An eSolution for Character Creation: Character Writer

I found an interesting little character creation program called Character Writer by Typing Chimp Software. It sells for $69.99, a hefty price for students and struggling writers. You can try out a very pared down version of the software's character personality creation FREE online here. As far as I can tell, you may try it unlimited times--so if you need a FREE character IDEA starting generator...

My Pick for Screenwriting Software: Celtx

Celtx is a FREE software program designed with five internal text writers (templates) for producing screenplays, stage plays, AV scripts, audio scripts, comic books, and novels. They offer a Plus version currently on sale (33% off) for $9.99 (aka $10). As a disclaimer I must tell you I have not used Final Draft or other screenplay software yet. I chose this software because it is FREE and does everything I currently need it to do. Well, and it was suggested by both Jared Sexton and Matt Mullins, authors and creative writing professors at Ball State University.

Admittedly, I have only used the screenplay writing template, so that is what I will be describing in this post, for the most part. Also, I admit to never having read the directions (User Manual - downloadable for FREE), which is why I only recently discovered you need to compile (save) your project into the .pdf version when you want to print it out. You can print it directly from the saved working version without doing this, but apparently you will have format errors if you do...which also explains why I got less of a grade on my screenplays than I would have liked...or, maybe it doesn't.


You can get it for use on the following platforms: Windows, Mac (OS X - 10.5+), Linux 32bit, and Linux 64bit. You can use it in a number of different languages.


What I like about Celtx (beside the fact it is FREE) is that it's so simple to use. Open it, choose your template, and start writing. A drop down menu at the top offers heading options: scene, action, character, dialog, parenthetical, transition, shot, text.

The program has a Storyboard feature:

A Character Catalog feature:

And a Production Schedule feature:

There are two FREE utilities for the program: iPhone/iPad Desktop Sync and a Session Timer. The Language Dictionaries are also FREE to download.


 There are two mobile apps available: Celtx Shots (FREE to download and use - image packs cost varying prices from $0.99 to $4.99) and Celtx Script ($4.99 at the Apple iTunes App Store). Both are designed for use on the iPad and the iPhone, and may be synced with your Desktop copy of Celtx (see paragraph above).


FYI:  Scripts Free is a FREE script writing mobile app for iPhone or iPad (NOT a Celtx or Celtx-integrative app). Check for it via your iPhone.




Everything else will cost extra: 


Writing tool add-ons, sketch images, learning series, Celtx Guides, Storytelling education resources (which includes a link to buy Story by Robert McKee, an excellent book for screenwriters and novelists alike), and Celtx Studios (for storing and sharing projects - available for a monthly fee of $4.99). Special package prices are available if you want to purchase more than one add-on. None of the pricing is extravagant, and remember it is tax-deductible if you are trying to (or are fortunate enough to already) make a living at creative writing.


Well, one can hardly criticize them for wanting to make some profit, especially when the free stuff is so functional and useful by itself.


Celtx offers many other features that make it highly usable and helpful to writers, especially screen and stage play writers (for whom it was originally designed, I think), but I will let you read about them for yourself here (why repeat it when one can link it?).

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy the following:

Tools for Writers: The Benefits of Writing With Scrivener
An eSolution for Character Creation: Character Writer
Where to Timeline and Storyboard: eSolutions
eSolutions for Social Media Addictions
For a Better Quality Break Time: Creativity Enhancing Goodies

Where to Timeline and Storyboard: eSolutions

Ever feel the need to create a timeline or Storyboard for your story events and don't have enough wall space? I've found a few solutions, some of which make great brainstorming and notes organizing options as well.

eSolutions for Social Media Addictions

What can you do if you want to write that awesome novel, essay, legal document, blog post or online journal post but you find yourself wasting time on Facebook, or surfing the web, instead? (Facebook, please don't sue me for referring to my frequent forays into your domain as "wasting time.")

Tools for Writers: The Benefits of Writing With Scrivener

For this post, and the next few posts (and whenever I learn about something new I think will be useful), I will share some of the tools I use, or that have been recommended by other writers, that make it easier to be creative. I won't give you detailed information on how to use these tools or everything they can do for you--for that you can follow the links I provide to learn more.


Disclaimer: I do not get paid for my recommendations or referrals. I do not claim to know everything there is to know about any particular tool, nor do I claim a perfect knowledge of all the tools available for use. If you have suggestions or corrections, please leave a comment or contact me.

Today I want to tell you about Scrivener for Mac (they now also have a Windows version) from Literature and Latte. (All the images in this blog entry are from Literature and Latte's Scrivener site.)

One Key to Increasing Creativity: Improv

Years ago I took an acting class. I had this weird idea that it would make me a better writer, and it did. It enhanced creativity by expanding visualization skills. (It also cemented the knowledge that public performance is not my natural forte.)

Anthony Robbins, a popular self-help guru and author, has explained that tests prove a person's ability to sink basketballs into a hoop can be improved by the repetitive visualization of successfully doing just that. In fact, visualization practice is actually more effective at improving the number of balls sunk into a hoop on a court, than physically practicing shooting hoops. Visualization practice while physically mimicking the activity movements (sans ball thrown toward hoop) is even more efficacious.

So when it comes to improving creativity, maybe improv is one of the answers.

Books Have Signatures - Should Writers?

I heard the most wonderful quote recently, from Benjamin Zander: "My job is to awaken possibility in other people." It came from a video of a talk he gave at a TED conference. As Dr. Matt Bernard Mullins, author (Three Ways of the Saw) and professor at Ball State University's English/Creative Writing department, pointed out (in a link to Zander's video), "what Zander has to say (he says more in the video) about classical music applies equally well to creative writing."


Which causes me to question: Why do we write? Why do we want to write? Do we have any obligations to readers? Are we obliged to be entertaining? Educational or informational? Uplifting? Empowering? Inspiring? Truthful?


Is our writing life divorced from our human life? Do we have obligations (practical or moral) as human beings who are interdependent with other human beings, and how do those obligations or responsibilities inform our writing? Do we have a "job" as humans and as writers?

Prioritizing Tasks & Activities: Sometimes the Boring Stuff is the Container of the Well of Creativity

There's an old saying. "It is easy to see what a person's true beliefs are--simply look at their behaviors."

The same logic applies to determining what a person's true priorities are. It is easy to see what one's priorities are by watching what one does. For example, I say creative writing is my priority. But how much time do I actually spend (creative) writing? Am I "Facebooking" instead? Am I frittering away writing time with other non-important time wasters?

Occasionally time wasting activities are helpful. For example, when I'm stuck on a plot problem, I can engage in a computer game that doesn't require much intellectual energy, while working on my plot issue subconsciously. However, if I want to accomplish writing goals, I need to monitor time wasting activities to ensure they don't eat up all my writing time.

That's the obvious. Everyone knows this, right?

What may be less obvious