What program do authors use to write novels?

Question

I'm writing a longish novel, and Microsoft Word just isn't working for me. There's simply too many pages to keep track of everything on a Microsoft Word document. Does anybody know a reliable, user-friendly program designed for writing novels?

Answer 1

Here are a few.

http://www.newnovelist.com/?source=google&group=Novel+Writing+Software&keyword=%22novel+writing+software%22&gclid=CLSWj-TZgY0CFR1Bggod62p3Vw
http://www.ravensheadservices.com/
http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html

Answer 2

Microsoft Word should work well enough, as text documents are what it's designed for. You could get OpenOffice, but it doesn't really have a lot of features that Microsoft Word doesn't already have. I would suggest looking into tools such as normal or web page view rather than print layout view, as well as bookmarks; all those things can help you keep track of where things are in your document. Alternatively you could keep each chapter in a separate file or something.

Answer 3

Microsoft Word or another word processor should be adequate. If it's not working for you, then the problem could be in how you're using it. You said, "There's simply too many pages to keep track of everything." If that's your problem, then try making a bullet-point summary of each chapter as you complete them. That way, you'll have a quick-reference map to your story, so when you're on page 360 and can't remember exactly what transpired on pages 10-100, which you wrote five months ago, then you can easily refresh your memory without having to actually re-read all those pages. Believe me, I speak from experience.

Answer 4

I've used Word for novels for years. Most of the writers I know use either Word (or WordPerfect). In what ways are you finding it inadequate?

On my oldest computer, I had a lag after 50 ot 60 pp., but that was my RAM, not Word. I find that a single Word document (not a folder with each chapter in its own document) lets me keep track of what's going on. I make liberal use of the Search feature, and I use the Comments feature to note things I'm iffy about, intend to change later, or need to look up.

Answer 5

WordPerfect is my program of choice, but I am reluctantly making the switch over to Microsoft Word since it is industry standard.

The best solution is to use the find and replace feature to find the right spot in your manuscript and to have a second file where you record details you need to refer to. I have such a file on each book called Characters & Details. Another file contains my chapter-by-chapter outline which I refer to only when I get stuck.

The way I work is to create a subdirectory for each book title and all those files are in that directory. Easy to locate and easy to switch back and forth. If I have to remember what color and sex a horse is that one of my characters is riding in say, Quest of the Sun, I pull up my character list and under the character's name I've noted that he rides a brown gelding with a white blaze which is not named. Also under notes for that character is he likes to play horseshoes, he reads any book he can get hold of, and has a quirky sense of humor. Oh, and he carries a handwritten almanac with a soft leather cover in his saddlebags.

Answer 6

While I'm writing, nothing comes closer than a pen, or a pencil with pencil sharpener, a couple of note books, and a dictionary and thesaurus.

After the story is complete I type it on Microsoft Word 2002.

Answer 7

I've used Word for years without any problems. I'm not sure that I entirely understand what your dilemma is. Too many pages to keep track of? Sorry, I'm not understanding.

As I said I've always used Word (or similar). I have a few binders that I keep important bits in: notes on characters, locations, other bits of information that I may need to reference when working on something. I also keep a timeline for my books and a bullet point summary for what I'm working on. I keep all my files saved to my nifty little data-stick: one large file for the entire novel and additional files for each chapter. Overkill perhaps, but it just works for me. :-)

Answer 8

I use word for Macs and just create new files for each section I write. That way, if something horrible happens to one of the files, I'll probably lose less than I would otherwise. Sometimes I'll have multiple files open, but that's not really a problem.

Answer 9

Sure there are, but they are pricey. Whitesmoke is a popular one. Since I have broken free from the intruding bonds of Windows, I use Linux's Abiwork. It has a slammin thesaurus. I also run things through MS Works sometimes, because it has a great grammar checker. It is totally up to you though, what works best.

Answer 10

Y-writer. I love it. You break down the chapters into manageable scenes, and the scenes are displayed on a list. It's an excellent way to organize your work.
Best of all, it's FREE!
I've tried to use Word as well, but didn't work for me

Answer 11

Many authors use Microsoft WORD.