#Free writing software like scrivener how to#
#Free writing software like scrivener Pc#

(However, since Google Docs added вЂњSuggestion mode,вЂќ which is the equivalent to track changes, IвЂ™ve started using it almost exclusively in replacement of Word for the editing process.) In fact, for most of my books, I moved them from Scrivener to Word for the editing process to take advantage of this feature.

Very handy for polishing up your final draft. It allows you to easily see what changes theyвЂ™ve made, accept or reject those changes, or completely revert back to the original. WordвЂ™s track changes feature is great for collaborating with an editor. For example, most editors edit books in Word and therefore require their clients to submit manuscripts in Word formats (.doc).

#Free writing software like scrivener how to#

And that is a huge advantage for writing a book.В Since almost everyoneВ has Microsoft Word and knows how to use it, it makes it very easy to collaborate using it. Microsoft Word is the industry standard, and the default word processor for millions of people.

#Free writing software like scrivener Pc#

Microsoft Word is available inВ both PC versionsВ ($115)В and Mac versionsВ ($124). LetвЂ™s compare the two, specifically as book writing software: Microsoft Word Word: Which Is Better Book Writing Software?Д«oth Scrivener and Microsoft Word are effective word processors, but each thrives when used for specific tasks. IвЂ™ve finishedВ six books on scrivener, not to mention half-a-dozenВ short stories, and I every day I learn new ways to use it, depending on the needs of my project.Д«ut letвЂ™s break down Microsoft Word and ScrivenerвЂ™s features so we can see what each isВ best at.

But I believe Scrivener saved me hundreds of hours of time, not to mention frustration. Of course, some of thisВ was because it was my second book and I had refined my process. TheВ second book, written with Scrivener, took me only 200 hours. My first book, written solely withВ Microsoft Word, took me 550 hours to write. And its effectivenessВ showed in my productivity. OnceВ I got the hang of it, though, I found that I loved how it was geared specifically toward writing books. It was completely different, and thereВ was definitely a learning curve. It wasnвЂ™t until my second book that I discovered Scrivener. Inevitably, I would forgetВ to copy an important line of text that belonged with the section I was moving and the whole thing wouldnвЂ™t make any sense. Often as not, I would decide the section I just movedВ fit better whereВ it first was, and I would have to go move it back. I had to scroll, scroll, scroll,В highlight the section, click вЂњcut,вЂќ scroll, scroll, scroll to the place I wanted to put it, paste, and then re-read the section to see if I liked it there. IВ was in theВ middleВ ofВ the second draft, and I kept have to reorganize sections to see what would make the bookВ flow best. In 2010, I was writing what would becomeВ my first book when I got to a point where WordВ became impossible. How Scrivener Saved Me 250 Hours WritingВ a Book Plus, check out our Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers for more tools to help you write better and faster. In this post, weвЂ™re going to look closely at two of the best pieces of book writing software: Microsoft Word and Scrivener, and talk about where each word processor shines and where each falls short. And especially when youвЂ™re writing something as complicated as book, you might want a piece of writing software geared specifically toward writing a book. Microsoft Word is the default word processor, but that doesnвЂ™t mean itвЂ™s the only option. There has to be a better piece of book writing softwareВ than Microsoft Word.вЂќ When youвЂ™re writing a book,В you might come to this point where exasperation turns to desperation and you think: вЂњThere has to be a better way.