Writers Software Programs

Do you use a software program? Which one? Have you tried one that didn’t work for you or one that was wonderful?

I was thinking about this because I have a couple of them. The first one I got was WriteWay which I did use. It seemed fairly easy but I had trouble finding some things and as I remember there weren’t great instructions. (but that could have been just me)
Then I tried Dramatica but I never even gave it a fair chance. I wasn’t up to the learning curve.
And I have Scrivener. Now I like Scrivener and I’ve taken several classes and once I finished editing my two novels I am going to start my next book in Scrivener.

But what other programs are out there? I thought I’d list a few more that I found with a short description and the cost. I’m not recommending any of them.

Microsoft Word – We all know this one. I still use it even though some days it drives me crazy, but I’m used to it.

WriteWay - Now, get the tools you need to take your story ideas from initial concept and characters through completed manuscript — all in one powerful     
easy-to-use product http://www.writewaypro.com/                                          It’s $35 with a free 30 day trial

Scrivener – It’s a word processor and project management tool created specifically for writers of long texts such as novels and research papers. It won’t try to tell you how to write – it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one application.  https://www.literatureandlatte.com/links.php     It’s $40 with a free trial

Storyboarding - Storyboarding is a great way to try out ideas and see where a particular thread of a project is going. Mindmappng is something of an extension of this idea, letting you riff off your own ideas and see how things unfold. http://www.storyboardthat.com/   I believe it’s $9.95 a month

Storyweaver - focuses on the creative process, boosting your inspiration and guiding it to add depth, detail and passion to your story. It’s built around more than 200 Story Cards - each an interactive screen designed to help you develop a single dramatic element of your story.  You simply read and follow the instructions on each card and then enter the information requested and move on to the next card. http://storymind.com/storyweaver.htm                                 It’s $29.95

Dramatica - is a tool to help you build a perfect story structure. It focuses on the underlying logic of your story, making sure there are no holes or inconsistencies. It helps you pull it all together into one cohesive powerful work. By offering you suggestions that mesh thematically with what you already have, Dramatica helps plug plot holes, solidifies character interactions and helps complete your story in such a way that it will resonate with your audience long after they've left the theater or long after they've put your book down. http://dramatica.com/         

It costs $149.95, but you can get it on sale.

Final Draft - is the number-one selling application specifically designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics, and stageplays. It combines powerful word processing with professional script formatting in one self-contained, easy-to-use package. There is no need to learn about script formatting rules – Final Draft automatically paginates and formats your script to industry standards as you write. https://www.finaldraft.com/It’s listed at $249.99 but you can get it on sale.     

yWriter - Windows only - is a word processor which breaks your novel into chapters and scenes. It will not write your novel for you, suggest plot ideas or perform creative tasks of any kind. It does help you keep track of your work, leaving your mind free to create. http://ywriter.en.softonic.com/  It’s free

StoryMill - Mac OS X only - The latest release in Mariner Software's long line of writing and creativity software. StoryMill introduces aspiring authors to multi-level writing methods of tracking characters, scenes, and locations, while professional writers will appreciate StoryMill's time-saving ability to oversee and manage the full creative process with Smart Views. http://www.writersstore.com/storymill-novel-writing-software/   It’s $39.95

I’d love to hear what you use and why.