Monday, March 03, 2008

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.

2 comments:

  1. Lynn,
    I wondered whether you'd ever come across LyX. It's a WYSIWYM text editor - "what you see is what you mean" and I find it excellent for decoupling the content from the presentation. It's a front-end to the TeX typesetting language and, as such, is very powerful. But it is, for example, easy to switch from printing standard MS format to typeset book with a few mouseclicks.

    Oh, and it's completely free!

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  2. I haven't been on your blog in a long, long time. Even before, I mostly lurked.

    But I am reading (ahem) my VERY FIRST vampire novel!!! At the age of 42, I scoffed these kinds of books. Ew and gory. Who wants to read about blood?

    Well, I am almost finished with Dark Need and I can't put it down!!! THere's a real story! Cool characters, interesting plot, great tension (sexual and otherwise). I am so loving this book.

    What would you recommend next?
    :-)

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