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Free Software: Ywriter 4

By Jennifer Mattern on 18th December, 2007Filed in Writers' Resources

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If you’re considering writing a novel, the free Ywriter 4 software from Spacejock Software could be for you.

Ywriter is a free word processor tailored to the needs of authors, allowing you to easily insert scenes, deal with numbering chapters, etc. without figuring it all out manually like with more traditional word processors.

Download Ywriter now.

About the Author: Jennifer Mattern

Browse all posts from this author.

Jenn Mattern is a professional blogger and freelance business writer. She owns All Freelance Writing as well as several other sites and blogs covering PR, small business, and related topic areas. She is also currently writing a nonfiction book for freelance writers called The Query-Free Freelancer, and is the author of the Web Writer's Guide e-book series.

Jessica Mousseau

downloaded — this is EXCELLENT. Formatting is always annoying, this is great.

Diana

Does anybody use this INSTEAD of Word? As a total replacement? I’ve seen a few of these programs advertised here and there but I’m a little wary of leaving Word behind completely.

Jessica Mousseau

I’m not sure it’s a replacement, I feel it is more of a supplement — when starting my real book this November, formatting was a pain in the butt,a nd this leaves thing SET — even if you edit and things are messed up on a regular word processor — it’s very convienient and I plan to see how it is –and maybe transfer my file into it when I start working on my book in Jan again.

Diana

ok, that makes sense. I was thinking that could be a good idea: to write things in Word and then move them here to fix formating and make sure everything looks good. I downloaded the program but haven’t tried it yet, so I may give it a go to see how well it works. Word can be a pain (I swear it has a mind of its own sometimes!) so maybe this could work. There’s another similar program out there called OpenOffice that some people I know swear by, but I’ve never personally tried it.

Jessica Mousseau

I use OPEN OFFICE (FREE SOFTWARE)!

Diana

So what do you think of it? Do you prefer it over Word? Do you use both? What does Open Office offer that Word doesn’t? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to download it or not.

Jessica Mousseau

I use only OPEN OFFICE — and it gives you a program like EXCEL, ACCESS, POWERPOINT, etc. etc. — it’s a series of FREE software comparable to MICROSOFT. I used it because I didn’t own the programs …

Diana

so it’s basically the same as Word (did I understand that right?). My computer came with Word, so I don’t think I would need OpenOffice. Ywriter 4, on the other hand, sounds like a completely different thing. Ok, I’m sold I’m giving it a try.

Jessica Mousseau

Yes you’re sold — get on that woman! hahaha

Diana

ok, ok let me try it and report back

Jessica Mousseau

Sounds great I’ll leave it to you to review it!

Diana

I’ve been using Ywriter4 for quite a few days and it’s actually a nice program. Not difficult to use, but I’m so used to Word that I tend to click on certain places instinctively and then realize I chose the wrong option. Not sure I would use it as a replacement for Word but it may be nice as a final formatting program.

Jessica Mousseau

THANKS FOR THE REVIEW DIANA!!

Diana

There is a lot of great free software out there for writers. I use StickIt (it’s like a “virtual” StickIt note you can “paste” in your desktop –very cool and great for remembering things) and Writer’s Database (to keep track of sent queries) but I know there are many other great ones out there!

Jess

stick it rules!! i had it for a while but it got to be a lot — I want one where you can size the sticky — most are template sizes, and sometimes i just want them in a certain section of the screen.

Diana

How long ago you used it? They have a new version out (haven’t download it yet) and I’m pretty sure you can move the stickies around now.

Jessica Mousseau

I used it once — it’s not on my new desktop…

Diana

Ah, too bad There really are a lot of great free programs for writers out there. I’m a little weary of downloading things because of viruses and spyware, but if it comes from a reliable source, you never know. Because I prefer paper, though, I usually don’t use that many programs, but once in a while you find somethng incredible in the mix.