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Scrivener-like outliner for Windows?
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Posted by DaXiong
Mar 24, 2009 at 12:56 AM
I am still on my quest for the perfecct outliner (I know, doesn’t exist cause I keep changing what I need). What I’d love is Scrivener, but for windows. I am stuck using WinXP, and am searching for an outliner to structure/organize thoughts and writing.
I prefer single pane outliners, but Scrivener’s “cork board” and outline node synopsis is amazing. Are there any window outliners with this synopsis feature?
I mainly use Inspiration (in outline mode), and it works, just not perfectly. The ability to organize/re-organize using Scrivener’s cork board is powerful. Most of my writing has “chapters” with an overview/summary and title in them. In Scrivener, the synopsis serves as my overview/summary so life is good. Except I’m stuck on Windows. (No, I can’t buy a mac right now.)
Posted by Thomas
Mar 24, 2009 at 01:53 AM
Pagefour http://www.softwareforwriting.com/ is recommended (or something to that extent) by Scrivener author for Windows users.
Writers Cafe has cork board, but I tested it so long ago I don’t remember anymore anything else.
Posted by Thomas
Mar 24, 2009 at 01:53 AM
forgot the link http://www.writerscafe.co.uk/
Posted by Franz Grieser
Mar 24, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Hi.
Pagefour is the Windows application that comes closest to Scrivener. It is a full-featured writing application including a “repetition checker” (which is not available in Scrivener).
Storylines is part of Writer’s Cafe and is mainly an organizer using the corkboard metaphore. It is not the place where you write, it is mainly useful for structuring your manuscript and exporting the outline to a word processor. But for that, Storylines is very useful. It even allows you to keep several story lines organized - something you cannot do visually in Scrivener.
Franz
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Mar 24, 2009 at 01:24 PM
If the cork board is the most important feature you are looking for, I think you’re mostly out of luck in the PC world, with the possible exception of the Writer’s Cafe/Storylines option.
As for single-pane outliners, I’m afraid Inspiration is the best choice (perhaps the only still-supported choice).
If you broaden your definition some, however, there are still some interesting choices, in addition to PageFour:
- Liquid Story Binder is chock full of features (perhaps too many). http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/
- SuperNoteCard is a nice index card metaphor with modest outlining. http://www.mindola.com/
- Writer’s Blocks hasn’t been updated in a few years, but also uses an index card metaphor. http://www.writersblocks.com/index.htm
- Whizfolders has a lot of nice features for writers. http://www.whizfolders.com/
- As mentioned a few days ago, The Journal is a strong writing program. http://www.davidrm.com/
And there are others, but these are the ones that first come to mind for me.
Steve Z.