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For screenwriting I highly recommend checking out emacs fountain mode [1] (plus imenu-list and Olivetti minor modes). In combination with org-mode it is the mos

For screenwriting I highly recommend checking out emacs fountain mode [1] (plus imenu-list and Olivetti minor modes). In combination with org-mode it is the most powerful writing/outlining tool you can imagine. Also, if you haven't tried them, I highly recommend checking out WorkFlowy [2], Gingko [3], or Nulis [4] (disclaimer - nulis is my own project). Outlining and organizing projects as a tree structure is insanely powerful and convenient. The idea of organizing a script/novel as a tree structure rather than a flat outline allows you to "zoom into" as many levels as you want, and conveniently focus on any part of your work. I recommend using separate branches for worldbuilding, characters, notes, and plot outline, summarize the high level ideas quickly, and expand on them by adding more levels. Writing the actual draft though is much more convenient in emacs + fountain/markdown + org/imenu. To take it to a crazy level of awesomeness consider storing your files in git, or at least dropbox, to have a history of revisions. --- [1] https://github.com/rnkn/fountain-mode https://github.com/rnkn/fountain-mode [2] https://workflowy.com https://workflowy.com [3] https://gingkoapp.com https://gingkoapp.com [4] https://github.com/raymestalez/nulis https://github.com/raymestalez/nulis Also, emacs/fountain screenshot: https://i.imgur.com/AJpUNsz.png https://i.imgur.com/AJpUNsz.png Looks awesome, truly a pleasure to use.

anigbrowl 9y ago
I'd like to support a new project by a fellow HN user. What's your main difference (present or intended) from Gingko?
- rayalez 9y ago
  Thanks! Nulis is open source, allows you to edit all the cards simultaneously(instead of double-click/esc to jump between editing modes), has writing stats(to develop daily writing habit), and allows you to save trees offline. I'm also working on a desktop version that will share the code with online version, so that will be convenient to use and develop.
  - anigbrowl 9y ago
    I noticed the desktop version, and that it's cross-platform. That could be super-cool for security sensitive stuff/remote location work. I'm making a bunch of workflow changes these days so I'll try a small project in this to see how it goes. thanks very much for the suggestions and the work you've done on this already.
    - rayalez 9y ago
      I hope you will find Nulis useful! =) To be fair, I should mention that gingko's author is also working on a desktop version [1]. He's rewriting it from scratch, and it looks like it will be very cool once he does. [1] https://beta.gingko.io https://beta.gingko.io
Stratoscope 9y ago
Workflowy fans should also check out Dynalist. It started out as more or less a Workflowy clone, but has been developed much more actively than Workflowy. https://dynalist.io/ https://dynalist.io/
ako 9y ago
If you need to edit text in a tree structure, ms-word outline mode is a really good option. Info here: http://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/word/how-to-use-word-2010s-outline-view/ http://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/word/how-to...
epaga 9y ago
I'll piggy back off of this and shamelessly plug my mind-mapping outliner app, Mindscope for iOS, for anyone on iPad or iPhone wanting to outline and collect everything without losing the forest for the trees since you simply "zoom" into the level of detail you need. Have heard from quite a few writers that use and love Mindscope. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindscope-thought-organizer/id901513028?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindscope-thought-organizer/...
zapperdapper 9y ago
It's funny you should mention Emacs... I was initially a fully paid-up Scrivener user, but just couldn't get on with it. I found myself fighting with it far more than I would have liked - especially around generated output. Granted this would have been nearly ten years ago now I think. I switched to Ulysses. I found I loved writing in Markdown! I then upgraded to Ulysses III when that came out and never looked back. But GitHub changed everything... Now I write pretty much everything in Emacs. I initially used AsciiDoc markdown, but now I use Github flavoured markdown (GFM) in Emacs. Public writing is in a public repo on GitHub and I have a private repo there too for personal/work-in-progress type stuff. Full revision history and command line goodness. Lovely jubbly. The way I tend to write is each chapter is a GFM file. I can use command line tools to turn that into HTML/PDF and sometimes roll my own tools in Python/shell. I do sometimes write shorter pieces and combine them. I do still use Ulysses for things like lists and odd notes, but it's getting less common. I guess at the end of the day it's whatever works for you, but yes Emacs with GitHub is working really well for all my writing needs right now.
sambe 9y ago
I always thought that a major reason to use Scrivener was to do with studios being very fussy about standardised formats and layouts - something that may take quite a bit of time to setup in other editors. You also don't want to do it through trial and error if they are going to discard on first failure. Is this not true? If true, how do you ensure your Emacs output matches requirements?
- dotandimet 9y ago
  I believe you're thinking of Final Draft.

anigbrowl 9y ago

I'd like to support a new project by a fellow HN user. What's your main difference (present or intended) from Gingko?

rayalez 9y ago
Thanks! Nulis is open source, allows you to edit all the cards simultaneously(instead of double-click/esc to jump between editing modes), has writing stats(to develop daily writing habit), and allows you to save trees offline. I'm also working on a desktop version that will share the code with online version, so that will be convenient to use and develop.
- anigbrowl 9y ago
  I noticed the desktop version, and that it's cross-platform. That could be super-cool for security sensitive stuff/remote location work. I'm making a bunch of workflow changes these days so I'll try a small project in this to see how it goes. thanks very much for the suggestions and the work you've done on this already.
  - rayalez 9y ago
    I hope you will find Nulis useful! =) To be fair, I should mention that gingko's author is also working on a desktop version [1]. He's rewriting it from scratch, and it looks like it will be very cool once he does. [1] https://beta.gingko.io https://beta.gingko.io

Stratoscope 9y ago

Workflowy fans should also check out Dynalist. It started out as more or less a Workflowy clone, but has been developed much more actively than Workflowy. https://dynalist.io/ https://dynalist.io/

ako 9y ago

If you need to edit text in a tree structure, ms-word outline mode is a really good option. Info here: http://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/word/how-to-use-word-2010s-outline-view/ http://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/word/how-to...

epaga 9y ago

I'll piggy back off of this and shamelessly plug my mind-mapping outliner app, Mindscope for iOS, for anyone on iPad or iPhone wanting to outline and collect everything without losing the forest for the trees since you simply "zoom" into the level of detail you need. Have heard from quite a few writers that use and love Mindscope. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindscope-thought-organizer/id901513028?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindscope-thought-organizer/...

zapperdapper 9y ago

It's funny you should mention Emacs... I was initially a fully paid-up Scrivener user, but just couldn't get on with it. I found myself fighting with it far more than I would have liked - especially around generated output. Granted this would have been nearly ten years ago now I think. I switched to Ulysses. I found I loved writing in Markdown! I then upgraded to Ulysses III when that came out and never looked back. But GitHub changed everything... Now I write pretty much everything in Emacs. I initially used AsciiDoc markdown, but now I use Github flavoured markdown (GFM) in Emacs. Public writing is in a public repo on GitHub and I have a private repo there too for personal/work-in-progress type stuff. Full revision history and command line goodness. Lovely jubbly. The way I tend to write is each chapter is a GFM file. I can use command line tools to turn that into HTML/PDF and sometimes roll my own tools in Python/shell. I do sometimes write shorter pieces and combine them. I do still use Ulysses for things like lists and odd notes, but it's getting less common. I guess at the end of the day it's whatever works for you, but yes Emacs with GitHub is working really well for all my writing needs right now.

sambe 9y ago

I always thought that a major reason to use Scrivener was to do with studios being very fussy about standardised formats and layouts - something that may take quite a bit of time to setup in other editors. You also don't want to do it through trial and error if they are going to discard on first failure. Is this not true? If true, how do you ensure your Emacs output matches requirements?

dotandimet 9y ago
I believe you're thinking of Final Draft.