What Is YWriter Uses, Features, Opinions, Prices

Are you still looking for software that lets you write long articles and novels all in one place? Then look no further: YWriter . The installation process is incredibly easy, allowing you to start writing immediately after installation.

YWriter lets you write and maintain large writing projects, such as novels, all in one place. This helps you break down large projects into smaller chapters and allows users to write in that order.

This helps writers organize their work much better. Additionally, this also allows you to keep separate notes on characters, scenes, and other important areas of the work.

The yWriter software is designed and written by a writer. That's pretty good. It means it's quite easy to use and offers the features writers want.

What is YWriter

YWriter is a word processor that divides your novel into chapters and scenes. This software won't write your novel for you, suggest plot ideas, or perform any creative tasks. What it will do is help you keep track of your work, freeing your mind to create.

YWriter is free to download and use on Windows and macOS. You can register to support its developer, but this is optional.

With helpful tools like a word count, which not only tells you the total words but breaks it down by individual words and how many times they are used, timeline, story outline, and places to write scene summaries, yWriter guides writers through their story on their own terms.

You don't have to use the timeline or scene outlines, but if that's what you're used to doing, it's there for you. This program is all about what works for you as a writer and the methods you use to stay on track and consistent.

Because losing work is a disaster, this program will also create automatic backups by date and time, as often as once a minute if you want.

These can be navigated at will, making it easy to revert to a previous version of your work. It includes a text editor, project overview, daily change log, and much more.

There are no additional features if you register and take out the paid subscription. The purpose of registration is to support the author of the software and the development of new future versions.

YWriter is available for Windows and also has apps for Android and iOS . A beta version exists for macOS, which is still in testing but is functional.

What can YWriter be used for?

Designed by a writer, for writers, yWriter is a word processor that helps you organize your novel into scenes and chapters. The program:

• Keep track of words per chapter and total word count.
• Allows for scene breakdowns, note taking, character descriptions, and scene details and objectives in separate tabs within each chapter.
• Allows you to export your work to RTF, PDF and HTML. It also allows users to export their work to e-books with the help of another application.

Simple software that does the work you actually need as a writer. Basically, yWriter makes it easy to reorganize at will, meaning you can jot down a scene after inspiration strikes without needing a new document.

You're not permanently chained to the chapter you initially attached it to. Let's say the scene is a neat addition to Chapter 3. A simple drag and drop later and voila - it's incorporated without any useless backtracking.

YWriter has a "Storyboard" feature that only appears after you add a scene and a character to your project. Instead of viewing the contents of a chapter, Storyboard expands your perspective to the entire plot.

Acting as a sort of delineation tool, each scene is combined with its “point of view” character on a color-coded timeline.

With each line running parallel to the next, it's easy to get a good look at the progression of the plot. Plus, intricate details like specific objects and environments can be added to paint a rewarding picture. Writing a scene is much less overwhelming when you know all of its nooks and crannies.

YWriter gives you the tools and then lets your own words guide you in developing your story.

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YWriter Features

YWriter is a free novel-writing app developed by a programmer who is also a published author. It breaks your novel down into manageable chapters and scenes and helps you plan how many words to write each day to finish on schedule.

It was created for Windows, while a Mac version is currently in beta. These are its main features.

1. User interface

YWriter is a tab-based database program. Initially you don't have anywhere to start writing. Instead, you'll see an area where your chapters are listed. Another panel contains tabs for your scenes, project notes, characters, locations, and items.

Those areas are empty when you start, making it difficult to know how or where to begin. The app starts to take shape as you create content.

yWriter 's interface is designed to help you plan and write your novel. It encourages you to plan your chapters, characters, and locations before you start writing, which is a great feature.

yWriter's interface is compartmentalized to help you think about your novel and create supporting material. It will greatly suit writers with a more focused approach.

2. Productive writing environment

With YWriter , you first create a chapter and then a scene within the chapter. Then, you write in a rich text editor with formatting options such as bold, italics, underline, and paragraph alignment.

You'll find indentation, spacing, color, and more in the Settings menu. There's also a speech engine that reads what you've typed.

A plain text panel appears below your chapter text. It's not labeled in the app interface, but it's where you can summarize the chapter and refer to it as you write.

However, you don't have to use the yWriter editor . If you prefer, you can right-click on the scene and choose to work on it in an external rich text editor.

3. Creating structure

Why use this application instead of Microsoft Word ? Its strength lies in allowing you to divide your work into manageable parts and rearrange them as desired.

yWriter 's outline function is primitive. You must manually write it as plain text using a specific syntax. Then, when you press the Preview button , it will be displayed graphically.

Only two outline levels are possible: one for chapters and one for scenes. Clicking OK will add these new sections to your project.

yWriter 's StoryBoard view displays scenes and chapters in a graphical view that can be rearranged with the mouse. It goes a step further by showing the scenes and chapters in which each of your characters participates.

4. Research and reference

The YWriter area is regulated and geared toward novelists. There are tabs for writing project notes, describing your characters and locations, and listing props and other items.

The Characters section includes tabs for each character's name and description, biography and goals, other notes, and an image.

The other sections are similar, but contain fewer tabs. The forms in each will help you think through the details of your novel more thoroughly, making sure nothing gets missed.

YWriter offers specific areas for novelists to think about their project, characters, locations, and elements.

5. Track progress

Novels are huge projects that usually have word count requirements and deadlines. Additionally, there may also be length requirements for each chapter. YWriter offers a variety of features to help you keep track and meet those goals.

In the “ Project Settings ”, YWriter allows you to set deadlines for your novel, in fact, five deadlines: one for your outline, draft, first edition, second edition, and final edition.

You can calculate the number of words you need to write each day to reach your word count goal by a specific date. You'll find the daily word count calculator in the Tools menu.

Here, you can enter the start and end dates of your writing period and the number of words you need to write. The tool will let you know how many words you need to write each day on average and track your progress.

You can see the number of words currently contained in each scene and the entire project. These are displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

6. Export and Publish

YWriter lets you export your work in multiple formats. You can export it as a rich text or LaTeX file for further editing, or as an ebook in ePub and Kindle formats.

7. Supported platforms

YWriter is available for Windows, Android and iOS. A beta version is now available for Mac.

8. Price and value

YWriter is free. It is “freeware” rather than open source and does not contain any ads or install any unwanted third-party software.

If you wish, you can support the developer's work by subscribing and choosing one of the two paid versions. There is no difference between them, except for the amount of money you want to help with.

Advantages

• Excellent compatibility with Windows and iOS and Android mobile platforms.
• yWriter lets you listen to what you type. The text-to-speech converter does this.
• Is free.
• Simple and easy to use interface.
• It is ideal for writers of long texts, such as novels.

Disadvantages

• It is so simple that its editing options are very basic and limited.
• You cannot export the document in popular formats without the help of other software.

Plans and prices

YWriter is free software. It is available from its official website: Spacejock.

How and where to download YWriter

You can download YWriter from its official website: Spacejock.

The instructions below are valid for both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 10. To download it, proceed as follows:

• Visit spacejock.
• You will find in the main text presented on this page the different versions available for each platform. Click on “YWriter7 for Windows 7”. This version is also compatible with Windows 10.
• On the next page, click on “Download".
• A new page appears, presenting the two download options, the option .exe and the option .zip. Click on the installer .exe.
• The installer file will be downloaded to the “Downloads” from your Windows PC.
• Once the download is complete, double-click the installer file to open it.
• The smart screen will appear. Windows 10 requesting your confirmation. Click on «Yes«.
• Follow the installation instructions provided by the application and accept its terms and conditions.
• You can leave the settings as default.
• Wait for the installation to complete and after you see the confirmation of successful installation, click “Finalize".

Opinions from users who have used YWriter

Now let's see some opinions from users who tried YWriter.

• User:

“I’ve been using yWriter for quite some time now and I agree with everything this review says. I truly believe it’s a wonderful tool for writers “everywhere” (said in the best possible way, obviously) and as a data geek, I’m all for it.”

• Ariel Rogers:

“Seriously, the best novel writing app available. Excellent organizational capabilities, even if it’s a scaled-down version of the Mac/PC program. The ability to sync between my home PC and my phone while traveling via Google Drive is invaluable!”

• David Lorell Hoskins:

“I have been a fan of yWriter for years and I am happy that you developed it for Android. Very easy to use. I love the support for the latest desktop version and the Dropbox integration. This makes it the best new writing software on the Play Store. Thanks Simon.”

• Chris Tessmer:

“The interface is well designed for actually *working* on stories from your phone: all the important story elements are in plain sight, and everything is easy to start editing with two taps or less. There’s no wasted space, but it’s still comfortable to use on a touchscreen.”

• Jonathan Snyder:

“I really like this program. I’ve used the desktop version more, but being able to work on my story anywhere is great!”

YWriter Alternatives. Top 5 of This Year

Let's look at some programs similar to YWriter, which will help writers do their work.

1.Microsoft Word

Word is a great word processor. That's what it was designed to do, and it does it well. The spelling and grammar checkers are fantastic. The problem is that Word simply strings your story together line by line.

If you need to go back and forth throughout your story, glance at the research you've been gathering, or work from a storyboard, it might not be the best option. However, it's a great option and many writers use it.

Word can also be expensive, at around $70 per year for the 365 option or over $100 to purchase the latest version outright. Word is part of the Office suite, and as such, its sale includes the entire Microsoft software package, hence the cost.

2 Scrivener

Scrivener is widely used by novelists. It's user-friendly, works smoothly, and looks good. It helps you organize your thoughts and writing in a way similar to yWriter. Scrivener is the superior tool of the two.

Scrivener has been around since 2006 and is packed with features. It has a place to collect your research, information, and images, and some really cool word counts. It also has a great name generator that is pretty slick.

However, Scrivener is designed for Mac, so if you're a PC user, you'll be a bit less featured. Scrivener also has an iOS version that you can use to edit on the go.

The standard license for Scrivener for MacOS is priced at $49. There is also a slightly cheaper educational license for students.

Scrivener has a 30-day trial period. This trial period is not 30 days from the moment you download it, but 30 actual days of use. So if you use it every other day, the trial period will last for two months.

3. PageFour

PageFour aims to please creative writers and novelists with its excellent features. Known as an outliner, tabbed word processor, and organizer, it allows you to include plot outlines and character summaries anywhere within your project.

There's even a handy search tool that lets you quickly focus on a particular paragraph without having to scan the entire layout.

Additionally, you can keep your sensitive chapters and pages away from prying eyes by assigning them passwords, something quite useful and not so common in these programs.

Another key feature is the multilingual spell checker dictionary. You can also create individual notebooks for your blog, novel, and diary.

Some other features include snapshots and archives, MS Word compatible, Smart-Edit, and print templates. To get a license for this software, you need to purchase it from their official website. However, you can first avail a 45-day free trial for free.

4. Celtx

The innovative and easy-to-use program Celtx allows you to write screenplays and novels, as well as collaborate with others via your desktop, the Internet, or even your mobile device.

You can use this attractive piece of software to create plays, novels, screenplays, comics, and audio works. Some of its built-in features include text and scene locking, as well as automatic script formatting to conform to international and industry standards.

There are 36 production categories and full listings with a list view to take advantage of. You'll also find a handful of productivity and preview tools connected here.

And with dedicated iOS and Android apps, you can write scripts, browse your project footage, and storyboard multiple sequences on the go.

Celtx is compatible with MacOS X, Windows and Linux , and you can take advantage of the free version or buy its Plus version, which is not as expensive.

5. WriteWayPro

As its developer suggests, WriteWayPro can be a writer's best friend, whether they're aspiring authors or just starting out. You can use this software from the initial concept stages all the way to the finished manuscript.

The list of comprehensive features found here are many, such as book organization, story notecards and notecard templates, dynamic outlining, fully-featured built-in word processor, word/page count tracking, character profiles, research folders, and deadline management.

Available for Windows PC, you can opt for a 30-day trial version or pay an affordable amount to purchase the Professional edition.

FAQ

Let's look at some frequently asked questions related to YWriter.

1. Is yWriter safe?

Yes, yWriter is safe to install on Windows 10, from its official website, provided directly by its developer. Avoid downloading YWriter from third-party download sites, and you will keep your machine safe.

2. What is the license type of yWriter?

YWriter is completely free and does not offer any payment plans of any kind.

3. Who developed yWriter?

Simon Haynes has developed yWriter, as well as many other software programs, which he makes available to the public on his official Spacejock Software website.

Simon Haynes is a writer who has around 30 published books, which you can also get from his official website.

4. How to uninstall yWriter from Windows 10?

YWriter is easy to uninstall. Proceed as follows:

• Click on Windows menu, the Windows icon located in the lower left corner of your machine.
• In the drop-down menu, look for the folder called “Windows system” and click it.
• Then, inside this folder, click on “Control panel".
• A new window will open. Locate and click on “Programs and Features".
• Another window will appear, with the list of software installed on your system. Search YWriter and right click.
• Then click on “uninstall".
• Confirm the uninstall.
• The system proceeds to remove this software. Done.

Conclusion

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Ultimately, yWriter helps you organize your thoughts, and the book flows more smoothly. It helps you keep track of the book's length and helps you move your story forward. It allows you to gather information and put it wherever you want.

YWriter offers features focused on novel writing, which will be a better fit for some writers. You'll find specific areas in the app for creating your characters and settings, which can lead to better planning.