Software Dreampack for Writers

Along with the Writer's Software Companion, which I reviewed last week, I received a copy of Software Dreampack for Writers, a CD-ROM containing more than 50 programs. The CD includes shareware, demos and full versions of great programs for writers. Many are also of interest to teachers and non-writers.

I'll review only a small sampling of the available titles to give you a taste. I found other useful programs, along with a few I could find no reason to unzip. Just the ones I've covered below make the disk well worth it.

Get Organized!

One of the most useful programs on the disk is a freeform database that allows you to create to-do lists, keep track of bookmarks, and organize your notes for a new article. Information is displayed in an outline format, and you can select the levels to be displayed. The editing commands are simple and intuitive. This is a handy little tool if you don't need a high-powered information manager. The ability to search for text increases its usability, making it a snap to find the right document.

Puzzles of all types are always in demand. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at creating crosswords but weren't sure how to go about making the grid and filling it in, a crossword compiler simplifies the process. You can make a list of words and clues and the Compiler fills in the blanks. For teachers, this makes a great way to reinforce vocabulary and spelling.

Plot that Novel

One of my favorites is a fiction helper. I've used this program to brainstorm new story ideas, generate secondary characters, and develop details. The character generator is interesting, but quirky. You may get a character like this one I created recently (and I haven't used her, so if you're intrigued, go right ahead and steal it). She's from Nepal, but her primary language is Vietnamese. Her occupation is lingerie model, and she has a Ph.D. She's agnostic, paranoid, and loves erotic poetry and biking. Despite her high degree, she has a slow intellect, which may explain why she's broke and modeling lingerie.

This program also allows you to randomly generate numbers or sentences (needless to say, some of the sentences are truly bizarre). The plot generator is a bit more useful. You choose the story type and let the program suggest characters and motivations.

Get Your History Straight

Another truly powerful program allows you to examine historical people and events, create time lines, and add your own information. Because you can link to web sites, the amount of information you can access through this program is unlimited. The shareware version contains data for the Classical Period. Other datasets are included with the registered version, and all datasets are in ASCII so you can edit them at will. For historical authors or teachers, this could be a wonderful program.

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