Those of us around ProfHacker headquarters who use the Windows operating system (and we are in a clear minority) have been waiting well over a year for the official release of Scrivener for Windows. Scrivener is an enhanced word processor from the folks at Literature and Latte that, until today, has been a MAC program. But today, Scrivener is available to both MAC and PC users, and this is an opportunity to cheer. Scrivener for Windows is finally here.
Scrivener for the MAC has been available since 2007, and it’s been met with rave reviews from users engaged in many kinds of writing tasks. In fact, Ryan has written extensively about the MAC version of Scrivener for ProfHacker. In March 2010, Ryan penned, “Scrivener, Scrivening, Scrivertastic!” and in October of 2010, he followed up with “Scrivener 2.0 Released for Mac and (gasp) Windows.” Additionally, in November of 2010, Mark wrote a review of an early Beta version of Scrivener for Windows.
Scrivener is more than a mere word processor, though, and that’s the beauty and wonder of the program. This program can challenge the ways we write, the tools we use when we write, and the form the writing can take. Unlike most word processing programs, Scrivener allows writers to write in a non linear form (and for me, this is the key feature of the program).
As Ryan noted in one of his earlier pieces, Scrivener “changed the way I think through, organize, and perform my professional writing.” And I do believe this software program has the ability to change the way we all can think or process writing tasks. A recent reviewer at MAC World noted that Scrivener “offers an extensive suite of writing aids without ever forcing users to confirm to any set process. Whether you want to jump in and start typing, or prefer to compile meticulous research and outline the whole narrative, Scrivener’s happy to hand you the tools and get out of your way.”
But the program’s functionality: Ryan’s earlier post outlines much of what the program can do, so please take a moment to reread this awesome post. As this post neared, I asked followers on Twitter to chime in on their favorite Scrivener features. Here are some of their replies:
And there’s help with this program. Literature and Latte hosts a series of video tutorials on their website that will help writers with the program’s features. The L&L website also has a blog and a user’s forum available for questions and answers about the program. Additionally, you can join the Scrivener community on Twitter: @ScrivenerApp. Lastly, Gwen Hernandez, the Goddess/Ninja of all things Scrivener has a wonderful blog that outlines the program’s usefulness. Now that the Windows version is available, the free Beta tests are over. The program costs $40 ($35 for students and educators). MAC versions are $45 ($38.25 for educators and students).
As Scrivener gains a wider audience with this Windows release, we can all begin to think about ways students can benefit from such a program. How might we use Scrivener in a classroom?
How about you? If you are Scrivener user for the MAC, what are your favorite features? How has the program become useful to you? If you are a former Beta tester for Scrivener Windows, what features are you looking forward to? For all, how might Scrivener be useful in a classroom setting?
