IWSG: Favorite writing software
It's the first Wednesday of the month, and time for another IWSG post. This month I'm excited to be one of the co-hosts!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
July 3 question - What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?
I have to admit to being kind of old and a bit of a stick-in-the-mud about learning new software, so Word is my go-to. I use Pages when I'm doing stuff on my tablet (sometimes that's easier when I'm away from home), but most of my writing, formatting, and whatnot takes place in Word. I've been told this isn't great for making professional-looking books, and I kind of want to switch it up to something better, but when I've messed around with some (Scrivener or Adobe's InDesign) I've gotten tripped up by the learning curve. I need to take a class or something. Just as a note, I use Adobe's Lightroom a lot, and Photoshop some, and I think none of their stuff is easy to learn. Maybe that's a side-effect of being a powerful tool? Or maybe Adobe needs to work on embedding better clues as to how things work?
Anyway, Word for OS is what I've been using for so long that I don't have to think about how things work, and that's worth a lot. I don't see me changing for the composition stage of writing at least, because when I'm drafting, the software needs to be transparent--not something that requires thought.
Leave a comment and tell me what will work better!
Writing update:
No new submissions
2 rejections, one with painful feedback
Looking for new markets to send those stories back out.
Novel is in the polishing-the-prose stage. I think the plot issues are ironed out. Could use another beta read--leave a comment if you are interested.
©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2024 As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated.
Atticus seems to be the perfect tool for formatting, etc. right now -- it does everything and they have tutorials on how everything works.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day A Round-Up of Resources For Writers
I just learn how to use Atticus and I'm liking it a lot!
DeleteMaking a note. I really want something that doesn't take a degree in CS to operate!
DeleteAdobe products can be challenging. I know Photoshop well but it's from years of using it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
Always happy to be a co-host (when I'm not on the road...)
DeleteWord! It's my favorite too. But I no longer format in it.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely seems to be the most popular, if only due to inertia!
DeleteYou nailed it. The learning curve.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe that you even attempted Photoshop and InDesign.
Thanks for co-hosting. :)
I have VERY limited Photoshop skills, but I use Lightroom regularly (see all those photo posts I do!) and am gradually gaining a little skill there. I got literally nowhere with InDesign.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today, Rebecca! That learning curve thing is why I decided I wasn't going to learn to play the saxophone or learn Italian in my retirement ~ lol! What was I thinking? Enjoy visiting around today!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I like languages--I mostly work on the ones I know (mostly Spanish but will brush up the French if needed), but had fun last year learning a little Swahili for my Africa trip!
DeleteThank you for co hosting!
ReplyDeleteTry new softwares is fun but we really should just not use it any longer if we're not comfortable with it like we're with our dear Word. I hope that's what...because...writing will becole stressful if we're on this software we don't like. Right? Good luck with your book! I hope you find a perfect beta reader who can help you with your work. I myself just got a beta reader in a friend who agreed to read it.
Have a great day:)!
Thanks! Yes, the drafting stage is no time to play with new software!
DeleteI'm like you. I don't want to take my time to learn new software. It doesn't seem worthwhile since what I use is working.
ReplyDeletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/p/something-new-this-way-comes
I saw your new book--congrats!
DeleteI’m the same way. Word is just so comfortable!
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the #1 reason most of us use it :D
DeleteHi, Scrivener does have a steep learning curve and Adobe too. Like you, I use Microsoft Word or Pages.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting and have a happy Fourth of July.
Shalom shalom
It would be good for my brain to learn something new, right? I think I need a class!
DeleteI hear you, sister! When my IBM Selectric died, I thought my career had ended.
ReplyDeleteROFL! I remember how happy my teachers where when my parents bought me a Sears electric typewriter (with correction tape, IRC!). This southpaw's handwriting was (and is) atrocious.
DeleteTry not to let the feedback get you down. It's useful and sure it hurts—most crits do—but you'll grow from it. Become better at the craft. They probably thought they were helping you. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I know that I need to hear it. I am now, a couple of weeks on, ready to get back to the story and try to fix it. I just felt like I'd worked it over so hard already...
DeleteI'm a blogger, so my final version is on my Website. I use MSWord from data dump to quasi-final draft. Then copy/paste into the blog post page and struggle with the format tools and tinker with the wording. Thanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteI compose my blog posts in Blogger, though when I share flash fiction I copy that out of Word.
DeleteAnonymously Esther O'Neill, East of the Sun, because maybe Google couldn't believe anyone lives without a signal. ( and rubbish broadband too)
ReplyDeleteMy other half, and far too generous with his time IT department is trying to teach me to Photoshop.
Respect, of couirse, for all those who know that handwriting first is essential. to true creativity.
Word ? Agree, Word set me free - no longer the tearful kid,t old off yet again for my terrible writing.
I think my teachers reacted more in sorrow than in anger. So many had a go at trying to help me improve my penmanship and gave up in despair.
DeleteAdobe products are tough, for sure. I use ProWritingAid for the editing tips and reports and there is virtually no learning curve. I kind of ignored it the last time to my detriment. Oh well, live and learn.
ReplyDeleteSounds like something that might streamline my editing process. I'm about 75% sure that would be a good thing. There are some advantages to my repeated manual searches for over-used words, but of course I may be missing things it would help.
DeleteI feel for your technophobia . I have just failed to leave a comment on JS Pailly’s post because the comment box didn’t talk to iPad. I hope yours works!. Thanks for cohosting today 😀
ReplyDeleteBlogger is a real SOB with iPad.
DeleteDiscouraging comments about Adobe. Messing with tech is not my happy place!
ReplyDeleteNot mine, either. So I may be a bit biased ;P
DeleteI use word also, for the same reason. I haven’t had any problems with publishing using word? I also have someone who formats my books for me so maybe that’s why. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any problems publishing, but have been told that the finished product would look more (I suppose) like trad published with other software?
DeleteI write in Scrivener and edit in Word. I haven't formatted anything yet since all my work is trad-pubbed, but I've been playing around with Vellum. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
I'm always worried about changing my MS between programs, lest I find it messed up with residual invisible gremlins (the ever-so-technical term for leftover bits of code, of course)
DeleteI'm a stick-in-the-mud, too and will continue to waddle in the mire with WORD. Scrivener scared me off. I like to pass my WORD doc through ProWritingAid and Grammerly checks my work. I consider them my writing friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting. Enjoy the 4th!
I've heard so many positive comments about ProWritingAid that I'm going to give the free version a try.
DeleteSorry about the rejection- they are always a bit hard, but especially when they have painful feedback. Thanks for hosting and for the insightful post.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, what can they say (other than that it doesn't fit their market) that isn't going to hurt when you think you're done? I'm appreciative of any feedback. Mostly :D
DeleteI also use Word, have been using it for years, so I know its basic features pretty well. And I don't really need all its gimmicks, so we are happy with each other.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you there. No need for fancy stuff. In fact, I have to kind of work at it to keep Word from trying too hard.
DeleteI had clear handwriting until I learned how to type. Typing allows me to keep up with the flow of words. I am also a Word addict, although have Scrivener and have bouts of learning more about how to use it well. I keep saying "when I have more time" but I'm not sure when that will every be!
ReplyDeleteDebs posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Also found at Debs Despatches
I admit my handwriting has gone downhill since I started typing everything, but it was never good :D
DeleteThe learning curve is real. It took me forever to learn Scrivener. I will say the good thing about Atticus or Vellum is that it doesn't matter what program you use for writing- Word etc. You can upload it as is and it will format it to a professional look for you. So you're fine as is if you don't feel like changing. Remember "shoulds" can be dangerous. Don't fix what's already working for you!
ReplyDelete"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I just want the books to look good. I doubt I'll shift from Word as my go-to for writing, but I may learn to format pretty books in something else :)
DeleteThere's definitely a tradeoff between simple and powerful. The more features a program has, the harder it is to learn. Photoshop is a perfect example of that (says the person who messed around with it a bit and gave up in frustration). I use Scrivener regularly. My trick for dealing with its learning curve was a just-in-time approach to learning. I started out with the basics: create a project and start writing. Then when I needed a feature, I'd either search the tutorial or Google how to do it. I've been using it for 10 years now, and that's still my approach.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've figured out a good approach to the stuff. "Just in time learning" is how I deal with Lightroom, too. Also, my brother-in-law knows how to really make it perform, so I have a go -to tutor there :D
DeleteWord is what I use, too, Rebecca. You are moving right along in your writing. Bravo! And thank you for cohosting this month's question for IWSG.
ReplyDeleteAlways like to co-host :)
DeleteRebecca, thank you for co-hosting. Have a wonderful summer!
ReplyDelete