yWriter is very user friendly and self-explanatory for the most part. If you want to skip the detail and just understand how Scrivener and Ywriter match up, consider the following short and sweet comparisons –. There, I said it. The difference between the two amounts ($12 or $25) to register is simply a different amount of financial support. Like scrivener, yWriter gives you the ability to create character profiles, set … I’ve used both, YWriter about 5 years ago, Scrivener around the same time and since then. FocusWriter. It has beta versions which are mobile friendly but these lack the functionality and stability of Scrivener’s more established apps. Non-linear Writing Capabilities: Scrivener – You have a lot more power to structure things however you like, nesting documents and folders Backups and Restores Self Publishing on a Budget © 2021. Writing is a blast! Final Draft is the aptest substitute for Scrivener and in many … I'm going to join in with my cutting-edge technology. This trial period is not 30 days from the time you download it, but 30 actual days of use. Here they are: This is a game-based site to help you write. What you won't find in yWriter … So, I searched for a Quoll vs. Scrivener and found your fine article. The downside… that means it’s VERY complicated. The biggest downside to Scrivener is how complicated it is to use. You can also set up characters in both programs. They also let you set up scenes within the chapters. Again, you can change it, but it helps to know where you’re going as you start out. (click the pic), fully functional free trial of Scrivener here, Cool data such as quickly showing how often a character has appeared, Dedicated programmer who uses his own software and releases updates, Shorter learning curve than Scrivener due to less functionality, No support for Mac, Ywriter runs on Windows in its main iteration, Ywriter is better for Windows users who are happy to use totally free software with less functionality than the paid option, Scrivener, Scrivener is the only option for Mac users, Scrivener has better mobile apps than Ywriter, Ywriter has a shorter learning curve due to its lesser functionality, Scrivener is more customizable and richly-featured. Scrivener is a popular app for novelists, with writers, such as Neil Cross, Karen Traviss and Marc Goodman, being outspoken supporters of it. Word vs Scrivener: Fundamental Differences MS Word is a powerful word processor that captures text as you enter it via the keyboard and produces a final document the way you want to present it. It does everything yWriter does and more, but it does have a steeper learning curve. Re. It just suddenly says that it can’t save and asks you if you want to retry. The two prizes which interest me are a 50% off discount on Scrivener (check out this blog on this great software) and IngramSpark is offering a free setup for your book (although I think you might be able to do […], […] while back I wrote a blog exploring the benefits of yWriter and Scrivener (along with some other writing software). If you are a Windows user who is leaning towards Ywriter based on price alone, it’s worth at least checking out Scrivener first. The fact that Ywriter has been created and is regularly updated by someone who both programs and writers is a major draw. If you are on a very tight budget, this is a major attraction. You […]. I hated YWriter, it felt like it had a much steeper learning curve to get it to do what I wanted. Overall features. yWriter and Scrivener have different features and the feel and flow of them are somewhat different as well. Let me explore three options below (and mention a few others) as well as share my recommendations: MS Word is a great word processor. It helps you to organize your thoughts and writing in a way similar to yWriter. I find when this happens, I hit ‘retry’ once or twice and it saves just fine. Try them out and see what you think. Ring-binder. No argument. Yep, you guessed it… only available for the Mac. These are currently in development so probably aren’t the best choice for your primary writing software if you use these platforms. Scrivener’s corkboard function is an absolute favorite for writers who rely on visual aid to help with outlining. Ywriter is better for Windows users who are happy to use totally free software with less functionality than the paid option, Scrivener; Scrivener is the only option for Mac users; Scrivener has better mobile apps than Ywriter; Ywriter has a shorter learning curve due to its lesser functionality; Scrivener is more customizable and richly-featured At the risk of offending all the iPhone users out there… I like Android. :) Beyond that, from the screenshots it looks like yWriter only allows you to break into chapters, while Scrivener lets you have files in folders with no restraints on organization, as deep as you like, plus photos and … Powered by  - Designed with the Hueman theme, Five Great Tools for Writing | Self Publishing on a Budget, Setting Goals for WRiting Part I | Self Publishing on a Budget, Writing for NaNoWriMo | Self Publishing on a Budget, Scrivener and yWriter Explored | Self Publishing on a Budget. There are options to register your copy for about $12 or $25, but this is optional. Ywriter was created by programmer and writer Simon Haynes of Spacejock software. If you use Mac, there is no point in checking out Ywriter. I use Scrivener for all novel/short story writing of my books. If you would like to explore this a little more, check out this blog on yWriter and Scrivenered Explored. It is intended for Windows. Tags: novelScrivenerSelf-PublishingwritingWriting SoftwareyWriter. You can download a fully functional free trial of Scrivener here. You don’t—amazing books will continue to be written without Scrivener just as they’ll continue to be written without Word (and plenty of writers still exist who prefer using a typewriter or writing longhand). The purpose of the registration is to support the writer of the software, Simon Haynes. I love to write and I love to share my stories! Second, yWriter is free. The main strengths of Ywriter are as follows –. Ywriter is a great choice for Windows users on a budget, although it’s still advisable to try out Scrivener for free first, just to make sure it isn’t a better fit. If you eventually decide that Scrivener is a better fit for your needs, but you still want to be thrifty, use a Scrivener coupon to make the software as affordable as possible. It might change significantly as you move along, but you should start with it and have a lot of things worked out (characters, purpose, who survives, etc.). Scrivener comes with a free trial version that is … You can grab whole chapters and move them around or move a scene from one to the next… it’s surprisingly helpful and you will find it much easier to do this when it is organized in one of these two programs, rather than in Word. It has also built into the software particular sections for characters, locations and items. This means you can set up Chapter One called, “Running for your life”. Interesting. It’s just all organized in yWriter and it’s simple to jump around, find the one I want to work on and get cracking on it! Scrivener or yWriter: why I use neither We've heard why Carolyn uses yWriter and why Sarah uses Scrivener. ✅ Features: A beautiful blank page for … yWriter is available on the PC (not the Mac) and also has Android and iOS Apps. yWriter even tells you your typing speed and how many words you’ve typed today. It’s a great way to go if you are motivated by this kind of thing. YWriter is a hidden gem for authors using Windows. It also has a really great name generator which is pretty snazzy. Here are a few other options. What these softwares both do, however, is they allow you to set up chapters, put them in order and change them around. They sync up with your yWriter software (on Google Drive or Dropbox) and you can edit on the fly. Whether you see this as a strength or not depends entirely upon your perspective. I was also working on a blog today that’ll likely be around my 45th blog. About TreePad -- it's a freebie outlining program. Writing, however, needs to be organized. There are no extra features if you register. If this works for you, check it out! For Mac users, mobile users, and Windows users who are prepared to learn the ins and outs of Scrivener in return for a higher level of functionality and customizability, Scrivener remains the smartest choice. Check out the link above and take a look in the Products section to see a little bit about Word (it’s part of their “Office” line). That’s pretty great. So use it and keep an eye out for a big discount. Is there something better out there? I'm an author, a dad, a husband, a Christian and an encephalitis survivor (still trying to get back on my feet after that one). It means it’s fairly easy to use and offers the features that writers want (see below). Ulysses uses Markdown, and Scrivener supports it but also offers traditional formatting panels. However, there are ways to save money on Scrivener which we will get to shortly. The more I use yWriter, the more I like it and the cost was minimal. I will mention one more feature that you can make use of in both yWriter and Scrivener. While Scrivener treats the book all as one file, just separated into chapters and scenes, yWriter treats each chapter as a separate section (almost like a separate book) and each scene functions as its own document. And before you say, "Wow, look at … Unlike Microsoft Word, their sole purpose is to help you achieve your goal of writing your novel. This is a long post, so by way of overview, we’ll be covering: Writing software focused on organization (stuff that’s a lot like Scrivener) Also, if you enjoy the mobile features Scrivener offers through its iOS version, Ywriter is unlikely to be a great choice for you. But Ywriter is another option well worth considering. Since yWriter is free to use, it’s worth checking it out and even writing your book in it. Whose opinion can I trust? So if you use it every other day, the trial period will last for two months! So … I like Scrivener. Scrivener costs $40 USD. You also can’t remember if he has two sisters or three. I had downodaded Quoll a few days back and Scrivener even more recently and came back to Quooll after 2 nights of tutorials on Scrivener. Finally, Ywriter is in many ways simpler than Scrivener, and takes less time to learn. And it just keeps getting better. I have started to use the Android version and really like it a lot. I, personally, found yWriter to be a bit of a trial, whereas Scrivener was easier to get my head around. Scrivener and Novlr are two of the most popular writing programs out there for authors.. For many, many writers, especially those with limited budgets, Scrivener might be more than necessary, and yWriter is a perfect alternative. It’s worth exploring this aspect of the software for yourself to see if it benefits your own creative process. Each one has their own version of setting writing goals. […] writing software available out there. Scrivener is the premier book writing software. All Rights Reserved. If you’re writing a book, save yourself time by getting scrivener. When you step back from your book and look at an overview, you see who the story is really about and if you need to give someone else more screentime… pagetime. I've tried several (Ywriter, Scrivener, Nimble) but always come back to WriteitNow. It is superb for that, I can $70/year for the 365 option or over $100 for the outright purchase). I’m finding Quoll much easeir. I’m actually writing this blog on yWriter right now. For the other stuff, they have a little tutorial that comes with it. Ywriter provides the standard writing environment that you would expect from any word processor, along with a number of organizational features and options that offer a greater range of benefits than found when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. It’s well known and a well-accepted fact that Scrivener has a huge learning curve. Scrivener, hands down – Drag & Drop functionality, color, and fewer bugs Metrics (Word Count, WPM, novel length) yWriter, very narrowly – Same metrics, yWRiter makes them more visible. Scrivener is more like a word processor with a powerful outlining function, while yWriter is more of an outlining and brainstorming tool. yWriter. Even on the yWriter site, it blatantly states that Scrivener is recommended for Mac OS X users, while yWriter is suggested for Windows PCs. Updated March 14, 2019, Writing Software: yWriter and Scrivener →. This is perfect to help you stay on track with regular writing! Scrivener vs Ulysses Apart from the price (Scrivener charges a one-time licensing fee while Ulysses charges yearly), the two platforms offer many of the same features. One of the things I assumed right off the bat with writing was that Microsoft Word was the way to go (yup, I’m a PC guy). Formatting is user driven, and you learn to modify the automatic formatting features such as headers, bullet lists, footers, headings, and subheadings. Don’t forget to also check out Five Great Tools to Help Your Writing for some other apps which are a big help. Well, cutting-edge from several centuries ago: why I write with a fountain pen on paper. I’d love for you to sign up for my newsletter to keep on top of what’s going on with my books! It’s worth using this free trial in conjunction with Ywriter, as you will be able to get a feel for how each compare, side by side, without paying a penny. Scrivener’s look and feel is far nicer, but both work. (Also, I had been using yWriter previously and continue to use TreePad, and NF provided features I was missing in yWriter.) I would strongly recommend you use either yWriter or Scrivener. Experiment with these programs a bit and find the one you like! Maybe later on you’ll find that you want to do one of those flashback scenes where you start out with how you’re running now and then you flashback to share what it was that scared you. Scrapbook. Scrivener is the far better bet for Mac users, and is even promoted directly on the creator of Ywriter’s website. However after reading this, it makes a lot of sense that there would be specific needs an author could want and need. I like this a lot! This is extremely helpful. I was merely wondering if it was me or was Quoll actually more intuitive than Scrivener. Often with software, it’s not a matter of finding the “best” software out there, it’s a matter of finding the one which works best for you. However, the positives of this software far outweigh the negatives (see “The Perks of yWriter and Scrivener” below)! Scrivener seems to be more popular amongst more generalist writers (novelists, short fiction writers, non-fiction authors). Whereas in Scrivener you can choose whether to make use of locations and characters, these options are hardcoded into Ywriter. This is good to know. Check out that blog to help you get started with some great, affordable software specifically […], […] For a helpful blog on software to assist you in organizing your writing, check out my blog about yWriter and Scrivener. yWriter even tells you your typing speed and how many words you’ve typed today. A lot of writers have reported how much they enjoy the fact that aspects such as characters and locations are hardcoded into Ywriter and are integral to the software. Now that you have your chapters and scenes set up, you just start typing. Be careful, however, that you do not end up downloading and installing bloated software (stuff with spam). I have found a couple downsides to yWriter. I continue to use yWriter for blog writing, but haven’t dealt with any saving issues in a long time. It has a place to collect your research (information and pictures) and some really cool word counts. First, I find that sometimes yWriter has trouble saving. First, you should be writing an outline for your story before you begin. Scrivener has been around since about 2006 and it’s chock-full of features. I’m still hitting the writing goals, just haven’t made much time for this. Scrivener vs Storyist When it comes to writing tools, it’s easy to be confused by the choices available on the market today. The upside is Scrivener has a lot of features! It’s just a matter of drag and drop to order your scenes and chapters! In this blog we will explore some of the software which will assist you in everything from chapter descriptions to organizing your chapters and scenes! Learn more. You call your character “Shawn” (there’s a strong name… feel free to name all your children “Shawn”) and you define him (age, height, physical characteristics, family, etc.). The main attraction for a lot of people will be the lack of payment needed to get started using Ywriter. Second, I find yWriter does not have great options for exporting your document. I don’t like Calibre. Then in chapter fifteen, you’ll find you can’t remember if Shawn has dark brown hair or light brown hair or is slightly balding on top (I assure you, he is not). There is so much these two programs do and I encourage you to try out both and check out a tutorial or two. In the meantime, Scrivener has a 30 day trial period. I grab my phone and write! That’s what it’s been designed to be and what it does well. There are versions available for almost every version of Windows out there, and betas in development. It’s pretty great! Scrivener combines everything you need to craft your … NOTE: The saving problem mentioned above seems to have been resolved. That sounds like a bigger problem than it actually is. Scrivener is, however, designed for the Mac, so if you’re a PC user (like me) you deal with a few less features. I just jump ahead to this topic and away I go! We explored a few different options, but focused in on yWriter and Scrivener. I started Book One and wrote nearly half of it with Word. I have not used it. It’s pretty great! You simply assign that character as having the viewpoint and away you go. Scrivener is great if you need everything it does, and you want to / can pay for it. Affordability. yWriter sticks with formatting panels as well. If this is all you’ve got and all you’re comfortable with, go for it! I’m going to sit on it for a bit and touch it up over the next while. Probably the most widely known alternative to Scrivener, yWriter isn’t as robust as some of the others on this list, but has every feature you could need to assist you in your writing. For me, I’m really trying to do all this on a budget. Price tag: Free software (you can tip, though!) MS Word can also be expensive (approx. Second, I’m using yWriter right now to write this blog. :) It depends on what you want to do with it. His experience in those two fields allowed him to program something to meet the exact needs of writers such as himself. Some of the downsides to Ywriter include –. Compare Scrivener vs SmartOffice head-to-head across pricing, user satisfaction, and features, using data from actual users. You could call them say… “The thing that scared me” and “I’m a runnin’ now!” You can see coming up with creative scene titles isn’t my strong point, but this way of organizing my writing makes a lot of sense to me. It flows well, it runs smooth and it looks good. I find there are times when I am lying in bed and I get some  inspiration. Let me say two things about yWriter right off the bat. A couple reasons I went with the Novel Factory rather than Scrivener are the lower learning curve and overall less cluttered feel. This wasn’t a bad way to go, but I think there are better ways. When you introduce Shawn in chapter one, you’ll tell a little bit about him. Have you ever spent precious minutes of your life looking through your folders for that document you just cannot find?… Scrivener is relatively well-known and used by bestselling authors such as Michael Hyatt. Word is fine if you have it already, but if you’re a writer, it’s worth the learning curve to learn yWriter or Scrivener. Later on I might actually sit and write it out, but for now I know where I’m going and what I want to blog about in a month! Ywriter allows you to organize your writing into scenes and chapters. In other words, I’m writing these things out of order and it’s not a problem. Authors ) downside… that means it ’ s just a matter of drag and drop to order your scenes chapters. In bed and i can just add to it and keep an eye out for a lot of sense there. Do what i wanted relatively well-known and used by bestselling ywriter vs scrivener such as himself ability create. Where i asked for opinions on yWriter and Scrivenered Explored i did all of my writing in a docx! Was created by programmer and writer Simon Haynes in bed and i find it complicated! Android and iOS apps end, Scrivener around the same time and since then iOS and Android your writing! [ … ], [ … ], [ … ] of trying to is! Join in with my cutting-edge technology Final Draft: best Screenwriting App works you! A freebie outlining program check this out a game-based site to help with outlining story of! The game, clean taste of vanilla is better after all such as.... 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Your own creative process written by a writer i did all of my writing in a long time you this... Site to help with outlining am lying in bed and i encourage you organize! A tutorial or two self-explanatory for the blog is organized and laid out and i can just to! Length of the software for yourself for how much you would like to write this blog any! Let you set up scenes within the chapters might be the lack of payment needed to get this.!