Comments on: Software to assist in writing a novel? http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel creative writing questions and answers Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:04:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kate T http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel/comment-page-1#comment-15871 Kate T Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:22:47 +0000 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel#comment-15871 I have started writing a novel myself and was looking for software to just "ask the right questions" and assist with character development. Like you I didn't want the software to write the novel for me just give some guidelines to follow since this is my first. The one that I purchased and works efficiently enough for the price was NewNovelist. This was about $50 or so when I bought it about a year ago. It has its ups and downs. I use it more like a Note book for all of my notes on scenery and characters etc. It also has a section where you can type your actual story but this doesn't have spell check and the formatting will change every time you close the program and reopen it. I am sure that there are many others out there that are a little more $$$ and might not have these flaws but I am always working on a budget. I hope that this helps. I have started writing a novel myself and was looking for software to just “ask the right questions” and assist with character development. Like you I didn’t want the software to write the novel for me just give some guidelines to follow since this is my first.
The one that I purchased and works efficiently enough for the price was NewNovelist. This was about $50 or so when I bought it about a year ago. It has its ups and downs. I use it more like a Note book for all of my notes on scenery and characters etc. It also has a section where you can type your actual story but this doesn’t have spell check and the formatting will change every time you close the program and reopen it. I am sure that there are many others out there that are a little more $$$ and might not have these flaws but I am always working on a budget. I hope that this helps.

]]> By: tigertrot1986 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel/comment-page-1#comment-15870 tigertrot1986 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:04:40 +0000 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel#comment-15870 Nah. Willie Shakespeare made it with quill 'n' parchment and Hemingway wrote on a typewriter, so I expect that you'll be fine with plain old Microsoft Word. If you don't have the program and don't want to shell out the extra money, OpenOffice works just as fine and at much more affordable prices - more specifically, $0. Download for free at Of course, you could always revert to your trusty pencil and paper, if so inclined... Good luck with your literary endeavors! EDIT: I'm guessing that you'll find this tool invaluable - Download Sunbird for free at It's a digital scheduler/planner/calendar, great for setting goals, etc. If anything, deadlines are excellent motivators for the procrastinating writer. Like me. :D Nah. Willie Shakespeare made it with quill ‘n’ parchment and Hemingway wrote on a typewriter, so I expect that you’ll be fine with plain old Microsoft Word. If you don’t have the program and don’t want to shell out the extra money, OpenOffice works just as fine and at much more affordable prices – more specifically, $0. Download for free at

Of course, you could always revert to your trusty pencil and paper, if so inclined…

Good luck with your literary endeavors!

EDIT: I’m guessing that you’ll find this tool invaluable – Download Sunbird for free at It’s a digital scheduler/planner/calendar, great for setting goals, etc. If anything, deadlines are excellent motivators for the procrastinating writer. Like me. :D

]]> By: sarahh_f http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel/comment-page-1#comment-15869 sarahh_f Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:50:23 +0000 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel#comment-15869 Write in Word. You can get help with words [finding synonyms etc], it checks your grammar for you and corrects your punctuation. Write in Word. You can get help with words [finding synonyms etc], it checks your grammar for you and corrects your punctuation.

]]> By: MissIndependanceday http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel/comment-page-1#comment-15868 MissIndependanceday Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:13:33 +0000 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel#comment-15868 As a writer, you have to be 100 percent devoted to it. A software can aid and assist you but in long run, you'll discover what's best lies deep wherethin your heart and as long as I know, I've used Microsoft Word to assist me but in the end, I deleted the hard work because I wasn't satisfied. Writing, in the end, that one must know, it is based on the self-creativity and the ability to observe and build something beautiful out of words. As a writer, you have to be 100 percent devoted to it. A software can aid and assist you but in long run, you’ll discover what’s best lies deep wherethin your heart and as long as I know, I’ve used Microsoft Word to assist me but in the end, I deleted the hard work because I wasn’t satisfied.
Writing, in the end, that one must know, it is based on the self-creativity and the ability to observe and build something beautiful out of words.

]]> By: Zaphod1130 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel/comment-page-1#comment-15867 Zaphod1130 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:57:25 +0000 http://languageisavirus.com/questions/software-to-assist-in-writing-a-novel#comment-15867 My personal opinion: No. The fact is, you can't use a piece of software to write for you. I think those software programs are aimed at people with writer's block, but the way I see it, you either have a story to tell, or you do not. It's kind of like people who never exercise buying lots of exercise equipment, it really addresses the wrong problem. Look online for the Gotham Writer's Group. For the money, you can get some real incentive to complete your work. My personal opinion: No. The fact is, you can’t use a piece of software to write for you. I think those software programs are aimed at people with writer’s block, but the way I see it, you either have a story to tell, or you do not. It’s kind of like people who never exercise buying lots of exercise equipment, it really addresses the wrong problem.

Look online for the Gotham Writer’s Group. For the money, you can get some real incentive to complete your work.

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