Writing "Tools"

[Babyeeblu]

Who hear utilizes an app or website for character/world building? My brother in law is always sending me new apps and websites to check out that have the same basic set up: input character info, input plot info, store that info and then some algorithm generates tips or something of that nature. I don't know that it is necessarily helpful to plot development, but hs anyone found such an apo ot site that actually help you better develop your character or world building? Did it make you think of anything you hadn't previously thought of? I see how they can be useful as a way to back up information or create a character/world "Bible" so to speak, but I can't see how a computer can offer more insight than peers or introspection could. Thoughts? Do you like these tools or are they a waste of time?

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Never used anything like that. I think world-building, and character-building, and plot-building are far too much fun to hand any of them over to a computer!

 

[ginny]

you might want to check out this forum topic

Writing Resources

Resources for those serious about getting into publishing

www.sffchronicles.com

I'm not certain that this question might belong there.

 

[Biskit]

I've tried various writing tools to help me record and organise my thoughts, but so far I've not liked any of them. I think the trouble is, none of them work even remotely like the way my head does. I think if I found one that offered hints and tips, the first thing I would do is figure out how to disable that feature, for two reasons:
1: It sounds like painting by numbers and all you get to do is copy someone else's work
2: I would be concerned that everything I wrote would have the same underlying design, just reshuffled by the algorithm.

And, paraphrasing @Kerrybuchanan, where's the fun in letting an algorithm write your story?

 

[Avelino de Castro]

Never used anything like that. I think world-building, and character-building, and plot-building are far too much fun to hand any of them over to a computer!

I agree with Kerrybuchanan. It's too much fun doing to the work myself. The only ai I got something really fun out of was a title generator. My friend plugged into it and got a title "Sorry we ate your dog." It was so funny and creepy I was able to craft a three hundred word story from the title. AI has it's place, but the meat of the story is, for me, mine to create.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

I agree with Kerrybuchanan. It's too much fun doing to the work myself. The only ai I got something really fun out of was a title generator. My friend plugged into it and got a title "Sorry we ate your dog." It was so funny and creepy I was able to craft a three hundred word story from the title. AI has it's place, but the meat of the story is, for me, mine to create.

I love this comment, on so many levels!

 

[GDobkins]

One thing about the mentioned types of tools is that its not so much a matter of how fun doing it yourself is as much as how frustrating it is when you discover all the limitations of the tools that hinder your imagination.

I always get to the point where I want to do this and it won't let me and I would love to have the underlying code to the tool so I could include it into its repertoire.

 

[Biskit]

I always get to the point where I want to do this and it won't let me and I would love to have the underlying code to the tool so I could include it into its repertoire.

Nothing so frustration as using software without access to the code, or the admin account.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Y writer 6

Helps you keep track of places people and things.

Also assists with chapter and scene building - It's free or was (You can donate if you wish)

Only snag I found is it's spell checker was odd so the version I have you have to export to word for better checking.

However, there's no magic wand output. It only acts as an aid memoir.

Plus it saves files in RTF format. Not too much of an issue.

I also use PROWriting Aid for grammer and style checking. Which for me is very useful.

 

[JNG01]

Do you use the Prowritingaid Word plugin, or the app?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^


When you get it and install it it appears in the menu bar as above through the magic of windows.
When you click on the item a whole new menu bar appears with various checking options.
I like it, but it isn't perfect.

As you can see I also have the Soda PDF add on too

 

[Danny McG]

 

[msstice]

I have a notes section where I jot down things. I have multiple locales, so I have two sets of notes. For me writing is a hobby, so part of the fun is internalizing the world and living it, trying to keep it all in my head.

 

[Trollheart]

The only thing I need help with (other than my mental state, and that's a whole other kettle of lobsters!) is names. I find it hard to come up with good ones for my characters. I have, therefore, two solutions: one is to use a Random Name Generator I found on this thing called the inter-something, very helpful, like sixteen gazillion names or something. The other is to watch the credits of any show and then mix up the names at the end. So I might see, say, Simon Calvin as director and Joshua Bradhurst as best boy, so I can have either those two characters or Simon Bradhurst and Joshua Calvin.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

Writing "tools" -- you mean like Harlan Ellison or Norman Mailer?