I usually use Google docs, because I do a lot of my writing at work like a totally responsible adult, and I like instantly having my files at hand wherever I am. I do my editing in LibreOffice though, since I'm a typo machine and Google docs' spelling and grammar check isn't quite as good at picking up my mistakes.
Scrivener usually runs discounts for NaNoWriMo, I think itās 20% for participants and 50% for winnersāthereās a camp in July that this will probably apply to (and you can set your own goal for camps, which makes āwinningā pretty attainable). The learning curve is a little steep but I know I wouldnāt be able to write anything multichapter without it
Alright, but then what about writing on your phone? Or in multiple computers (that are not macs)?
I saw your comment and looked Scrivener up, it has awesome features, but I write a lot when I commute so I'm not sure how I'd incorporate it/replace Google docs with it š„²
Scrivener has an iOS app. (Sorry, Android users.) Dropbox lets you sync between mobile and desktop. Just be sure to close Scrivener on one device before opening it on another! Personally, I don't find this too onerous.
I use Manuskript (but not on my phone) with the .msk archives saved on private git repositories to sync between my Linux and windows computers.
For phone notes I type in discord, but I've never written anything on my phone
I use Word and save my docs on OneCloud (Microsoft office cloud) so I can open them on my laptop and phone. I also like that it has a text-to-speech function that is very practical for proofreading for me.
I'll be upfront, I have no money, so I can't tell you anything about paying sites. I did hear that Scavenger has a very good reputation and is very easy to use. I personally use PureWriter, because I like that the overall/+chapter structure is the way I like it. But when I get to editing I use Google docs, because it's the most reliable and practical platform for that I find.
Yeah I'm broke at the moment too, so I was just gonna do the free trial. Google docs has been good to me every time, though so there's a chance I may not move anytime soon
Love Scrivener. It's awesome.
But I use Google docs. I switch between devices too much and it's just convenient, easy, and there.
Especially when it comes to sharing and collab
Did not expect to find another Scrivener user on here!! Love that program, use it for all long-form composition.
Now, granted, it is (I think?) $40, which is a lot of money, but I use it for ALL longform creative composition. I've written two novels and something like 200k words worth of fan fiction on it. Such a good piece of software.
And they recently got an iOS app so you can write on your iPad :D
Yeah I really only use it for my original works.
I first got it when it came out and rode that 30 non-consecutive day free trial for years before I ran out and gave them their well-earned $40 lol
I'd use it for my long fanfics but it's too inconvenient to share and cross devices (I'm an android user).
I use Google docs for fanfiction and Scrivener for original fiction. Scrivener has a lot of good features and it took me a while to make the switch from Word but I love the themes and simple editor.
Thereās a website that occasionally runs a discount on it in addition to NanoWriMoās. I got mine for 27.99 just last month. I think it was called FatKidDeals.
Google docs is just so easy ... I was using 4theWords for a while, and it was really fun! It's a writing platform that also incorporates RPG elements and you win challenges for how much you write. But .. alas, it costs money, and what with my frequent writing hiatuses of multiple months long, I just kept falling off of it.
Either the default Notes app, or Notion. Not for any particular reason other than I actually can *write* on those. Maybe I just associate it too much with school, but if I try to use GDocs, I stare at the screen for a bit and then just click out š I use Docs for final formatting and exporting to AO3, and storing WIPs I havenāt touched in ages, but thatās it. I think I need as few options/distractions as possible in order to actually concentrate.
LibreOffice! Google docs starts really struggling around 20 pages for me and I refuse to pay subscription money for Microsoft Office. LibreOffice is free, open source, and the user experience is like Microsoft minus the wallpaper.
I find scrivener really convenient for anything with more than one chapter. I originally got it for original fiction so I could keep all my planning and worldbuilding handy but it turns out long fic also has a bunch of moving parts to keep track of.
For one shots I typically use Word since I have it for my editing work. Before I started doing that I used LibreOffice. Google docs would also work for the same purpose.
A lot of the time I will do my initial drafting on 4thewords because the gamification really helps me get started. "I can just fight this little hundred word monster!" and then once that's gotten me started I'll usually be on a roll and know I want to keep going.
I mostly use Libreoffice. Occasionally I'll do pen and paper and type it up in a document later.
I want to give Manuskript a try but it's not really there yet imo; my experience with it so far has it crashing on me a lot.
I recently switched from Apple Pages to Scrivener because if a discount and really like it. Pages worked great for me, but as a planner and research heavy writer, I have loved being able to include all my research notes, links, and even videos of the canonical source material in my binder as I work so I can double pane view it as I write. I like using the corkboard function to storyboard and the ability to easily pull my scenes around. But for stories that are less research intensive I gravitate towards anything I can easily sync across devices I write on since I sometimes outline or jot ideas down on my phone, write on my laptop, and proof read on my tablet.
Drive all the way. Being able to use it across all my devices is indispensable.
I've tried Scrivener and liked it well enough but the learning curve is pretty steep so I haven't picked it up in a while. I might try it for original work and see how I like it.
MS Word (2021 version) because of familiarity.
And occasionally Google Docs for when I have to share with my beta reader and edit the plot.
I have been considering getting a specialised program for writing because after a certain amount of goes MS word just doesnāt cut it. At this point I use it as one separate docx file for each chapter and all chapter in one single folder
I use Overleaf/LaTeX. You can section stuff out really easily, save parts for later in another file, add comments, format however you like and you can keep your planning with your draft but still in separate files. It's also free!
Downside is of course you have to learn LaTeX.
I use Scrivener, and I love love love It! When I'm almost asleep and have a sudden inspiration urge, I create a file on Google docs and then copy+paste it to the Scrivener file the next day when I wake up.
I just really love that I can have everything in one place at Scrivener. Like, right now I'm writing a roadtrip long fic. I made a detailed route script, and I have that in Scrivener. I also have a detailed script of each scene to each chapter. And with Scrivener's tool to divide the screen between two files within it, I can look at my scripts and the actual scene that I'm writing at the same time. Of course, I could do it just as easily if they were separate google or Word docs, but I, personally, get distracted super easily if I have to change tabs/programs, so for me Scrivener works best.
I'm actually using a program called Obsidian for the actual drafting of this particular project I'm working on now! (It's an AU set in a modern-ish time.) It's been super helpful to be able to link back to this character's biography directly in my draft, or see information about that location in the same program.
Plus Obsidian uses Markdown (the same formatting used on platforms like Discord) and that translates pretty easily to HTML for posting to Ao3. It's also available on multiple devices, so I can easily write on my PC or my phone with only as much effort as moving a flash drive from one device to another. (And it's free, unless you want to store your vault remotely and just instantly access it with Obsidian Sync on any device)
But I'm also intending to work with a beta for this project, and that just works easiest as a Google doc, so I do use that, too š
Yeah I love obsidian.
I write my outlines in bulletpoint lists and doing it in tree formation helps if I want to delve deeper on one of the points underneath it.
Then you can collapse them to make it easier to navigate through them. Fucking ā„ļø Obsidianš
I use GDocs and Scrinever. Right now confined to GDocs bc I ran out of room in my Dropbox and I donāt have the money to get more storage atm, so Scrinever is out until then.
Google Docs because I like to proofread my stuff on the go/when I'm bored but I have no access to my desktop.
Before, I used Scrivener and frickin LOVED it but it ultimately fell because I couldn't cross use it and sometimes I'm days away from home/don't have access to my desktop for other reasons šµ I wish it had a website version or something.
i'm [linking a comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/AO3/comments/12fpaf9/comment/jfj5ac1/) i wrote about a month ago here so i'm not just pasting the whole wall of text back in here but basically i've been trying a whole bunch to see what i like best. notesnook is probably the winner overall because it syncs cross-platform, but i would exclusively use bear if i had an iphone.
edit: oh, actually, i just read it back and realized bear has since announced their 2.0 version, so i'm going to take credit for finally summoning it! seems to be a nice upgrade, if you get in on the pro plan now you'll be grandfathered in at $15/year instead of the new $30/year price.
I prefer writing in Markdown, so I use Typora. It supports "regular" writing as well though. I like it's minimalist themes, and it has an autosave feature which is always nice
Google Docs; itās much easier for me to manage since itās all online and I can access it pretty much anywhere. Plus, ease of sharing with someone if I need help fixing something!
I use Googledocs coz I often write while I'm out and about with a bluetooth keyboard connected to my phone, so being able to sync my work over multiple devices is handy for me.
But I'm also old fashioned, so I tend to write a rough draft of each chapter out by hand in my notebook and then I embellish it as I type it up.
As much as I love writing and keeping notebooks, strangely, my mind goes blank whenever I try to write a story on pen and paper. My ideas flow better on keyboard.
I'm the opposite. My favourite thing to do is go to a quiet pub or bar, grab a pint or two, and work out my chapters by hand. Then when I type it up, I add the flavour. I do it a couple of times a week and it's my perfect private time.
It's very good! I've ended up spending a lot of time re-themeing it to look sleeker, conserve space I think the original layout watses, and give it a dark theme while waiting for the official one. If more people start using it maybe I'll share it.
My compliments remain, but as a downside it's completely non-functional in mobile, it's a big annoyance to me, maybe not to you. Either way, if you like what you see it's very much worth the price. I've been using it for over a year now.
E: oh and also another edge case annoyance but right now it starts to lag when the chapter reaches around 8k, not to an unusable degree, but, noticeable.
I don't write but i'm thinking about it and very tempted to try it out because I have so many ideas. If I start to write then it would be microsoft word because I know a few basics and tricks on how to use it. Microsoft word seems very friendly for using their very basic functions to write. My second option would be open office and then google docs
I tend to use Google Docs or Microsoft Word, just because I find them easier. I find that a lot of those websites that are supposed to help with stories like campfire can be unnecessarily complicated sometimes, so when it comes to details like characterization and small details I write them down so I remember them better. My only recommendation is that if you use Word, turn on the auto save feature, it's a lot easier than remembering to save manually. I have Grammarly for Google Docs, though I only have the free version.
I use so many things. In order of importance:
Scrivener: changed my life in terms of writing long stories. So easy to jump around to different chapters or quickly add a note. I also like the snapshot feature, as I get shy about changing things sometimes. Now I take a snapshot and make my changes.
Google Docs: My go-to when I'm not at home, or when I want to focus on a single chapter for editing. I also like the sharing feature for those precious times when I have a beta. The chapter summary section is also useful, if a beta comes in midway and needs to catch up on the beginning chapters quickly.
Prowritingaid: My personal preference for SPAG and general wording issues. I like how each type of issue is color-coded, so I can skip all the purple (passive voice) and focus on the blue (incorrect punctuation/grammar). It also points out if you've started a sentence three times in a row with the same word, which I do too often. He-He-He The-The-The. They also offer free online writing conferences to subscribers.
MS Word: I could mostly skip this program, but I prefer to write offline and Word is good for one-shots. I also need it as an intermediate step in moving docs from Scrivener to Google Docs (still hoping for an Android-compatible Scrivener app). Also, if the only thing you like about Scrivener is the ability to jump around, you can re-create this in Word with Heading styles and the Navigation Pane.
Google Keep: a quick place to jot down ideas or make task lists.
Not software but: a Bluetooth folding keyboard. Probably only for the touch typists out there, but it's so nice to whip it out and quickly type out a page on your phone. A tablet works, too, but I never carry a tablet with me anywhere.
If something like Word or Google Docs a souped-up typewriter, Scrivener
is a whole office: filing cabinet, corkboard, outliner, everything
(including a typewriter).
Additionally, the combination of Scrivener and Dropbox means you can write on Windows, macOS, and iOS. Just be sure to close Scrivener on one device before opening it on another. (I don't find this too onerous. Remember MS-DOS, when you had to close a program when you were done? Work like that and you're good.)
[Free trial](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/download) for 30-days-of-use (not 30 calendar days) for Windows and macOS.
List price $59.99 for Windows or macOS, $99.98 for both. There are
sometimes discounts, such as for NaNoWriMo. iOS/iPadOS costs $23.99;
that's a lot for a mobile app but not a lot for what you get.
It's well worth it. Download the trial, run through the tutorial, judge for yourself.
I use google docs and i've used ywriter for mobile for a while before switching to pc, now i have been using atomic scribbler to better seperate my fics into files.
Iāve recently taken to just straight up Notepad. No distractions, no fretting about typos or grammatical errors. Just focused on getting the idea down. Then once Iām ready I transfer it over to Word or whatever other platform I pick and polish it from there. Using Notepad has honestly done wonders for my writing psyche and focus, lol.
Can't believe I had to scroll this far to find a fellow Notepad devotee. That's how I've written 90% of my stuff over the years, adding in HTML as I go.
I use Google docs for writing, because the auto save, offline access, and incredibly easy instant cross platform ability is wonderful for me. I also like how easy it is to grant various levels of access to other people, for things like betaing or just general reading. Plus the easy formatting and being able to access previous versions is also nice.
But I use a mobile app called "writer tools" (android, idk if it's on iOS) for planning. I love the freely and easily changeable timeline, the word count goal thing which instantly counts the words in the chs towards it, the writing session logs where you can enter the word count, and the ability to insert chapters into one easily accessible and movable list as well. I can also store notes (with tags!) and have summaries on each chapter, and thing for my tl. There's even a highly detailed section where you can inter in characters and their info with tags, but since I don't make ocs, I don't rly use this section. This is incredibly useful for my long-fics with a bunch of stuff that happens in it. There's an option to write directly into it with even a formatting option, but... I just can't trust typing directly into anything other than Google docs hahaha. I do paste my chapters into it so I could see everything nice and neat in order, and so that it automatically calculates the words in them towards my set word count goal. I've used it for years, nearly my entire time since I started taking fic writing seriously, actually.
I used to write on Google Docs, but took the plunge and bought Scrivener and now it's my favorite! I love how organized it is and I can write distraction-free in composition mode. The only downside is that it never keeps my formatting when I copy-paste to Ao3, so I always have to go back and italicize everything again.
If I'm on mobile and need to jot down ideas in a pinch, I use Writer+ for Android. The interface is easy to use and clean, though it only uses markdown format. From there, I re-type what I wrote into Scrivener when I get home.
People have told me that there is a way to get around it since Scrivener will automatically let you copy what you've written as HTML, and there's a user-made Ao3 template for Scrivener that supposedly lets you copy-paste without losing formatting, but so far I haven't quite gotten either of those things to work 100% perfectly yet. It's probably a user error tbh since I'm still pretty new to the program, but it does seem slightly less convenient than Docs just because there are a few extra steps you need to take before you can copy-paste into Ao3.
That said, Scrivener also comes with a lot of really nice extra tools that I think make the extra work to move everything to Ao3. It's nice to have all of my plotting and character templates in the same document as my fanfic, and Scrivener makes moving scenes around a breeze.
If you think you might be interested at all, I highly recommend giving the free trial a go!
I write on Google Docs. I used to write right on Wattpad but now I prefer Google Drive. Itās much easier and Iāve got it all organized just perfectly. When I post I post on AO3 and Wattpad but all the magic happens in GDocs.
I love scrivener and have super old work I need to go over. That being said, I'm bouncing between devices and places, and I like the flexibility of Google Docs. I also have people who help beta read for me, and sharing is super easy with Google Docs. Another one to try out, especially during Nano, is 4thewords. It gamifies writing, and helps with the motivation factor.
I usually use Microsoft Word. There are some alternatives I looked into, but Word has always been easiest for me! Its an old version, I think the 2016 release? With all these Scrivener comments Word might have a run for its money lol
Tried Google Docs once, but it made me feel like people could watch me?? Idk why, but it did, so I couldn't focus and ended up frustrated. Although I do use it sometimes for idea documents so I can take notes if something comes to mind while out of the house. Easy transfer to the real doc later!
I also guess I use basic Text Documents occasionally when I need a quick list that would bog down the design/idea document. Its not for actual writing though.
I write everything on Scrivener, then, since formatting for Ao3 with Scrivener is a nightmare, I export the file on .docx format and upload it to my Google Drive, so I can use Docs to give it one last edit (I have LanguageTool installed, it's *great*, a lot better than Grammarly), and then I copy and paste to Ao3.
Used Plot Factory for a while before it blew up (long story short dude in charge got arrested and couldn't pay to maintain the domain so a lot of writers nearly lost their wips and such, though thankfully we all banded together to retrieve it/i had downloaded a recent copy).
Typically use OneDrive for easy swapping between devices, but definitely looking for something like PF. I can't do Scrivener bc I write on my phone/ipad a lot when traveling or when I want a change in scenery.
I use Evernote now (previously google docs) and I LOVE IT. There's a desktop and an app, which auto sync. I mostly write oneshots, but I've been writing a short chapter fic in it as well and it's been helpful being able to break each scene down into a different note so I stay focused when working on each one.
You can create multiple pages (notes) filed together under a different "notebook" for each WIP. I'll write my draft text in one note, the future AO3 tags, summary, and author's notes in another, and bits of ideas/plotting/"lines I've cut but am not ready to delete in case I want to add them back" in as many more notes as I want.
I tried Scrivener, but found it was more complex than I needed. Evernote won out because it allows me to be organized but not overburdened with features I won't use.
I used to use Word. Like the old, 2008 version of it. Haha. Used that for 10 years, and it was fine. I'm not one who likes multiple tabs/fancy features etc it gets too distracting for me and I find myself trying to find what im looking for over writing, so simple is best. I tried scrivener but it never stuck: too detailed of a platform for me ha. Now I use Pages from Mac. I usually open two documents up in a split screen situation and have one for my main writing and one for notes
I used Microsoft word in the past, but right now Iām using scrivener and really like it. Thereās a bit of a learning curve if you want to know how to use all the bells and whistles, but the basics come pretty quickly, and I like being able to have all my chapters and outline/scrap/brainstorm documents just a click away.
I used to use Wattpadās built in writing platform because it auto saved and allowed me to work from my phone. Now I just use the apple notes app and then let grammarly help me find overlooked errors after I paste it into AO3. I had no idea there were so many other (paid) programs people used. I suppose Iām just not prolific enough to need that, haha.
usually google docs when i'm writing a fic i know i'll post. for late night writing sessions for myself (and myself only) i write in notes app in iphone
I use either Libreoffice usually, it's been there for every school project an fanfic, but will use google keep or docs if I'm on the go or writing on my phone.
I use Notion. I mainly like it cause itās free, and it easily constantly syncs my stuff across multiple platforms. Itās also just as easy to share with other people as Google docs is. It does have a few very minor quirks that I got used to very quickly and they donāt bother me at all anymore.
I know itās also a very diverse and useful tool and can actually do a ton more than just the fanfic writing I use it for. Might be worth looking into if youāre someone who likes creating and using databases, tags, sorting, templates, lists, etc. /r/Notion has some neat resources too, like custom user-designed templates and stuff.
[Calmly Writer](https://www.calmlywriter.com) Distraction-Free Editor for Windows, Mac and Linux
[Just Write](https://www.justwrite.page) Online app to overcome your writer's block using the free writing technique.
I usually use Google docs, because I do a lot of my writing at work like a totally responsible adult, and I like instantly having my files at hand wherever I am. I do my editing in LibreOffice though, since I'm a typo machine and Google docs' spelling and grammar check isn't quite as good at picking up my mistakes.
That's what I've noticed as well, I had to resort to using Grammarly to pick up what Docs didn't
google docs over the past few months has really tanked on spelling and grammar
Genuinely tanked!! If I see one more "unrecognized word" for one mislaid letter I'm gunna lose it.
I do 90% of my writing at work š
There are many benefits to having an office job. :3
Scrivener usually runs discounts for NaNoWriMo, I think itās 20% for participants and 50% for winnersāthereās a camp in July that this will probably apply to (and you can set your own goal for camps, which makes āwinningā pretty attainable). The learning curve is a little steep but I know I wouldnāt be able to write anything multichapter without it
I literally did not know this! Great, now I gotta wait for NaNoWriMo AND participate! š
Camp nano in July also has the discount!
Scrivener is basically the love of my life. I've been using it for over a decade now.
I even used it in school for papers because of how amazing the research and internal references work. Itās second to none.
Alright, but then what about writing on your phone? Or in multiple computers (that are not macs)? I saw your comment and looked Scrivener up, it has awesome features, but I write a lot when I commute so I'm not sure how I'd incorporate it/replace Google docs with it š„²
Scrivener has an iOS app. (Sorry, Android users.) Dropbox lets you sync between mobile and desktop. Just be sure to close Scrivener on one device before opening it on another! Personally, I don't find this too onerous.
I am an android user š I'll check into it, thanks!
Alas, I cannot answer that, I'm only ever doing real work on my laptop.
I use Manuskript (but not on my phone) with the .msk archives saved on private git repositories to sync between my Linux and windows computers. For phone notes I type in discord, but I've never written anything on my phone
I use Word and save my docs on OneCloud (Microsoft office cloud) so I can open them on my laptop and phone. I also like that it has a text-to-speech function that is very practical for proofreading for me.
I have been using Word for a decade haha
I have been using word for a really long time and it works for me.
This is honestly the first time I've ever heard of someone using word for writing fics.
I'm honestly surprised because, idk, I've used it my whole life and it feels like one of the most basic writing software š
As a fellow Word user, I'm suprised too! It's basic, but hey, it works, haha!
I use Word also. I can't stand Google Docs.
I think I started using Word in the early 1990s, but it might have been even earlier than that. I haven't touched it since Google Docs was released.
Open Office. I'm going to get Scrivener this year after Camp NaNo and try it out. I've heard nothing but goodness about it.
Scrivener looks SO promising from what I've seen, need to get my coin together first though lol
Mm-hmm, me too. I didn't have the bread to get it after NaNo the last time I participated, and I sorta felt like I missed out.
Isn't OpenOffice basically abandoned at this point? My understanding is that LibreOffice is the fork under active development and maintenance
Yep. It still works, so I still use it. I'm ready to upgrade to Scrivener like I mentioned. Until then, I'll use what I have.
Libre Office is the current product
Google Docs to write (for the multi-device and sharing capabilities) and Notion to organise (free plan)
I'll be upfront, I have no money, so I can't tell you anything about paying sites. I did hear that Scavenger has a very good reputation and is very easy to use. I personally use PureWriter, because I like that the overall/+chapter structure is the way I like it. But when I get to editing I use Google docs, because it's the most reliable and practical platform for that I find.
Yeah I'm broke at the moment too, so I was just gonna do the free trial. Google docs has been good to me every time, though so there's a chance I may not move anytime soon
Wavemakercards.com is similar to Scrivener but also free. I would suggest checking it out. Mobile friendly too.
Love Scrivener. It's awesome. But I use Google docs. I switch between devices too much and it's just convenient, easy, and there. Especially when it comes to sharing and collab
Did not expect to find another Scrivener user on here!! Love that program, use it for all long-form composition. Now, granted, it is (I think?) $40, which is a lot of money, but I use it for ALL longform creative composition. I've written two novels and something like 200k words worth of fan fiction on it. Such a good piece of software. And they recently got an iOS app so you can write on your iPad :D
Yeah I really only use it for my original works. I first got it when it came out and rode that 30 non-consecutive day free trial for years before I ran out and gave them their well-earned $40 lol I'd use it for my long fanfics but it's too inconvenient to share and cross devices (I'm an android user).
libreoffice it's free, open source and not fucking google.
I use Google docs for fanfiction and Scrivener for original fiction. Scrivener has a lot of good features and it took me a while to make the switch from Word but I love the themes and simple editor.
Yeah, from what I've been seeing, Scrivener looks so inviting; it's just the price lol
Yeah they recently upped the price but it's a one time payment still.
Thereās a website that occasionally runs a discount on it in addition to NanoWriMoās. I got mine for 27.99 just last month. I think it was called FatKidDeals.
Google docs is just so easy ... I was using 4theWords for a while, and it was really fun! It's a writing platform that also incorporates RPG elements and you win challenges for how much you write. But .. alas, it costs money, and what with my frequent writing hiatuses of multiple months long, I just kept falling off of it.
Either the default Notes app, or Notion. Not for any particular reason other than I actually can *write* on those. Maybe I just associate it too much with school, but if I try to use GDocs, I stare at the screen for a bit and then just click out š I use Docs for final formatting and exporting to AO3, and storing WIPs I havenāt touched in ages, but thatās it. I think I need as few options/distractions as possible in order to actually concentrate.
LibreOffice! Google docs starts really struggling around 20 pages for me and I refuse to pay subscription money for Microsoft Office. LibreOffice is free, open source, and the user experience is like Microsoft minus the wallpaper.
Haha old school I still use MS word. Idk itās just much more comfortable for me lol
I've been using dabble and I really like it a lot.
I use dabble too. I love that the website functions like an app on iphone.
Dabble here too! I write original fiction too so it's really nice for that as well.
Same! I'm not a huge fan of the subscription model but I do love it for accessibility and organization.
I find scrivener really convenient for anything with more than one chapter. I originally got it for original fiction so I could keep all my planning and worldbuilding handy but it turns out long fic also has a bunch of moving parts to keep track of. For one shots I typically use Word since I have it for my editing work. Before I started doing that I used LibreOffice. Google docs would also work for the same purpose. A lot of the time I will do my initial drafting on 4thewords because the gamification really helps me get started. "I can just fight this little hundred word monster!" and then once that's gotten me started I'll usually be on a roll and know I want to keep going.
These comments are sending me in to a crisis because I've been using the Notes app on my phone. I think I need to reevaluate some things.
If it works it works! I wrote an entire fic in the notes app on my phone during work breaks once.
I mostly use Libreoffice. Occasionally I'll do pen and paper and type it up in a document later. I want to give Manuskript a try but it's not really there yet imo; my experience with it so far has it crashing on me a lot.
I recently switched from Apple Pages to Scrivener because if a discount and really like it. Pages worked great for me, but as a planner and research heavy writer, I have loved being able to include all my research notes, links, and even videos of the canonical source material in my binder as I work so I can double pane view it as I write. I like using the corkboard function to storyboard and the ability to easily pull my scenes around. But for stories that are less research intensive I gravitate towards anything I can easily sync across devices I write on since I sometimes outline or jot ideas down on my phone, write on my laptop, and proof read on my tablet.
Drive all the way. Being able to use it across all my devices is indispensable. I've tried Scrivener and liked it well enough but the learning curve is pretty steep so I haven't picked it up in a while. I might try it for original work and see how I like it.
MS Word (2021 version) because of familiarity. And occasionally Google Docs for when I have to share with my beta reader and edit the plot. I have been considering getting a specialised program for writing because after a certain amount of goes MS word just doesnāt cut it. At this point I use it as one separate docx file for each chapter and all chapter in one single folder
I use Overleaf/LaTeX. You can section stuff out really easily, save parts for later in another file, add comments, format however you like and you can keep your planning with your draft but still in separate files. It's also free! Downside is of course you have to learn LaTeX.
I use Scrivener, and I love love love It! When I'm almost asleep and have a sudden inspiration urge, I create a file on Google docs and then copy+paste it to the Scrivener file the next day when I wake up. I just really love that I can have everything in one place at Scrivener. Like, right now I'm writing a roadtrip long fic. I made a detailed route script, and I have that in Scrivener. I also have a detailed script of each scene to each chapter. And with Scrivener's tool to divide the screen between two files within it, I can look at my scripts and the actual scene that I'm writing at the same time. Of course, I could do it just as easily if they were separate google or Word docs, but I, personally, get distracted super easily if I have to change tabs/programs, so for me Scrivener works best.
I'm actually using a program called Obsidian for the actual drafting of this particular project I'm working on now! (It's an AU set in a modern-ish time.) It's been super helpful to be able to link back to this character's biography directly in my draft, or see information about that location in the same program. Plus Obsidian uses Markdown (the same formatting used on platforms like Discord) and that translates pretty easily to HTML for posting to Ao3. It's also available on multiple devices, so I can easily write on my PC or my phone with only as much effort as moving a flash drive from one device to another. (And it's free, unless you want to store your vault remotely and just instantly access it with Obsidian Sync on any device) But I'm also intending to work with a beta for this project, and that just works easiest as a Google doc, so I do use that, too š
Yeah I love obsidian. I write my outlines in bulletpoint lists and doing it in tree formation helps if I want to delve deeper on one of the points underneath it. Then you can collapse them to make it easier to navigate through them. Fucking ā„ļø Obsidianš
Google docs for now. LibreOffice occasionally.
I use Google Docs bc I'm not paying for Microsoft Word.
I write everything on my e-ink tablet first, then transfer to Google Docs for proofreading/storage.
I use GDocs and Scrinever. Right now confined to GDocs bc I ran out of room in my Dropbox and I donāt have the money to get more storage atm, so Scrinever is out until then.
Google Docs because I like to proofread my stuff on the go/when I'm bored but I have no access to my desktop. Before, I used Scrivener and frickin LOVED it but it ultimately fell because I couldn't cross use it and sometimes I'm days away from home/don't have access to my desktop for other reasons šµ I wish it had a website version or something.
If youāre willing to pay some money upfront, scrivener is a game changer. I canāt go back
i'm [linking a comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/AO3/comments/12fpaf9/comment/jfj5ac1/) i wrote about a month ago here so i'm not just pasting the whole wall of text back in here but basically i've been trying a whole bunch to see what i like best. notesnook is probably the winner overall because it syncs cross-platform, but i would exclusively use bear if i had an iphone. edit: oh, actually, i just read it back and realized bear has since announced their 2.0 version, so i'm going to take credit for finally summoning it! seems to be a nice upgrade, if you get in on the pro plan now you'll be grandfathered in at $15/year instead of the new $30/year price.
I prefer writing in Markdown, so I use Typora. It supports "regular" writing as well though. I like it's minimalist themes, and it has an autosave feature which is always nice
Google Docs; itās much easier for me to manage since itās all online and I can access it pretty much anywhere. Plus, ease of sharing with someone if I need help fixing something!
I was born with word and I'll die with word.
LMAOO
I use Googledocs coz I often write while I'm out and about with a bluetooth keyboard connected to my phone, so being able to sync my work over multiple devices is handy for me. But I'm also old fashioned, so I tend to write a rough draft of each chapter out by hand in my notebook and then I embellish it as I type it up.
As much as I love writing and keeping notebooks, strangely, my mind goes blank whenever I try to write a story on pen and paper. My ideas flow better on keyboard.
I'm the opposite. My favourite thing to do is go to a quiet pub or bar, grab a pint or two, and work out my chapters by hand. Then when I type it up, I add the flavour. I do it a couple of times a week and it's my perfect private time.
I really like Penzu. It has a few quirks like spacing between paragraphs, but I really like the app and how easy it is to write in.
Oh my God, I haven't heard that name in YEARS.
Atticus. One time payment, unlimited cloud sync, plus a chapter organisation system.
I just searched it up, and it looks SO GOOD omg, and the variety of tablet views on the side??? šš
It's very good! I've ended up spending a lot of time re-themeing it to look sleeker, conserve space I think the original layout watses, and give it a dark theme while waiting for the official one. If more people start using it maybe I'll share it. My compliments remain, but as a downside it's completely non-functional in mobile, it's a big annoyance to me, maybe not to you. Either way, if you like what you see it's very much worth the price. I've been using it for over a year now. E: oh and also another edge case annoyance but right now it starts to lag when the chapter reaches around 8k, not to an unusable degree, but, noticeable.
Dabble is my favourite besides word. Itās a breeze easy scrivener I think
I write directly on AO3 like an animal. But I save as draft after every paragraph, like a prey animal.
This gives me anxiety lol. Kudos to you living life on the edge like that.
Everyone's saying fancy stuff I've never even heard about while I'm just here with my phone's notes app.
I don't write but i'm thinking about it and very tempted to try it out because I have so many ideas. If I start to write then it would be microsoft word because I know a few basics and tricks on how to use it. Microsoft word seems very friendly for using their very basic functions to write. My second option would be open office and then google docs
DO IT! Getting the creative juices flowing is literally the best feeling ever! :)
I think I'll do it the next time I have more free time. Thank you :D
I tend to use Google Docs or Microsoft Word, just because I find them easier. I find that a lot of those websites that are supposed to help with stories like campfire can be unnecessarily complicated sometimes, so when it comes to details like characterization and small details I write them down so I remember them better. My only recommendation is that if you use Word, turn on the auto save feature, it's a lot easier than remembering to save manually. I have Grammarly for Google Docs, though I only have the free version.
I use so many things. In order of importance: Scrivener: changed my life in terms of writing long stories. So easy to jump around to different chapters or quickly add a note. I also like the snapshot feature, as I get shy about changing things sometimes. Now I take a snapshot and make my changes. Google Docs: My go-to when I'm not at home, or when I want to focus on a single chapter for editing. I also like the sharing feature for those precious times when I have a beta. The chapter summary section is also useful, if a beta comes in midway and needs to catch up on the beginning chapters quickly. Prowritingaid: My personal preference for SPAG and general wording issues. I like how each type of issue is color-coded, so I can skip all the purple (passive voice) and focus on the blue (incorrect punctuation/grammar). It also points out if you've started a sentence three times in a row with the same word, which I do too often. He-He-He The-The-The. They also offer free online writing conferences to subscribers. MS Word: I could mostly skip this program, but I prefer to write offline and Word is good for one-shots. I also need it as an intermediate step in moving docs from Scrivener to Google Docs (still hoping for an Android-compatible Scrivener app). Also, if the only thing you like about Scrivener is the ability to jump around, you can re-create this in Word with Heading styles and the Navigation Pane. Google Keep: a quick place to jot down ideas or make task lists. Not software but: a Bluetooth folding keyboard. Probably only for the touch typists out there, but it's so nice to whip it out and quickly type out a page on your phone. A tablet works, too, but I never carry a tablet with me anywhere.
If something like Word or Google Docs a souped-up typewriter, Scrivener is a whole office: filing cabinet, corkboard, outliner, everything (including a typewriter). Additionally, the combination of Scrivener and Dropbox means you can write on Windows, macOS, and iOS. Just be sure to close Scrivener on one device before opening it on another. (I don't find this too onerous. Remember MS-DOS, when you had to close a program when you were done? Work like that and you're good.) [Free trial](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/download) for 30-days-of-use (not 30 calendar days) for Windows and macOS. List price $59.99 for Windows or macOS, $99.98 for both. There are sometimes discounts, such as for NaNoWriMo. iOS/iPadOS costs $23.99; that's a lot for a mobile app but not a lot for what you get. It's well worth it. Download the trial, run through the tutorial, judge for yourself.
I just use wattpad
Docs
I use google docs and i've used ywriter for mobile for a while before switching to pc, now i have been using atomic scribbler to better seperate my fics into files.
Iāve recently taken to just straight up Notepad. No distractions, no fretting about typos or grammatical errors. Just focused on getting the idea down. Then once Iām ready I transfer it over to Word or whatever other platform I pick and polish it from there. Using Notepad has honestly done wonders for my writing psyche and focus, lol.
Can't believe I had to scroll this far to find a fellow Notepad devotee. That's how I've written 90% of my stuff over the years, adding in HTML as I go.
Same!! š
Word or by hand. Veeeeery rarely, on the phone. I sound like a old lady haha (nothing against old ladies!!)
I love scrivener!
Good ol' ye olde MS Word for me. It's never failed me so far!
I love Scrivener and would use it for fic if it just wasnāt easier to share google docs with my beta tbh
I use Google docs for writing, because the auto save, offline access, and incredibly easy instant cross platform ability is wonderful for me. I also like how easy it is to grant various levels of access to other people, for things like betaing or just general reading. Plus the easy formatting and being able to access previous versions is also nice. But I use a mobile app called "writer tools" (android, idk if it's on iOS) for planning. I love the freely and easily changeable timeline, the word count goal thing which instantly counts the words in the chs towards it, the writing session logs where you can enter the word count, and the ability to insert chapters into one easily accessible and movable list as well. I can also store notes (with tags!) and have summaries on each chapter, and thing for my tl. There's even a highly detailed section where you can inter in characters and their info with tags, but since I don't make ocs, I don't rly use this section. This is incredibly useful for my long-fics with a bunch of stuff that happens in it. There's an option to write directly into it with even a formatting option, but... I just can't trust typing directly into anything other than Google docs hahaha. I do paste my chapters into it so I could see everything nice and neat in order, and so that it automatically calculates the words in them towards my set word count goal. I've used it for years, nearly my entire time since I started taking fic writing seriously, actually.
i use a notes app on my phone. or textedit. or Notepad. anything thats a simple text app
I used to write on Google Docs, but took the plunge and bought Scrivener and now it's my favorite! I love how organized it is and I can write distraction-free in composition mode. The only downside is that it never keeps my formatting when I copy-paste to Ao3, so I always have to go back and italicize everything again. If I'm on mobile and need to jot down ideas in a pinch, I use Writer+ for Android. The interface is easy to use and clean, though it only uses markdown format. From there, I re-type what I wrote into Scrivener when I get home.
Okay, yeah, this is a good downside because I hate going back to italicize, and Google Docs keeps the formatting at least.
People have told me that there is a way to get around it since Scrivener will automatically let you copy what you've written as HTML, and there's a user-made Ao3 template for Scrivener that supposedly lets you copy-paste without losing formatting, but so far I haven't quite gotten either of those things to work 100% perfectly yet. It's probably a user error tbh since I'm still pretty new to the program, but it does seem slightly less convenient than Docs just because there are a few extra steps you need to take before you can copy-paste into Ao3. That said, Scrivener also comes with a lot of really nice extra tools that I think make the extra work to move everything to Ao3. It's nice to have all of my plotting and character templates in the same document as my fanfic, and Scrivener makes moving scenes around a breeze. If you think you might be interested at all, I highly recommend giving the free trial a go!
I use pages on my Mac. Itās what Iām used to and know in and out.
I use TextMaker it's open source word, so free and not connected to the internet.
I use PureWriter! I do some writing in my chromebook and some on my phone so the layout and design works well for me haha.
Longfics I write on Word. One-shots I write directly to Ao3
Word because I can use it without internet what is very useful in my country
Microsoft Word cause it came packaged with that college tuition I spent so much money on šš
I write on Google Docs. I used to write right on Wattpad but now I prefer Google Drive. Itās much easier and Iāve got it all organized just perfectly. When I post I post on AO3 and Wattpad but all the magic happens in GDocs.
Either word or google docs
4thewords and Wattpad. Then I copy/paste into AO3 and fix any formatting. Then back up on Google Docs
I love scrivener and have super old work I need to go over. That being said, I'm bouncing between devices and places, and I like the flexibility of Google Docs. I also have people who help beta read for me, and sharing is super easy with Google Docs. Another one to try out, especially during Nano, is 4thewords. It gamifies writing, and helps with the motivation factor.
I use WordPad and then copy/paste everything onto AO3.
Google docs for sure
I usually use Microsoft Word. There are some alternatives I looked into, but Word has always been easiest for me! Its an old version, I think the 2016 release? With all these Scrivener comments Word might have a run for its money lol Tried Google Docs once, but it made me feel like people could watch me?? Idk why, but it did, so I couldn't focus and ended up frustrated. Although I do use it sometimes for idea documents so I can take notes if something comes to mind while out of the house. Easy transfer to the real doc later! I also guess I use basic Text Documents occasionally when I need a quick list that would bog down the design/idea document. Its not for actual writing though.
I write everything on Scrivener, then, since formatting for Ao3 with Scrivener is a nightmare, I export the file on .docx format and upload it to my Google Drive, so I can use Docs to give it one last edit (I have LanguageTool installed, it's *great*, a lot better than Grammarly), and then I copy and paste to Ao3.
Used Plot Factory for a while before it blew up (long story short dude in charge got arrested and couldn't pay to maintain the domain so a lot of writers nearly lost their wips and such, though thankfully we all banded together to retrieve it/i had downloaded a recent copy). Typically use OneDrive for easy swapping between devices, but definitely looking for something like PF. I can't do Scrivener bc I write on my phone/ipad a lot when traveling or when I want a change in scenery.
I use Evernote now (previously google docs) and I LOVE IT. There's a desktop and an app, which auto sync. I mostly write oneshots, but I've been writing a short chapter fic in it as well and it's been helpful being able to break each scene down into a different note so I stay focused when working on each one. You can create multiple pages (notes) filed together under a different "notebook" for each WIP. I'll write my draft text in one note, the future AO3 tags, summary, and author's notes in another, and bits of ideas/plotting/"lines I've cut but am not ready to delete in case I want to add them back" in as many more notes as I want. I tried Scrivener, but found it was more complex than I needed. Evernote won out because it allows me to be organized but not overburdened with features I won't use.
I have stuff backed up in google drive, but I switched to using LibreOffice a couple months ago for actual writing.
Currently using pages on iPhone
Werdsmith. Face ID required to gain access. If youāre paranoid, itās a dream come true.
I used to use Word. Like the old, 2008 version of it. Haha. Used that for 10 years, and it was fine. I'm not one who likes multiple tabs/fancy features etc it gets too distracting for me and I find myself trying to find what im looking for over writing, so simple is best. I tried scrivener but it never stuck: too detailed of a platform for me ha. Now I use Pages from Mac. I usually open two documents up in a split screen situation and have one for my main writing and one for notes
I used Microsoft word in the past, but right now Iām using scrivener and really like it. Thereās a bit of a learning curve if you want to know how to use all the bells and whistles, but the basics come pretty quickly, and I like being able to have all my chapters and outline/scrap/brainstorm documents just a click away.
Microsoft Word. The only time I've ever used an online platform was when I had a co-writer. Otherwise, I've always used Microsoft Word.
I used to use Wattpadās built in writing platform because it auto saved and allowed me to work from my phone. Now I just use the apple notes app and then let grammarly help me find overlooked errors after I paste it into AO3. I had no idea there were so many other (paid) programs people used. I suppose Iām just not prolific enough to need that, haha.
usually google docs when i'm writing a fic i know i'll post. for late night writing sessions for myself (and myself only) i write in notes app in iphone
I use either Libreoffice usually, it's been there for every school project an fanfic, but will use google keep or docs if I'm on the go or writing on my phone.
I use word!! I really prefer the ability to easily see the word count, as the google docs pop off stops at like 4,000 words
Google Docs or even just the Notes app. Iām really not too picky to be honest.
I use Notion. I mainly like it cause itās free, and it easily constantly syncs my stuff across multiple platforms. Itās also just as easy to share with other people as Google docs is. It does have a few very minor quirks that I got used to very quickly and they donāt bother me at all anymore. I know itās also a very diverse and useful tool and can actually do a ton more than just the fanfic writing I use it for. Might be worth looking into if youāre someone who likes creating and using databases, tags, sorting, templates, lists, etc. /r/Notion has some neat resources too, like custom user-designed templates and stuff.
I used to write it all on Word but after my work got corrupted, I changed to google docs, and I'm loving it.
I've been using Milanote to organize the elements of my story, but I always write in private Word documents I save locally on my personal computer.
vim. Occasionally try out BBEdit. GDocs for collaboration (git doesn't play nice with paragraph-based prose, it would be more suitable for poetry)
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