The End

 

The End

Thank you for your support over the last three and a half years. After much (and hard) contemplation, I’ve decided to end the Apps for Writers blog. Many things have changed over the years in the world of publishing and technology.

My intention when I began the project was two-fold. I planned to teach others about all the wonderful things out there for writers. I wanted to cut through the overwhelming choices and show authors simple ways to use apps to enhance their writing. I think we did that, thanks to you.

I also hoped to convert the blog into teaching opportunities. But then COVID hit, and everything changed. I’m a teacher by nature and history. I have a master’s in education and taught computer technology to all age groups for twenty-five years. The fall of RWA and the lifestyle changes of COVID did not allow me to accomplish this angle of my goal.

Now in 2023, everything is video from YouTube to Reels to TikTok. Honestly, there’s a reason I’m a writer, not an actor. It’s not that I can’t do a video, but I have no energy or desire to produce videos for this content. So, we are ending.

Again, thank everyone for your support, comments, and help with the blog. I will leave the content up for reference and will still answer questions.

Here’s to our next journey.

 

Apps for Writers Survey

Hi. Thanks for your patience over the past few weeks. I love writing this blog, but it’s getting a little cumbersome lately. I’ve had few responses and zero comments. Also, I can no longer share the content in the same fashion as I have done previously. I’m worried I’m singing to an empty opera house.

I created a survey in Google Forms (yeah, I’ll do that app in a few weeks. *wink*). It’s a few questions about the relevancy and content of the blog. I threw in some questions about advertising options.

Please, if you are able, complete the form and let me know what you think, what you need, and what you want from Apps for Writers.

All the hugs,

Ginny

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/vjzi8hz2fkDqsipq9

(I’m not collecting emails, just data. All responses are anonymous unless you chose to share your name. I won’t post anyone’s answers in next week’s blog without permission.)

 

 

A Short Hiatus

Apps for Writers will take a brief vacation for a couple of weeks. We will be back at the end of April with new apps and insights. In the meantime, perhaps visit some posts you may have missed.

OneNote: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2021/03/how-to-use-onenote.html

Gratitude: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2022/05/how-to-use-gratitude.html

KeePass: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2022/11/how-to-use-keepass.html

ProPlanner: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2023/01/how-to-planner-pro.html

Blogger: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2020/12/how-to-use-blogger.html

And

Focus To-Do: https://appsforwriters.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-to-use-focus-to-do.html

 

Look for a survey about the blog and how we proceed with its content.

Thank you again for being a loyal reader!

Chapterly for Authors

 

A quick word before you read the post. I’ve had some brilliant success with this blog. Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m hoping you will help me out today. My latest book Artist is live today. I don’t usually ask for clicks, but if you enjoy my blog and want to support me, please consider a $0.99 purchase to help a fellow author out. Thank you.

Okay, enough ads! You’ve read my how-to and info about Chapterly. Now let’s talk about how this app works for authors.

The app provides many resources for authors with the basic $10 level. I think my favorite was the planning board. It’s nice to have a free-form planning app built into the program. Unlike Scrivener, you don’t need to buy the additional flow chart app to plan. The chart is within the story folder. How many of us forget the plan and need to consult? It’s nice not to have to find it in another program.

The book cover feature is another unique piece. You can create a paperback cover quickly. For me, paperback covers are magical and can only be created by graphic artists. This feature alone might save you hundreds of dollars. Remember, though, graphic artists know all those secret things that make covers stand out. I’m not saying we can’t make our own covers. But we all know that sometimes homemade ones stand out (as bad).

With all the other paid features built into the app, authors can find editors, cover artists, and mentors easily. In this industry, word of mouth is often the only way to find such services. Having everything within one app helps authors keep the details simple and clean.

That being said, unless you need those services—covers, editing, etc., I would not recommend Chapterly. It’s expensive at $10 for a basic subscription. Other software gives you more for a low-tier price (Office 360) or one price to purchase the license rather than a subscription (Scrivener).

Their ads were very aggressive. Users must enter payment information before the free trial. How many of us forget to unsubscribe? Once I put in my payment info, a coupon page came up. It offered discounts for the paid program. A good discount, except that the offer showed up three times, asking me to shell out another 200 immediately. The coupon was only valid for ten minutes. I hadn’t even tried the app yet!

Inside the program, I didn’t care for the folder window on the left side. If you have only one or two projects, it’s great. But the window shows all your projects in one space. If you add a new book, it loads under the last one. This can become very confusing, and I could see my work becoming more disorganized as I added. I have many, many projects on Scrivener. I need each to be its own file.

I won’t say I don’t recommend Chapterly, but it didn’t work for me. I like free or one-time-payment software. I hate ads and disorganization. The structure and the add-ons were not useful for me personally. I hope this information will help you choose if the app is for you.