Hey writers ... What do you use?

[Writergirl7]

Just get one of the Dell IPS panels for a good price on Amazon. They work great.

I can't help but wonder if perhaps the issue is with your eyes. I don't mean to be facetious, but I found my woes with the MBA screen disappeared once I updated my prescription recently. Weird how that works.

Haha! I probably need to think about glasses for my computer monitor viewing but my old ASUS 15" monitor was and is fine (apart from it freezing every 5 minutes). I could use it all day which is why I kept it for seven years. But it's taking its last agonal gasps now . The iPad is fine too but I don't usually use it for as long a time.

 

[Tarrou8]

Considering that every great writer throughout history has survived sans Air or Retina (and the vast majority without any computer at all), I'm fairly certain that any current Apple product will more than suffice for our needs.

 

[SpyderBite]

Hey writers ... What do you use?

I use my 2012 cMBP 13" and some templates I created for writing articles for various publishers depending on their formatting requirements.

I use OpenOffice most of the time except when I need to open and edit something on my iPad 3 in which case I use Pages.

 

[hakr100]

Considering that every great writer throughout history has survived sans Air or Retina (and the vast majority without any computer at all), I'm fairly certain that any current Apple product will more than suffice for our needs.

Ernest Hemingway wrote standing up at a writing table. He used pens and pencils on legal sized yellow pads. I don't know how he managed to write well enough without a computer to receive the Nobel Prize.

 

[arsimoun]

writers and their habits...

Ernest Hemingway wrote standing a wooden table? Feh! Tom Wolfe wrote on the top of a refrigerator. Now that's how a real writer does it! 15" 13" 11" Real writers use Frigidaire!



Adam Rodman

 

[nightlong]

New Thunderbolt screen might appear along with the launch of Mac Pro, whether it actually will appear, whether it will be better and less glossy is all speculation. It will almost certainly be more expensive than the Dell U2412 ... I have one of them, and it is very good for the price with lots of inputs, height and swivel variations, the colour is good but the anti-glare coating is severe and IMO seems less sharp than iMac for text. Whether it is sharper when the source is rMPB rather than Air, I don't know.but I recommend trying before you buy if possible because the anti-glare coating is extreme, which might suit your eyesight issue Writergirl, but might not.

 

[hakr100]

I think the choice of word processing software depends upon the user, what he or she has to write, and how and where the output will be used.

I have been a professional writer for more than 40 years, producing essays, reports, manuscripts, print and broadcast commercials, speeches, and I suppose a dozen other deliverables. Most of the time, my clients want output in simple text form. If it is to go on a web site, their staff does the conversion and coding.

For years, I used XyWrite, a word processor no longer available. Then I used WordPerfect and then Word. Now I am using Pages. I like Pages because it is not overly complex.

 

[arsimoun]

word processing software...

I'll see your XyWrite and raise you a PC WRITE, EMACS, and a text editing/text formatting package converted from typesetting to personal computers: ScenicWriter.

ScenicWriter ran under the UCSD-P system and then was later converted first to DOS and then to Windows. I wrote a lot of good stuff with ScenicWriter and will always have an affectionate place in my heart for these older writing software systems.

Adam Rodman

 

[handlemyhansen]

I just bought iA Writer and it has been a pleasant surprise. Not loaded with features but is simple and with its minimalist style it helps me stay focused on writing and not such things as formatting.

I have been writing in iA writer and getting my ideas down and then using word to format, adjust, and edit.

 

[Writergirl7]

Considering that every great writer throughout history has survived sans Air or Retina (and the vast majority without any computer at all), I'm fairly certain that any current Apple product will more than suffice for our needs.

It's what you get used to. When I was much younger I hated writing on a computer. It stopped me feeling creative; I was much better longhand . Then something in my brain switched and I now do most of my journaling and creative work via word processor.

We are spoilt with choice with our modern technology, but we face new challenges. The wrong set up - be it workstation ergonomics, screen quality, text sharpness, etc, can have a huge effect on both our comfort and our health. What works well for one person may adversely affect another so I have to disagree with you. Not all Mac products suit all writers

 

[nightlong]

This outlook has surfaced before here when someone said any old computer is good enough for writing, and great books have been written without computers etc.

Yes well, people also survived without cars, refrigeration, dental care, books, sanitation, even without anaesthetic for major operations.

I could 'survive' with a yellow legal pad and a stub of pencil but since I am so first-world fortunate I prefer to use the best tools for my purposes.

For me that means sharp text, quiet (can't bear fan noise and hums) and, these days, great software built for writing such as Scrivener, but then much else for all the other things I do with a computer.

 

[PDFierro]

It's all about standards these days. With the technology we have available, I'm going to want the best machine that suits my writing the best.

Sure I could go with a typewriter, but look at the options we have available now. Having a certain Mac can actually go a long ways toward increasing your productivity.

 

[Doxiegirl]

And, as I said a while back, this thread being in the Air forum was a newbie mistake ... i didn't mean to limit discussion to Air users. At the time I was researching the Air as writing machine.

I'm glad you accidentally posted here--I'm a writer too who will soon be the proud owner of a refurbished 2012 Macbook Air, and this thread has encouraged me to look into Scrivener : )

Regarding some of the posts about the sedentary nature of writing and what people do to combat that, I had considered a treadmill desk, but found them too expensive (and also I just hate treadmills in general)--and ended up buying the Fitdesk X1 at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Folding-Exercise-Sliding-Platform/dp/B00BF69KEK

It's quite nice and a great way to burn calories while writing.

 

[Writergirl7]

I'm glad you accidentally posted here--I'm a writer too who will soon be the proud owner of a refurbished 2012 Macbook Air, and this thread has encouraged me to look into Scrivener : )

Regarding some of the posts about the sedentary nature of writing and what people do to combat that, I had considered a treadmill desk, but found them too expensive (and also I just hate treadmills in general)--and ended up buying the Fitdesk X1 at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Folding-Exercise-Sliding-Platform/dp/B00BF69KEK

It's quite nice and a great way to burn calories while writing.

Is the desk bit height adjustable?

 

[Doxiegirl]

Is the desk bit height adjustable?

I'm honestly not sure--my husband set it up for me a few weeks ago. From what I remember, the angle but not the height is adjustable. But the height of the seat is definitely adjustable. I'm 5'1" and it works fine for me If that helps. I think it's supposed to be good for someone up to 6 feet tall.

ETA: The angle of the desk isn't adjustable but you can move it closer or farther away. It works fine for me. You can also adjust the tension on the pedals.

 

[nightlong]

I'm glad you accidentally posted here--I'm a writer too who will soon be the proud owner of a refurbished 2012 Macbook Air, and this thread has encouraged me to look into Scrivener : )

Regarding some of the posts about the sedentary nature of writing and what people do to combat that, I had considered a treadmill desk, but found them too expensive (and also I just hate treadmills in general)--and ended up buying the Fitdesk X1 at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Folding-Exercise-Sliding-Platform/dp/B00BF69KEK

It's quite nice and a great way to burn calories while writing.

Great idea ... Don't know if I could do it, be so physically active while writing, but that might just be habit. Have you found this increases your mental energy ... more oxygen to the brain or just generally boosts your metabolism or whatever?

 

[Writergirl7]

I'm honestly not sure--my husband set it up for me a few weeks ago. From what I remember, the angle but not the height is adjustable. But the height of the seat is definitely adjustable. I'm 5'1" and it works fine for me If that helps. I think it's supposed to be good for someone up to 6 feet tall.

ETA: The angle of the desk isn't adjustable but you can move it closer or farther away. It works fine for me. You can also adjust the tension on the pedals.

I see it gets good reviews on Amazon. At very least it would be good for reading and web surfing in the name of research

Alas it doesn't seem to be available in Australia.

 

[nightlong]

I just bought iA Writer and it has been a pleasant surprise. Not loaded with features but is simple and with its minimalist style it helps me stay focused on writing and not such things as formatting.

I have been writing in iA writer and getting my ideas down and then using word to format, adjust, and edit.

I like iA Writer, use it on my ipad4, then pick that up from Dropbox to take to Scrivener on my Air. Partly because ipad4 is the only retina screen I have so far, I don't bother with any editing on that, just write. But I do love the iPad, attaching it to hoverbar wherever I want to write, at eye level, and use Apple BT keyboard, in my lap or on a surface, with my ipad2 nearby for doing Internet things, like messages, mail, google search or dictionary or for the many research materials i have on that, so I'm not multitasking on the ipad4, it's just like a typewriter for this sort of freeform writing. My Air is often hooked up to the Dell monitor at my desk, as i do other things with this and iMac as well as Scrivener parts of writing.

 

[Yggbert]

Unfortunately I still have to put up with the somewhat bland Office suite because it's what my university uses, when I'm doing simple word processing work I like to use Byword or IA Writer, likely Google Docs if I'll only be on my laptop temporarily. (just makes syncing that bit easier)

I love apps like IA Writer when I'm writing Japanese (my degree is half languages study, half essay based), the font looks incredible and it's so visually pleasing.

Actually, does anyone know of apps like IA Writer for Windows?

 

[Hildegerd]

Unfortunately I still have to put up with the somewhat bland Office suite because it's what my university uses, when I'm doing simple word processing work I like to use Byword or IA Writer, likely Google Docs if I'll only be on my laptop temporarily. (just makes syncing that bit easier)

I love apps like IA Writer when I'm writing Japanese (my degree is half languages study, half essay based), the font looks incredible and it's so visually pleasing.

Actually, does anyone know of apps like IA Writer for Windows?

Perhaps you can find something here: http://alternativeto.net/software/byword/?platform=windows

 

[handlemyhansen]

I like iA Writer, use it on my ipad4, then pick that up from Dropbox to take to Scrivener on my Air. Partly because ipad4 is the only retina screen I have so far, I don't bother with any editing on that, just write. But I do love the iPad, attaching it to hoverbar wherever I want to write, at eye level, and use Apple BT keyboard, in my lap or on a surface, with my ipad2 nearby for doing Internet things, like messages, mail, google search or dictionary or for the many research materials i have on that, so I'm not multitasking on the ipad4, it's just like a typewriter for this sort of freeform writing. My Air is often hooked up to the Dell monitor at my desk, as i do other things with this and iMac as well as Scrivener parts of writing.

I agree i find iA writers simplicity refreshing. I have been using it to take notes and once you get comfortable with the little short cuts they have for basic formatting writing really flows because you dont have to take you fingers off the keyboard.

I have heard very good thinks about Scrivener but dont know much about it.

 

[innatetech]

Scrivener is pretty awesome.

I like Mellel as a word processor.

For screenwriting and preproduction etc. you should look at celtx before you spend money on a commercial product.

If you need a personal database/research tool etc. I'm a big fan of DevonThink Pro Office. You might also want to take a look at Bento, which I guess is part of FileMaker now. There's also Yojimbo from BBE, which is probably the most approachable of the three.

If you want to experiment with interactive fiction, Inform is really a lot of fun to play with and the basics come very fast.

 

[PDFierro]

Scrivener is pretty awesome.

I like Mellel as a word processor.

For screenwriting and preproduction etc. you should look at celtx before you spend money on a commercial product.

If you need a personal database/research tool etc. I'm a big fan of DevonThink Pro Office. You might also want to take a look at Bento, which I guess is part of FileMaker now. There's also Yojimbo from BBE, which is probably the most approachable of the three.

If you want to experiment with interactive fiction, Inform is really a lot of fun to play with and the basics come very fast.

Not a fan of Celtx. Doesn't work for me with how I write. I don't mind paying for software, I use Final Draft and others.

I'm actually looking forward to trying out some Mac-only apps, such as Slugline. I'm going to be filled with joy if the new rMBPs come out next week after the earnings call.

 

[arsimoun]

Screenwriting software...

Final Draft and MoveMagic Screenwriter 2000 are pretty much the industry standards. I hear good things about Slugline, but at least for the moment I am sticking with the devil you know argument. I am working on one project in FD and another in MM -- in each instance it's because the production entity that hired me is using that software.

FWIW

Adam Rodman

 

[tiartrop]

I didn't know there's a lot of writing apps available out there, definitely going to check them out.

I don't write so much these days since I changed job and finished uni, my last university only accepted .doc format for the reports/essays so I pretty much only used Word and Endnote. Word is a disaster, especially for Mac, but not like the Windows counterpart is better anyway.

As for my gear, I used Macbook 13" before switching to MBA 11", I love the 11" portability! I put keyboard cover on mine since I like to go to coffee shops to work on my stuff, saved me a few times so far. I don't know why people frown upon it, it hasn't decreased my typing speed. Just recently installed Speck seethru case too, I don't like how it adds to the weight though but it adds colour to my MBA.