Although writing on a typewriter or with a pen is still an option, the easiest way to write is on a computer program. Why am I pointing this out? Because even though it’s the easiest way, it still has its difficulties. There are three different programs I have heard writers use the most: Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Scrivener. Each has pros and cons, but, ultimately, you need to pick what works best with your rhythm of writing.
Google Docs
Google Docs is free to anyone who wants to create an account with Google. It is continuously saved on the internet so you won’t lose your work with a computer crash. If you’re writing and don’t have internet, it will save your work to the offline version and then save it to the internet version once you connect again.
You can give other people access to your work easily, and it is possible to share it in read-only format so no one changes what you’ve written. Readers can leave comments that you can see at any point. There is the ability to convert the document to other formats and save it as well.
If you write whenever the mood strikes, you can do it with Google Docs anywhere and anytime. Since it’s on the internet, you can pull it up on any device and jot down a few things. They even have an app for it. This nullifies the need to keep your laptop on you at all times or carry around a notebook.
Personally, this is my least favorite option. I don’t like keeping my work on the internet where anyone with a brain for computers can hack in or Google can decide to change it’s terms of use. I also prefer not to write in a continuous document format. There is nothing more annoying than knowing what section of the book you need to look at and then spending the next ten minutes trying to scroll to it. That being said, if the pros above are what you’re looking for, Google Docs might be for you.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is the most common word processor, but you can use any out there. If you don’t want to spend the money for Microsoft Office, you can purchase Office Home & Student at a lower price. It’s a package for one computer, and it comes with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Currently, the price runs about $150 for this version, but once you have it you don’t have to buy another thing unless you change computers. This program gives you more editing and formatting options than Google Docs.
Since Word is commonly used, you don’t have to worry about converting your files to a shareable format for your readers. Just email them a copy, and they can use the review settings to write comments and track changes as they read. Once they email it back, you can see everything they did and then chose to use those suggestions in your copy of the book or not.
I used Word when I started my writing since I was in college and had the program for classes. The version I had was older, and there was a notebook setting. It made your document look like lined paper in a binder, and there were tabs you could add for different sections. I loved having my work separated into chapters so I could flip through and chose the part I wanted to work on that day. When I got my new computer, I purchased Word again and switched my books over to the newer version. It didn’t have the notebook setting. So, all my books were converted to a normal word document, and I lost the ability to keep my chapters separated. Overall, though, this is the easiest and most commonly used program to write, and I’d still be using it now if I hadn’t discovered the next option.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a word processing program specifically designed for writers. It’s a one time purchase of $50 right now, and you can put it on all the computers within your household without violating its terms of use. I was skeptical of spending more money on a program I didn’t know, but that issue was soon solved once I read their website. Scrivener offers you a free 30 day trial. The trial isn’t for 30 consecutive days, but 30 days of use. Let’s say you only write 3 times a week, you can have the program for 10 weeks without paying. If you decide you don’t like it, you can convert your work to another format and save it to continue in another program.
There are several features built into Scrivener that keep all your work in one place. It’s literally a writer’s dream for organization. The various sections include:
- Manuscript (which can be subdivided into chapters and scenes)
- Characters Templates
- Places Templates
- Notes
- Research (where you can add hyperlinks to the exact websites where you found your research)
- Corkboard Overview (electronic index cards across your screen with titles and summaries for each section)
When it comes to saving your work, Scrivener does better than Word. Not only does it automatically save every so often, it also automatically saves a backup of your work in another location on your computer every time you close out of the program. You can also set the backup to save to an external hard drive as long as it’s connected to the computer. So, you’ll have at least two copies of your work saved at all times.
The main drawback for most writers with Scrivener is learning a new program. Some say it’s complicated—it’s not. It comes with a tutorial you can read. There is a section called “The Basics” that tells you what you really need to know to get started. If you don’t want to read it, you don’t have to because it’s straightforward. Pick a document type to open (I picked a fiction novel), and start writing. It will have folders already set up for you for chapters and world building templates. After using it for a while, you can go back to the tutorial and learn about the extra features one at a time. If you ever have a question, you can search the tutorial for a keyword and just read that section.
Final Thoughts
In the end, you need to pick the program that works best for you, but I strongly suggest at least giving Scrivener a trial run. It’s free to test, and, once you get used to using it, you won’t go back. I haven’t used all the features yet, but there is even one to help you format your book for publishing. Please, make your life easier, and just give Scrivener a try. If you don’t like it, all it costs you is a little bit of time. If you do like it, you just saved a bunch more time in the future.
Thanks for reading!
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