Ok at the risk of being eaten alive someone has given me some software. Called 'New Novelist' it aims to improve your chances of writing a best seller. Any opinions? Anyone a secret user? ;-)
Beverley

I own it, and have loaded it up and looked at it, but have not taken it any further than that. It does look useful in some ways - my writing notes are usually all over the place, on lots of different pieces of paper and notebooks (depending on where I am when inspiration has struck) and it would be a useful tool to collate all that information.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers from notebook mania Ally! I think it could be a useful tool and of course there's nothing to beat the old brain cells Paul, however it just might clear away some clutter up there, now if only it could do the dishes...

Hi Beverley,
I think amongst all the 'how to' books, some stuff looks interesting as organisational tools, other things look positively anal. I too, am a note book freak, I fill most of them up, but haven't looked in them for ages. It's the type of thing I'd do when I was ill in bed and felt I had the time. It'd be great to have a photographic memory, so at least you could remember what note book you wrote that tiny pertinent phrase in.
Becca.

I also have trouble deciphering my drunken/inspired midnight scrawlings, so now my pillow companions include a dictaphone as well as the obligatory anyway up pen, book light, many reference books, highlighter pens etc, sad but true. The boyfriend? There's no room for him anymore!;-)
Bx

The best free software I've ever come across is the Script Mark Gold package that the beeb was giving away in the BBC writersroom (maybe they still do. Worth a visit). It has film, theatre, radio, even comic book layouts. Excellent.

Beverley,
Not sad, perfect.
Becca.

I tried this software about 18 months ago, I find it easier to work in Word, with my myriad of note books and scraps of paper. But I suppose it's all down to the individual and what works best for you. I think if you persevered with it, it could be a useful application, but I neither have the time nor the patience!

Kind regards

katie