Through the power to Twitter, I sometimes receive questions from readers. Recently, I’ve received two that I cannot answer. Hopefully some of you can provide some insight via the comment facility below.
Specifically, these readers are seeking evaluations and opinions about the Mac novel writing software Storymill and about the usefulness of digital pens for writers that start their work with ballpoint pens before moving on to word processors. Please share your experience with us.
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Sorry, comments are closed.
Comment by
SG
19 Jan 2009
The real benefit of starting work by hand is the rewriting step inherent in re-reading and transcribing your notes word for word.
Comment by
tomcolvin
19 Jan 2009
One of the objectives of the digital pen, as I understand it, is to
eliminate the word-for-word transcription process.
I have, by the way, found an interesting article about digital pens at the
authoritive site CNET. The comments following the article are illuminating
as well. Find it at:
http://news.cnet.com/Is-the-digital-pen-mightie...
Comment by
barfly
20 Jan 2009
i've written several screenplays long-hand and am now prepping for my first novel which i'll also do long-hand. i'd say the pros to working long-hand are: work anywhere anytime; get away from the cmpt; fewer distractions; smoother thought-to-page flow once you get used to the process; built-in first draft edits when you go from page to cmpt (it you type it in yourself). i have to say though that i wouldn't touch a ball-point with a ten foot pole, at least not for the writing (they have their place for edits). fountain pens cause far less hand fatigue and the good ones are even less bother than your average bic.
when you're looking at getting that long-hand first draft into the computer OCR software can be very helpful. it's been a while since i last did this but as i recall that the OCR saved me about 80% of the typing effort. you still have to read it over and fix the OCR snafus so you get the first-draft edit effect, you simply don't have to type so much. i liked it and will do it again when it comes time to get the novel into digital form.
heard good things about StoryMill, never used it personally.
Comment by
tomcolvin
20 Jan 2009
Wow! You mean real ink pens still exist? I haven't seen one in years.
I guess they would be available at special counters for pens, rather than on
the shelves of packaged goods where I usually go.
I can understand that first-drafts via ink pen would have major benefits.
Certainly, you writing is much more visceral.
Comment by
barfly
20 Jan 2009
i'm in the EU and here fountain pens are pretty much the norm. ballpoints are for school kids and such, totally disposable and not “real” writing tools. pretty much every adult carries a fountain pen.
in most department stores and the like the fountain pen section is as large or larger than the bubble-packed ballpoints. the cheapest fountain pens are about twice the price of a Bic. excellent fountain pens can be readily had for less than US $20. even top-drawer high-quality pens aren't much more than US $100, though you can of course spend much more than that if you care to. the extra $$$ doesn't buy you a better pen though, just a prettier one.
if you're interested check out anything by Lamy, a German company whose pens can be found anywhere that ink will flow. the Safari is about US $20 and is a fine work-horse of a fountain pen. the Lamy 2000 is four or five times that price but it is a novel-writing pen if ever there was one! in terms of function and design it is simply superb. i could go on and on but … well this is a comment and should probably end here.
Comment by
matt martin
16 Feb 2009
I use StoryMill and my ability to formulate my novel has improved nearly overnight. I can safely say this product has been a Godsend for me.
Comment by
Tom Colvin
16 Feb 2009
Matt, would you be willing to write up a review of StoryMill with some detail of its features, pros and cons? I would be willing to post it separately for all to see, along with a blurb about you and your writing.
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23 Mar 2009
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