Scrivener vs yWriter

2021. yWriter - free software for novel writers



In the great tapestry of writing tools, yWriter shines as a small yet spectacular hitchhiker's guide for novelists. Crafted with the precision of a Vogon constructor fleet (but far more pleasant), it offers an ingenious platform for wrangling your story into chapters and scenes without succumbing to the chaos of your own brilliance. Its interface is as welcoming as a well-stocked tea cupboard and as flexible as Zaphod Beeblebrox's moral compass, featuring word counts, character dossiers, location notes, and scene summaries to ensure you don’t lose track of where (or when) your plot’s space-time continuum is headed. For the procrastinatory-at-heart, there's even a goal-setting function to prod you into writing action—like Marvin being reluctantly inspired to save the day. It syncs seamlessly with Dropbox, so you can float your novel across devices without the intergalactic nightmare of misplaced progress. Oh, and for the truly mobile, the Android app lets you scribble genius on the go, whether you're at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe or just a local coffee shop. Delightfully, it’s free, though registering your copy is a lovely way to say thanks to this digital companion that’s almost as helpful as a towel.


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



In the same way a hyperspace bypass might revolutionize your morning commute (by making it entirely unnecessary), the team behind yWriter has rolled out a shiny new Android app, effectively turning your pocket-sized device into a novel-writing command center. This delightful add-on speaks fluent Google Drive, letting you load and save your precious database files with ease. It’s perfectly aligned with the newest yWriter desktop iteration (version 6.0.0.5, if you must know), which heralds the arrival of the spiffy new yw6 file format. By letting you chop your magnum opus into neatly digestible chapters and scenes, yWriter helps you maintain progress like a seasoned Vogon bureaucrat ticking boxes. Best of all, this Android app lets you jot down your galactic epic wherever inspiration strikes—tablet in hand, manuscript in tow—while the magic of Google Drive ensures seamless interplanetary syncing between your PC and mobile device.