Which writing software do famouse authors use?
January 14, 2023 | Author: Laura Candler
Writing is one of those curious human activities that, much like trying to play the bagpipes underwater or attempting to fold fitted sheets, demands a particular blend of creativity, stubbornness and sheer, mind-boggling persistence. Consider, for a moment, Hemingway and Rowling—both famous authors, both having spent years tinkering with words like they were trying to fix a very delicate toaster. Yes, even the greats need help to turn their meandering thoughts into coherent sentences. And that’s where writing software comes in. In a world where even your smart fridge can write poetry (not particularly good poetry, but still), it's only natural that writers would embrace technology to streamline their work. So let’s have a whimsical journey into the strange, glowing world of the digital quills these authors wield.
J.K. Rowling: Word
Ah, J.K. Rowling. We imagine her sitting in a quaint café, scribbling feverishly on napkins as if the next sip of coffee might hold the key to Harry’s fate. But alas, modern conveniences beckoned. By the time we peek into “J.K. Rowling: A Year In The Life,” she's typing away on a laptop, all those napkins presumably tucked into some secret archive. And there it is, the humble yet omnipresent Microsoft Word—her tool of choice for organizing magical mayhem. A bit prosaic, but then again, why mess with a classic?
Stephen King: Word + Final Draft
If anyone was going to put the fear of technology into you, it would be Stephen King, wouldn't it? One might suspect his relationship with computers to be akin to his relationship with haunted cars or evil clowns. But no, Mr. King was an early adopter of the digital age, typing away on his Mac long before many of us even knew what an “iMac” was. These days, he sticks to MS Word for his novels, though Final Draft pops up when the screenplays start whispering their dark, cinematic demands. The tools might not be spooky, but the results? Well, you know how that goes.
Neil Cross: Scrivener
Now, Neil Cross is a man of intrigue. The brain behind Luther and Hard Sun, his imagination is the sort that probably needs a bit of structured chaos. Enter Scrivener, a program that’s part writing software, part organizational wizard and part filing cabinet from a parallel dimension. One can only assume that between plot twists and the odd unexpected explosion, Scrivener keeps everything just shy of spiraling into madness. Just shy.
Joe Hill: Scrivener
Speaking of creativity that occasionally escapes the chains of normalcy, Joe Hill, Stephen King’s literary offspring, also swears by Scrivener. Perhaps it's a family trait, this penchant for intricate storytelling and meticulous organization. Whether he’s crafting terrifying tales or exploring the deep crevices of the human soul, Hill finds his trusty Scrivener up to the task, keeping those terrifying thoughts in neat little folders—until they’re ready to leap out, of course.
Brandon Sanderson: Dabble
Brandon Sanderson, a master of world-building and intricate magic systems, uses Dabble, a writing tool that sounds less like software and more like something you’d find in a wizard’s toolkit. Dabble is gaining a bit of a following, much like Sanderson himself. It’s perfectly suited for someone whose brain is constantly spinning entire galaxies into existence—though, one hopes, without the need to maintain planetary orbits.
Amanda Hocking: Livingwriter
Amanda Hocking, who crafts tales of the paranormal and young adult romance, has taken to Livingwriter, a modern, cloud-based writing app. It’s sleek, it’s efficient and one imagines it gives her just enough room to conjure up those teenage angst-filled vampires and valkyries without drowning in the digital equivalent of crossed-out sentences.
Hugh Howey: Jutoh
Finally, we have Hugh Howey, the man who turned dystopian sci-fi into something of a DIY project, publishing parts of his Silo series on his own. Naturally, this level of self-reliance extends to his tools. Jutoh, a niche piece of writing software designed for independent publishing, helps him navigate the wild west of digital self-publishing. After all, when you’re building entire underground civilizations, it helps to have the right tech at your side.
See also: Top 5 Ebook Creation software
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