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Scrivener vs yWriter
Last updated: October 21, 2023
Scrivener and yWriter are both popular writing software designed to assist authors in organizing and developing their creative projects, but they have some key differences in their features and approach.
1. User Interface and Organization: One of the main differences between Scrivener and yWriter lies in their user interfaces and organizational systems. Scrivener provides a highly visual and flexible workspace, allowing users to create a virtual corkboard, outline, and split-screen editing to view different sections of their project simultaneously. On the other hand, yWriter focuses on a more structured approach, breaking down the story into chapters and scenes, and offering a detailed storyboard to plan and organize the narrative.
2. Platform Compatibility: Another important distinction between the two software is their platform compatibility. Scrivener is known for being available on multiple platforms, including macOS, Windows, and iOS, offering a seamless writing experience across different devices. In contrast, yWriter is primarily designed for Windows, limiting its accessibility for users who prefer macOS or other operating systems.
3. Advanced Writing Tools: While both Scrivener and yWriter provide various writing tools to aid authors, Scrivener often stands out for its more advanced features. It offers sophisticated outlining capabilities, metadata management, and the ability to set word count targets and writing goals. Additionally, Scrivener has a robust compilation and export system, making it easier for authors to compile their manuscripts into different formats suitable for publishing. On the other hand, yWriter might be considered more straightforward, catering to writers who prefer a simpler interface with basic but effective tools for planning and writing their novels or stories.
1. User Interface and Organization: One of the main differences between Scrivener and yWriter lies in their user interfaces and organizational systems. Scrivener provides a highly visual and flexible workspace, allowing users to create a virtual corkboard, outline, and split-screen editing to view different sections of their project simultaneously. On the other hand, yWriter focuses on a more structured approach, breaking down the story into chapters and scenes, and offering a detailed storyboard to plan and organize the narrative.
2. Platform Compatibility: Another important distinction between the two software is their platform compatibility. Scrivener is known for being available on multiple platforms, including macOS, Windows, and iOS, offering a seamless writing experience across different devices. In contrast, yWriter is primarily designed for Windows, limiting its accessibility for users who prefer macOS or other operating systems.
3. Advanced Writing Tools: While both Scrivener and yWriter provide various writing tools to aid authors, Scrivener often stands out for its more advanced features. It offers sophisticated outlining capabilities, metadata management, and the ability to set word count targets and writing goals. Additionally, Scrivener has a robust compilation and export system, making it easier for authors to compile their manuscripts into different formats suitable for publishing. On the other hand, yWriter might be considered more straightforward, catering to writers who prefer a simpler interface with basic but effective tools for planning and writing their novels or stories.
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Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. Scrivener won't tell you how to write—it simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing.
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Free novel-writing software designed by veteran author and programmer, Simon Haynes. yWriter helps you to write a book by organising chapters, scenes, characters and locations in an easy-to-use interface.
Scrivener vs yWriter in our news:
2021. yWriter - free software for novel writers
yWriter is a useful program designed specifically for novel writers. It provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use platform for organizing and writing your novel in chapters and scenes. The program's interface is user-friendly and customizable, with features such as word count, character and location descriptions, and scene summaries that make it easy to keep track of your progress. The program also includes a feature that allows you to set writing goals for each session, helping you stay focused and motivated. One of the best things about yWriter is its compatibility with Dropbox, which allows users to save and load their database from the cloud. This means that writers can easily work on their novel from different devices without worrying about losing their progress. The newly launched Android app adds an extra layer of convenience, allowing users to work on their novel from their tablet or phone on the go. Overall, yWriter is an excellent tool for novel writers who want to organize their ideas and keep track of their progress in a user-friendly and efficient way. yWriter is free to download and use, but you're encouraged to register your copy if you find it useful.
2021. Scrivener 3 for Windows gets simple and beautiful interface
The latest version of Scrivener 3 is now available on Windows, bringing with it a variety of new and improved features. The update includes a modernized and simplified interface, a redesigned and more flexible Compile feature, and a full styles system in the text system. Other enhancements include the ability to view index cards on colored threads, improved ebook export, and the addition of Writing History to track daily writing progress. Custom Metadata has also been improved, allowing for checkboxes, dates, and list boxes to be added to the Inspector and outliner. Additional features include enhanced outlining, a new Quick Search tool, progress bars, and a Dark Mode, among others. The Bookmarks feature also replaces Project Notes, References, and Favorites, making it easier to access frequently used documents. Furthermore, the Dialogue Focus feature allows users to easily locate all dialogue within their text.
2019. Scrivener for iOS adds support for many more screen types
The latest version of Scrivener for iOS, version 1.2, is now available to download from the App Store and offers support for iOS 13, improved compatibility with a wider range of screen types, and seamless integration with iOS 13's dark mode. Alongside these enhancements, existing features of the app include the ability to write and organize your manuscript in sections of any size, view all sections as a single text, navigate sections quickly using the binder sidebar, format with fonts and presets, and use comments, footnotes, links, highlights, simple bullets, and lists. Additionally, the app allows you to insert images, resize text with pinch-zoom, use full-screen and typewriter scrolling modes (iPad only), write a screenplay using scriptwriting mode, check live word and character counts, set targets for word and character counts, find and replace text, and customize the keyboard row and shortcuts for external keyboard users.
2018. Scrivener for macOS adds Dark mode and Scriptwriting
Scrivener 3.1 is a major update for macOS that introduces a number of new features and enhancements. One notable addition is full support for dark mode on macOS 10.14, which allows you to take full control over colors and UI in each mode. Scrivener 3.1 also offers scriptwriting improvements, such as support for "MORE" and "CONT'D" when compiling for PDF and printing, dual dialogue support, and an option to not split sentences across pages in scripts. Enhancements to Compile include the ability to include a cover image when compiling to PDF, improved options for compiling for print-on-demand services, and direct formatting for Epub 3 and Kindle KF8 formats. Additionally, a new "focus mode" is available to fade out everything except the current line, sentence, or paragraph as you write.
2017. Scrivener 3 for macOS gets Compile feature
Scrivener 3 is now available for macOS starting at $59.99. Scrivener 3 is a significant update that not only introduces new and exciting features but also enhances and simplifies the existing ones. The update includes several notable improvements such as a modernized interface, a more flexible and easier-to-use Compile feature, and a full styles system in the text system that is more powerful with the new Compile. Additionally, users can view index cards on colored threads to track different storylines and filter Corkboard and outliner. Other enhancements include improved metadata, the ability to track daily writing progress with Writing History, and the new Quick Search tool to find any document quickly. The Bookmarks feature replaces Project Notes, References, and Favorites, allowing users to access frequently used documents easily. Furthermore, users can now use "Dialogue Focus" to locate all dialogue within their text and export rich text to MultiMarkdown or Pandoc. Scrivener 3 also broadens support for technical formats via Markdown output and custom post-processing. The macOS version has extensive Touch Bar support and a rewritten 64-bit codebase that makes Scrivener faster, more stable, and future-ready.
2017. yWriter for Android is released
yWriter, a software program designed for novel writing, has launched a new Android app as an add-on feature. This app supports Google Drive, allowing users to load and save their database, and is compatible with the latest yWriter for desktop release (version 6.0.0.5) that uses the new yw6 file format. With yWriter, users can easily edit their novel in chapters and scenes, enabling them to keep track of their progress. The Android app offers the convenience of being able to write on the go, with the latest version of their manuscript easily accessible on their tablet. Furthermore, the yw6 format enables users to save their project directly to Google Drive, ensuring it can be accessed on both PC and Android devices.