Forum: Editors/Reviewers Hangout

I just discovered OO has a thesaurus. I never had any need until I started writing. Maybe OO was value for money after all?

lso, I cannot figure out a way to create partitions in a document and navigate between them. I am working out the plot for a novel length work. I only need something that has sheets like a spreadsheet, but each sheet is like a word processor document. Any

There are lots of extensions available. Explore, you might find most of what you are looking for.

With all due respect (aka 'I do not care if this sounds insulting'), I am sure the kind of thing I want EXISTS. I DO NOT WANT to "examine and check out every(thing)" in a bloody software package BECAUSE "there's a heck of a lot of features there". I want to rite lit'rachure, not program a damn computer. I did that in my career, but I'm retired now and I want some fun!

My question was: "Any SUGGESTIONS for (a) word processor that assists in organising evolving plans?" Or an alternative question of: HOW DO YOU USE your software to achieve something like that?

mind mapping software ??

REALLY? I want to see that. Some geek thinks they can write software to map what's going on inside my noggin? They must be soft in the mind container!

EB, you REALLY do not want to know what I would have written last time if my 'General Courtesy' and 'Sarcasm Restraint' circuits had not been working overtime!

Thanks for the constructive suggestions.

With all due respect (aka 'I do not care if this sounds insulting'), I am sure the kind of thing I want EXISTS. I DO NOT WANT to "examine and check out every(thing)" in a bloody software package BECAUSE "there's a heck of a lot of features there". I want to rite lit'rachure, not program a damn computer.

It's not writing software. If you don't want to explore what features the tool you have has, then go read the manual. Yes, OO has a manual.

No matter what word processor you use there will be a learning curve to figure out how to do the things you want to do with that word processor.

Any SUGGESTIONS for (a) word processor that assists in organising evolving plans?

I am not aware of any word processor that does that.

HOW DO YOU USE your software to achieve something like that?

I USE OO Base (OO's equivalent to MS Access)

I set up a data base that lets me track worlds, stories, characters organizations, families and places.

Each world record stores a directory path to a background file.

Each story record has file paths to the main story file and an outline file.

Each character record has some basic deomogrphic information and a description along with a file path to a background file for the character.

There was a fair bit of macro coding to make it all work the way I wanted. But then I enjoy doing that sort of thing, which is why I write software for a living.

Memories are flooding back of the time "I (wrote) software for a living." Those were the bad, sad old days. However, I do not recall ever suggesting to a client (cannot call them 'users') that if they wanted to avoid the tedious task of investigating features of software packages, the best option would be getting into "a fair bit of macro coding to make it all work."

With all due respect, of course.

I do not recall ever suggesting to a client (cannot call them 'users') that if they wanted to avoid the tedious task of investigating features of software packages, the best option would be getting into "a fair bit of macro coding to make it all work."

You apparently have developed reading comprehension issues. I did not suggest macro coding to avoid the tedious task of investigating features of a software packages. For that I suggested that you read the manual.

The macro coding was in response to a completely different question.

Things like opening one Base form from another (with a dynamic query for the second form), Buttons to populate a text field with a file path name using a file dialog, Opening a file using the file path name in a database text field.

I'm beginning to wonder if you would recognize due respect if it bit you in the ass.

I'm beginning to wonder if you would recognize due respect if it bit you in the ass.

I would recognise it, I just tend not to use it. I usually go with the alternative definition which I mentioned earlier - With all due respect (aka 'I do not care if this sounds insulting')

HOWEVER, I will admit when I have made a mistake. I did not notice that your comment about macros was in response to an entirely different question. My mind then switched off when I realised the comments were nothing at would ever interest me.

With a correct interpretation of your comments, I would amend my response to:
(a) Reading manuals is precisely what I am trying to avoid having to do;
(b) Thanks for describing how you use macros. It is of no interest to me, but could be very helpful to others - which is why I posed that general question.

You also seem willing and capable of giving comments the level of respect you think they deserve. I like that.

(a) Reading manuals is precisely what I am trying to avoid having to do;

Then no software package in the world will help you. "Intuitive" is pure marketing bullshit. I've tried to teach people born during WWII who had never used a computer before how to use a mouse.

Any software package that does the thing you want will take some time and effort to learn how to use.

If you aren't willing to put in even minimal effort to learn a tool you already have, go back to basics (paper and pencils).

bit you in the ass

As long as my arse is covered, my beast of burden can take care of itself. It will probably bite back.
I expect most stupid, foolish and stubborn asses like me would think the same.

Perhaps this comment belongs under another topic about whether italics should be used for the language spoken in that very foreign country south of Canada.

Perhaps this comment belongs under another topic about whether italics should be used for the language spoken in that very foreign country south of Canada.

Mexico? Venezuela?

Mexico? Venezuela?

No, I mean America. I assume you come from there because of your dialectic use of ass for buttocks.
That word does not exist outside your location. Speakers of English would always use arse instead.
As a matter of courtesy, I use words that exist in the language of my audience, and if necessary I will compromise my meaning so they will understand.

My main editing tool (non-grammar/spell-checker) is Autocrit

I definitely wanted something like Autocrit. A quick look at software review sites suggests the free version of 'Pro Writing Aid' may be just as good as subscription level Autocrit.
Perhaps the free version of Autocrit as well, because the sets of cliches detected seems very different.

there are no 'simple' writing tools. Instead, there are tools which help you write, but they don't make anything easy

Your comments are appreciated. What I was looking for was a tool that was simple to use, and would allow me to record thoughts when I had them. I then wanted to use simply documents during the evolution of random ideas into a story plan. I do not want to waste energy on learning and using software - I will need everything I have, and more, for grammar, style, plot and character.

SERIOUSLY folks. My specific problem is this

Everyone is being serious. You don't get to ask for free advice and then complain that it wasn't what you wanted. Especially when you didn't even fully define the the problem upfront.

You don't get to ask for free advice and then complain that it wasn't what you wanted. Especially when you didn't even fully define the the problem upfront.

I will take your comment into consideration when considering the tone of future comments.

I think I did define my problem upfront quite precisely, given I did not want to bore others with details that might not be needed.

I thought some software package would have exactly what I wanted. Comments that software to do that does not exist were helpful. Comments suggesting I read manuals were not helpful - with no suggestion of what features I need to read up on.

That was when a full description of what I want seems necessary.

Two have suggested Scrivener, with warnings it is difficult to get accustomed to, and will not suit all people.

That is the name I was looking for. It appears to be the best solution available, and I appreciate the suggestion and warnings.

I want to be riting lit'rachure, not working out how to use bloody software packages!

Then buy a bunch of notebooks and a typewriter.

Then buy a bunch of notebooks

Only the smartest of people can think laterally to find practical solutions to problems.
Just because you can use a computer to do something, that does not mean you should use one.

without paying a monthly fee

My comment is it is EXACTLY what I was looking for.
I checked the site and USD$35 is a one-off price (not a monthly fee) and no reason to pay that until you have the need for either: 9 instead of 3 'acts'; or one of their fancy publishing options.

and no reason to pay that until you have the need for either: 9 instead of 3 'acts'; or one of their fancy publishing options.

Incorrect. The free demo version is a time limited 30 day trial.

WriteWay is interesting. I may try the demo myself, if for no other reason than to find out what they are using as their built in word processor and what their internal file format is.

After you use it for a while, could you return and give your opinion of the software?

I find it uncomfortable that the company that put out WriteWay posted tutorials almost 5 years ago without audio and promised to upload new ones, but have not done so. (I saw claims they spend time working on their program instead of making the new tutorials) Instead, the videos that are posted have 'script boxes' describing how to access features. Seems to me that they could have had somebody read the script boxes and included both. (I wonder how long it took to edit the script boxes into the video.)

I saw someone commented on one of their videos about another program called yWriter5 which is supposed to do the same things, but is freeware.

From their website http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html

yWriter5 is a dotnet 2.0 app for Windows, but will also run on GNU/Linux and Mac OS X using Wine.

yWriter5 which is supposed to do the same things, but is freeware

I'm probably willing to give yWriter a test drive & report back.
Does dotnet 2.0 mean it needs internet access?
I could not use that.

Does dotnet 2.0 mean it needs internet access?

No, it means it was built using the MS dotnet framework which was built as a competitor to Java after Oracle started complaining about all the proprietary extensions MS kept putting in MS's version of the JRE.

https://www.microsoft.com/net

it crashed ... it crashed ... it crashed ... it crashed ...

That's all I need to know. Thanks.

To DS & EB
I will give it a test drive as the primary editing software for a work which requires many segments and a convenient way to navigate between them.

Deciding factor was the update from EB that tech support will be provided if some quirk exists in your hardware or software setup that causes problems.

DS: Please contact me via an edit request at this site. I will record your email address, and I will advise you when my assessment has been posted here.

Sent