4 Reasons I Love the Atticus Writing Tool for Authors

4 Reasons I Love the Atticus Writing Tool for Authors
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why you need a writing software that lives in the cloud
- Why Atticus is so much better than Scrivener
- How to save hundreds (if not thousands of dollars) by using Atticus
- And much more!
BONUS: Have you grabbed your FREE copy of my new book, Your Message Matters? Just go to: go.marketyourmessage.com/free...
What's Next? Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you:
Step 1. Get the Book
Your Message Matters Book: jmill.biz/GVdINv
Step 2. Discover Your Message
Take the 14-Day Discover Your Message Challenge: jmill.biz/4uMgA4
Step 3. Get Personal Help & Mentoring
Apply to Jonathan's Mentoring Program: jmill.biz/f6tvHh

[@writerlass5924]

Fab video and great tool for writers - looks so much easier than Scrivener which I currently use - plus the formatting tools look phenomenal! Thank you for reviewing - will be subscribing and checking out your website 👍😀

[@JonathanMilligan]

You are welcome!

[@socman002]

I use this. I like it, too. It's really simple. I think they could add more 'styles' to template fonts, but they'll come eventually. If you own a PC, and plan on self-publishing a book on KDP, purchasing this is a no-brainer. Highly recommended.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome. Thanks for the feedback.

[@johnparnham5945]

I have just purchased Atticus. I don't think it's so good for writing but I love the formatting. That's what I bought it for and I don't regret It. Before I spent a lot of money on a formatter to do it for me and when I had to make changes, I had to go back to her and pay more money. Don't get me wrong, she was very good but now with Atticus, I am can do it myself at no extra cost. I did spot one small line break on one of the pages but otherwise it's very good at what it does. I'm still learning to use it but as a formatting tool it's excellent.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@chl4920]

Excellent!!

[@nickvasiliades4537]

Just started with Atticus a few days ago, it is an amazing product, worth every penny imo.

[@johnparnham5945]

I'm a Chromebook user and other software won't work with Chromebook so I was pleased to have a software platform that works with my computer.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Great feedback, thanks for sharing!

[@aveguevara]

Just bought Atticus and this was INDEED a helpful episode, the Atticus tutorials sort of made my head spin a bit. I'll be typing in my book that's on a Word doc but not done right at all - I just made a Word doc manuscript without thinking about formatting when creating it. So now I can re-acquaint myself with my manuscript and type it in correctly from the start! Just subscribed to your channel and will be seeing you again. THANK YOU!

[@KellInkston]

@6:00 That's funny you mentioned that, I lost 30k words to a scrivener crash, and could only recover it using M$ drive backup. Atticus looks great. I think I'll switch.

[@Musikchic47]

I'm excited to try this out! I'm a PC user and I've been disappointed that Vellum formatting software is only on Mac, so I'm excited to get the formatting experience finally on my PC :)

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome. Thanks for stopping by.

[@JAWZMUZIK1]

The sky Rambles on for about 6 minutes so fast forward

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for the feedback. This was orginally recorded as a live video. I just edited the video down to get right to the point. thanks.

[@MuzMURRAY]

An excellent introduction! You've encouraged this techno-duffer to try it out. Thanks a lot.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lyndonkessler4766]

Just to let you know, Scrivener can back-up to iCloud, BUT! it will only work with Mac OS (Not with any iOS, iPhones or iPads until Apple fixes some issues - don't hold your breath, iOS is in a great deal of flux) My primary is an older iMac upgraded to Ventura and I use my M1 Notebook to Brainstorm my Scrivener Novel and make minor edits. The KEY to Mac X Mac iCloud is to go to System Preferences for Mac "iCloud Settings" and turn off "Optimize Mac Storage" for each Mac, one after the other, then you are set with Scrivener on each Mac. When done with writing/editing, save and minimize Scrivener and open when ready to edit Scrivener, Save - Minimize, Rinse and Repeat. I've been doing this for a Month or so, no problems.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Kindlepreneur]

Great video and thoroughly jazzed you enjoy it!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome. Thanks for solving a huge problem for writers! Hope you are doing well friend!

[@stephenlewis9436]

Thanks for the break down. Leaning towards purchasing it for sure

[@JonathanMilligan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@burntgod7165]

Don't. It's overblown by self publishing "gurus" who often have affiliate links to buy it on their channels etc. It is NOT a writing tool. It is clunky, awkward, unwieldy. Woebetide you if you make an error, delete something (I accidentadeleted a whole formatted book trying to understand the complexity of it), as the Undo tool is useless. Stick to Dcrivener for organising, Word for writing.

[@JonathanMilligan]

@@burntgod7165 Wow, so quick to judge. Did you know Atticus does NOT have an affiliate program? I've coached hundreds of authors who love Atticus. At the end of the day, each writer needs to find the tool that works best for them.

[@daviddarlingauthor]

While the video is a year old, I'm hoping you're still monitoring your comments. I've self-published 6 novels and each one was a half-day painful chore to get it properly formatted. Does Atticus set up margins/page numbers/header-footers/gutter and mirror margins, for proper print for 6x9? Setting that up in Word is a headache. Also, does Atticus carry the themes over to print format? I've been unable to get that answer anywhere. Specifically create table of contents, in print, Chapter Headings, paragraph break designs? Also, do you have to do the page setup properly in Word or does Atticus do all the corrections? (.5 inch paragraph indentations, not tab, left justification at chapter/break starts) and overwrite the page numbers on Word? Thanks.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes! It can do all of the above. I've published 3 books already with Atticus. It's awesome.

[@DamienLavizzo]

The one thing I wish Atticus would add is kind of a nitpick - but they don't actually have page turning in the Formatting preview pane. Approximately no one uses "infinite scroll" when reading a book on iPad, that I know of, and it's not even available on most Kindles, so I hope they add that feature in the future. Also the pre-made templates on Vellum are much better, but being able to make your own templates on Atticus is nice.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for sharing your insights! I haven't used Vellum, but for Atticus I like editing their templates until I have one that meets my needs and then I save it to use on multiple books.

[@DamienLavizzo]

@@JonathanMilligan Agreed, I do like the custom template feature. Also I forgot to mention, Atticus has daily word tracking and gives you an estimate of how many words you need each day to hit your goal, which is essential for somoone like me that will just noodle on a work for months. Overall I think Atticus is the superior piece of kit, but I just wish they'd add those little "QOL" features that Vellum had and it would be flawless.

[@JonathanMilligan]

@@DamienLavizzo I agree!

[@laurahope5810]

Can you upload your own font onto the software? I have a special font for poetry.

[@digikaininja5]

Thank you sir for this. Just when inwas getting familar with Ywriter/Libre,this one pops out. Is it free? I doubt?

[@JonathanMilligan]

It is not free but since it is still in Beta it's a one-time lifetime access deal. In the future, they plan to charge monthly I believe.

[@user-zw9fh7iq8m]

Jonathan, I began my book manuscript in Word and in the first draft, I have written about 50,000 words. Four Questions: (1) Can my Word manuscript be converted to Atticus without having to retype everything? (2) My non-fiction book is somewhat academic with about 900 footnotes. Will Atticus support the use of footnotes (bottom of page or endnotes at end of the chapter or end of the book)? (3) I must use a 1943 typewriter font in one chapter to support the historicity of the quotations--can I import this 1943 font into my text? and (4) Will Atticus actually support the easy insertion of photographs with text? (a comment below seems to state that photo insertion is a big challenge. This was a very helpful video, giving hope to this first-time author. Plus, your book, "Your Message Matters" is a large encouragement to a first-time author!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for the kind words. 1. You can upload a Word doc into Atticus and it will import it for you. 2 Yes it can handle footnotes wherever you want them (there are options in settings). 3. I believe this is possible with callout boxes but not sure. 4. I've not had any issues with photo insertion. Hope this helps!

[@jackiegoldman7968]

Question: I write memoirs with lots of photograph images in them. How is this software with inserting images into the body of manuscript? My question pertains in particular to the print version. I have a lot of difficulty with this aspect of producing my books in word templates or Kindle create.

[@burntgod7165]

I am in the same boat right now. It is virtually impossible in Atticus. Had discussions with them, but they offer no help. Do not bother.

[@jackiegoldman7968]

@@burntgod7165 oh, actually, I took the leap and it works great! Best investment ever made. So basically you just insert the pictures in to Atticus. You can click the picture insert option and choose if you want it to be a separate page or how big you want it to be. But make sure you save all of the photographs into a folder on your desk top because when you convert the file into acrobat They are blurry for some reason. So within acrobat you have to use replace image and then replace it with the image from your folder in other words the original image. Also, you have to go into organize pages and add blank pages so all of the chapters open on the right side or to make a introduction page or a blank page at the beginning or the end. This makes it look much better if you have images. Ze’s Honestly, this is saved me so much time and frustration. I’m so grateful I made this purchase. My clients are so impressed with the beautiful formatting options and it takes me days instead of weeks.

[@aidanlucid9619]

Thanks so much for the review. Can you use Atticus offline?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Not yet. but a desktop app is coming soon so yes!

[@aidanlucid9619]

@@JonathanMilligan That's great. Thanks for your reply.

[@Mr1950]

Hey question what camera and lens are you using dope!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Sure! Here's my exact setup: jmill.biz/livestreamkit

[@ElliotScottDating]

so I can just download the pdf from atticus and upload it to amazon as a physical copy? And it's formatted already?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Correct

[@lesterlesoine9225]

Does atticus support voice to text? I am disabled cerebral palsy and type 11-16 words per minute. Thanks so much

[@JonathanMilligan]

I don't think they have a built in feature, but I'm sure any voice to text function you use on your computer would work.

[@stephaniemoore2604]

Thank you for the information. I'm brand new in this mysterious book writing world. Giant learning curve. I'm deciding between Scrivener (most people have recommended, of course) and just go ahead and start with Atticus so I don't have to relearn another piece of software when Atticus eventually ends up beating the competition. Couple questions - the autosave on the cloud feature: is that on a subscription basis? Next question - do you know if updates will be part of the software purchase, or when they introduce a newer version, will that be additional? Thanks again! This was very helpful!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Welcome to the world of book writing! You should consider joining our private Facebook group of over 4,200+ writers and coaches here: jmill.biz/group That being said, here's the answer to your questions: 1. since Atticus is in beta you can pay once and get lifetime access (no subscriptions). 2. All updates are free to bets users. Hope this helps!

[@johnmcgrath6192]

I have a MacBook. I put all my files on iCloud and work on them there. I go to ciffee shops without wifi and can work with my iCloud Drive.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for sharing!

[@shnrbtlle18]

I own it, I love it.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome. Me too.

[@rycoryco2888]

I like Atticus as you say here. Perhaps you have a workaround for using licensed fonts,I’ve purchased? Atticus is too limited on fonts. Also awkward to use as note taking: numbered & bullet lists. Undos awkward too. No built in spell check. Have to purchase software for spell, making Atticus far more expensive than competitors.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for the feedback. I forgot to mention in the video that Atticus is in beta. They have added a TON of features since I bought the software. All of the things you mentioned are on their development roadmap but I have no idea how long it will take. For people who just want to self-publish a nice-looking book, Atticus is great in my opinion. :)

[@rycoryco2888]

@@JonathanMilligan Thamks Jonathan. I’ve purchased. Asked Atticus, but they’re steadfast on fonts. Agree. Many nice features. Just wondering if there was a workaround. Guess not.

[@TheCamillajmarchi]

i wrote in google doc can i import to atticus?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes you can!

[@juleslincredule]

Key Points: 🔑 - 📝 Using the right writing software can make authoring a book much easier - 💻 Atticus is a great new cloud-based writing tool for authors - ☁️ Atticus auto-saves your writing progress in the cloud so you won't lose work - ⏱️ Has built-in tools like timers and word count goals to develop writing habits - 📚 Better than Scrivener for formatting and publishing Kindle and print books - 🖨️ Lets you easily preview book layouts for Kindle, print, etc. - 💲 Can save money on formatting and publishing costs - 🔁 Automatic cloud backup gives peace of mind against lost manuscripts - ✏️ Simple and intuitive interface compared to Scrivener - 📖 Ideal for writing multiple books over time - 👍 Highly recommended for aspiring authors based on personal experience

[@alphasuperior100]

How does Atticus compare to scrivener ?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I've used both, published 2 books with Scrivener and 2 with Atticus. I think Atticus is easier to learn and use and atticus has a built in book formatting feature that scrivener does not. Hope this helps!

[@johnthom3342]

I’ve lost several important files in MS cloud. No cloud ever for me.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Wow! Thanks for letting me know. So sorry that happened.

[@ExpatRiot79]

Atticus is fine to compose in, as long as you don't mind a one second lag between pressing a key and seeing your text appear. Also, it's a formatting nightmare that can't even handle .docx. So the ONLY thing atticus is good at is formatting.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Interesting. I've written three books in atticus and not had the lag problem. Also, I don't use DOCX file. I upload the PDF for both the kindle, paperback, and hardcover versions.

[@timtrottproductions]

A PDF generator is built in. No Adobe subscription needed!

[@timtrottproductions]

Barns&Nobel requires PDF and Atticus does it.

[@olgivystent9221]

Trying to get full refund. It isn't working and not for visually impaired

[@JonathanMilligan]

Hello. I'm not the creator of the Atticus Software so I won't be of much help I'm afraid. I'm sure they will get back to you soon.

[@leewoodauthor]

Thousands of dollars to format a book is a bit of an exaggeration. $150 to $250 is the usual cost

[@JAWZMUZIK1]

He Rambles on for 6 minutes before he gets to it. Fast forward 6 minutes in

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thanks for the feedback. Always looking to improve. This was originally recorded live so I just edited the video down to get right to the point. Thanks again.

[@burntgod7165]

Atticus isn't as good as these self-publishing and marketing "gurus" make it out to be (they have affiliate links often, so beware). It is NOT a writing tool; it is clunky and unwieldy. I know it is like an irritable old uncle, drunk at Christmas, but nothing beats Word for just basic word processing. Scrivener is great for organising your work. Atticus can format for you-to an extent. It struggles with lots of images, for example; you cannot manipulate pictures on the page. There are a lot of rabbit holes you can go down, and navigation is not easy. Search tool is awkward too. So i repeat,it is NOT a writing tool.

[@JonathanMilligan]

I appreciate your feedback. But Atticus does not have an affiliate program. I shared it as an alternative to those overwhelmed with Scrivener or feel Word is too basic for them and don't know how to format. After writing two books with Scrivener I personally love the simplicity of Atticus, but of course it's not for everyone.

[@heartmommyinpa]

Scrivener might take a little time to learn, but the price of it is much less, especially if you win NaNoWriMo and get a discount

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

Still waiting for dark mode.

[@JonathanMilligan]

I know that feature would be awesome. Also full screen no distraction mode too