Audition Ten

Ten Things That Offer Free Trial or Demo Versions

1. Create a database and table of acronyms from your document with AcroWizard (OS: Windows NT 4.0 SP6, 2000 SP3, XP SP1 + Word 2000 SP3, XP SP2, 2003)

2. CopyWrite is "a project manager for writers of all kinds. Rather than focus on formatting and layout, CopyWrite stands apart in its project-oriented approach. Word processors and page layout tools are good at what they do - formatting and layout - but they offer no help at all to a writer during the creative process. In fact, the 'gee-whiz' features crammed into these tools do more to hinder writers, getting in the way of their work flow. Put simply, these tools constipate writers; CopyWrite is like a tasty bran muffin ... with extra bran" (OS: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher)

3. Nonfic writers, EazyPaper will handle the formatting of your footnotes and bibliography for you; online demo at the web site (OS: Windows 98 or later and MS Word 2000 or later)

4. IdeaMason "brings together the database elements of both a bibliographical and information management tool in combination with a virtual writing platform. Store and categorize ideas and research in one comprehensive portfolio. Collect and manage sources in a virtual library. Then use IdeaMason's revolutionary Composition tool to organize your ideas and manage referenced sources in a single efficient step. When you are ready IdeaMason exports your work into a fully-formatted document complete with footnotes and citations. IdeaMason automatically generates a complete bibliography (including annotations) in your choice of the following major styles APA, MLA, Harvard Citations (UK & Austrialian variations supported), Chicago Notes-Bibliography, & Chicago Author-Date" (OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista [64-bit and 32-bit editions])

5. IdeaWeaver is "a writing and creativity software program that is easy and flexible to use. You can write the way you want, not the way the software dictates. You can see all your ideas on one screen along with an outline, topics, and categories, so you can organize and sort your ideas in many ways. Although it has a lot of features, unlike some software programs, you aren't FORCED to use them" (OS: Win 98/2k/Me/XP/2003)

6. Master Storyteller 2.0 "develops your writing skills while you develop your story. Using a series of Story Cards, you learn new storytelling techniques and then apply them to your own story. Each Story card moves you a step closer to a compelling story and to becoming a Master Storyteller yourself. This LE version of Storymind contains ten valuable writing exercises. The full version contains over 50. The LE version prints and exports but does not save. The full version allows the creation of your own Story Cards"(OS: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP)

7. Mellel is "an advanced word processor for Mac OS X designed especially for scholars, creative and technical writers, and anyone seeking a feature-rich and reliable word processor" (OS: Mac OS X)

8. Movie Outline screenplay development software takes "the complexity out of the screenwriting process and give you the space to think and write your script scene by scene while simultaneously being able to compare your own story pacing with outlines and analyses of successful movies" (OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista; Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above)

9. Writers Assistant "helps with organization of writing projects and tracks any manuscript submissions that you may have" (OS: Palm PDA (?) 4.0 -- developer's web site is under construction, so not sure on this one.)

10. Writers Blocks 3 is "powerful writing software that will help you pull together your ideas, notes, and research for your complex writing projects. Use blocks to capture, organize, outline, and structure your documents" (OS: Windows XP, Vista, 2000, 98, ME)

Search for more shareware by platform over at Shareware.com.

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Ten Things Writers Can Try for Free

Shareware caution: always scan trial or demo downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.

1. Looking for one of those 3D book image rendering programs? Give 3D eBook Shot a try.

2. The 15-day trial version of Action Outline will organize your data in tree form.

3. YaduDigital.com offers two shareware programs, Book Writer and Finders Keepers, that mind map ideas and search files for you.

4. Book authoring software Chrysanth NETime Author offers a free trial or demo download (the wording is a bit weird; probably a demo.)

5. Get the look of a paper journal for your electronic scribblings with the free trial version of Forever Journal.

6. Grammar Slammer offers a free demo download; now available with spelling and grammar checkers.

7. Another journaling shareware, LifeJournal, stores your entries, provides writing prompts, searches your entries, and more.

8. Liquid Story Binder XE is a shareware word processor/document tracker program geared specifically for writers.

9. Need a program that actually nags you to write? Give the free trial download of Modjex Coaxer a whirl.

10. Nolad.com's Visual Typewriter shareware allows you to write on a virtual typewriter. I wonder if they have it in a Royal Academy edition.....

For the readers, check out The National Academies Press website, which offers free online access to over 3,000 titles with a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and medicine.