Every year I struggle to find something to write in for NaNo.
My first year I used Word, but that got old pretty fast: It took me about 5 minutes to locate a scene I’d only written four days earlier…
The next year I used Scrivener, which I loved and still love.
Scrivener – image from http://moravecthreshold.blogspot.co.uk/
Then came my third go around. This was the year I bought an iPad in October only to discover there is NO Scrivener writing app for the iPad. So I moved to Storyist, which had an app for the iPad and my Mac – and would sync between the two at the click of a button. I was happy.
Now my Mac desktop died in the Spring and I replaced it with a Windows machine which was MUCH cheaper… but Storyist doesn’t work on Windows.
So what will I use this year? Well, I’m going low tech and splashing out on WriteRoom. The designers of WriteRoom have apps for literally EVERYTHING – and they all sync with one another via Dropbox.
WriteRoom was designed to be a simple, clutter free app, that takes away any and all distractions a writer might encounter: email notifications, iTune’s icon (you know you want to listen to music instead of write…), active twitter feed – all of it.
WriteRoom – image from http://writerunboxed.com
The only thing which I think will really bother me is that you can’t italicize text in WriteRoom – I’ll have to go back and do that in December. Also, it lists files in alphabetical order and the only way around this is to number your scenes (1,2,3 etc).
WriteRoom (files/scenes listed on the left) – image from http://tabtimes.com/
I’ll let you guys know how I get on.
Book Blather 
My hubs tried to set me up for Scrivener this week. Found we couldn’t do it because the Scrivener for Linux system was written for a 32 bit system and I’m running a 64 bit system. Sooo, I’m back to Libre Office which isn’t so bad as it will allow me to save in PDF form.
Gosh, I wouldn’t know where to start with Linux. And all this talk of ‘bits’ gets me really confused! (I am not a techie person at all.) Saving as a PDF sounds great.
Me, either, Annie. That’s realm for the Hubs. I’m going back to my happy universe of pen to paper!
Lol. 🙂
Good luck!!
Thanks!
I didn’t know there was so much writing software to choose from! Hope WriteRoom works for you, and happy NaNoWriMo-ing!
And these are just the ones I’ve tried. 🙂 If I only wrote on one device I’m sure I would have much more choice, but not many people have software which will work on multiple platforms.
Best of luck to you!
Thanks honey! 🙂
Wow it looks like you’ve jumped around a lot! I think I may do this NaNo thingy next year because I love writing and seem to have too many ideas orbiting my brain. We shall see!
Good luck, Annie! <33
No, no, do it this year!!! Seize the day, go sign UP! 🙂 It’s the 1st of November…
Wow I definitely think that I need to use WriteRoom when I’m doing work, as I get distracted by everything all the time! Good luck with NanoWrimo Annie!
Glad I could help. 🙂
Woha what a great programs. I don’t participate in NaNo though, but Scrivener sounds and looks amazing. I’ll have to check it. Also it’s a bit frustrating when some programs run on only one system, like it’s hard to modify it. I mean duh. Great post 🙂
Scrivener is amazing. I miss it! Definitely check it out. 🙂
I haven’t used writing programs but you are right, Word just doesn’t cut it. Thanks for the options.
No problem. 🙂 I had fun writing this post.
Great post Annie and good luck for your NaNo this month ahead! I know how annoying Word is for long document formatting and glad to hear there’s some good alternatives.
Thanks. A lot of these apps are also used by people doing PhDs and stuff like that. 🙂
I had no idea there were so many options, I imagine being able to find a scene would be pretty dang important. Good luck! We will be cheering you on!!
Definitely. Thanks guys!
NaNoWriMo is so insanely popular and I suck at writing so I could never do it, but I never imagined that people used apps other than just writing on a Word document. I can totally see why someone may use Scrivener or one of the many other options you listed. Good luck this year!
I’ll need it, lol. It’s funny just how many apps there are out there – just think of a topic and they’ll be an app. It’s kind of cool. 🙂
Ah, I hope your NaNoWriMo will go great! I have an idea myself, but no time… Besides the blog and reading, homework takes up all my time! This might be useful in the future though, so thanks!
No problem! Just remember to jot those ideas down on paper somewhere. 🙂
I’m currently using Word, but I’ll have to check out Scriviner and WriteRoom! I ended up joining NaNoWriMo, I’ll add you as a buddy! 🙂
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
Both are amazing – just like NaNo. 🙂 I just spied your word count and now I’m slightly intimidated!! Lol.