Novelcrafter

My brain works so much faster than my hand. I definitely end up with progressively worse handwriting as I go until I have no idea what I was saying 🤣

My fingers are way faster at typing and it's always legible.
In the last decade, I've done more composing on computer than by hand because typing is (so far) easier on arthritis. On good hand days, I still enjoy taking notebook and pen out under a tree somewhere to let my thoughts wander.
 
In the last decade, I've done more composing on computer than by hand because typing is (so far) easier on arthritis. On good hand days, I still enjoy taking notebook and pen out under a tree somewhere to let my thoughts wander.
I have nerve damage in my right hand that makes it difficult to maintain grip on a pen/pencil for longer periods of time, which I'm sure is part of why I rush as I write by hand.
 
Has anyone here tried Novelcrafter? It seems like a really cool writing programme, especially the Codex feaure, so I'm considering trying it out with their free 21 day trial.

Would love some real life opinions though before I purchase a subscription ☺️
Honestly, I am the type of writer who likes to be organized. This reminds me of my usual go-to which is bubbl.us, but better because it's specific to writing instead of being all-inclusive. Bubbl.us is a mind-mapping tool that's great for outlining your work, if nothing else, but Novelcrafter seems pretty next level!
 
I might get a lot of stick for this...

But don't use AI.

Writing is an Art, it is a skill that is born inside each person who decides to pick up the pen. Writing is about learning, about reading about putting your thoughts and your soul onto the blank page. Writing is not asking a computer bot to help you set out how to write, style it like someone, correct a sentence so it sounds like everyone else who uses these lazy tools.

If you can't organise... try different methods. Ask... post threads don' don't use AI as a guide or even as a reference.

Stories are not perfect the best stories are those which are beautifully imperfect that that make as perfect as they can be. I can guarantee that every writer here have a story or books that are amazing to them but others may find distinctly average. It doesn't mean that their books are poor or bad... it means that they like something that others do not and that is absolutely okay.

If everyone used AI to formulate and plot and then correct their grammar and spelling and point out passive words and weak sentences by suggesting another... then the writer only gives a premise to a computer. It is no longer creative... it is sprouting out an idea and letting something write a grammar perfect story that has no soul or meaning.

It saddens me when I find out writers who use AI because writing is incorporating your life, your experiences into a story. How you tell it, the tone, the style, the structure is different to everyone. I have a twin brother ... we grew up in the same environment through the same teachings yet our values and dreams and efforts are nothing a like. And it is because what we find is important to us moves us to search and keep these values... and AI wipes this all away.

I have come across so many 'writers' who use AI to assist and yes their writing is clean, it is structured but they have no soul. There is no tension, there is no feel... it is not even by them.

I hate the process of sending stories to readers for feedback because the pain of errors hurt and worse still is when my writing is flagged up as weak and poor. But I absolutely embrace and thank people for this because I can work tirelessly on this to consider ever point that is made. Sure it is easier to run this through AI but it will not sound me. I will reject feedback, I may not use any or i might use all the points given... but this is my choice. It isn't an option set by a computer who does not know or care about me or know what has shaped me.

AI does the same for you and to the next person and the next. You will all sound the same.

Please don't take the short cuts.


And sorry for this post.
I can understand that you would be concerned that AI will destroy the original voice of the author or their characters within the story because it can very well do that, if you let it. The great thing about AI in its current format is that it is only a nonsentient tool for real creators. Some of us do feel that we benefit from a tool (like Grammarly, and others) that can catch little grammatical errors that we find in our stories, but the most important aspect of these tools is that we have a choice whether or not to listen to them. However, when it comes to editors, they can be real sticklers about grammar in published writing, so I feel your pain. I'm quite positive that much of the grammar used in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn would've been thrown out by many of today's editors.
 
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