NewNovelist: Organize Old Ideas and Generate New Ones

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The software is simple enough to use that it’s accessible to people of all ages, even those who aren’t completely comfortable sitting in front of a computer screen. When using the software to begin a new novel, the user is asked a series of questions that further refine the type of novel to be written. The answers to these questions are used to develop a rough outline of how the story should progress and how many chapters should be dedicated to each part of the book. These recommendations are just guidelines, however, and the user is free to add or delete as many parts of the outline and chapter breaks as desired.

NewNovelist does use its own specialized file format when saving, and these files can only be opened in the NewNovelist application. On the positive side, it is possible to export these files to a rich text file that can be opened in other word-processing applications such as Microsoft Word. The downside is that you can’t import these files back into NewNovelist if you make changes, so any modifications must be made in the original file.

The only way to import text from other programs is to cut and paste the information into NewNovelist. While it’s nice that there is some way to get information from other applications, this isn’t really a viable method for moving large chunks of text around unless you’re exceedingly patient.

Because of NewNovelist’s structure, I understand why it isn’t possible to import an entire novel into the application, but it would be nice if the functionality to import a single chapter had been added to the software.

While NewNovelist is extremely flexible when it comes to most features, the price of the software may be a little steep for those who don’t plan to use it on a regular basis. It currently lists at US $54.99 or UK £29.99.

If you’ve wanted to try your hand at writing a novel for a long time, but you’re having trouble figuring out where to begin or how to keep yourself organized, NewNovelist is an excellent tool. The application is great for those who need help setting up a uniformed structure for their writing attempts as well as for those who could use a few tips on character and world development.

If you’re simply looking for a word-processing application, you’re probably better off sticking to something like Microsoft Word. While Word doesn’t offer the organizational and creative options found in NewNovelist, it is superior as a general document creation tool, and it has a broader range of use.