Cheap Power Writer (Novel and Fiction Writing Software) (Software) Price

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Customer Reviews of Power Writer (Novel and Fiction Writing Software)

Fatally flawed
I thought Power Writer was exactly what I was looking for, and while it was a bit confusing at first, not a bad product over all. At the time bought it, I didn't know about the "three times and you're dead" rule. That is a killer for me. I don't how many times I have had a virus that forced me to reinstall my software, and most of the time I wouldn't have the opportunity to do a uninstall. This is the stingiest piece of software I have ever come across. I assume that if you try to install it a fourth time, there is a way of translating your work-in-progress from a Power Writer file to some sort of a text file without having to buy another copy. <
> Many EULA agreements, if you read the fine print, licence you to install a program both on a deskstop and a notebook, honoring most users' needs these days. Amen. <
> There are a number of irritations involving files and other external factors that make it seem that the person who did the specs didn't use computers very much. Worse, I lost some work, apparently because Power Writer wants to put the documents in its program file instead of where I want to store it. Any program that can't remember from one session to the next where the user stores his files is poorly designed in other ways. AND YOU DON'T PUT DOCUMENTS OF ANY KIND IN THE PROGRAMS FOLDER -- YOU PUT THEM IN THE USER'S DOCUMENTS FOLDER! If the user wants elsewhere, he'll move them elsewhere. <
> Sometimes you watch a movie that should have won an Oscar but ended being a stinker because of one or two bad decisions -- usually coming from the top. Power Writer is the software equivalent of that. I'm also returning it and going back to Word. <
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A Nightmare to Save or Backup Your Work
Wow! I thought this would be simple after reading the reviews, but I've had trouble getting powerwriter to save to CD or any other medium. I keep getting an error that the CD is full or the wrong media. VERY frustrating. The initial package is relatively easy to use although I don't like the fact that you do not receive instructions with it. You have to rely on 4 tutorials which are brief. The help topic list has no troubleshooting section. Right now, I'm calling tech support regarding the saving problem. As far as I'm concerned, that's the deal clincher. If I can't save my work, what good is the software package? I found it MUCH easier to copy the work to Microsoft Works and save it to a removable disc that way. Then I decided I may as well stick with MS Works and ditch this program. ..... Since writing this review I have spoken with tech support. They told me that this progam will not automatically burn to a cd or dvd THROUGH POWERWRITER because it doesn't "recognize" the windows accessory. I was told I could save directly to another type of external device that PowerWriter understands, but not windows. Then I was instructed to save the file to my hard drive, close powerwriter, locate the file and then use windows to save it to the cd. HUH? That's a lot of work to go through when I can just use Works. I did as he instructed and followed all the steps and YES it will save to a cd, but this does NOT solve the problem of being able to backup your work without buying an external drive. Basically, my understanding is that Powerwriter does not recognize or understand windows and needs other supportive technology. I have uninstalled the program. I would rather spend my time writing (I have chapters due at the publisher's for goodness' sake!) than wrestling with this long process.

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Simple and Efficient--try the demo
(...) Power Writer is a word processor and database. It does keep all of your information in one place. (weblinks, outlines, character diagrams, and Chapter/Act goals). It does not write the story for you or help with plot lines or story goals....that is for the writer to figure out. It is such a fabulous tool for tracking information and keeping your mind on the work, but it doesn't in any way tell you how to do your story or build your characters. You can choose to fill out notes on characters, but it is not a requirement to start writing. I think Fiction writers will find this simple, efficient, and worth the money. <
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>I think it is useful to any writer that just needs a way to organize thoughts, historical or environmental data, and keep their eye on the goals of the story. <
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>See my review of Dramatica Pro 4:-) <
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