Jer's Novel Writer - 1.1.8

I came across this program on random chance (I was searching for something completely different), and it caught my eye. I have to say that it has been a blessing! I'm one of those people who likes things organized, and in my own, let's say, unique, way. Jer's Novel Writer gives me that freedom - or iron-fisted control, depending on how you look at it. It has just about everything I need, and it's all right there, ready for me to use, and easy to see. Great stuff!

My only suggestion is maybe a goal meter? Sometimes I write for goals or word counts, so it might be neat to have an optional goal meter at the top where I can obsess over it (yes, obsession makes me write more ... I'm a strange creature).

That being said, it isn't a must, and the program is lovely as it is! Great job Jer!!!

So try it out!

I write novels, long sf/fantasy novels. Most programs bog down under a huge load, but with Jer's I have all three of my books (nearly 1,000,000 words) in one file and that's not counting the margin notes, database, notes section. I, too, have tried almost, if not all, of the writing programs out there and this is by far the best. Even better, Jer actually listens to suggestions. The margin notes are great, well thought out, but my favorite part is the database. Being able to keep track of all of my characters, places, weapons, etc. and have them right there handy is fantastic. Even more important is the nice feature he added to 'add to database' or 'add to description of in database'. This is the best thing I've seen in a writing program. In this way, when I'm describing a character I can immediately add that description to that character's database and never have to leave the program. Later, perhaps in the next book even, when I go back to that character, I can look up and see exactly how i described him/her the first time.

A wonderful notes section is also a nice feature.

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I've noticed there haven't been any reviews of JNW for a while. That's too bad, since many folks would benefit from trying out this terrific app.

I've been using 0.614 for the past four months and putting it through it's paces. The developer's objective was to create an app for writers who want minimum distractions (if you've ever been plagued by Word trying to tell you what to do every two minutes you'll understand) and who need intuitive tools to track, edit, and restructure story elements. Even in this beta version, he has succeeded remarkably well. The program is stable and a delight to use. Anyone working on a longer document, who is concerned more with writing than formatting, would benefit by giving it a try. The wonderful implementation of Margin Notes alone makes JNW a keeper for me.

I've also tried Avenir, CopyWrite, Ulysses, and several others. Avenir and CopyWrite are also both worth a try. I find them useful, but not as elegant or innovative as JNW. Ulysses is a clunker which looks like it's been ported through a dozen wormholes and is way too expensive.

Ultimately this kind of program is a matter of fit. JNW fits my style, and I love it.

Jerry is also very responsive to user community feedback. The whole experience has been a pleasure.

[The only reason for the 4-Star rating, rather than a fiver is that JNW isn't finished yet. The developer is constantly making the thing even better.]

…[xx] gingerly opened the new software. It promised a lot, but he had had his fingers burned before – Word, Wordperfect, Wordstar, Write [[note to self, explore why they all begin with 'W']], even QuarkXpress. But every single one of them had let him down. Could Jer's be the one?…

Like, it seems, everyone else who has reviewed this application, I've been through a pile of high priced software that either failed me when the document got big, or was just too clumsy to be good to write with.

I used to bang away on an old Imperial typewriter, eventually moving onto an electronic, and then an Amstrad. Those Amstrads! Then Wordstar, WordPerfect, all on the grim MSDOS interface. Like a fool I embraced Windows 3.0, and eventually moved onto a Mac.

But everything which makes the Mac great makes it hard to write on. I can play endlessly with fonts, colours, styles. I can switch on iTunes to get me in the mood to write. I can surf the net for inspiration. But, ultimately, these are just displacement activities. The single-mindedness of the Imperial or the Amstrad or, even (heaven help-me) MS-DOS, gave much needed discipline for writing.

Now, at last, someone (Jer) has come up with an application which gives you all the things that only the Mac can give you, but so simply that it's like working on an old typewriter with reference materials spread around your desk. Except, of course, that you can take it with you on your PowerBook, and nobody ever rearranges your papers while you are out.

Like (it seems) everyone else, I love this application: it completely suits me as a writer, and, for now at least, it's free.

Seriously, Apple should include this with every new Mac, just as they have done with ComicLife.

Concept is a copy of Manuscript so a bit naughty of Jer to claim he's come up with a new idea. Manuscript's been around for a few years now and badly needs updating (won't run under 10.4) and this has sleek implementation of some of the key features like marginal notes (bit rough and ready on Manuscript). Love the ability to lock the margin note to a different part of the text. Few problems as its a beta of course (full screen mode loses the menu bar, autosave doesn't work) but shows a lot of promise.

For all its technical perfection, however, it doesn't quite match Manuscript's essence; it doesn't feel like writing "the old way". If only we could have the simplicity of Manuscript with the sleek implementation of Jer's Novel Writer but maybe it just isn't possible ?