Software Review: Scrivener Writing Program for Mac OS X

Few writing software packages live up to their claims of being the ultimate tool for writers - some, in fact, aren't even worthy of being called word processors. Scrivener, a word process for fiction writers, is not such a program.

Scrivener is a writing application made only for Mac OS X, and is priced at $45. It is intended for fiction writers specifically, though other types of writers could use it also. It is intended to make the writing process simple and keep a novel organized. The goal is for the application to be usable by all types of writers, whether you/re the type that needs every scene plotted out or if you're the type that writes impromptu with dozens of notes scattered around.

The question is, then - does Scrivener live up to it's claims? Is it the perfect solution for writers with a Macbook, or is it another overtly-hyped application not worth it's price tag? Read on to find out.

Interface

The interface is sleek and clean, and it is variable, so that every type of writer will find the interface they like to use. You can have the utilitarian type of interface which allows you to have a good mix of notes, writing space, and features laid out. If you don't want that much of a workspace, you can increase the writing space and reduce the amount of features opened. Finally, if you hate having distractions in your writing area, you can make the processor fullscreen, so that only the writing area remains.

One particularly nice visual is the ability to make the writing space look like the page from a book, so that it appears your writing is printed on paper. This is a good way to visualize your story on paper.

Features

Besides the interface options mentioned, there are also many features that make writing a fun, enjoyable process, helping you keep your writing organized. One feature is a corkboard,which allows you to 'pin' notecards onto a virtual corkboard, shuffling and rearranging them as you would with real notecards.

Another feature is the Outliner, which allows you to create a multicolored outline of your story, and you can assign a document to each entry on the outline - double-click the entry to open the corresponding document.

Finally, you can keep select features open in fullscreen mode, which means you can keep your notes or outline or photos, whatever you need when writing without overloading you with features.

Reliability

The program is very reliable, and it has not crashed or had any bugs that I've seen.

Conclusion

This program is a wonderful choice for any fiction writer in a need of an organizational suite to keep their novel flowing. This program is worth every cent, and it does exactly what it offers, which overloading the writer or making false promises.