Scrivner
Windows, Mac - $40
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php
Description
Scrivner is the ultimate document handler. Instead of just a single document that can have multiple pages, Scrivner project contain as many documents, notes, revisions, and folders as you need. A document can be a single scene or an entire chapter, and no matter how much you break them up, you can view them stitched together as if they were one. It makes version tracking a breeze, and gives you tons of export options to make your texts consistent.
Pros:
- Instead of littering your files with 50 documents pertaining to one project, you can have them all in one project folder
- Easy control over formatting when exporting
- Zen-like writing mode that hides all the unnecessary interface and leaves you with just you and your text. Extremely customizable.
- Good backup functionality
- Clever interface for notes and version tracking
- Actually, clever interface all around
Cons
- Search isn't up to google-like standards
- Doesn't have any cloud syncing or simultaneous editing (google docs has spoiled us all)
- A bit slow on the startup
Conclusion:
If you don't mind exporting files to share with your beta readers, or just have a more solitary writing experience, then Scrivner is hands down the best writing software I have ever used. It's far ahead of the document editing curve, becoming ideal for everything from books, to research projects -- anything that could benefit from consolidating and organizing many documents more easily. It can even capture and download web pages.
That said, if you like the convenience of google drive for sharing, portability, and search, not even all these features can luer you away. I purchased Scrivner, used it, loved it, and then found myself using Google Docs far more.
If you're solo and like privacy, however, I don't think you can do better than Scrivner.
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