I've been using Wavemaker for a while now and it shares a lot of the benefits of NovelPad. It's browser-based (though I think only backs up through Google Drive), it's built as a novel writing program (including giving you templates of various ways to write novels like Save The Cat, with tips included), and it's decent on the organizing (though probably not as sleek or streamlined as NovelPad, based on what I'm seeing here). It does have the benefit of being free, which is helpful because money. But from this review it seems like NovelPad might just feel a bit better to use, and be more streamlined. So once I can get myself writing more consistently I'll definitely have to give it a try. And if it's a better fit and I can afford it, maybe I'll switch over completely. Or mix and match the workflow. However it shakes out. Thanks for the review Hannah 👍 Always good to find out about new options
That scene arranger view is exactly why I did so much writing in Trello. It's set up exactly like that, with the drag and drop scenes. Obviously, Trello isn't meant to be a writing tool, but that drag and drop functionality was enough for me to use it as one of my primary tools. I'll have to look at novelpad, as it seems to combine the function of Trello with an actual writing focus.
This has been a god send for me and the current novel I’m working on. I’ve used Milanote in the past and it also has great features but NP has been my go to and changed the way I write as well. Thank you for sharing!
@@HannahLeeKidder Okay, I got it. It's been so great so far. I do wish there was a way to include my outline in the document but without it being included in my daily goal. I'm so glad you told me about this. Thank you! I'm probably going to end up being a paying customer because it's so well organized, and it's very helpful going back and forth from work at home because I don't have to have my specific devices with me. They just sync up. And no more lose of documents due to flash drive shenanigans.
Could be the best program in the world, I don't like subscription based software and try to avoid it like the plague it is. It not just ends up being more expensive for the user, with no need to develop new features to make a new version upgrade-worthy, new functions etc. come at a much slower rate. I will happily stay with Scrivener. 40 bucks every couple of years if I want the newest version is fine, plenty of functionality and it has been rocksolid for me.
I tried NovelPad and idk if maybe I’m just not used to it because of Scrivener but it just felt cluttered to me. Like I love having all my chapters in separate writing files and not just one wall of text. I know the chapters features tries to tackle this but it’s weird for me since it looks more like an outline. I like writing a full chapter at once and so just writing individual scenes every single time feels weird. And maybe I didn’t know how to use it but I put one of my pre written chapters into it and tried using the character name feature to find each scene they were in and it didn’t work. So yeah Scrivener does it better for me. Though I will say I liked NovelPad’s goal page and the way the suggestion page works when editing. Unlike Scrivener which just says something’s wrong when writing NovelPad actually explains why it’s wrong and offers how to fix it.
Update: I have actually switched to NovelPad and I really like it. I think it might have been because I was just too used to Scrivener and change is difficult for me. But while I don’t fully disagree with my original issues with it, I will say that it’s simplistic-ness has made it easier to write. I think the fact that you can’t have a fuck ton of files makes me more inclined to write instead of screw around. I would like to see a little more customization within the program but I do think it’s worth it. However I absolutely agree that subscriptions suck! Not to mention they just raised the prices! Luckily I got a hold of it before it raised so I don’t have to worry about it.
@@banettenighmare8645 I appreciate the update! NovelPad looks much more up my alley and I'm glad it seems to be great, but yeah that subscription based pricing tho... oof. 15$/month or 120$/year (30% off, so it'd go up) is asking a lot. If they had a pay once and done option it'd be a no-brainer for me, even if I'd have to pay later to get the upgrades (kinda like how some art programs do it, like toon boom or clip studio)
I'm very broke and I cannot use NovelPad unfortunately so I use Google Docs 😪 I genuinely need a bigger system since I am writing a book that's going to consist of 20-40 chapters 😭
I’ve never heard of this software and am so happy you introduced it to me - I am not a big scrivener fan so this looks like something I could try! Also - I seriously love your videos! I binge-watched all the “quest for the worst movie” one night when I couldn’t sleep and it’s incredibly motivating to see another authortuber doing so well AND doing so well with selling self-published short fiction! I love this! 💕
Novelpad definitely has its benefits, and I'm only just now genuinely starting to give it a real shot, but in just a couple of hours, I've noticed that I keep going back to other programs for really specific things that I just don't vibe with much in Novelpad. For instance, I like to go really in depth on character creation, and the section on biographical information is a little lacking. At the very least, I would have liked the option to have templates you can pick from so you don't have to copy/ paste that stuff every time. Just, being able to go a little more in depth with the characters would be a dream for me. Also, I don't like that it's only subscription-based; idk if I'm going to like it enough to justify paying for it all over again every year when I already have other programs that can do most of the same things (although, sometimes, in very weird ways; Novelpad really does make some of these things easier). I think it would be pretty cool to have an offline-only version you can get if you want to be able to just pay once and have lifetime access to that. As it is, I don't think I'll keep it longer than the year I paid for, but I really do want to give it a real shot, regardless. This is just kind of my initial thoughts on everything, so far.
Thank You, Hannah Lee Kidder 🕊 I had never heard of NovelPad and Scrivener makes my blood run cold 🥶 I’m so overwhelmed by it and it sucks the joy from my liiiife
I just learned about this program. I'm going to see if I can make it work for me. I'm old school, I've never used plotting software. I just used Microsoft Word for all the books I've written. And I like to jump around with scenes so it works having one big document. But I know this level of program can be helpful...if it's not too hard to adjust to! I like that Google Docs is web based and has an offline mode. Office 365 offers automatic syncing, it saves very regularly, and I can move from my computer to my phone and find my doc there.
THANK YOU!!!!! Ive used all of the products you discussed and had the same complaints. I am now importing my 175k manuscript into Novelpad. One FYI for Premium ProWriting Aid users is that the Chrome plugin does not appear to be reviewing text in Novelpad. This may be an issue on my end, however, and will udate this comment if I figure it out.
Hi Jerome! We have a big release coming up in the next few days (almost finished with testing), and I think it will solve exactly the problem you're running into. Our import tool has been improved, and you won't need to use a plugin any more :). I practically live in our Discord server (Steve), so stop by and say hi! We prioritize bugs over new features, so if you do run into any other issues, definitely stop by and let us know. Here to help!
@@dezperado618c8 No problem! There should be a link in the "Welcome to NovelPad" email you receive after signing up. We just released full ProWritingAid support integrated into NovelPad (couldn't say that prior to the release), so you shouldn't have to use a plugin at all any more. Let me know if you still have trouble finding the link, and I can find another way to get it to you.
Great stuff! I remember one of my instructors saying that having pictures of your characters is helpful and yeah, I agree! (it's been awhile since I've done that though while I've been working on shorts) I outlined/started a 60,000 word novel for my college capstone using Microsoft Word. And when I finished the early draft after graduation...there was so much scrolling and zooming out! Also, I can see how this program could work for stage and screenplays too. And wow, the hell with Scrivener. Big F.
I was using living writer for the last 8 months. I thought I liked it but it didn’t have as many features as I liked. But I do like the way novelpad seems. And I like that it has a yearly purchase option instead of monthly. Thanks for the info. I am now one of your newest subscribers. 😺
Just finished the rough draft for my first book. Very little went as planned so there will be a full rewrite making this post very timely for me. Thanks!
I just use Apple pages to write. The first few books were painful, but by the 4th I realized just how much you’re able to do it if you pair it up with free form
You can pair it with Freeform? What’s your system for that? I used to use Apple Pages religiously in late middle/early high school and I loved it for that
I've tried a lot of apps but now I'm settling in Gingko + Obsidian workflow. I love the outlining/plotting method in Gingko and everything else in Obsidian. The powerful linking in Obsidian helps me immensely. I love the nature, interface, features (esp offline mode), price (free), and the community is just amaze ✨ Obsidian is a note-taking app at its core and not those completely for novel writing. It may be just me but I guess I generally don't like softwares/apps dedicated for writing. I find them too restrictive and often feels like filling up forms sometimes. I dunno it's just a personal feel of disconnect for those type of apps. I want to set up my own system through my personal work style and flow. As a broke college student I also can't afford anything subscription based too so 👀
I've been wanting to put together a video of the free and premium options like a VS moment. On the list for future projects, so I'm jotting these down to check them out😊
just uninstalled Scrivner. It did the same thing to the novel that I was working on for the hundredth time. I would type it up on word, then upload it onto Scrivner just so that I'd have a copy of my work saved up. I may just go back to using google docs for a while.
What file format does it save in? I'm very wary of anything that doesn't save at least the body of the work as plain text, because of exactly the issue you described with Scrivener. And because I use Git for version control, backup, and synchronization between devices.
I've been using scriv with dropbox to sync it to everything, so while I was annoyed at first at this being sub based I sorta realized that I'm making scriv sub based by pairing it with dropbox. maybe I will check this out. It honestly looks like everything I've been looking for in a writing program. 😭
Okay..... I am going to try this. I have multiple WiPs that have multiple versions in Scrivener. I like the idea of an offline version and am curious how it will work on my phone, which is where I like working when I don't want to play on my lap top.
For a good free writing software, I'm going to recommend Reedsy Book Editer. It takes a bit of effort to get used to using it, but I've been using it for months and it works really well.
Using Scrivener was like raising a baby in a war zone. Very unsafe, made me nervous, and literally brought me to tears. I’ll never forget the day my entire world building folder disappeared. Just like that. It was gone. Poof. Good thing I had most of it on a million of pieces of paper. I used scrivener to organize my novel but in the end it was just a huge headache. I do not recommend 😭 I ended up accidentally getting Milanote for a design project and somehow, it became the most amazing web based app for brainstorming, organizing, and even writing my fantasy series. I like it because it’s visual, I have thousands of images and portraits everywhere for inspiration. I still haven’t found anything better.
Amazing! This looks so good! I currently use word to write and use Trello to plan and have my beat sheet/ scene stuff which I colour code etc but this looks like it merges that into it! Totally getting! Scrivener is on my list of people I’d like to slap because I have 4 full novels written there but their update meant my computer is no longer compatible to open them unless I.. get this... buy the program again. I had a huge argument with them about it but they didn’t give a shit so I will be trying to go back to a later version so I can rip my books outta there and save them somewhere else! Fun!
This looks great! I am long time word user and there are so many things you covered that I wish word could do even now in 2024. But does this program work with pro writing aid now as well since it is web based. Would love to see an updated video about new features and how it works for you today or if you found something else that works better for you since. Thanks so much for your hard work to produce your content.
With Scrivener, the best way for me to have it synced was with OneDrive. But I only have one pc that I use so it's pointless anywho...? NovelPad looks amazeballs.... Easier to use as well.
I think I’m still going to stick to Scrivener for now but decline every update forever lol. That is terrifying. Also going to start regularly-ish creating a manual backup from Compile I guess, as a Word doc. I cannot imagine losing months or years of work like that, would have a total meltdown??? I don’t blame you for abandoning Scrivener after that-I love using it but would probably have to do the same @_@
I've been trying NovelPad for the last 5 days. On the computer it works great. My issue is trying to use it on my phone or tablet. If I try to delete something it starts making copies of the word I'm deleteing or it jumps to the top of the page and starts making copies of the first word. Has anyone else had this issue? I really like the program, but if I can't use it on the go it's worthless to me. Thanks.
Huh. It’s interesting how different experiences with apps for different people are. I use scrivener and sync stuff via Dropbox and I rarely have any hiccups. If I did, it was a duplicate file that got highlighted within the document, and I was able to resolve it manually. 🤷🏼♀️ I’m sorry you lost your novel to that 😕 But I’m glad you found something that works for you :)
It seems like people who have had amazing experiences with Scrivener and people who have lost entire projects are pretty 50/50. Very odd how that works out
I like Scrivener well enough but I find incredibly frustrating and complicated to use, and not intuitive at all. This looks like it would be much simpler to use. Unfortunately, I can't afford another subscription based program, but I'm definitely planning to check it out when I can.
I use Microsoft Word, but, yeah, I have Excel spreadsheets and tons of character art and I have a file on my computer that has all my info. And, yes, it’s a problem when I’m somewhere else.
Scrivener works for me. You can upload pictures anywhere, and you can arrange scenes and chapters and it's very versatile! The only thing I feel it's missing is a timeline, so I also have Aeon Timeline 2
As for scrivener and working on several devices (and even different OS) you could have tried having your main file on a cloud like Dropbox. That's what I do, I use Scrivener on multiple devices (my PC and my Ipad, so 2 different OS) and I never encountered difficulties like you do. I do synch my files before I open scrivener (if the synch hasn't been done on its own) I don't have that problems of taking my backup files. I back up my files on my own private server. Now that said, I'm always client of new softwares or gadgets like that and this one is really insteresting, I love the layouts and the easiness to navigate in it. Scrivener can look quite old fashioned necxt to it xD We'll see if it will dethrone Scrivener for me.
All the old heads seeing this who came from the "typewriter" era (at least the portion before computers existed) must be shaking their heads and saying, "Backup files? What backup files?" We have become slaves to technology and spoiled by the convenience it provides.
...every time that you redraft a typewritten manuscript, you create a new backup - your old draft, with all the handwritten notes on it. "Backups" are a digital workaround for a function that was lost from moving from paper to digital.
Hey @Hannah I have a question. This program seems to be very promising but I am a little scared when it comes to the copyright deal. In the terms and agreements it states something along the lines of novelpad being able to repost, adjust and available for other users to do so as well. The terms state as followed: 'By posting Content to the Service and also marking it as available to the public, You grant Us the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content on and through the Service. You retain any and all of Your rights to any Content You submit, post or display on or through the Service and You are responsible for protecting those rights. You agree that this license includes the right for Us to make any of Your Content marked for public use available to other users of the Service, who may also use Your Content subject to these Terms. You represent and warrant that: (i) the Content is Yours (You own it) or You have the right to use it and grant Us the rights and license as provided in these Terms, and (ii) the posting of Your Content on or through the Service does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights of any person.' I'm hesitant to make use of this program now because I don't want somebody else to copyright my work or come into conflict with possible future publishers when it comes to these kind of deals. Could you give any insight into as to how this works? English is not my native language and I feel like a lot of these laws in the terms are different from the ones from my home country. Hope to hear from you, G
Hi! So that section isn't applicable to any current NP features. You can't make anything public, so it is not. The reason it's there is because of future plans to roll out publishing options. So currently it is not at all applicable, and when it is, you still would have to opt in for it to apply. :)
I’ve been using Scrivener since it was a beta product. If you use DropBox as your backup destination, it would be an anomaly to lose anything. I use Scrivener on a laptop and a desktop with a 32-inch screen. I use them interchangeably and only use the DropBox backup. I have never lost a word doing that. TIP: ALWAYS tag every backup with the name of its destination so you don’t inadvertently pull up the wrong backup. For example: ‘NOVEL ONE - Dropbox’ or 'NOVEL ONE - Desktop’. The crap thing with Scrivener is its awful, awful menu system and its insistence on calling an ‘effect’ created and finalized with an instruction - an ‘affect'. The creator of Scrivener was a Primary School teacher and is given to always being right. I found him to be pedantic to the point of being a pain in the …. If you want to do a WORD version of your manuscript - you can’t. It is either an RTF or an OPML file. Unfortunately, the rate of development in Scrivener is tectonic. He set out to develop an app so he could write a novel. He has never written a novel on it as far as I can tell. So, Scrivener is rapidly losing its followers to better, sharper, more novel-focused applications that move with the speed of light to bring out writer-friendly updates.
I've been using Wavemaker for a while now and it shares a lot of the benefits of NovelPad. It's browser-based (though I think only backs up through Google Drive), it's built as a novel writing program (including giving you templates of various ways to write novels like Save The Cat, with tips included), and it's decent on the organizing (though probably not as sleek or streamlined as NovelPad, based on what I'm seeing here). It does have the benefit of being free, which is helpful because money.
But from this review it seems like NovelPad might just feel a bit better to use, and be more streamlined. So once I can get myself writing more consistently I'll definitely have to give it a try. And if it's a better fit and I can afford it, maybe I'll switch over completely. Or mix and match the workflow. However it shakes out.
Thanks for the review Hannah 👍 Always good to find out about new options
ohhhh sick, I'll have to check that out when I make my comparison vid
Goal: 20K words per day
Reality: 4 words per day
Haha. Tears..
You did a twitrature which it’s Twitter fiction
That scene arranger view is exactly why I did so much writing in Trello. It's set up exactly like that, with the drag and drop scenes. Obviously, Trello isn't meant to be a writing tool, but that drag and drop functionality was enough for me to use it as one of my primary tools. I'll have to look at novelpad, as it seems to combine the function of Trello with an actual writing focus.
I tried the 14 days free trial and I’m never going back! Just bought it! I love it!
This has been a god send for me and the current novel I’m working on. I’ve used Milanote in the past and it also has great features but NP has been my go to and changed the way I write as well. Thank you for sharing!
I’m like, drooling. I need to try this out.
Let me know if you like it!
@@HannahLeeKidder will do!
@@HannahLeeKidder Okay, I got it. It's been so great so far. I do wish there was a way to include my outline in the document but without it being included in my daily goal. I'm so glad you told me about this. Thank you! I'm probably going to end up being a paying customer because it's so well organized, and it's very helpful going back and forth from work at home because I don't have to have my specific devices with me. They just sync up. And no more lose of documents due to flash drive shenanigans.
Could be the best program in the world, I don't like subscription based software and try to avoid it like the plague it is. It not just ends up being more expensive for the user, with no need to develop new features to make a new version upgrade-worthy, new functions etc. come at a much slower rate. I will happily stay with Scrivener. 40 bucks every couple of years if I want the newest version is fine, plenty of functionality and it has been rocksolid for me.
Oh is subscription based? Urgh, that’s so annoying.
I have too many subs as is and these suckers add up quickly. So it’s a hard pass for me then.
I tried NovelPad and idk if maybe I’m just not used to it because of Scrivener but it just felt cluttered to me. Like I love having all my chapters in separate writing files and not just one wall of text. I know the chapters features tries to tackle this but it’s weird for me since it looks more like an outline. I like writing a full chapter at once and so just writing individual scenes every single time feels weird. And maybe I didn’t know how to use it but I put one of my pre written chapters into it and tried using the character name feature to find each scene they were in and it didn’t work.
So yeah Scrivener does it better for me. Though I will say I liked NovelPad’s goal page and the way the suggestion page works when editing. Unlike Scrivener which just says something’s wrong when writing NovelPad actually explains why it’s wrong and offers how to fix it.
Update: I have actually switched to NovelPad and I really like it. I think it might have been because I was just too used to Scrivener and change is difficult for me. But while I don’t fully disagree with my original issues with it, I will say that it’s simplistic-ness has made it easier to write. I think the fact that you can’t have a fuck ton of files makes me more inclined to write instead of screw around. I would like to see a little more customization within the program but I do think it’s worth it. However I absolutely agree that subscriptions suck! Not to mention they just raised the prices! Luckily I got a hold of it before it raised so I don’t have to worry about it.
@@banettenighmare8645 I appreciate the update! NovelPad looks much more up my alley and I'm glad it seems to be great, but yeah that subscription based pricing tho... oof. 15$/month or 120$/year (30% off, so it'd go up) is asking a lot. If they had a pay once and done option it'd be a no-brainer for me, even if I'd have to pay later to get the upgrades (kinda like how some art programs do it, like toon boom or clip studio)
I'm very broke and I cannot use NovelPad unfortunately so I use Google Docs 😪 I genuinely need a bigger system since I am writing a book that's going to consist of 20-40 chapters 😭
I’m going to check it out
I’ve never heard of this software and am so happy you introduced it to me - I am not a big scrivener fan so this looks like something I could try!
Also - I seriously love your videos! I binge-watched all the “quest for the worst movie” one night when I couldn’t sleep and it’s incredibly motivating to see another authortuber doing so well AND doing so well with selling self-published short fiction! I love this! 💕
Thanks, Nicole!
Novelpad definitely has its benefits, and I'm only just now genuinely starting to give it a real shot, but in just a couple of hours, I've noticed that I keep going back to other programs for really specific things that I just don't vibe with much in Novelpad. For instance, I like to go really in depth on character creation, and the section on biographical information is a little lacking. At the very least, I would have liked the option to have templates you can pick from so you don't have to copy/ paste that stuff every time. Just, being able to go a little more in depth with the characters would be a dream for me. Also, I don't like that it's only subscription-based; idk if I'm going to like it enough to justify paying for it all over again every year when I already have other programs that can do most of the same things (although, sometimes, in very weird ways; Novelpad really does make some of these things easier). I think it would be pretty cool to have an offline-only version you can get if you want to be able to just pay once and have lifetime access to that. As it is, I don't think I'll keep it longer than the year I paid for, but I really do want to give it a real shot, regardless. This is just kind of my initial thoughts on everything, so far.
Thank You, Hannah Lee Kidder 🕊 I had never heard of NovelPad and Scrivener makes my blood run cold 🥶 I’m so overwhelmed by it and it sucks the joy from my liiiife
I just learned about this program. I'm going to see if I can make it work for me. I'm old school, I've never used plotting software. I just used Microsoft Word for all the books I've written. And I like to jump around with scenes so it works having one big document. But I know this level of program can be helpful...if it's not too hard to adjust to! I like that Google Docs is web based and has an offline mode. Office 365 offers automatic syncing, it saves very regularly, and I can move from my computer to my phone and find my doc there.
congrats on the book in monthhhhh (also this was rly helpful)
thank youuuu
I use microsoft word and use my phone for note-taking. I think I could do with an upgrade. Thx for posting this!
Hope you like it!
THANK YOU!!!!! Ive used all of the products you discussed and had the same complaints. I am now importing my 175k manuscript into Novelpad. One FYI for Premium ProWriting Aid users is that the Chrome plugin does not appear to be reviewing text in Novelpad. This may be an issue on my end, however, and will udate this comment if I figure it out.
Hi Jerome! We have a big release coming up in the next few days (almost finished with testing), and I think it will solve exactly the problem you're running into. Our import tool has been improved, and you won't need to use a plugin any more :).
I practically live in our Discord server (Steve), so stop by and say hi! We prioritize bugs over new features, so if you do run into any other issues, definitely stop by and let us know. Here to help!
@@novelpad thanks Steve. Im having trouble finding your Discord server. Are you able to send an invite?
@@dezperado618c8 No problem! There should be a link in the "Welcome to NovelPad" email you receive after signing up. We just released full ProWritingAid support integrated into NovelPad (couldn't say that prior to the release), so you shouldn't have to use a plugin at all any more. Let me know if you still have trouble finding the link, and I can find another way to get it to you.
Great stuff! I remember one of my instructors saying that having pictures of your characters is helpful and yeah, I agree! (it's been awhile since I've done that though while I've been working on shorts)
I outlined/started a 60,000 word novel for my college capstone using Microsoft Word. And when I finished the early draft after graduation...there was so much scrolling and zooming out!
Also, I can see how this program could work for stage and screenplays too.
And wow, the hell with Scrivener. Big F.
That chapters and scenes view feature is everything oh my
it's SO nice omfg
This video was really helpful, thank you!
This is well-timed, since I've been getting really annoyed with Scrivener lately. ❤
Man, I had such a good time with Scrivener at first and I was super bummed it didn't work out. Haven't been disappointed with NovelPad yet
I was using living writer for the last 8 months. I thought I liked it but it didn’t have as many features as I liked. But I do like the way novelpad seems. And I like that it has a yearly purchase option instead of monthly. Thanks for the info. I am now one of your newest subscribers. 😺
Just finished the rough draft for my first book. Very little went as planned so there will be a full rewrite making this post very timely for me. Thanks!
OHHH congrats! And good luck with revisions. ^_^
I just use Apple pages to write. The first few books were painful, but by the 4th I realized just how much you’re able to do it if you pair it up with free form
You can pair it with Freeform? What’s your system for that? I used to use Apple Pages religiously in late middle/early high school and I loved it for that
Helpful video. Would love to see you do a feature comparison between NovelPad and Novlr!
Added it to the list! 😊
I've tried a lot of apps but now I'm settling in Gingko + Obsidian workflow. I love the outlining/plotting method in Gingko and everything else in Obsidian. The powerful linking in Obsidian helps me immensely. I love the nature, interface, features (esp offline mode), price (free), and the community is just amaze ✨
Obsidian is a note-taking app at its core and not those completely for novel writing. It may be just me but I guess I generally don't like softwares/apps dedicated for writing. I find them too restrictive and often feels like filling up forms sometimes. I dunno it's just a personal feel of disconnect for those type of apps. I want to set up my own system through my personal work style and flow.
As a broke college student I also can't afford anything subscription based too so 👀
I've been wanting to put together a video of the free and premium options like a VS moment. On the list for future projects, so I'm jotting these down to check them out😊
I would like to learn more about this program
Been wanting something more seamless between my devices. Thanks!
Hope it works out!
A city with two tales!
Hey, have you ever tried out Campfire Blaze? 🔥😁✨
And I just purchased the latest Scrivener (which I don't really know how to use).
It's never too late 👀 you could email and ask for a refund, but they'll probably respond with a picture of a dog butt or something
@@HannahLeeKidder That's funny.
just uninstalled Scrivner. It did the same thing to the novel that I was working on for the hundredth time. I would type it up on word, then upload it onto Scrivner just so that I'd have a copy of my work saved up. I may just go back to using google docs for a while.
it's SO FRUSTRATING when you lose backups! Especially on a system you paid for
Great video!
What file format does it save in? I'm very wary of anything that doesn't save at least the body of the work as plain text, because of exactly the issue you described with Scrivener. And because I use Git for version control, backup, and synchronization between devices.
I've been using scriv with dropbox to sync it to everything, so while I was annoyed at first at this being sub based I sorta realized that I'm making scriv sub based by pairing it with dropbox. maybe I will check this out. It honestly looks like everything I've been looking for in a writing program. 😭
Scriv is low-key sub based also. They don't push all the updates so users have to buy every couple years and it's like mmmm okay sneaky
Okay..... I am going to try this. I have multiple WiPs that have multiple versions in Scrivener.
I like the idea of an offline version and am curious how it will work on my phone, which is where I like working when I don't want to play on my lap top.
For a good free writing software, I'm going to recommend Reedsy Book Editer. It takes a bit of effort to get used to using it, but I've been using it for months and it works really well.
Using Scrivener was like raising a baby in a war zone. Very unsafe, made me nervous, and literally brought me to tears. I’ll never forget the day my entire world building folder disappeared. Just like that. It was gone. Poof. Good thing I had most of it on a million of pieces of paper. I used scrivener to organize my novel but in the end it was just a huge headache. I do not recommend 😭
I ended up accidentally getting Milanote for a design project and somehow, it became the most amazing web based app for brainstorming, organizing, and even writing my fantasy series. I like it because it’s visual, I have thousands of images and portraits everywhere for inspiration. I still haven’t found anything better.
It looks very similar to Ywriter but more user friendly. I still use Evernote since I can put pictures in.
You can back up your word docs in one drive and view them anywhere 😊
love a good streamlined system 🤤🤤
crispy~
Amazing! This looks so good! I currently use word to write and use Trello to plan and have my beat sheet/ scene stuff which I colour code etc but this looks like it merges that into it! Totally getting! Scrivener is on my list of people I’d like to slap because I have 4 full novels written there but their update meant my computer is no longer compatible to open them unless I.. get this... buy the program again. I had a huge argument with them about it but they didn’t give a shit so I will be trying to go back to a later version so I can rip my books outta there and save them somewhere else! Fun!
It's like they're pretending not to be a subscription, but they're definitely a subscription lmao
@@HannahLeeKidder exactly! Urgh!
Nice✨
This looks great! I am long time word user and there are so many things you covered that I wish word could do even now in 2024. But does this program work with pro writing aid now as well since it is web based. Would love to see an updated video about new features and how it works for you today or if you found something else that works better for you since. Thanks so much for your hard work to produce your content.
NovelPad has its own prowriting aid integration! And I have a few more recent vids if you'd like to check em out 😊 thanks for watching!
awesome software
I'm super digging it
I bought scrivener but never used it. I just never found it useful. I just use Word so far. Might try Novelpad. Thanks for the suggestion!
I really think it's bogged with too many features that don't collaborate well with each other. It's a little scattered
With Scrivener, the best way for me to have it synced was with OneDrive. But I only have one pc that I use so it's pointless anywho...?
NovelPad looks amazeballs.... Easier to use as well.
OneDrive was one of my backups! I have NO idea why it wiped everything but the headers, but such is life.
Having a fantastic time with it
for scrivener every time i finish a writing session i copy and paste the words into a google doc because i’ve heard that saving can be wonky
that should NOT be necessary on a premium drafting software. a big bummer.
My poor-ass living vicariously through you 😔
I think I’m still going to stick to Scrivener for now but decline every update forever lol. That is terrifying. Also going to start regularly-ish creating a manual backup from Compile I guess, as a Word doc. I cannot imagine losing months or years of work like that, would have a total meltdown??? I don’t blame you for abandoning Scrivener after that-I love using it but would probably have to do the same @_@
I've been trying NovelPad for the last 5 days. On the computer it works great. My issue is trying to use it on my phone or tablet. If I try to delete something it starts making copies of the word I'm deleteing or it jumps to the top of the page and starts making copies of the first word. Has anyone else had this issue? I really like the program, but if I can't use it on the go it's worthless to me. Thanks.
Huh. It’s interesting how different experiences with apps for different people are. I use scrivener and sync stuff via Dropbox and I rarely have any hiccups. If I did, it was a duplicate file that got highlighted within the document, and I was able to resolve it manually. 🤷🏼♀️
I’m sorry you lost your novel to that 😕
But I’m glad you found something that works for you :)
It seems like people who have had amazing experiences with Scrivener and people who have lost entire projects are pretty 50/50. Very odd how that works out
I like Scrivener well enough but I find incredibly frustrating and complicated to use, and not intuitive at all. This looks like it would be much simpler to use. Unfortunately, I can't afford another subscription based program, but I'm definitely planning to check it out when I can.
making a die hard scrivener fan rethink his choices 🤔
I meeeean, a lot of people like it lol. It just Did Not work out for me
Hi! super useful video. I've been looking into novelpad. Are you still using it?
Yep! I made an updated video recently. Check it out!
I use Microsoft Word, but, yeah, I have Excel spreadsheets and tons of character art and I have a file on my computer that has all my info. And, yes, it’s a problem when I’m somewhere else.
it's just SO MUCH to keep track of separately
I lost 2 comics I wrote on scrivener. I try to copy what I write to docs now. Definitely not a cool experience
UGH hate that
no pictures I can't :(
It's in the next update!
Now I got to try this thanks for the review I would never known of this
@@HannahLeeKidder
Been using Google Docs for years now. Have never lost even ONE character.
Scrivener works for me. You can upload pictures anywhere, and you can arrange scenes and chapters and it's very versatile! The only thing I feel it's missing is a timeline, so I also have Aeon Timeline 2
As for scrivener and working on several devices (and even different OS) you could have tried having your main file on a cloud like Dropbox. That's what I do, I use Scrivener on multiple devices (my PC and my Ipad, so 2 different OS) and I never encountered difficulties like you do. I do synch my files before I open scrivener (if the synch hasn't been done on its own) I don't have that problems of taking my backup files. I back up my files on my own private server.
Now that said, I'm always client of new softwares or gadgets like that and this one is really insteresting, I love the layouts and the easiness to navigate in it. Scrivener can look quite old fashioned necxt to it xD We'll see if it will dethrone Scrivener for me.
Wavemaker does most of the same things as NovelPad and it's a lot, LOT, cheaper.
$15? That’s…quite a lot. I don’t even know if I’ll be using it all that much, given that I also have to focus on my job.
i knew there was something better than scrivener out there i just knew it
*you look good in a beanie kidler. nice upper face work. (Y)*
All the old heads seeing this who came from the "typewriter" era (at least the portion before computers existed) must be shaking their heads and saying, "Backup files? What backup files?" We have become slaves to technology and spoiled by the convenience it provides.
Quill and ink guys are probably pretty confused too
What’s a typewriter
...every time that you redraft a typewritten manuscript, you create a new backup - your old draft, with all the handwritten notes on it. "Backups" are a digital workaround for a function that was lost from moving from paper to digital.
Hey @Hannah I have a question.
This program seems to be very promising but I am a little scared when it comes to the copyright deal. In the terms and agreements it states something along the lines of novelpad being able to repost, adjust and available for other users to do so as well.
The terms state as followed:
'By posting Content to the Service and also marking it as available to the public, You grant Us the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content on and through the Service. You retain any and all of Your rights to any Content You submit, post or display on or through the Service and You are responsible for protecting those rights. You agree that this license includes the right for Us to make any of Your Content marked for public use available to other users of the Service, who may also use Your Content subject to these Terms.
You represent and warrant that: (i) the Content is Yours (You own it) or You have the right to use it and grant Us the rights and license as provided in these Terms, and (ii) the posting of Your Content on or through the Service does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights of any person.'
I'm hesitant to make use of this program now because I don't want somebody else to copyright my work or come into conflict with possible future publishers when it comes to these kind of deals. Could you give any insight into as to how this works? English is not my native language and I feel like a lot of these laws in the terms are different from the ones from my home country.
Hope to hear from you,
G
Hi! So that section isn't applicable to any current NP features. You can't make anything public, so it is not. The reason it's there is because of future plans to roll out publishing options.
So currently it is not at all applicable, and when it is, you still would have to opt in for it to apply. :)
I’ve been using Scrivener since it was a beta product. If you use DropBox as your backup destination, it would be an anomaly to lose anything. I use Scrivener on a laptop and a desktop with a 32-inch screen. I use them interchangeably and only use the DropBox backup. I have never lost a word doing that. TIP: ALWAYS tag every backup with the name of its destination so you don’t inadvertently pull up the wrong backup. For example: ‘NOVEL ONE - Dropbox’ or 'NOVEL ONE - Desktop’. The crap thing with Scrivener is its awful, awful menu system and its insistence on calling an ‘effect’ created and finalized with an instruction - an ‘affect'. The creator of Scrivener was a Primary School teacher and is given to always being right. I found him to be pedantic to the point of being a pain in the …. If you want to do a WORD version of your manuscript - you can’t. It is either an RTF or an OPML file. Unfortunately, the rate of development in Scrivener is tectonic. He set out to develop an app so he could write a novel. He has never written a novel on it as far as I can tell. So, Scrivener is rapidly losing its followers to better, sharper, more novel-focused applications that move with the speed of light to bring out writer-friendly updates.