Tech Tools for Writers
Panelists: Morven Westfield, Caroline Stevermer, Kellie Jones, and S.N. Arly
This panel focused on technical tools for writers, so there was truth in advertising. A variety of things were discussed.
1. Note books: Both Morven and Kellie displayed their new little netbooks, tiny computers that look like toys. Kellie’s looked like it could belong to some sort of PlayDo set. Morven’s was ran through the x-ray machine twice at the airport, because she supposes they didn’t know what it was.
2. There was some discussion about whether to use Mac or PC for format. It appears that some of the writing tools discussed on the panel only run in one format or the other, so you have to check your objectives.
3. Caroline discussed that she had switched to the Mac format so she could use Scrivener, which is usable only on a Mac. Scrivener is an easy program to use, as you can integrate research, move around scenes, and organize into one file.
If you don’t have a Mac, there are similar softwares available for PC. Literature and Latte provides the following page for alternatives, as well as other tech links. Morven also notes ywriter as an alternative.
People interested in Scrivener can buy a free one-month trial.
4. S. N. Arny is a writer with tendonitis. She uses a special split keyboard. She also uses Dragon Naturally Speaking, and composes her work orally. There was discussion on enunciation, the quietness of environment, and training the software. It is only usable on a Windows format.
5. Kellie mentioned that she use Unix, which is a different platform.
6. There are a variety of methods of composing and pre-writing among our writers. Caroline uses a very low tech toys and blocking method. Kellie likes to make montages electronically before she begins her story.
There are many types of outlines specific software, easily found by a web search. For example, WhizFolders.
Caroline mentions that Scrivener has outlining capability.
We’ve certainly come a long way since typing things out on a manual, and using notecards.
Catherine
