Unsure whether to choose Storyist or Scrivener for your writing? Read our detailed comparison and find out which software suits your needs best.

Introduction

If you are a writer who is looking for a writing software that can help you organize your ideas, streamline your writing process and enhance your productivity, Storyist and Scrivener are two of the most popular options available in the market. Both software offer powerful features for writers to bring their stories to life on the page. In this article, we will compare Storyist and Scrivener side by side to help you decide which one suits your needs best.

Explanation of Storyist and Scrivener

Storyist and Scrivener are both comprehensive writing tools designed for authors, screenwriters, students and journalists alike. They offer an array of features that facilitate organization, research management, collaboration options and enhanced productivity.

Storyist is a creative writing software specifically designed for Mac users. It offers various tools such as templates for story structure, character development sheets, storyboarding features along with support for automatic formatting.

The software also has an iOS version which allows users to sync their work across all Apple devices. On the other hand, Scrivener is available on Windows as well as Mac platforms.

It boasts an intuitive user interface that allows writers to organize their work into chapters or scenes easily while keeping all notes in one place. Features such as customizable templates make it easy to format written content without much effort.

Brief Overview of the differences between the two software:

While Storyist and Scrivener share many similarities in terms of their functionality there are some notable differences between them too:

Compatibility: As mentioned earlier Storyist is exclusively designed for Mac users while Scrivener has versions available on both Windows and Mac OS.

Cost: The cost factor differs significantly between these two softwares. Storyist is available at a one-time purchase rate of $59.99, while Scrivener comes with a 30-day free trial and a one-time payment of $49 for the Mac version and $45 for Windows.

Features: Both softwares offer unique features to their users. Storyist is more focused on story development with features such as storyboard and character sheet templates whereas Scrivener offers many resources for research management such as PDF annotation tools, web clipping, text comparison features alongside writing aids.

In the following sections, we will dive deeper into each software’s features to help you make an informed decision about which one suits your needs best.

User Interface and Organization

Storyist, a creative writing software designed for novelists and screenwriters alike, offers a clean and straightforward user interface. The software’s dashboard displays an organized layout with features such as the project navigator, outline view, manuscript view, notes view, and storyboard. Its drag-and-drop functionality allows writers to move elements easily from one area to another without interrupting their writing flow.

The left panel shows the user’s work-in-progress projects along with book covers or profile images that add some visual appeal. In addition to its organization features, Storyist provides customizable templates for various genres of writing including screenplay, stageplay, novel, manuscript, memoirs among others.

The templates offer structure guidelines and automated formatting tools that help writers stay focused on their work. Writers can also create their own templates saving time when starting a new project.

Writing Tools and Templates

One of Storyist’s compelling aspects is its powerful built-in writing tools that cater to the needs of different types of writers from novelists to scriptwriters. Among its essential features are a spell checker with autocorrect options for common errors; word count tracker that updates in real-time as you write; character name generator tool; an intuitive timeline function; character sketches that help flesh out characters making them more relatable or vividly drawn out.

Moreover, Storyist includes pre-built story arc templates for screenwriters as well as novelists that guide writers through each phase of storytelling from act breaks to climax points. Additional built-in functions include the ability to insert images into your manuscript or screenplay as part of the narrative or descriptions.

Collaboration & Sharing Options

Collaboration is crucial in today’s world where remote working is becoming more common than ever before. Thankfully Storyist has integrated shareable features such as story sharing via iCloud Drive (Apple devices only) which allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously.

Additionally, Storyist offers a feature that allows writers to create an online backup of their work for safekeeping; users can also export their files in various formats including PDF, Word or RTF. There’s also the option to share your manuscript or screenplay with beta readers by creating a version that can be read-only; making it impossible for anyone to edit contents without permission.

Using this feature, writers can get early feedback from beta readers or editors before submitting their work for publication or production. Overall, Storyist’s features make it a great choice for writers who want an intuitive software with robust writing tools and sharing capabilities.

User interface and organization

Scrivener has a unique, somewhat complex user interface that takes a little getting used to. However, once you are familiar with it, the interface can be very helpful in organizing your writing project. Scrivener allows you to break up your project into smaller, manageable sections called “scrivenings.” You can also create folders and subfolders to keep things organized within your project.

The binder feature on the left side of the screen is where you will find all of these organizational tools. Additionally, Scrivener offers several customization options for the user interface.

You can adjust font size and color within the program, or even choose a custom background image for your writing environment. There are also several themes available that change the overall appearance of the program.

Writing tools

Scrivener offers a wide range of writing tools to help writers of all levels craft their stories effectively. One such tool is the corkboard view, which allows you to see an overview of your entire project at once in index card form.

You can move these cards around and rearrange them as needed to help plan out your story structure. Scrivener also includes options for creating character sheets, location descriptions, and plot outlines within your project file.

There are also several built-in templates available for various types of projects such as novels or screenplays. In addition to these features, Scrivener has a built-in dictionary and thesaurus function as well as an easy-to-use search tool that lets you find specific words or phrases throughout your entire project.

Research tools and resources

One standout feature of Scrivener is its research capabilities. The program allows you to import various file types such as PDFs or images directly into your writing project for easy reference while working on your manuscript. There is also a split-screen mode that allows users to view their research documents alongside their writing in a separate window.

This can be especially helpful for keeping track of notes or research while writing. Additionally, Scrivener offers a number of tools for writers who want to add notes or annotations to their work.

These include highlighting, commenting, and footnote options that can be used within the program. Overall, Scrivener offers an impressive range of features and tools for writers looking to streamline the writing process and stay organized throughout their project.

Comparison between Storyist and Scrivener

When it comes to writing software, both Storyist and Scrivener have unique features that can be beneficial for different types of writers. While these two programs share some similarities, there are also differences that set them apart. In this section, we will cover the similarities and differences between Storyist and Scrivener in terms of writing tools and organization features.

Similarities ~ Writing tools:

Both Storyist and Scrivener offer a wide range of writing tools such as word count trackers, note-taking options, spell checkers, thesaurus integration, and more. Additionally, both programs provide a distraction-free mode that writers can utilize to block out any unwanted distractions on their computer screen while they write. Organization features:

A critical factor for any writer is organization. Both software options provide organizational features such as folder creation, labeling capabilities to categorize content into sections or chapters or character arcs or timelines etc., outlining tools to help with story structure and flow visualization.

Differences ~ Research tools:

One major difference between the two programs is their approach to research. Scrivener offers a robust research tool section where users can easily store all relevant notes about their project in one place.

This feature includes the ability to add web pages or images directly into your project without leaving the program window. On the other hand, Storyist does not have this same level of research capability built-in; however it does offer integration with external reference resources like Google search or Wikipedia access. Collaboration options:

Another key difference between these programs is how they handle collaboration. While both apps allow users to share their work with others via email attachment after export — only Storyist has an option for real-time collaboration with others within the app itself using iCloud or Dropbox. While Scrivener does not have this specific feature, it offers the ability to track changes and comments between different versions of documents shared via email.

Overall, both Storyist and Scrivener are great tools for different types of writers. The choice will ultimately depend on individual writer’s needs and preferences.

For those who require more research capabilities or real-time collaboration options, Storyist may be the better choice. However, if organization and project management are the most important factor for you as a writer, then Scrivener may be a better fit.

Conclusion:

Both Storyist and Scrivener offer incredible features for writers to improve their writing process. They both provide a range of templates, writing tools, and organizational features.

However, there are significant differences between the two software that can make one more suitable than the other depending on individual needs. If you’re somebody who is looking for an easy-to-use and intuitive software with collaboration options, Storyist might be the right fit for you.

It is an excellent choice for writers who prefer a more straightforward interface that allows them to focus entirely on writing without distractions. On the other hand, if you’re someone who prefers a more in-depth research tool to conduct in-depth research on your topic with extensive customization options, then Scrivener might be a better choice.

Scrivener’s highly customizable interface offers unparalleled flexibility when it comes to organizing your content. Ultimately, choosing between Storyist and Scrivener depends entirely on your writing style and preferences.

Both software provides writers with the necessary tools to accomplish their goals and achieve success in their projects. Whatever your choice may be, both of these software will help you create something exceptional that inspires people around the world!