On Writing : Grey matter and getting with the times by Lauren Hackney

Lauren Hackney

Grey matter and getting with the times

Hey Authors and Playwrights,

Question for the panel: Do you use structural software like 'Plottr' or 'Schrivener' to assist in your novel writing? If so, when you started using it, did it assist you in getting your books published? Or did it further your career somehow?

Here's where I am coming from...

For me, storytelling isn't just about getting published. It's a form of healing, journaling and my stories are my closest friends when my human friends are too busy to catch up. My stories are more than just something I want to sell and a career out of.

However, I always start with a blank exercise book and pen. Make notes. Write down character profiles. Enjoy seeing my handwriting go from neat to absolute 'chicken-scratch'. Then I like to, piece by piece, put it on a word document and go from there.

But with technology here to stay, I want to know - if I'm not using fancy software to write my stories, do they stack up against the ones who do?

Thanks Team!

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

I never use planning software lol I just write using OpenOffice or Trelby.

Lauren Hackney

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh thank you for letting me know how you craft your stories. How do you find Trelby helps you? I wonder if I should swap from Writer Duet to Trelby?

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

No worries Lauren Hackney, I realised rather late (as in, a friend told me) that Trelby is for screenwriters who know what they're doing (basically it's like Word but for screenplays). It doesn't help with planning. Nonetheless I like doing it this way haha

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