| There is a plethora of novel writing software on | | | | manage the virtual cards than real ones - the real |
| the market, each of them doing different things. | | | | ones had a habit of getting lost in the piles and it |
| But before you even consider investing in one of | | | | being impossible to find the right one. That |
| these, you need to decide if you need any novel | | | | problem doesn't arise with the virtual cards. You |
| writing software at all. The answer, of course, is | | | | can even pick your colours so that colour-coding |
| that you do not. All the great masterpieces, and | | | | is simplicity itself. |
| indeed all the lesser works, were written without | | | | The next level of complexity is software which |
| novel writing software, and it would be ridiculous | | | | guides you through writing the outline of your |
| to suggest that you cannot write your | | | | story. This type of product will prompt you to |
| masterpiece without using it. | | | | answer questions about your characters, plot, |
| However, those classic novels were also written | | | | theme, setting, etc etc. Some of the questions |
| without computers, and no modern writer would | | | | are challenging - one even has you answer the |
| turn up her nose at her trusty word processor | | | | question of what plot holes have you got, and |
| because of that. The word processor/computer | | | | then gets you to fill them. Difficult, but extremely |
| e-mail etc is just a tool to help in the process of | | | | useful. These vary from reasonably loosely |
| writing a novel, and novel writing software plays | | | | structured to forcing you into a rigid template - |
| the same role. It should be judged on its own | | | | said template of course being one which has |
| merits, of course, but there's no need to dismiss | | | | proven itself such as the Hero's Journey. |
| it just because it's a relatively new concept. It | | | | Other option on the various software products |
| would almost certainly be worth your while to | | | | are things like drop-down menus offering you |
| research the products and see if any of it would | | | | various character traits, visual timelines, mind |
| benefit you. | | | | maps showing the relationships between the |
| The different novel writing software products | | | | characters, keeping track of dates and characters' |
| vary enormously in what they do. The most basic | | | | ages and so on. Nothing you couldn't do on a |
| ones are just a specialised word-processor, and | | | | separate file, but it's very handy to have it to |
| I'm not sure they're worth the cost or the time | | | | hand always. |
| to learn them. Your existing word-processor is all | | | | You do have to remember, of course, that none |
| you need. | | | | of these products will write the novel for you. |
| The more complex products are worth | | | | And that's good - where would be the fun in that! |
| considering however. The next most complex is a | | | | What they will do is to help you create, and/or |
| kind of virtual index card system, which you use | | | | keep track of, the various elements which have |
| in the same way as you would a real index card | | | | to flow together seamlessly in order to create a |
| system. I found it much easier, however, to | | | | well-written and satisfying novel. |