Writers' Software
If you're looking for writers' software, you've come to the right place.
I have tested and reviewed most of the major writers' software products, and share my opinions and
thoughts with you here, from the good to the bad to the ugly.
You'll see each writers' software product's own page linked from the navigation bar on the
left. By all means browse through that, or read my summary page here which gives a brief
summary and star-rating for each product.
 |
If you are looking for
story-development software, and like following a pre-made structure, and money is not too much of an
issue, the Marshall Plan Novel Writing Software is the one for you. |
|
If you are looking for good
story-development and information management in one, at a very good price, then MyNovel or Power Structure is the one for
you. |
|
If you are looking for AMAZING
story-development software and don't like being forced into a structure, then you should go
for StoryWeaver. |
|
If you are looking for basic
story-management software you should go for either WriteItNow 4 or
yWriter5 (yWriter5 is free and very good but not quite as good as
WriteItNow4 which is $59.99). These are both very good for what they
are, but not as good as the recommendations above. |
More Detailed Information:
|
There are many different writers' software products out there, and this section is
my review of each of them, so that you can make an informed decision.
The first question is whether you even need writers' software. The short answer is:
no, you don't. All the great classics were written without writers' software, after all! It is
far from essential.
However ...
|
 |
... having said that, writers' software can be a terrific help in writing your novel. Writing a
novel is challenging enough - anything that can help make it easier is worth considering. Those classic
novels were written without word processors, after all, without being able to cut and paste, or search and replace
- but no writer nowadays would give up his or her computer.
So, I decided I needed to find out what writers' software was all about; if it was any use at all
or just a gimmick. And I wanted to find out which was the best writers' software to use, if any. So I have spent
quite a long period of time testing out all the various products to see how they work.
I had several questions. One of the main ones was whether the software was easy to use. You know that song line,
"I'm a lover not a dancer"? Well, I'm a writer not a geek! I wanted something to help me write my novel; not
something that would take so long to learn that it would distract me from writing.
And I wanted to find out which was the best writers' software to use.
What I found out was this ...
Writers' software falls into two distinct categories:
 |
Story Development
Software, and |
|
Information Management
Software |
They're both pretty self-explanatory: Story Development Software helps you develop a tightly woven and well-formed
story, and Information Management Software helps you manage all the various strands which go to make up a story.
There's a summary of my review of each product below, or click on each
product's name to read my detailed assessment.
Writers' Software Review Summary
| Product |
StoryWeaver |
| Star Rating |
 |
| Description |
Story Development Software |
| Price |
$29.95 |
| Demo Available? |
Yes - full functionality; no ability to save. |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
Yes - 90 days |
| PC or Mac? |
Both |
| Recommend? |
Very much - an absolutely excellent product, and terrific value |
| Detailed Review |
StoryWeaver |
| Product Website |
StoryWeaver Website |
| Product |
Power Structure
|
| Star Rating |
|
| Description |
Story Development Software |
| Price |
$99.95 download / $119.95 hard copy CD |
| Demo Available? |
Yes |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
Yes |
| PC or Mac? |
Both |
| Recommend? |
Absolutely - it's excellent software - read the
critique to get the full details. |
| Detailed Critique |
Power Structure |
| Product Website |
Power Structure Website |
| Product |
WriteItNow 4 |
| Star Rating |
|
| Description |
A comprehensive Information Management Product |
| Price |
$59.95 |
| Demo Available? |
Yes - almost full functionality; no ability to save |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
No |
| PC or Mac? |
Both - Macs with Java 1.5 or higher |
| Recommend? |
Very much - an excellent product |
| Detailed Critique |
WriteItNow4 |
| Product Website |
WriteItNow4 Website |
| Product |
Marshall Plan For Novel Writing |
| Star Rating |
|
| Description |
An extremely structured and comprehensive template to follow |
| Price |
$149.00 |
| Demo Available? |
Yes - full functionality; no ability to save |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
Yes -30 day money-back guarantee |
| PC or Mac? |
PC only - Mac coming soon. |
| Recommend? |
I found the rigid structure to be too limiting for me. But it's a very well
constructed product, and could suit a more structured writer. |
| Detailed Critique |
Marshall Plan for Novel
Writing |
| Product Website |
Marshall Plan Website |
| Product |
NewNovelist |
| Star Rating |
 |
| Description |
A story template software based around the Hero's Journey |
| Price |
$54.99 or £29.99. |
| Demo Available? |
No |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
No |
| PC or Mac? |
PC only |
| Recommend? |
I found it very difficult to use and limiting. It has good testimonials from others,
however. |
| Detailed Critique |
NewNovelist |
| Product Website |
NewNovelist Website |
| Product |
YWriter5 |
| Star Rating |
 |
| Description |
A comprehensive Information Management Product |
| Price |
Free (You can donate if you want but there is no pressure to) |
| Demo Available? |
n/a - you can just download it |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
n/a |
| PC or Mac? |
PC only |
| Recommend? |
Yes, with some small reservations as detailed on the detailed
critique page. |
| Detailed Critique |
yWriter5 |
| Product Website |
yWriter5 Website |
| Product |
StoryBook |
| Star Rating |
|
| Description |
Information Management Software |
| Price |
Free, but donations actively solicited |
| Demo Available? |
n/a - you can just download it. |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
n/a |
| PC or Mac? |
PC only |
| Recommend? |
It's not as good as either WriteItNow4 or yWriter5 |
| Detailed Critique |
StoryBook |
| Product Website |
StoryBook Website |
| Product |
Liquid Story Binder XE |
| Star Rating |
 |
| Description |
Information Management Software |
| Price |
$45.95 |
| Demo Available? |
Yes - Full functionality including saving for
30 days' use for free. |
| Money Back Guarantee? |
Yes |
| PC or Mac? |
PC only |
| Recommend? |
I couldn't get it to work at all, so I cannot recommend it. Check out the detailed critique for full information on my experiences. |
| Detailed Critique |
Liquid Story Binder XE |
| Product Website |
Liquid Story Binder Website |
Return from Writers' Software to Home
|