Software to help you plot?
Yes, I know it's just what we used to do long hand. We'd have our whiteboards, our lists, our pages of characterization and so on and on. I know we have everything stored on our computers. I keep my calendar, my lists, my pictures etc on my desktop. But it doesn't seem to me as if this is the same thing as buying software that will plot my story for me--or does it?
Do I still have to put in all the ideas?
Do I still have to be creative on my end?
Or does this make it so any and everyone can write a book?
If you are a member of RWA and receive the RWR take a look at the article from the August edition.
Do any of you use this software and how does it work?
There is always a part of me that would like to try things that would make my life easier. I really am trying to stay up with the times and the electronics--whew--!
Some of the programs listed (for those of you who are not members of RWR):
Excel (which really isn't a program you have to buy it should already be on your computer)
Snowflake Pro
Scrivener
Writer's Blocks 4
Write Way Pro
Liquid Story Binder
Writer's Cafe
Are there any more programs out there and do they work.
Again, I know this isn't cheating--new technology is not cheating--it's just making life easier.
Look for the Lakota/Pinkerton series
Dakota's Bride just .99 at www.roguephoenixpress.com
Hi, Allana! Thanks for the nudge. I hadn't looked through the August RWR yet. And you made me think!
ReplyDeleteFrom my quick scan of the products labeled "plotting software" and described in this article, these programs automate what we used to do by hand, as you mentioned. I'm using Excel to track a lot of elements of my LEGACY series. I don't have enough wall space to do it all on corkboards or whiteboards and stickies. :)
Though organizing the huge amount of information for my series on a database program is saving what little bit of sanity I possess, I'm still doing the work. I'm the one plotting and rearranging scenes, editing and listening to my characters.
I'm also very familiar with InDesign, which is a graphics layout program where I can easily rearrange graphics and text, and with Photoshop, which I use to design covers. I don't consider them "cheating," but oh my, they are sooooo much easier than doing layout by hand--which most people have probably never done.
I don't know about the other programs described in the RWR article, but I still feel I'm the one creating. If a software program can help me do that faster and more efficiently, that means I can create more wonderful books along with covers and graphics to go with them.
I don't consider this cheating, I consider it a little piece of heaven on my computer. :)
-Amber Angel