I don't know why this hyperfixation persists, but humour me: writer mutuals, what are the three features that would make whatever writing app you use right now a personal game-changer for your process?
Replies
I don't do a lot of writing, but I do a lot of coding, so I'm always looking for version control, so I can shake that feeling that version 3 was so much better than the current one. I could use coding tools to do this of course. I don't write enough to feel my opinion should shape anything!
sep 1, 2025, 6:39 pm • 0 0 • view
1. Pays me 1000$ a month 2. Dispenses 35mg of adderall every morning 3. Is just Microsoft Word from like 2013
sep 1, 2025, 12:12 am • 7 0 • view
For Word: -lack of AI -retain preferences better so I don't have to keep turning off smart quotes -fix whatever bizarre N^2 nonsense causes chugging in long documents with lots of tracked changes
sep 1, 2025, 3:39 am • 3 0 • view
1) Actually functional and comprehensive speech to text built in 2) ... yeah actually that's it I guess
sep 1, 2025, 5:21 am • 2 0 • view
Give me Spirit City: Lofi Sessions with Scrivener, but as the same app.
sep 1, 2025, 3:50 am • 3 0 • view
This person gets it, seconding this SO HARD
sep 1, 2025, 4:26 am • 2 0 • view
The more I think about it, the more I want this, but also with a drop of something like Focus Friend. I would love to have an app that *will* shame me for being distracted, not by destroying my words like Write or Die, but by reminding me that breaking a streak means I don't decorate my room.
sep 1, 2025, 5:04 am • 5 0 • view
As a Scrivener user: - revision mode in the iOS version (like the regular version has) - the ability to easily make bulleted lists - built in spreadsheet functionality (so I don’t have to use Google Sheets for certain things)
sep 1, 2025, 11:29 am • 2 0 • view
One that I don't have to pay $$ outright for so that I can just HAVE the damn thing and not worry about a yearly subscription nonsense (1), the built-in pomodoro or some kind of timer mode like you said (2), a screen mode that isn't as harsh (3)
sep 1, 2025, 3:48 am • 2 0 • view
Note taking Built in timer Pinterest plug in
aug 31, 2025, 11:33 pm • 1 0 • view
- The ability to change tenses throughout a document, eg past to present, with the push of a button. That’s it. That’s all I want.
aug 31, 2025, 11:38 pm • 11 0 • view
Oh. That would be amazing.
aug 31, 2025, 11:40 pm • 3 0 • view
Ooooh.
aug 31, 2025, 11:40 pm • 3 0 • view
IKR! 😭
sep 1, 2025, 12:14 am • 2 0 • view
Typing sounds, easy turn on/off spell check (I don't like to spellcheck when I rough draft), progess bars.
sep 1, 2025, 3:01 am • 1 0 • view
I've only got one: An easy sync to my phone's notes app, or a tiny lightweight companion app I can use like notes, so that when I have an idea while i'm out and jot it down on my phone I'd don't have to retype it when I get home.
sep 1, 2025, 1:22 pm • 1 0 • view
An easy way to edit preferences--with word I have to go through three screens in different menus to turn off smart quotes etc. Scene by scene navigation with note taking and possibility of outputting the list and capsule summary of scenes as a separate document Hyperlink to scenes in summaries
sep 1, 2025, 9:35 am • 4 0 • view
Also I would like Scrivener, but with full-project search/replace and spellcheck, and Word-style track changes. (I may be the only person who actually love Track Changes, but I do in fact love it. I wanna see my edits individually until I'm sure of them.)
sep 1, 2025, 11:10 am • 1 0 • view
Um...gosh, I can't really think of anything. I keep all my notes either in another document that I can easily switch to, or on paper on the desk itself...I mean...make it physically focus my ADHD mind? Like, FORCE me.
aug 31, 2025, 11:45 pm • 1 0 • view
Oo, definitely better writing sprint / pomodoro options. A searchable dictionary which you can open alongside your main document, which you can add characters, place names etc to would be amazing. Essentially replaces the extra notebook or google doc
sep 1, 2025, 7:15 am • 2 0 • view
I just need Google drive to reliably export documents 😢
aug 31, 2025, 11:36 pm • 1 0 • view
Off the dome, I think: - note-taking/outlining allows for backlinks to story text - built-in pomodoro (and by god, more compelling focus modes) - do whatever to Markdown to allow for both standard & complex formatting With a bonus: - built-in offline rhyming dictionary & thesaurus
aug 31, 2025, 11:32 pm • 6 0 • view
fully adjustable/customizable toolbars, independent window size/position function, profile settings that stay between sessions. basically just a ton of position customization that doesn't REVERT when i close the damn window, please. What are you using recently? I'm in the market.
sep 1, 2025, 6:18 am • 1 0 • view
Nisus Writer/Nisus Writer Express. Toolbar customizations are persistent across all windows, but view/hide, window sizes, all that are remembered per document.
sep 1, 2025, 6:30 am • 0 0 • view
1. No AI ever, guaranteed after purchase (which is an actual purchase, not a weird subscription) 2. Simple formatting and templates, including a novel mss and Shunn 3. An applet that builds your dictionary on the fly, adding new nouns and names by default after two uses
aug 31, 2025, 11:24 pm • 24 2 • view
oooh--#3 alone would be a godsend (also, as always, eff AI)
aug 31, 2025, 11:33 pm • 2 0 • view
Ooh, yeah, I was thinking "project-specific spellcheck dictionaries" but this would be even better. With an "are you sure" check, because I have some very consistent misspellings and do not mean to suggest that everyone in 2083 misspells "prefered".
sep 1, 2025, 11:07 am • 3 0 • view
YES.
sep 1, 2025, 3:39 am • 2 0 • view
3 would be brilliant (& definitely 1!)
aug 31, 2025, 11:42 pm • 2 0 • view
I miss Write or Die so much. An app that has the equivalent of Kamikaze Mode is my dream.
sep 1, 2025, 12:57 am • 1 0 • view
There's a website called Raven that does something similar I think
sep 1, 2025, 2:13 am • 2 0 • view
That looks very cool. I'm using Cold Turkey Writer which is sort of similar. But I genuinely want the feature where if you stop writing it eats the words/vowels. That's the level of pressure that gets past the worst, dithery self-doubt for me.
sep 1, 2025, 2:19 am • 1 0 • view
EATS THE VOWELS??? how is it that your desired software feature is my worst hardcore nightmare?
sep 1, 2025, 3:17 am • 2 0 • view
What can I say? Nothing motivates me to stay on task like MILD TERROR.
sep 1, 2025, 3:19 am • 2 0 • view
availability on linux x 3
aug 31, 2025, 11:24 pm • 2 0 • view
It prevents me from opening any other app on my computer I suppose I’ll use the other two features to make it come with two candy bars.
aug 31, 2025, 11:35 pm • 1 0 • view
1. A real full screen mode. Neither Word nor Scrivener do this properly, but OmmWriter gets it perfect. 2. Speaking of OmmWriter, I love that you can turn on tikky-takky keyboard sounds and have built-in background noise/music. Anything that minimizes the number of times I have to go anywhere else.
sep 1, 2025, 9:32 am • 2 0 • view
3. A floating design/layout/type widget for fullscreen mode, so I don't have to exit out of fullscreen to add a new page, center a line, or do anything beyond bold and italics. Being able to toggle the widget with two keys so it can stay hidden as needed would be even better.
sep 1, 2025, 9:33 am • 1 0 • view
...apparently I just want fullscreen mode to be more immersive, hmm.
sep 1, 2025, 9:34 am • 1 0 • view
1. No AI 2. No auto-backups into a Cloud Storage that i need a paid subscription to access 3. Converts to poetry and other documents to .docx without formatting fuckery
sep 1, 2025, 3:50 am • 3 0 • view
LibreOffice has 2/3
sep 1, 2025, 3:51 am • 2 0 • view
Not really a writer but damned if when writing, I didn't instantly lose my mind over this: let me write 100% free-flow and automatically organize to chapters or whatever when I indicate via a chapter title or other, but still let me scroll back in a main document if i bloody well please.
aug 31, 2025, 11:22 pm • 4 0 • view