Better Word Processor Options?

[Darwinist]

I find myself frustrated by the limitations of MS Word. Specifically, I want the ability to make tabs like you would with excel that I can make to indicate as chapters. I'm shocked that Word doesn't have this. Or maybe they do and I'm just a freaking idiot and can't figure it out.

Anyway, if someone knows how to do that on Word, let me know. If not, anyone have some better word processor options (preferably free)?

[OZ]

In addition to great web sites full of helpful hints for writers, this thread talks about the pros and cons of several word processors. I believe some of them are free.    http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,15083.msg695327.html#msg695327

[MClark]

The TL:DR version of that thread. If you have the time, I strongly recommend the thread, because other tools for writers (like writingexcuses), not just software, are mentioned. Most packages are $50-100. Most have demo versions - 30 day trials, usually gimped in some way, but they do give you the feel of using the software.

http://www.ravensheadservices.com/   Write it Now 
http://www.writewaypro.com Write Way Pro
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php Scrivener
http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/  Liquid Story Binder
http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html Ywriter5 (free)
http://www.writerscafe.co.uk/  Writers Cafe
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/info/snowflake_pro/  Snowflake Pro

My recommendation is you won't get much writing done if you try them all. I would say download three and see if one of them works for you. Ywriter5 (free), WriteWayPro (what I use), Scrivener (almost its own religion, and works for the Mac) are good starting points.

Your comment about a "tab for each Chapter" sounds like something MS OneNote could do, but OneNote doesn't have other tools like formatting your manuscript, word count, writing goals, etc.

Again, lots of neat websites and other tools in the longer thread, so I recommend reading it.

[Starbeam]

Just a note--Scrivener is now available for Windows, though I've not used it, and I've heard it's a bit buggy.

[Naomi]

I'm using Scrivener for Windows since November, 2011.  I first used the trial version, which (at least in November, 2011) was a beta version for Windows.  There were some bugs.  However, I haven't had problems with the Windows version I purchased, which is more recent than the trial version.  The Scrivener folks are good about responding to questions posted in their forum, and addressing any issues.

[LDWriter2]

We have talked about this on another writing forum and a lot of people like Scrivener. I have a Mac and the time mine wasn't advanced enough for the latest version for Mac but once I got a new computer I went with Pages-$20-and it has a lot of new features compared to my old Word Processor. It's both great and frustrating. Great stuff but they changed and added so much I need to get lessons on some of it.

But Scrivener seems to be by far the favorite on the other forum.

[Darwinist]

Trying out the beta of Scriveners. I'm a little uncomfortable with it right now. The walk-through wasn't very helpful and it was a bit more complex than I'd expected. It's not too terribly difficult but a bit more trouble than I, as a lazy drunk, have the time to invest in figuring out atm.

[Naomi]

Trying out the beta of Scriveners. I'm a little uncomfortable with it right now. The walk-through wasn't very helpful and it was a bit more complex than I'd expected. It's not too terribly difficult but a bit more trouble than I, as a lazy drunk, have the time to invest in figuring out atm.

Yeah, I hear you.  Scrivener is like a full orchestra, and I only know how to play the kazoo.  I went through the interactive tutorial to get a grasp of the basics.  I regularly use only about 10% of Scrivener's features.  Still, that 10% serves me well.  Being able to consolidate every document, web page, and image related to my novel in one location, and the cork board feature, are the main things that sold me on the program.

[MClark]

I tried Scrivener, WriteWayPro and Writers Cafe.

Writers Cafe has so many features I never stopped playing with them. The composition area seemed really small. Write's Cafe seems more a place to organize your work than to write.

Scrivener and WriteWayPro are very similar in terms of features. I almost went with Scrivener beta for windows but WriteWayPro seemed more natural to me, and I really like a WriteWay feature- Future Book- which Scrivener doesn't have.