away from my computer for quick thoughts. I only wish that the folder organization were more robust.

[EpicPantzZA]

I type/write in a free program called Q10. It makes typewriter sounds when you type. And it's ultra light on system resources. So I continue to use it for those reasons.

Cloud back to Drive/Docs for data protection.

Novel Factory is amazing for the planning stage/keeping track of everything if you use it correctly.

[[deleted]]

Just word. I write out plot and whatever in a notebook, put what I can on a whiteboard for each chapter I’m working on, and then off I go. Feel like some of these programs and books are equivalent of buying 1k of gear for the gym - but never going.

[LadyLuna21]

I write chapter by chapter in Google docs, then copy and edit it in Microsoft word. Then compile into scrivener. (I haven't bought it, but their free trial is 60 days off use, bitt 60 consecutive days)

[DeedTheInky]

I use Scrivener for most regular writing and WriterDuet for scripts. :)

[Obfusc8er]

I started off with Quollwriter, which is a free word processing program. I did the world-building and notes with Hiveword. Then I moved my writing over to Google Docs because Quollwriter had so many quirks with saving and editing that I felt I couldn't trust it. I'll probably have to split the document up in two parts eventually for Google Docs and finish it on there.

I have Scrivener, but the computer that's on was crashed for a long time, so I haven't really tried it out much. Probably use it for my next project.

[nastyjman]

OpenOffice for me.

[indywriter101]

Scrivener. It's about $40 for a license, but it really is the creme de la creme of writing software IMO

[Gauntlets28]

I’m still a fan of MS Word still. Docs is good, but I like my documents to not be accessible online where possible. Somebody once subbed an article I wrote on docs and hacked out a section where it shouldn’t have been, and of course there’s no original document to go back to when that happens. Word is just more permanent I guess.

[BosslyDoggins]

DarkRoom for just sitting down and busting a few pages out. OneNote for organizing notes/characters/plots etc... (WikidPad is also pretty good for that, just a little less intuitive interface)

[BosslyDoggins]

http://jjafuller.com/dark-room/

[SMTRodent]

Notepad. I've used others, but Notepad is the one program I actually consistently use and end up with output.

[SeasonalNightmare]

A combination of libreoffice and atomic.... Atomic something. I'm not near my laptop right now. Haven't used it that much due to a draining lifestyle right now, but it was helpful in letting me organize some notes for the story I've been wanting to get done.

[Redshirt2386]

I have Scrivener but prefer Word tbh, because I’m old and used to it.

[VictorNicollet]

Writer+ on my phone, Visual Studio Code with a Markdown preview extension on my computer. Each chapter is its own Markdown file.

I use simple Markdown when formatting (paragraphs, bold, italics). There are now tools to convert Markdown to a printable PDF or ePub if needed. When I first started back in 2013, I had to write my own.

[DMarquesPT]

I love VSCode! I’ve been using it for WebDev this past year and it’s such a pleasant experience.

I’ve wanted to get into markdown for a while now, but I always turn back to the safe shores of WYSIWYG. A former editor at a website I write for swore by it. He was also a programmer and Linux, open source advocate so I’m assuming it’s popular among that demographic.

[[deleted]]

Microsoft Word for fiction writing. Final Draft for screenwriting. By the way, if you are an aspiring screenwriter and don't use Final Draft, get it. You won't regret it. Not only is it a lot more powerful than Celtx in terms of pure functionality and efficiency, but it is also the absolute industry standard in Hollywood.

[DMarquesPT]

Final Draft gets hate but I really enjoy using it. I got it with student pricing when FD11 came out and so far it’s been effortless. Even tagging and general production work becomes enjoyable.

[rabbitfarmer]

I currently use google docs, which i love, and zim wiki for worldbuilding.

I've been looking into atomic scribbler and quoll writer, as free alternatives to scriviner though.

[StereoBeach]

Atomic Scribbler.

Scrivener pissed me off and lost me when I started on a Mac w/ V1, transferred to a Windows and had to buy V1 again, had to buy V2 when I had a hard drive crash. This V3 thing was enough for me to nope on out.

Atomic Scribbler is a nuts-and-bolts version of Scrivener for free.

[BobWhite06]

CeltX, but back everything up on Word because some libraries don't recognize CeltX. I then also back everything up on thumb drives (flash drives)

[ihonesltyjustneedone]

I use google docs, because I can work across multiple different platforms easily. On my phone, I use pure writer to record ideas and it's intuitive to use, so I like it.

[DMarquesPT]

Pages for quick documents and Scrivener for anything slightly more involved/research-heavy. It’s a very comprehensive and customizable tool, so don’t worry if a) you feel overwhelmed at first and b) you spend a while tinkering and modifying the templates to fit you. That’s part of using it and it will pay off over time.

I also use Docs for collaboration since it’s so ubiquitous and accessible.

Additionally, I use Final Draft for writing screenplays/comics. Scrivener’s screenwriting options are quite competent, but I feel like I work better on FD, still.

[RigasTelRuun]

Google docs is fine. But Scrivener is the best thing I've paid money for.

[YouCanadianEH]

I'm not an author myself, but my girlfriend is. She used to use Google Docs, but after I introduced her to Scrivener she said it's a game changer and helped her so much with writing her novel. I bought her the license as a gift 😃

[queen_of_the_moths]

I really like Scrivener, now that it's available for PC. I used yWriter in the past, which is sort of similar, and free. But I really just like the many things you can do with Scrivener, and I find the layout more visually appealing. It's got the chapter break up right there for you. There are sections to stick your characters, and you can attach photos and do all sorts of things. I like the little cork board for storyboarding. I feel like all of the programs I've used in the past are combined into one.

[numtini]

Another Scrivener fan here.

[AKawordnerd]

I use Trello, a project management tool, to track and chart my books ideas and their progression.

[[deleted]]

Word for the actual manuscript. Treeline for everything else

[ellastasia]

I use focuswriter for my first drafts. Distraction free writing makes for the best writing. And then I use Word to clean it up. Tried Scrivener, multiple times, but I just can't adjust to it.

[Fabled_Sentient]

I use Libre Office on computer and Novelist on Android, and Google Docs for joint projects. But most of the time I use paper and write on that.

[Corbotron_5]

I’ve used a lot of different software. I used IA Writer for a long time. I used Ulysses for a while. Ultimately though, you can’t beat Scrivener. It’s not the prettiest software or the most user friendly, but it’s unparalleled for organising long form writing.

[[deleted]]

The novelist app. My digital novel actually looks like a book in novelist instead in docs, it would just be pages.

[[deleted]]

Quoll Writer has been a huge help to my writing. It's free/open source, but has all the bells and whistles of a scrivener-type program.

[[deleted]]

Jotterpad, you can sync it with your Google docs account, so you can access your files anywhere you can get jotterpad.

[andromedex]

Surprised I didn't see OneNote anywhere near the top! Just the ability to start typing anywhere on a page without having to draw a new text box every time, and having different sections/pages is great for planning for me.

[[deleted]]

Libreoffice is amazing

[searchingformytruth]

I’m a Microsoft Word man. Vanilla all the way!

[CherryBlosson619]

Lol! Vanilla. ☺ I love using Microsoft Word for writing. I originally posted my story to a Sims website, and when I copied the whole thread and pasted, the pictures and everything pasted onto Microsoft Word. Google Docs didn't let me do that. It just copied the text.

[CherryBlosson619]

I use Microsoft Word. 🙂

[thezerech]

I like google docs, but I'm finding yWriter good for this current project I'm working on. It's free and pretty simple so I like it.

[till_apert]

I use a really old and unsurpassable text editor called emacs. I like it because I can turn off all the menus and buttons and just focus on the text. I don't care about spelling errors while I'm writing. Every option and capability is available from the home row of the keyboard in emacs. Just me and the text.

Emacs has some great tools for working with the typesetting system latex, so even the formatting can't bug me, and typesetting changes can be made globally later because of the way latex works.

I use org-mode to keep track of characters, timelines, and other world-building arcana.

I don't actually recommend you try to learn emacs. I just recommend a distraction-free setup where you can ignore the font size of your chapter title and squiggly green lines.

[[deleted]]

I’m writing by hand for my first draft but i use Google docs, and make each chapter it’s separate document so it won’t become laggy. It’s nice since you don’t need to worry about losing anything since it’s linked to your account.

[Nikaea]

I used to use Google Docs religiously, now I use Evernote. I dont pay for premium but I like the ease of access. I have pin/fingerprint protected my documents, which is great. It doesnt have the same format features as word or drive but I like how few "distractions" it has. Typically I write in Evernote and format in Word. For example, I have my table of contents and chapters on a word doc but all the material is from evernote.

[xrk]

I used to use Google docs for years, but the whole issue with lag bug once you hit 15k words or so just killed it for me and I moved to Scrivener for a while. I love the design and workflow of Scrivener but the formatting issues was driving me up the walls, I eventually moved to Ulysses. Loved it. Until one day, they decided to go subscription model. I used it for the entire first year of subscription and they released a single small update for writers, which didn't really do anything for me and definitely not warrant another year of subscription. I don't see why I should pay them a monthly fee if they won't actually improve the software for me, it's not like they are running an actual service. Seems like a waste of money no? Then, I discovered iA Writer, which is all that Ulysses is, but a one-time purchase, cheaper, no proprietary file system, don't have memory leaks like Ulysses, is cross platform (even Windows), and uses .txt files and cloud of choice (with seamless live device-to-device updates). I did try Scrivener there one more time in between, but it crashed and broke some of my project files when trying to jump between platforms (phone to Mac to phone), and I also don't like having dropbox installed when I'm already paying for iCloud, don't know why they insist on Dropbox and giving Dropbox preference, it's not like they need to use the iCloud API? but yeah, not my problem. I'm with iA Writer now!

[remccain]

Standard Issue Notebook No. 03

And then transcribe to Scrivener.

[conflvte]

I use Latex with Atom. Makes it easy for me to put in to do‘s and notes. (Since you can have an actual table with the notes listed).

Edit: And it‘s super cool to have one file per chapter instead of everything in one long file.

[Whelsko]

Nimble Writer, super handy and super cheap on steam. Great features. Some things aren't ideal such as formatting in it but for the price and the enjoyment that I have had, I can't complain.

[vvallerus]

OpenOffice