Dabble Software Review

[@dabblewriter]

I hear you on printing the cards Carrow! We'll see what we can do. Mobile support is coming up soon, maybe I can sneak that feature into that release. ;-) I realize many authors can't afford (or stomach) a subscription product. I chose to use that model because it allows us to create a better product than what a 1-time paid or especially a free product would allow. Scrivener and Wavemaker are 2 great products filling that space, so I opted to go with the premium subscription model and build a premium product. It allows us to release updates regularly (e.g. ProWritingAid integration recently, mobile coming soon), provide built-in sync, make the experience as easy and no-fuss as possible, and provide premium support (customers coming from Scrivener talk about weeks without hearing back from support, we are usually hours at most during the week). If it were possible to make that happen in any other way (that didn't hurt the product, such as ads), I would love it. But as the adage goes, you get what you pay for.

[@CarrowBrown]

Understandable. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch the video and clarify those points for us. It means a lot when the product creators listen to what their users are saying.

[@dabblewriter]

@@CarrowBrown for sure!

[@laynek7644]

I know this is a couple of years old, but I've been looking into other cloud based writing programs (other than google docs) and this sounds like exactly what I've been looking for. This review was incredibly helpful - thank you! :)

[@CatalleyaStorm]

I'm thinking of getting Dabble. Thank you for the review!

[@storydtechtiverobertjones464]

I was curious about Dabble, but don’t really like subscription services that force you to keep paying for things you may be able to get in a program you can own and pay for once. Doesn’t sound like there’s anything I’m missing here to entice me to pay for...and keep on paying for. Thanks for the inside view, Carrow :)

[@CarrowBrown]

You are most welcome. Thank you for checking the video out. :)

[@storydtechtiverobertjones464]

Always a pleasure. My one week off after camp nano turned into two with doctor stuff going on for the shoulder that went wonky during camp, meeting other commitments, and trying to figure out the next step for my channel. I need to get back on schedule and hopefully find a way to keep up with things. I’m following about 400 people, some of whom upload 2-3 times per week. Is there a way to keep up with that, or is it just an endless cycle and you catch up with folks when you can?

[@CarrowBrown]

@@storydtechtiverobertjones464 I have the same problem of following a lot of people and missing out on content. I try to keep up with what I can, but sometimes I accept that some videos slip through the cracks. :(

[@storydtechtiverobertjones464]

Glad I’m not alone in this. I’ve taken them in chunks and try to devote a little time to catching up a on a batch of content with those who pop up and I realize I haven’t watched their vids lately. But do I hatch up with everything? Unfortunately, no. And since I’m expanding into booktube so I can do book reviews, it’s not going to get any easier. But I want to shine a light on indie authors who are doing it right and getting lost between the cracks and the biases. Booktube tag tomorrow, first review middle of next week!

[@brycewilby6294]

Hi Great quick run-down on how to use Dabble. One of the comments made (at about:14:40) is not being able to look at the character pages whilst writing. I have two screens and you can have Dabble on both of them so you can have the character pages on your smaller screen and be working on the main screen. Dabble is excellent by the way and well worth the subscription. You can now have it on your mobile phone too which is super helpful.

[@CarrowBrown]

Thanks for sharing, Bryce. I mention the one screen thing because not everyone has multiple monitor. Since I made the video, Dabble has done some awesome upgrades that warrent another review video soon.

[@tanahutton2681]

Have you tried Novlr? It's very similar to this. Has a dark mode just like dabble and scrivener does. I can't remember if it sets goals or not. I think it was also a subscription based service. It wasn't bad, and pretty easy to use, but I couldn't justify continuing to pay for something when I have scrivener. I just found dabblewriter today and am watching videos to learn it. Thank you so much for the video - it's very helpful. As of now, ProWritingAid is integrated into dabblewriter so editing should be much easier.

[@tfpradgirl9537]

I know this is an older video, but I recently check out Dabble cause I saw you were using it one of your writing vlogs and I wanted to try it out. And I really like it a lot, my only two complains is that I wish there was character and Worlbuilding templates. And the monthly subscription, now the price isn't bad, but I hate the fact that I have to pay for it monthly. I'd be easier to just pay for it one time or to at least have the option. I know there's the thing where monthly subscriptions allows us updates to make the product. Okay, but guess what? Programs that have a one time payment manage to put out updates just find without monthly payments. If you have to make it a constant payment, a least make it yearly. I'd rather pay it once a year than once a month.

[@PorschaWrites]

I'm late to the party but I've wondered about Dabble. I'm not a huge fan of subscription based but this looks like what I need so I may just cough it up. I'm frustrated with Scrivener because it's just too much bell and whistle for me.

[@CarrowBrown]

I will say that they are always doing things to make it better all the time. Their sure had a list of features in the works. I pinned a comment from them where they explained why they choose subscription over one time fee.

[@poetspicecolorwrite]

Thanks for the info!

[@CarrowBrown]

You are most welcome!

[@emilyharvey4930]

Aww man, I was really interested in Dabble because it looks like a less complicated version of Scrivener. But subscription, gah

[@CarrowBrown]

It definitely is a less complicated version of Scrivener. I am in the same boat because I really want to use it, but am making a living off an author budget.

[@brycewilby6294]

How did you get Grammarly into Dabble?

[@CarrowBrown]

I have it on my browser, but Dabble also has improved their spell/grammar feature in the program itself.

[@NevynTheWizard]

@@CarrowBrown It won't work now, neither ProWritingAid

[@RayLaRue]

You can buy a lifetime subscription (one time purchase). That is something most others do not offer!

[@tammydreamwriter2877]

My personal for dabbler would be that there isn’t an iPad/mobile version available so they can be used offline. I really think it’s me that dabbler allows you to schedule days off which I could find very useful. Sadly the subscription is a bit too much for me so I will probably pass on it.

[@paddy.callaghan.fitness]

I think they have lifetime purchase now (from their FAQs): Want a lifetime plan? A one-time payment of $399 gives you all features forever (no discounts allowed, sorry). Purchase from checkout after creating an account.

[@CarrowBrown]

That is good to know, thank you. They have made a lot of changes since I made this video and I may need to do another one in a month or so.

[@MrMelby]

The pricing scheme is stupid. Twice as much *per year* than the cost of Scrivener for software that is *less* comprehensive and lacks so many features of Scrivener? Makes absolutely no sense.

[@tinalear]

This explanation really jumps around so fast, I got more confused as it went on. Really need a more step by step showing of how to create some of these elements

[@CarrowBrown]

Thank you for the feedback. I'll keep that in mind in the future when I do these kinds of videos.