Scrivener

My apologies if this post sounds like an advertisement. I assure you, I am not getting paid to write this, or anything like that. But if I was getting paid, I would have no problem with that.

Scrivener is basically a word processor, but the most advanced one that you can imagine. (Note: I'm using the Windows version. The Mac version has more features.) It has made writing a novel so much easier, and even more fun. The only downside of the software is the price: $40 for Windows. There are various discounts, though, which are on the Scrivener website. 

I'll use a few screenshots to outline how the Scrivener writing process works. [The sample novel is not one that I am working on.]

The screenshots below document the highlights, but there are hundreds of different functions. For example, each chapter can be marked with one of five labels, one of six statuses, and one of dozens of icons. You can split the screen, look up words, generate random names, add images and graphs, compare different versions, and automatically fix spelling errors. I've used Scrivener every day for over a month, and I'm still discovering new things that I can do with it.

As you can see, there are various templates available. Or you could use a blank project.

You can make an outline by chapters, by scenes, or with both. 

Each scene or chapter is saved as a "card." The cards can be moved around, marked, and written on. 

It's fun to watch these bars fill up! 

You can make "character" cards for all your characters, places, or whatever you want. My real novel has "Characters" and "Places and Concepts." 

Scrivener provides character and setting templates to fill out. Handy if you have a lot of characters or complicated settings.

This is where the real action happens. 

This is fullscreen mode. It helps me avoid distractions while I work. You can have the background be black, faded, or a personal picture, like this strange one.