All,

Does anybody know this writing tool?

Writer's Block:
http://www.writersblocks.com/

If yes, what are your experiences with it? It is available for $149 and this needs a careful evaluation.

Thanks,
Dominik

Dominik,

I have tested Writer's Blocks a few times. Most recently when version 3 was introduced, maybe a year or so ago. If you've already been testing it, you probably have more familiarity with the program than I do. My reaction is that it promises more than it delivers in terms of genuine usability. But I'm not a novelist, and don't really write the way this program facilitates, so that could also be part of my issue. Before you spend money on Writer's Blocks, you should be sure to check out SuperNoteCard from Mindola Software (www.mindoloa.com). While Writer's Blocks may be slicker, SNC offers more structuring options and the ability to view your outline as you work. Plus it is significantly less expensive.

Steve Z.

I agree with Steve. I tried Writer's Blocks and said "so what?". I didn't understand its value, I just don't see how it could help in my writing process.

I've become a very satisfied user of SuperNoteCard from Mindola Software, especially because the author made all features I asked for (color codes for plots, flatten mode...).

I don't know if we can compare easily nxdCard and SuperNoteCard. Writers need a way to structure data along a timeline, and see how things are linked and tangled up through time. This is where SuperNotecard comes in. But that's not all. There are other data parallel to the story (background stories, character profiles, etc.) and they can't be structured in SNC but in a (two-pane) outliner. I tend to use Treepad for that, and I don't think ndxCard could replace it... or maybe with the new "project feature". I'll give it a try, but IMHO ndxCard should not be compared to SNC (which is very specific and dedicated to fiction writers) but to general outliners and information managers.

Sebastien

Daly,
Steve,
Sebastien,

Thank you all for your replay on Writer's Block 3.
I have decided to not use it because apart from the question 'where's the benefit?' it is in some part very buggy. Further, the created files for export into word are not very useful.

I will have a closer look at ndxCards and Super Notecard. Both are much less expensive and seem to be more userfriendly.

Regards,
Dominik

Storyview is a very good software, while it's not that easy to use (especially when you want to track a character). I think it belongs to screenwriter teams, where it's important to communicate on large printed pane. Indeed, Storyview can print out very large documents (the timeline) on multiple pages side by side, and that seems to be unique. But I'm not very comfortable with that big timeline, I prefer ordered cards, and that's why SNC is better to me. I also tried StoryLines from Anthemion Software http://www.writerscafe.co.uk/ but, again, the 1D timeline is too long when your novel gets big. Cards are better, just because you can order them in a 2D area, like on a real desk.

A last word about Storyview: the (one-pane) outliner is very good, you can design your own template hierarchy, and it's the only one I've found which auto-number the nodes ("chapter 2" becomes "chapter 3" if you insert a chapter before, etc). That seems to be the ultimate forgotten feature in all outliners (including Treepad, etc): they never auto-number their nodes!!!

Sebastien

Well, the one-pane numbering is a bit different than usual: you don't have simple raw number like "5." or "6." but "Chapter 3", "Act II", "Scene 2.A". And it's highly customizable!

BTW, I'd be very grateful to anyone finding a two-pane outliner with autonumbering, even with raw numbers. It's definitely the biggest lack in Treepad (as for me).

Sebastien

Thanks! I've just tried it. It's a bit *special* and unusual, so I don't think it could replace Treepad easily.

Sebastien

Daly, I don't use any web publishing feature of Treepad. As I'm not neither interested in integration of email programs, I see little or no reason to move to another outliner. Don't know about the future of Treepad, but here are the main reasons why I like it:

- many keyboard shortcuts: I can use it *without* the mouse, so that it's very productive, even to create internal node links (in many other outliners, there is a complex dialog box to fill)

- appearance fully customizable (fonts, icons, etc)

- light mode for the user interface

- common word processor features (bullets, style, etc)

Steve, the Lite edition is too poor regarding the text editor and the tree customization. That's why I bought the PLUS edition... which is enough to me.

Sebastien

Try Jot+ at www.kingstairs.com. It is similar to TreePad - a bit less sophisticated, but easy to use and Properties" or "options" may have a numbering option.

Unfortunately not...

Thanks for the link anyway.

Sebastien