Looking at the bright side, I did write every day this week. If you lived around me last year you'll know why this excites me.
Toward the end of 2011, I got a new writing aid software called Anthemion's Writer's Cafe. It's freeware,
so there's the odd bit that responds a little unexpectedly. However, the software is a suite of writer-assist programs, like a journal, scrapbook, and notes. But the best piece is called StoryLines.
Based on the story-building strategy of using notecards for keeping character, setting, plot, and scene notes (in order to easily move them around) StoryLines allows you to create characters, copy in pictures that help remind you of their physical characteristics if you like, add a music clip or two that you associate with the character, write out other notes, and even write scenes you may never use, to get to know them. And it all stays linked to the character name. It has a timeline feature to which you attach and rearrange (drag/drop) the scene cards, which are linked also to the setting cards and character cards so you can sketch out who you want to be in the scene. When you get to the writing of scenes (content), if one character doesn't fit, you can swap in another and tweak the dialogue to fit them. Or if you realize you need to bring in someone additional, just add their character card.
The end result scenes, with one menu selection, output as an Open Office file. Again, I had to tweak the export layout a bit, but what a wonderful time saver. No more messy paper files, and no more bits and pieces of stories all over my hard drive or my desk and floor. Brilliant!
Final note: The default set up seems to be designed to most help screenwriters, but it has been a godsend to me and seems to match the hodge-podge way my muse wants to work right now allowing snippets of ideas, notes on characters and settings to coexist with story. Since Dec 30, I have sketched out 4 locations, 3 characters, and 9 scenes. In the last week I've written six scenes on that same story, amounting to more than 6000 words.
It even has a timer internally so I can be sure to start-stop when I need to on a hectic workday morning.
Wonderful!
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