The screenwriting software from John August, Highland, got a new version this week. (It's now called Highland Pro.) Unfortunately, it's moved to a subscription model. I gladly paid a one-time fee for Highland 2 a few years ago... which I suppose I'll never be able to install again? Still a fine program with some interesting new features, but if you're an amateur writer, you may not want to spend $60 a year until the end of your days. Certainly if you make your living writing, it's different. However, I'm not writing every week, or even every month.
The news prompted me to update the recommended software page on the Rochester Writers Workshop website. A lot of writing software has jumped in price in the last few years! As before, if you're looking for free on Windows or Linux, try TRELBY. Free software for the Mac is hard to come by, unless you're using the first-free-script option with freemium apps like WriterDuet or Studiobinder. Sadly, Celtx doesn't appear to have a free plan anymore.
I've been using Scrivener, which is a one-time $60 fee (or $50 educational pricing). I like that it has notecard options and ways to maintain sub-documents and photos for research purposes. One drawback is I'll have to buy it again if I want it on both my Mac and PC laptop.
Here's the updated RWW software page:
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I've been thinking about trying Scrivener, Mike Boas. I mainly use Final Draft 12, and I use WriterDuet as a backup. I have the free version of WriterDuet, but the monthly price is really cheap.
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It was a lot, but I bit the bullet and bought Final Draft (and I suppose bought into all of the "Industry Standard" hype. My experience has been really good with it.: Stable, lots of functionality and teh 1 x fee was for 2 devices - both of which I use. It was like my golf clubs - I kept blaming my poor game on my ratty old clubs. Bought new ones - now I have nothing to blame - but myself.
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Maybe I’m a bit of a contrarian, but I will never pay for Final Draft. I don’t see the software as being worth the price, and I dislike that they’ve rested on being “industry standard” to justify it.
The only reason I ever use it is if a writing partner insists on it.
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I use Trelby, one day I might get Final Draft but so far I’m quite happy with Trelby.
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I have always used these guys and they have a great free version and it is easy to use Mike Boas
https://www.celtx.com/
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Watch this short video & see why Morphosys is the future of screenwriting!
https://youtu.be/lD8j_JQN0Os
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David can you explain why? I am not a great software expert.
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Slugline 2 for me. Pay once and no subscription.
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I don't remember what I paid for Final Draft, but the latest version is about $200 for a perpetual license. Nuke Studio is over $6,000 a year just to rent. Be happy you are not a compositor!
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Also, it is possible to get both Scrivener and Final Draft at highly discounted prices from sites like StackSocial. For general purpose writing, Scrivener is my favorite, while Final Draft is a bit better if you write screenplays only.
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Hi Mike Boas, I use Scrivener too and it was a game changer for me. Yet you're right, you should have to buy it again if you want to switch from a Windows version to a Mac one, or vice versa.
Mike Boas, maybe you could even receive a special offer.
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Hi Maurice Vaughan
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Scrivener is currently at $30 at discount sites (but twice that if you need Mac+Windows). Final Draft 10 is at $125. An old version, but I personally don't think the newer versions add much value. Regarding the separate prices for the Mac and Windows version of Scrivener. It is originally made for Mac, and they are trying to support Windows users as well, though the Windows version is usually a little bit behind. It is double work for them to develop a separate Windows version, so I can understand that they need to cover their expenses.
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Hi, Chiara Torrisi. That's great! I'll try the one-month trial. Thanks!
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I LOVE Scrivener. I use it for Everything. And I did make the purchase for both Mac and PC. I prefer the Mac version, but PC is still great, and that's the one I need for the day job. If you already have a subscription, I think you get a discount for buying that second version. Don't quote me--double check--but I think my pricing for PC was only $37. There is a small page number/info issue when you try to print a script to PDF -- it's not industry standard formatting -- but I found a workaround to get just the page number, so hit me up if you need the instructions. :)
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Thanks for the tips on the price break for the PC version of Scrivener. I’ll look into it.
Mark, I used to love the stand-alone version of Celtx. Last I checked, it’s now only a web-version at a subscription fee. Am I wrong?
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Last week I heard about Beat, an open source free software for Mac. I tried it. It’s simple, a lot like Trelby for PC.
And it’s free.
IOS versions are available too, although they cost something like $12.
Not bad for people getting started!
https://www.beat-app.fi/