Novel writing software – my recommendations and reviews
Everyone has their own way unique way of pushing through the creative process. I’m no different. I know writers who will only work with Microsoft Word, and are quite happy to just sit and write – all linear, some semblance of plot in their head, maybe a few notes about character off on the side, scribbled in a rough notebook. And then voila – genius!
I, however, cannot work like that. I know this, because I tried twice and belly-flopped like a whale dropped from a helicopter, from a great height. It wasn’t pretty.
The first 2 failed drafts I had written were done in yWriter. Since then, I’ve identified a couple other programs to help me whip my frenzied thoughts into submission and order. I’ll talk about the programs I use here – but please note that this is unique to the way I work.
Other things done this week…
Radio silence due to the following accomplishments (hurrah!)
- Created sketch of majority of major and minor characters (w00t!)
- Created chart to summarise where all plots are at the start of the book, and where all plots are to end up by the end of the book.
- Started researching images to attach to each character.
- Created two floor plans for two locations.
Huge disclaimer: If you happen to be into architecture and you happen to be reading this blog, please don’t think about suing me for gross incompetence. I DON’T DO THIS FOR A LIVING! Far from it. But I enjoy diagramming living spaces.
Days left for planning stage: 31
How to: form your plot and character
So here’s what I tried last night.
I asked 2 things of each of my characters yesterday:
- What is it about the nature and personality of [insert character here] that makes him/her choose one action over another?
- How has the character changed by the end of the book?
So far, so good. I’ve written short answers for about 5 characters, but it’s already spurred me to consider other details about them. Like how they express what they’re feeling non-verbally. How they dress and stand. And because I’m refining quite a few of my best-loved characters from Failed Draft#2, I already have pictures of what some of them might look like.
By the way, istockphoto and Getty Images can be treasure troves. But pictures of George Clooney can also be quite the inspiration. *sigh*
As for plot, I’m trying something else out. Because characters obviously interact and each have their own development arc, I’m now trying to cobble together a loose outline of each sub-conflict. So for instance, I started putting together a rough outline of a love triangle last night (gotta love those), limiting it only to the actions of the three main characters in this plot line.
The idea is to come up with a few more of these outlines for combinations of characters, before finally trying to weave all plots together in sequential order.
That’s the idea, anyway. I’ll tell you later if it sucks.
