The Best Writing Software For 2023: It's Not The One You Think...

[@michaelblackwell3939]

It's better to have offline backup running anyway for all files you create, not just those for your writing. So your Scrivener files would be backed up with everything else. I learned long ago anything subscription based is a risk, cloud based services even more so. A 7 year old version of a program will still open files. I've got 20 year old programs I'm still using. A cloud based service vanishes and you're lost. Springpad hurt me the most! I lost a fair bit of work. Sometimes you get a lot of notice, other times it's mere weeks. And that's assuming you catch their email or log on regularly. Doesn't matter what it is now, cloud based or stand alone software, anything in propriety format I always export a copy into plain text. And it's easy to set up a simple backup program to copy every hour to a flash drive, and to have offline cloud backup. For extra belt and braces, keep a weekly flash drive backup off site.

[@TheBrilliantPhoenix]

Your story echoes things that has happened to me before. I've fried hard drives and lost things when 'guaranteed' apps have gone under. But it just brings home the fact that it is never a good thing to only rely on one method of storage. Cloud apps are great while I'm writing, but I try to always keep a backup or two in other locations.Right now I have a backup on Google Drive and another on Microsoft One (I despise MicroSloth, but they're practically forcing it down my throat so might as well). I even print completed stories (although I do apologize ahead of time to the tree I'm helping kill :P).

[@franckleveneur676]

There are a lot of app that allow you to backup off line or external drive. I use Carbon Copy cloner. It’s not too expensive, allow you to schedule backup to anything

[@PhononLabs]

Convention is working asuming you already lost one of the copies. This means you should always have at least the original and a copy, and the rule of thumb is 1 copy = 0 copies, 2 copies = 1 copy, 3 copies = 2 copies, and so on. Best practice is to have one of the copies in a cloud storage service or at least not locally storaged, while another copy is in local storage because as you said, you can't 100% rely on cloud services.

[@tomarcarjack]

Um… scrivener DOES have automatic backup! And it syncs to the cloud as well. I use it across 2 Mac, an iPad, and my phone ALL THE TIME! Scrivener has documentation on how to do it. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that since it IS software that resides on-device, you need to close out on a given device before opening on another. But if you forget, the software creates versions and stores them on your device if you forget.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thank you! I definitely hadn’t realized that. I’m working on an updated version of the video for 2024 and I’ll definitely clear that up this time.

[@timbrophy]

May I ask you some questions? I’m using Scrivener on my only computer, an iPad. I’m running into problems. Any great guides?

[@tomarcarjack]

@@timbrophy only an iPad? Or a computer AND an iPad? If the later, PC or Mac? And what issues are you having?

[@Jeremy-am]

​@@timbrophymake sure the sync doesn't mess up, I've had issues editing on iPad & not closing out and then opening on the Mac and corrupting everything

[@samuelcollie2050]

I have been using Scrivener. It is a steep learning curve. I just found Atticus via another author and I like what I am seeing.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I used Atticus to do all my paperback formatting for my Kickstarter print campaign last year and found it SO MUCH easier to use than Scrivener. I haven't tried writing in it yet, but it might work for that too and I know they're continuing to update the software.

[@ajwalker4416]

Appreciate the recommendation for Atticus. I agree, Scrivener has a very steep learning curve when you just want to start writing. However, Atticus is hella expensive. It looks great but that price - ouch!😳

[@scottmitchell9856]

​@ajwalker4416 What...? Atticus is way cheaper from everything I have read thus far. Am I missing something?

[@russelldoty2743]

​@@scottmitchell9856 Atticus is $147 according to their website, while Scrivener is $60 for one of its two desktop platforms and $96 for both. Scrivener also has a copious number of discount codes out there, so it's possible to get it for as low as $30 in the right circumstances.

[@lisaloveslenormand6357]

I'm so glad this video showed up for me this morning! I've been knocking myself out trying to learn Scrivener and there was just something about it that made me uncomfortable - things that you mention here. I want no part of monthly subscriptions - in fact, it angers me to think that I'd have to pay someone every month just to be a writer! I refuse to be held hostage. Um, ok, I'm done with my little rant. Reedsy it is! I don't need anything fancy. When I began writing, PCs weren't even available yet! I come from notebooks - good old pen and paper! Thank you so much for this. Great job presenting the fact.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

So glad I could help!

[@emberdragon4248]

My issue with Reedsy is not being able to use it offline. Doesn’t feel great to get booted from _my own_ book every time the internet wavers slightly.

[@tammydreamwriter2877]

This video was very helpful for me. I use my ipad and the scrivener app is nothing like the desktop version. Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I’m glad it was helpful!

[@jasonjohntyler]

You said you were considering moving toward using NovelPad or LivingWriter, but you did not say which of the two you decided to use. You did say they were both pretty much the same which interested me because NovelPad is also similar to Dabble only better when it comes to writing from your scene, info and plot cards which Dabble can't do. Personally, I prefer NovelPad because of the option to write from virtually anywhere within the software. This is fantastic. Even if you are in the plotting section or the character comparison part of the software or if you in the timeline, just with one single click you can begin your writing right there where everything is linked by you, connected and so very intuitive. So that's why I chose NovelPad over LivingWriter, Scrivener and Dabble. The second reason I chose NovelPad is because it's brilliant with drag and drop, click and move or click and immediately write where LivingWriter involves a lot more clicks and a lot more setting up when it comes to using scene cards or the plotting section. LivingWriter is not one simple click - and you there - or one single click and drag - and you are done - like you find in NovelPad. Instead LivingWriter, although still easy to use, is a lot more of telling the software what to so so that everything is connected and intuitive where NovelPad already knows what to do as you do your thing within the app. I guess what I'm saying in summary is that for me NovelPad is the easiest to use, the least complicated with the least drama when you just want to get down to the business of plotting, planning or writing your novel. Please let me know what you finally settled on. I am very interested know your final choice.

[@lyndonkessler4766]

Great reviews with Pro's and Cons. Best Pro: Use what works best for YOU. Worst Con is ANYTHING Subscription Based. I was wondering when/if you would get around to 'Readsy's Book writing online. I tried Readsy's Book writing --- It works quite well, I was surprised and pleased, but that is not my preferred method of working. I transcribe by hand all of my Brainstorming and Layouts the input into a Blank Scrivener Doc to do all of my 'Zero' Draft set up and then proceed the development through to the 'Final Draft'. I the Hemingway Desktop editor to keep my writing simple and understandable. Writing is a challenge, use anything to help you along the way and alway pinch your pennies until the scream.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Great tips! And I’m with you on staying away from subscriptions whenever possible. I’ve always loved handwriting my drafts but the transcribing process is tedious so I typically don’t. I’m hoping to get an e-ink tablet soon and experiment with automatic handwriting transcription to see if I can work it back into my routine.

[@thedailyheat]

Thank you for this. I’m going with Reedsy because I switch between the iPad and a PC. It makes Scrivener ridiculous. Scrivener should be ashamed of itself for staying in the stone ages, but a lot of writers are older gen and will stick to it with loyalty like mad. I’m surprised Amazon hasn’t jumped on the bandwagon and created something for Kindle. Thank you!!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I completely agree with you. It made sense for them to have a software divide 6+ years ago, but at this point it’s just lazy development and I find it harder and harder to recommend Scrivener to people every year.

[@elainemclellan9239]

I am using living Writer now. I do have Scrivener as well but I found it frustrating and I honestly do not need all the features f Scrivener. That being said, I just started with Living Writer a few weeks ago and I've already learned how I want to organize my writing and research. I am a nonfiction writer right now so I don't have character development. I hope to learn much more about what Living Writer does, and I'm sorry to leave Scrivener in the dust, at least for now. Thanks for the info in this video. Very helpful and clear information.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Great to hear! Scrivener can definitely be very complicated

[@the420man23]

Recently started writing and really appreciate your video. I've been using Word and it's a pain to keep things organized.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Welcome to the world of wordsmithing! I hope you find some of my videos helpful. Please drop a comment if there’s ever something specific you’d like me to make a video on.

[@BekBeks000]

Really great video. Helped a lot thank you. Note - Living writer, i noticed, has a lifetime purchase option which is 3.33 years of the annual subscriptions ($499 in Australia). Much more expensive than Scrivener’s $39 price but would save you $ if you’re definitely going to need / use it long term.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Very glad to hear it was helpful! And great tip about the lifetime option I hadn’t noticed that when I researched it.

[@craigozancin]

I just checked. It is now $699 US. That's not an option for me.

[@thedailyheat]

Wow - I totally agree - considering most people won’t even make that much on all their book sales put together. That’s taking advantage of hopeful writers all day long! @@craigozancin

[@memr5690]

@@craigozancin Sounds like something I would only buy if I write and publish a whole book in through the yearly subscription, then I would consider reinvesting the money back into the Lifetime Purchase if I intend to write a whole series or something in it.

[@twinkleschascleyochim8001]

Thank you so so much, you are a very kind person to share your knowledge with us much love

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Of course! I’m glad you found it helpful

[@henrikmartensson2044]

Both Windows and MacOs comes with native cloud storage solutions, so that Scrivener does not have it built-in, is not a real issue. DropBox is the recommended cloud service for use with Scrivener. Google Drive also works. There used to be issues with cloud storage, but these have been solved. The compiler, used for creating formatted output, is a very good idea, but the implementation is unnecessarily complicated. My main issue is with formatting lists, which is so bad it often requires manual fixes after compilation. That means formatting non-fiction books can be a hassle. Overall, I do like Scrivener a lot, despite its quirks.

[@johnore6297]

Danke. Nice and clear. Reedsy sounds great. I'm tired of dealing with Scrivener.

[@Oldhouseguy]

I started with Reedsy but images can only fit the page since this program is designed for a small sized novel not a full 8x10 sheet. I want a small image wtih text next to it but that cannot be done - hence looking for a new program. Additionally it seems most of the programs are for novels - not a textbook size page and footnotes are barely mentioned.

[@teuliano]

For what I use it for in writing novels, Scrivener is great. I find it easier to stay organized than in Word and OneNote and use the cards for summarizing chapters. I save to DropBox and therefore have copies locally on computer and laptop, and on the cloud. What I wonder about the web-based packages is, can you write without internet access?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Most cloud based programs have an offline mode, but if Scrivener is working well for you then I’m not sure you need to worry about switching unless there’s something specific you’re looking for.

[@douglasroff4131]

A very good video and I enjoyed the comments too. One note. On the last of your video sections dealing with Reedsy, you have it as "REESES Book Editor" . That made me think of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, which led me back to my college days, which led me to why I was enjoying ReesesPeanut Butter Cups munchies in the first place. I love Reeses Peanut Butter Cups; I wonder if I'll enjoy using Reeses Book Editor as much too. Just thoughts to lighten the day.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha good catch. They are my favorite treat so maybe my brain was trying to send me a message 😂

[@kythara3196]

I did try scrivener at first, but I bought it right before the new update came out and I was then required to repurchase the entire thing for full price just to get the update. I really didn’t like that plus the windows version is always way behind the Mac version which irritates me to no end.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yeah that’s really frustrating! Ive just kept using the version I bought years ago but I suppose I should look at the update to see what it added. Requiring existing users to pay for updates is a terrible business practice in my opinion.

[@kythara3196]

Yeah, to me, it seems like their own version of a subscription. It’s just you’re paying a flat fee for every update instead of paying a smaller fee every month.

[@Tajhad]

On the whole it represents good value. I too paid for an upgrade- but after a few years of use. I have been using it for about 7 years and paid $90 for one upgrade ( I could have kept using the older version with no issue). To me that represents a minor outlay for the amount of use I have gotten out of it. I agree the windows version lags slightly behind the Mac, but still great software. They are only a small team - therefore things take a little longer, but I would have to ague it is nothing like a subscription model.

[@watnoudan]

Onenote all the way! Its intuitive, its as complex as you WANT it to be without a learning curve i would say. It's cheap/free... You can outline as much and as deep as you want. You can make backups locally (if you don't trust your books being stored in a hack-able cloud environment) or you can store it on the one drive cloud. It's no hassle, it's reliable, it auto backups everything, and it does not look like it was made in 1995. Living writer looks nice though, but it's way up there for pricing and it's cloud only??? I tried Scrivener for years and i never got used to it. I simply hate it to be honest. It does everything indeed, except for letting you write in peace.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Great recommendation! I’m working on an updated video with more programs for 2024 so I’ll definitely include that, thank you

[@cs19575]

Thank you. I been using scrivener for screenwriting before I purchased Final Draft. Now I'm certain that I'll use scrivener strictly for books.

[@EJBert]

I'm fine with Word and being a power user I find its pretty adaptable too. Combined with MS Office 365 I have copies running on four different computers in sync including an M1 MacBook Pro. I also find it easier to work with AI as well such ProWritingAId. Also have Final Draft and use SudoWrite but never got into Scrivener. Your mileage may vary.

[@JonathanAlder]

I’ve never used a web app that saves more reliably than a computer. I once tried novelpad and I didn’t even go a day without lost work and sync issues. I like scrivener and Ulysses, though

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s a fair point. I’ve never had that issue but if you’re having to constantly check your saved or make manual saves anyway then it kind of defeats the point of cloud saves. I’ve always used cloud saves for consistent, regular backups and then done weekly manual backups and that has worked well for me for years. Thanks for sharing!

[@lethargogpeterson4083]

Never used Scrivener, but I wonder if storing the local Scrivener files in a local folder that is automatically synced to a cloud would work well.

[@96percentchimp]

It's standard practice for most Scrivener users to save your working files to a local folder that syncs with Dropbox, and your back ups to either Dropbox or another cloud service (I use Google Drive, but they're ZIPs so it doesn't matter). I am very wary of proprietary cloud-based services because you're at their mercy unless you regularly export to local storage in Word etc. If that business dies or their cloud dies, your work dies with it. Scrivener's base format is RTF (inside the Scriv files), so you can always open Scriv files in Word etc.

[@kristinehedegaardthellesen712]

Thanks for a fine intro to different tools. If you use dropbox - you can safe on both your laptop and on dropbox at the same time.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks for the tip! I’m planning to include that info in my next video about scrivener

[@dariusstorylab]

Thank you for this review! It was super helpful!

[@sparkalightnow]

Comprehensive and so helpful!!! Thank you.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s great to hear!

[@conniefoxx9813]

What about Penzu? It's not fancy, but it's online and autosaves.

[@ChristineKeup]

Thank you very much for this information. Very helpful.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gingersnap5245]

I’d buy Scrivener, but it won’t work on my Windows S mode. Windows App Store insists I turn off S mode off before downloading. Two people I know turned off S and ruined their windows computer.

[@ChuckMarkham]

Question: I have used both Living Writer and Scrivener. I am nervous about saving and backup. So, If I use Living Writer, I would like to back up to the hard drive for very simple and not-so-simple reasons. What if I stop paying them or they go out of business or the censors decide to access cloud-based documents? THen of course there are all the things that go wrong that we haven't even thought about. On the other hand, On Scrivener, I have a hard time knowing where the documents or stored on my c drive, which is scary enough, and add to that the simple fact of issues related to damage to the C drive damage. So, is there a way to save on Living Writer to Dropbox, or c drive or both? Also, is there a way to easily organize my files on Scrivener and for them to be saved to another cloud, as well, like drop box? I know that's a lot, but those are my concerns. Feedback?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes, those are all very important questions! I’m fraud I don’t have much advice to offer for Livingwriter since I haven’t used it myself. For Scrivener, you can set up the file system to save wherever you want on a hard drive, but when backing up you need to make sure you save the entire scrivener project folder, not just the core .scrv file. I keep my writing folders in Onedrive so that they backup automatically, and then every so often I upload everything to Dropbox and put it all on my external backup drive because I’m paranoid 😂. Hope that helps!

[@rubyspot..]

Is there a way to make the sidebar NOT disappear whenever im writing on LivingWriter? Cause it drives me insane! Im writing and need to focus on it but i also need to know that i don´t have to move the whole interface to get to the type modifications!

[@logaandm]

I keep my Scrivener Projects on Microsoft's OneDrive. I keep the auto-backups on the local drive. I use Scrivener and OneDrive on both PC and Mac without issues. In my experience it is the most seamless cloud storage system. OneDrive, for most things acts like a local drive for the end user. iCloud is not bad if you are Apple only. Like all storage systems you must wait till the files are saved/synchronized. This takes longer with cloud storage and slow internet connections. The solution to 90% of OneDrive problems is to wait till the files are synced with the cloud.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That might actually be where some of the issues I had with automatic backup were caused. Thanks for the tip!

[@crystal-steelbutterfly]

Thank you for this video, worth every minute spent watching it. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Glad to hear!

[@martybluhm7396]

As a new kid who is exploring a new venture, your video was extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s great! Best of luck with all your writing

[@marychrissemrow2555]

I'm writing memoir and looking for organization features. Which is best.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

For non-fiction organization structure I would look at Scrivener first.

[@JezLerman]

Storyist for me. Syncs across iCloud (unlike Scrivener) and a joy to use once you've set it up.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I took a look at Storyist based on your recommendation. It looks interesting!

[@laikadancesonthemoon9003]

This was very helpful, thank you ❤

[@yamiatemyugi]

I use google sheets for the basic character information, physical description etc and any notes I have on the character. Its quick and easy. I've been using Novel Factory recently and have enjoyed it though having to go through all my characters and add in the information when I'm already into the so deep is a little annoying

[@albelland6267]

Thanks for the information

[@liliesandteas2719]

Can you go off the grid with these software? The problem I have with web based and cloud based is the portability. It’s hard to go off to a remote place where there’s terrible internet reception and you can’t access your files. Do you have any suggestions for off-line users?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Both programs have a basic offline mode which will let you use them without WiFi and the sync up later, but if you think you’ll be doing a lot of offline writing you might consider Scrivener to keep all your files organized on physical drives.

[@Mr1gladiatore]

I wrote 4 screenplays using Movie Magic Screenwriter. It comes with a bunch of bells and whistles and I've hardly used any of them and didn't need them. I write my first draft on paper and then type it into the app. It formats it so that all I need to do is just write. Aside from spellcheck, saving my work, and then putting it in a PDF file and exporting it to where I save it on my PC, I don't really see the need for all the other stuff but I understand to each his own. Due to the writer's strike, I'm now going to start writing books but I don't see where I have to change my method. What writing app/program would you recommend that formats automatically thus allowing the user to just write? I'll probably use Hemingway to edit.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I haven’t heard of that program so I’ll have to take a look at it, thank you. If you want a relatively simple writing program that handles formatting in a fairly seamless way then I’d recommend Atticus. It has some issues but the developers have continued to update and improve it over time.

[@Mr1gladiatore]

@@justinfikestorycastle Thank you and Movie Magic Screenwriter is strictly for screenplays. It won't help anyone looking to write a book.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yeah the name does imply that huh? 😂 I’ll keep it in mind if (when?) I try my hand at a screenplay. Thanks!

[@kcw1963]

I am looking at writing a short non-fiction book so I don't need much of the scrivener hoo-ha. I may give Reedsy a look. I really will need something that helps format once the writing is done. Anyone on here tried Squibler with its AI assistance? If yes, what do you think of it? Thank you for your insights.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I haven’t used Squibler before but I’ll take a look at it. And yes, if you’re doing a short project and want better formatting support I would look at an alternative to Scrivener, probably either Reedsy or Atticus

[@johnparnham5945]

Atticus is excellent for Formatting and they are developing it for writing, Not all its writing features are there yet but they are on the way. It's a one time fee and then you have it for life. It doesn't have some of the organizational features in scrivener and if you want them, you might not like that but it's cloud based and has a backup feature as well. I am so glad that I purchased Atticus. I remember hiring a formatter and she was good, but she was expensive and the results I get from Atticus are just as good but once you've bought it, you never have to pay for formatting again. There is a bit of learning but once you've done that you will get impressive results and you can export e-pubs and PDF's with ease. There is also a word count goal feature if that appeals to you.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Ive definitely been warming to Atticus since I used it to reformat my series. I haven’t used it for draft writing yet.

[@MarkBumpus-i7r]

How would you evaluate Atticus?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I actually used Atticus to format the paperback versions of my books last year, and it worked fairly well. I’m working on an updated version of this video for 2024 so I’ll definitely include Atticus there.

[@blktauna]

I wish you'd mentioned which were subscription first. I'm not interested in being held hostage. Still Interesting and useful review.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes, someone else gave that feedback as well. This was one of my first videos so definitely still learning as I go. I’ll be sure to upfront that kind of info in the future. Thanks for helping me improve!

[@blktauna]

@@justinfikestorycastle thank you for doing the vid!

[@DuchessDale]

Appreciated this video. I am an Apple based (read that as intuitive & user friendly) and brought Scrivener & found it daunting. I do not want anything subscription based. My books lean towards non-fiction memoir and self-help (I have Final Draft gathering dust) so I want something that doesn't make my eyes spin to try to organize. I am going to check out Reedsy but wanted to know your thoughts on Atticus? Thanks.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Glad it was helpful! I actually used Atticus to format the print editions of my books after I filmed this video. It’s definitely less flexible than Scivener but that also makes it easier to learn and use so it might be a good middle ground for you.

[@DuchessDale]

@@justinfikestorycastle I so appreciate this speedy reply. I think I will splurge on Atticus and bypass Reedsy. I really don't want to have 2-3 software apps to manage once I transfer from MS Word.

[@jrobertlysaght]

Cool video, quite informative, and you've got my interest. However, and I'm probably too late for a reply, but I gotta ask. With the subscription based, what happens to my writing if my sub expires? Is my writing saved in a proprietary format which I lose access to opening? Or is it just the writing tools I lose access to? I'd hate to have to choose between trying to save my most current writing, notes, clipboard etc manually, just in case I I can't pay and my writing gets help hostage. Any idea how that part of it works?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Man, that is a great question! And certainly a concern. I don't have a clear answer since I haven't started using either one yet (sticking with Scrivener until my current series is finished) but I would suggest asking both platforms directly through their websites. I do know you can download your work at any point so backing up your manuscript should be fairly painless, but I'm not sure about all of the supplementary notes and files.

[@kythara3196]

I currently use LivingWriter and I know for a fact that you have one year from subscription cancellation to go in and export what you have. You can’t add anything as in you can’t type any new words but you are allowed to grab everything that is in there and export it, copy and paste, or whatever your preferred method is, out. Basically you would see everything in a read-only format.

[@jasonmunger8409]

Would you recommend the same programs for non-fiction books where the character develop features are far less valuable but you still need the ability to save and organize research?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes I think some of the reorganization and top level layout views are extremely helpful for non-fiction. And even though you won’t be using character bios, you’ll probably have a lot more research and notes to track so I think it balances out.

[@g0rdito]

What about Dabble? does it live up to any of the ones you mentioned here?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I’m actually getting ready to release an updated 2024 video and I’ll definitely include Dabble this time

[@TheBrilliantPhoenix]

I really wanted to use Scrivener, but it is so obtuse and inconsistent that I think I'm going to have to go in a different direction. I've been trying to figure out which program works best for the intricate drama/fantasy that is currently (and insistently) circling the inside of my brain. I've tried about 5 different platforms and I've really liked both NovelPad and Dabble for keeping track of the various plot lines and conflict progressions, and they are approximately the same price. I do like that Dabble's standalone app seems to be better than NovelPad's, which I've yet to figure out how to work (the help files only show how to use it with a Mac and I'm on a Windows PC). Anyway, that's my 2c!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes I agree that programs like dabble offer more support for plot and character development than scrivener. Thanks for sharing!

[@PearlyMishima]

Thank you VERY much!

[@cliffordphillips305]

The only problem I have, and this is more a problem with KZbin Search, I did a search for "Android writing apps for novels". I really don't understand why your video came up. As you are talking more about writing software for Windows and maybe Mac's. You never did mention an Android app.

[@Penandjackets]

Any plans to do a Scrivner demo?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s a great idea, thank you!

[@Selnatal]

Hello, first time in your channel. I bought Scrivener but it's a bit time consuming to learn it. There is a person trying to charge USD 60.00 but I must be crazy to try that. Maybe it will take more time to start writing. I have all my infomation, ideas, etc. in Word. Sometimes I feel lost. Please help if you have time. Thanks. Greetings from Switzerland.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Hey! Yes scrivener can be very complex. I don’t think it’s worth buying a full course unless you really want to learn every feature. I’m planning to do a video on how I use it to organize my books as I write them.

[@Selnatal]

@@justinfikestorycastle Excellent! I´ll be attentive. Thanks a lot!

[@donjensen785]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@Just_You.5]

Wow, beautiful ❤️. I love this

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Great to hear!

[@khondokerbaijid1307]

Good concept, i appreciate it.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Glad you liked it!

[@Lion-qi8ej]

These tools sound like they are more geared towards fiction. What if you are writing nonfiction?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s true. For non fiction I think Scrivener’s organizational tools would be very helpful. That’s what I’d use.

[@noregretsdj]

Thank you so much. Very informative info. I'm going to try Reedsy. I'm a 77 year old writer for the first time. A memoir. Murder, suicide, sexual abuse. Police scandal, difference between love and lust. PTSD with husband from WW11, after death, PTSD with finance from Vietnam. Moving to Las Vegas from Chicago, becoming a dealer in the casinos for 40 years and raising 2 wonderful children all with the help of God and most of all MUSIC! I've got a lot to say.🥰

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Wow that sounds great! Go forth and write :)

[@TukoAlberto]

In my opinion, suscribe plan is better than one payment. Because of the community that's paying, what I see is that they take more serious your suggestions.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

It’s true that subscription platforms typically get more frequent updates and features.

[@sisteradmn]

very helpful. thank you

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Glad to hear it!

[@ams811084]

Did you ever get a chance to review Dabble?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I’m actually working on an update writing software guide for 2024 and I’ll include dabble along with several other new ones.

[@ams811084]

@@justinfikestorycastle I’m interested in writing nonfiction and it looks like most writing apps/platforms are limited in that area. Most are geared toward fiction. As a beginner, I’m looking for a writing software that is nonfiction friendly. Look forward to seeing your update. And thanks for responding to my question.

[@stevenconver]

Great Video, (subscribed) in fact I came here because of a computer crash and lost back ups I have just lost 3 years of work. I was using scrivener I wont be using it anymore, I am at a toss up between living writer or novelpad, people will have to get over subscription services it is the way things are going unfortunately, My main job is 3D Graphics and practically every software i use is now a subscription model. Between the 2 Novelpad or Living Writer which would you recommend.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I’m so sorry to hear about your data loss! That’s the worst feeling ever. I’m partial to Novelpad’s aesthetic, but that’s a very subjective type of preference. I’d recommend exploring the free trial for both to see which ones feels best you.

[@bobbibaker4685]

I bought Scrivener for Windows 11, and don't even know how to access it on my Lenovo laptop.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

You should have gotten a welcome email from the company with an activation code to use in the program after you download and install it

[@richardbrantley1856]

What do you think of Dabble?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I actually haven’t heard of that one but I’ll check it out

[@ams811084]

I was wondering about Dabble myself

[@GentlePauseASMR]

I'm currently exploring Livingwriter. My only concern is that their support/social medias don't seem there? Very few updates and zero to interaction to people commenting. It's worrying. I'm a scrivener user but I really want a cloud-based word processor. Which one did you end up switching to?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I'm actually still using Scrivener since I started my current novel there and I don't want to switch part way through. Once it's finished I'll do a free trial of two or three options and choose the one that feels best.

[@ExpatRiot79]

I draft in scrivener and format in Atticus. It's painfully slow to draft in Atticus.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s always been my exact workflow as well. Draft in scrivener, first round of edits using grammarly and Hemingway, then format and layout in Atticus. I still hope that someday I’ll find a single solution so I don’t have to transfer between programs so often…

[@valhatan3907]

I think I might have tried all the writing software in existence

[@justinfikestorycastle]

What are your favorites so far?

[@valhatan3907]

@@justinfikestorycastle I'm still not sure, I would definitely go for LivingWriter, but the prize is meh. Meanwhile, Reedsy is good and even more simplistic than LivingWriter, but ... still not sure 😂 I'm going back with the classic MSWord

[@Bringing_mae_flowers]

Call me old-school or paranoid, but ever couple of months i make copies of all my writing between Google Docs, OneDrive, my PC, and even a thumbdrive. I got burned in college 1 too many times.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Nope, I think that’s very smart! Always better to be safe with backups.

[@Finnleigh.Jackson4141]

Good content, but one question: if you store your work in the cloud, aren't you afraid that someone will steal your manuscript before you've had a chance to edit and publish it?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s something every author needs to decide for themselves. Personally I’m not worried about it. Finding an audience for your work and getting visibility is a much bigger challenge.

[@daxmcanear]

Nobody wants to steal your stuff. Nobody cares.

[@Finnleigh.Jackson4141]

@@daxmcanear wrong

[@daxmcanear]

@@Finnleigh.Jackson4141 nope. Sorry. No one cares until it becomes money. You can still type it with your tinfoil hat though, that's cool.

[@Finnleigh.Jackson4141]

@@daxmcanear look who is talking

[@MalihaBookish]

Please do a proper video on creating a Bibliography for your book/series

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Great idea, I'll add that to my list of video ideas

[@aceofswords1725]

Storing your life's work on some proprietary subscription-based cloud somewhere gives you "peace of mind." Dude...

[@michaelyolch79]

My big fear with ANY cloud-based software is if they ever go out of business. It's happened in the past! Then...you're REALLY in a bind!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yeah that’s definitely a concern. I have a regularly scheduled physical backup session every month where I transfer stuff to a hard drive and my Dropbox, but I feel better knowing everything is automatically saved each session in between.

[@blinkofaneye4451]

You can just download every once in a while. Those types of shut downs usually come after a long warning period. Also a lot of the web based programs have a desktop version.

[@powpaul]

Tried Scrivener and there's just way too much going on. I prefer a clean modern aesthetic and that's not Scrivener.

[@gosnooky]

Reedsy has no dark mode. Dealbreaker :(

[@ddemitrius]

Thank you

[@justinfikestorycastle]

You’re welcome!

[@gondala]

Thank you for your review, especially for the scrivener... I use scrivener for a while, after watch your video I find only 2 cons for this software, i.e. about the learning curve and work everywhere (or about the cloud thing). Regarding the learning curve, i think i am ok with that because i have more time and willing to learn, and for the second con, I think I can solve it using "backup to dropbox" directly. I think there is a feature in scrivener to "backup" our work to "outside", but i guess it's only to dropbox, not google drive, or other media. Thank you...

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes I’ve learned more about automatic syncing in scrivener since I filmed this video so you can definitely do that. Glad it was helpful!

[@DemnRaig80]

I use libreoffice

[@mdsohagh3893]

I appreciate it

[@justinfikestorycastle]

You’re very welcome 😊

[@Mandolindo]

Why is this crap so HARD to find? I just want to write some stuff!!!!

[@shuklabiswas8533]

I appreciate

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Awesome I’m glad it was helpful

[@Elephantine999]

The ONLY reason that subscription software makes sense is if your employer pays for it. $120 a year for software? It better come with AI that writes the book for me! 😝

[@Matthewismargrett]

I like werdsmith

[@benx2230]

Pen and paper always works.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Definitely true! I write by hand whenever I need to figure something out in a scene, but getting it transcribed and organized later is a hassle in the long run

[@milansvancara]

nah its' support has ended, no more updates

[@jeffreynichols803]

Hard to upload but…

[@OSUbeatsmich]

@@jeffreynichols803fr 😂

[@lucphinney]

Long before the WWW I had the BBB to store my files (banker boxes in the basement)...

[@jarco5000]

Web based is a pro, but also a con. The company can disappear, and with them, also your manuscript.

[@igorzkoppt]

Scrivener, a bunch of cloud stuff and no mention of Obsidian or its alternatives. Nope, I'm out of here sorry.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I’m looking into Obsidian now thanks for the suggestion

[@NotMolly-jf2rh]

Clouds are easily hacked.

[@razawanr5035]

242024 today is the nice day 2/4/2024

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Nice!

[@warmflash]

It is a writer’s responsibility to save his/her work. DropBox and iCloud are garbage.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I definitely agree that it's an important discipline to develop but I don't know anyone who backs up to a manual drive after every writing session, even though we should. Having some security of automatic saving is a nice peace of mind feature, but you're right that it shouldn't take the place of your own saving and organizing for your work.

[@warmflash]

@@justinfikestorycastle I always backup after I write.

[@authoreddiejakes]

Save your files to a google drive. This really isn’t a con. And websites can be hacked.

[@p6x2]

There aren't any serious program that don't come with the need to learn how to use them. Simple. All of them have a requirement to understand how they work and where the features are and how to use those features. This should not be a criterion for rejection. You just need to put your head into it, and learn the concept, because Scrivener is also a concept and an architecture for writing a book. I have had to learn my companies' business applications, which never were user's friendly. To me, a software that you lose access to the moment you stop renting it, is a non-starter! In 12 months, you have purchased several licenses of Scrivener. I see that Atticus is also a one time purchase, but is that steep price justified compared to Scrivener? what does it do better, if anything? being web based is not! I own the Affinity suite, photo, designer, publisher, and it does not bother me a bit that it is not web based.

[@andrewParker668]

clown person it's reedsy not reese

[@caseyriley1014]

Thanks for not mentioning they're subscription based till the end, great at wasting time

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Good feedback! I’ll be sure to front load that kind of info in the future.

[@caseyriley1014]

@@justinfikestorycastle Thanks. Also I'm just realizing how rude my comment seems to come off, sorry bout that

[@simonasavage6752]

I use reedsy all the way!! Its free and super easy to use!!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes it’s a really great solution

[@shubrnobiswash1713]

I appreciate

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s great to hear!