4 ms·

I've been using emacs for about 27 years, and even wrote two novels ( e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JPPMS6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JPPMS6 ) in it. A

by tjic 9y ago

I've been using emacs for about 27 years, and even wrote two novels ( e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JPPMS6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JPPMS6 ) in it. Author friends tell me that I've really really REALLY got to try Scrivener, but I know from previous attempts at using other tools that nothing but emacs feels right to me. I should give it a try, I suppose...but it's going to be really weird.

stuntkite 9y ago
It's an amazing tool. I've been using it for screenwriting and worldbuilding for years. It's just a really clever take on a writing tool. I'm sure your Emacs kit fits your needs, but I'd bet even trying Scrivener, you might get some ideas to enhance your Emacs flow.
- tjic 9y ago
  I fear that trying Scrivener might launch me into a five year quest to duplicate some of its features in elisp! :)
  - stuntkite 9y ago
    Send me the repo when you do!
  - jacobush 9y ago
    Send me an email from Scrivener when you are done...
    - stuntkite 9y ago
      Checkmate Scrivener!
      - jacobush 9y ago
        "Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail" -- Jamie Zawinsky
  - robotresearcher 9y ago
    Check out fountain-mode before you do that!
jeffwass 9y ago
I've just finished the draft of my first novel using Scrivener. (it's a kids/YA Sci-Fi novel). It's been a joy to use. I wrote the first 45k words written on the OS X version on my laptop. But in May I started a new job, and then used the iPhone version to write the next 50k words. Pretty much written entirely on the London tube to/from work. I've also emailed Keith, the lead dev, a few times and he's been very friendly. Even incorporated some of my suggestions into updates of the iOS version. Anyway, if Emacs works for you, then I'd say stick with it, unless you see some compelling reason to change. For me, I had never written a novel before so did some research and chose Scrivener. Prior to this my longest work was my PhD thesis, in LaTeX.
copperx 9y ago
If you're looking for novelty, travel to some foreign country or buy a pair of fashionable jeans. Don't change the tools you've trusted for 27 years; a new tool is not going to make you a better, more creative, or more organized writer, especially if you're already using the most configurable one in existence. As a data point, Donald Knuth uses a minimalistic Ubuntu setup with FVWM2 and Emacs (with a lot of custom keybindings), and that's enough for writing his big volumes.

by tjic 9y ago

stuntkite 9y ago

It's an amazing tool. I've been using it for screenwriting and worldbuilding for years. It's just a really clever take on a writing tool. I'm sure your Emacs kit fits your needs, but I'd bet even trying Scrivener, you might get some ideas to enhance your Emacs flow.

tjic 9y ago
I fear that trying Scrivener might launch me into a five year quest to duplicate some of its features in elisp! :)
- stuntkite 9y ago
  Send me the repo when you do!
- jacobush 9y ago
  Send me an email from Scrivener when you are done...
  - stuntkite 9y ago
    Checkmate Scrivener!
    - jacobush 9y ago
      "Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail" -- Jamie Zawinsky
- robotresearcher 9y ago
  Check out fountain-mode before you do that!

jeffwass 9y ago

I've just finished the draft of my first novel using Scrivener. (it's a kids/YA Sci-Fi novel). It's been a joy to use. I wrote the first 45k words written on the OS X version on my laptop. But in May I started a new job, and then used the iPhone version to write the next 50k words. Pretty much written entirely on the London tube to/from work. I've also emailed Keith, the lead dev, a few times and he's been very friendly. Even incorporated some of my suggestions into updates of the iOS version. Anyway, if Emacs works for you, then I'd say stick with it, unless you see some compelling reason to change. For me, I had never written a novel before so did some research and chose Scrivener. Prior to this my longest work was my PhD thesis, in LaTeX.

copperx 9y ago

If you're looking for novelty, travel to some foreign country or buy a pair of fashionable jeans. Don't change the tools you've trusted for 27 years; a new tool is not going to make you a better, more creative, or more organized writer, especially if you're already using the most configurable one in existence. As a data point, Donald Knuth uses a minimalistic Ubuntu setup with FVWM2 and Emacs (with a lot of custom keybindings), and that's enough for writing his big volumes.