Okay some questions from a writer

[Start_Running]

Alright I'll make this quick and clean. I write. Novels and short stories. Currently Scrivener is my go-to software but i am less than pleased with its short comings and the devs curious resistance to addressing those short cominsg so I'm looking for something else.

So there are a couple things I like about scrivener and would like to know if this software mmatches up to Scrivener.

- Word Processing. Scrivener has a pretty basic but at the same time intuitive word processor. I click on a scene/section and I can start typing out the scene/section with basic formating like bold, italics, line spacing, etc.. How does Campfire stack up in the gregard because that is curiously lacking from your screen shots and product descriptions.

- Scene management. The ability to split scenes on the fly and freely re-order scenes from the flow of a document as well as group them is one of Scrivener's biggest selling points to a non-linear writer like m'self. How well does Campfire handle this?


Now as to what Scrivener doesn't do that I find annoying

- Spellchecking. Does Campfire support user selected or per project custom wordlists. It is a feature that scrivener lacks to much bafflement. At the very least I'm looking for the ability to select and save custom wordlists.

So how does Campfire stack up on these three points? being able to say yes to any two would give me a reason to switch over.

[The Fisherman]

Hi there!

-Word Processing. Campfire is purely intended as a prewriting software. The idea is you build your world and plan it all out, then it's an easy jump to use the information to get your ideas on paper. Campfire does not have a word processor, so we recommend using it with something like Word, Pages, or your favorite word processor.

-Scene management. You can play with this for yourself if you feel like it, on our site at www.campfiretechnology.com you can download a 10-day free trial of Campfire. Campfire was created by writers for writers. I'm a writer myself, and frankly, our timeline is pretty awesome. You can link events to multiple other events and specify whether they occur "on-screen" or "off-screen." We have dividers and one event can lead to two different ones. Campfire is king when it comes to non-linear timelines! Here's a link to our imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/BZplDVh
I highly recommend you look through this album, we've created some specific timelines that help exemplify and set your specific concerns at ease. As always, I think playing with it yourself is the best way to decide if you like it, but this should help give you a good idea too!

-Spellchecking. Currently, Campfire does not have spellcheck. This is because, like we said, it's meant for prewriting. There's no reason getting bogged down on little spelling errors in the prewriting and planning phase. That being said, we have plans to implement an "Encyclopedia" feature down the line to help writers keep track of their wordlists and their definitions.

All this being said, I think using Campfire in conjuction with a word processor would solve most of your concerns. If we are lacking any features you'd like to see, please request them over on the discussion page or email [e-mail]
We are constantly updating Campfire and taking community suggestions. I recommend you try out our free trial, and let us know what you think!

[zippywings]

Scrivener has a feature that allows writers to import mindmaps (which I believe can convert to chapters or scenes, if I'm not mistaken), and Campfire seems to emulate a mindmap as one of its features (if I'm correctly perceiving it), so a little bit of compatibility between the two may go a long way. Scrivener is billed as a project tool, not just a document tool, so it stores multiple file types like documents, photos, sound files, websites, etc. If Campfire had an option to export timelines (or mindmaps) and other items to files compatible with Scrivener (or software like it), in that Scrivener's browser can connect to it to convert the file to scenes (using functions already in place), or simply hold a file that the user can access easily within the project file while writing (by saving timelines to a filetype that Scrivener can access), then that would make both programs much more useful.

EDIT: It seems it already converts timelines to documents, so that's probably good enough.

Another important feature that Campfire may want to add to help writers plan their stories is to include "beat planning," where the writer can identify the story's beats, plot points, and other structure-based scenes. Maybe that's already in place, but I didn't see anything like that in the trailer. It should have not just world-building elements, but elements in place to make sure the story works. Inciting events, rising conflicts, climaxes, and resolutions, as well as any other essential scene element (or perhaps a document or spreadsheet that allows the writer to determine the components of each projected scene, including which characters should be in it, and which goals should be attained or thwarted) would make the planning phase even better.

Note: I'm referring to more than just timelines, but to the actions that happen within scenes in the timelines, and an inventory of what those actions mean in a structural sense.

I like the idea behind this program, but to make it worth the price, it should consider story structure as much as it considers the actors and settings within the story. And, if possible, it would be great if it could integrate with other writing software like Scrivener by allowing exportable filetypes that are compatible with those programs. Maybe it does most of this already (or maybe these things are planned). If that's the case, then it sounds like a winner to me.

[Start_Running]

Well that's a shame. I guess i'll be taking a pass on the software for a while then. STuck with Scrivener for a while longer it seems.

Strongly suggest you guys get some word processing in there. Since it seems like the application does everything buty allow the writer to actually write their story.

[The Fisherman]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Well that's a shame. I guess i'll be taking a pass on the software for a while then. STuck with Scrivener for a while longer it seems.

Strongly suggest you guys get some word processing in there. Since it seems like the application does everything buty allow the writer to actually write their story.

Well we're glad you came to take a look! I'll pass along your feature suggestions, and maybe they'll be added one day! Thank you for your interest and suggestions, best of luck with your writing :)

[Start_Running]

Best of luck with your software. He're hoping you displace scrivener.

[blkholsun]

It does seem like a no-brainer to add a bare-bones, rudimentary word processor--the draft could then be exported and touched up for final formatting in Word or whatever. Sure it isn't hugely problematic to just have a word processor open as a separate app, but it isn't the most "elegant" solution.

[Whitewave]

I don't think Campfire Pro needs a word processor at all. So many of us use so many different writing softwares already - Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Celtx, Why do we need another one? Especially a "bare bones, rudimentary" one which everyone will just complain about and which will give the developer team even MORE work to do to keep everyone happy.

I say forget the word processor and let the developer guys focus on giving us all the cool special features we asked for. Seriously, wouldn't you rather have more customization instead of yet another boring word processor?

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Whitewave:

I don't think Campfire Pro needs a word processor at all. So many of us use so many different writing softwares already - Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, Celtx, Why do we need another one? Especially a "bare bones, rudimentary" one which everyone will just complain about and which will give the developer team even MORE work to do to keep everyone happy.

Actually lots of writers prefer something fairly barebones because its less of a distraction. The question to counter those is. Why use two pieces of software, where one can do?

I say forget the word processor and let the developer guys focus on giving us all the cool special features we asked for. Seriously, wouldn't you rather have more customization instead of yet another boring word processor?

Well the ability to actually write in the same place I plan is a big bonus. Though ass I learned that's not what this software is for.

[Bronzeborg]

you want to help writers write their stories using your software... but you dont want them actually write using your software?

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Bronzeborg:

you want to help writers write their stories using your software... but you dont want them actually write using your software?

Kinda thought the same thing M'self, baffling choice since they let you type in information about locations, characters, and whatnot. IT wouldn't be much to let add scene organization and actual typing into it.

But as they said this is meant to be a companion tool for planning and outlining which it would work well as from what I'm seeing. Can't say if it is since I already have a tried and true method for planning. A white board.. and many many sticky notes.

A piece of software like this would b more or less a step backward for me since it'd be slower than my current method Yank-and-stick beats drag-and-drop.

It would probably be very handy if you're trying to create a reference bible...assuming this handles large numbers of images and tables better than Scrivener. Which it seems like I'll still have to put up with for a while longer until someone makes a writing program for writing that at lkeast matches it.

[Bronzeborg]

ive been messing around witth the characters and timeline in the trial version. i cant even change the background... other than the genre specific ones that it comes with. unless thats a thing for the full version? also the timeline once planned out looks really clunky. the lines from the connections are all in front of eachother. jesus is born -connection- jesus ascends. that connection will then cover up the *john the baptist baptises people* in between. i hope they fix this to have the connection lines always go behind the nodes and not in front... i do not see this program ever being worth this price... id get it for 15 bucks though. wait for sale?

[Stitch~Reloaded]

This answered all of my questions. Using the trial now and I though I was missing something. Without being able to place my story in the time line and exporting the entire thing, this program is not what I'm looking for. Love the design but not the function.

Originally posted by Jackson:

Hi there!

-Word Processing. Campfire is purely intended as a prewriting software. The idea is you build your world and plan it all out, then it's an easy jump to use the information to get your ideas on paper. Campfire does not have a word processor, so we recommend using it with something like Word, Pages, or your favorite word processor.

-Scene management. You can play with this for yourself if you feel like it, on our site at www.campfiretechnology.com you can download a 10-day free trial of Campfire. Campfire was created by writers for writers. I'm a writer myself, and frankly, our timeline is pretty awesome. You can link events to multiple other events and specify whether they occur "on-screen" or "off-screen." We have dividers and one event can lead to two different ones. Campfire is king when it comes to non-linear timelines! Here's a link to our imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/BZplDVh
I highly recommend you look through this album, we've created some specific timelines that help exemplify and set your specific concerns at ease. As always, I think playing with it yourself is the best way to decide if you like it, but this should help give you a good idea too!

-Spellchecking. Currently, Campfire does not have spellcheck. This is because, like we said, it's meant for prewriting. There's no reason getting bogged down on little spelling errors in the prewriting and planning phase. That being said, we have plans to implement an "Encyclopedia" feature down the line to help writers keep track of their wordlists and their definitions.

All this being said, I think using Campfire in conjuction with a word processor would solve most of your concerns. If we are lacking any features you'd like to see, please request them over on the discussion page or email [e-mail]
We are constantly updating Campfire and taking community suggestions. I recommend you try out our free trial, and let us know what you think!

[The Fisherman]

Originally posted by Stitch~Reloaded:

This answered all of my questions. Using the trial now and I though I was missing something. Without being able to place my story in the time line and exporting the entire thing, this program is not what I'm looking for. Love the design but not the function.

That's alright, it's not for everyone. I still encourage you to follow our social media though, we might impress you in the future and become just what you're looking for :)

[Karasu]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Originally posted by Bronzeborg:

you want to help writers write their stories using your software... but you dont want them actually write using your software?

Kinda thought the same thing M'self, baffling choice since they let you type in information about locations, characters, and whatnot. IT wouldn't be much to let add scene organization and actual typing into it.

But as they said this is meant to be a companion tool for planning and outlining which it would work well as from what I'm seeing. Can't say if it is since I already have a tried and true method for planning. A white board.. and many many sticky notes.

A piece of software like this would b more or less a step backward for me since it'd be slower than my current method Yank-and-stick beats drag-and-drop.

It would probably be very handy if you're trying to create a reference bible...assuming this handles large numbers of images and tables better than Scrivener. Which it seems like I'll still have to put up with for a while longer until someone makes a writing program for writing that at lkeast matches it.

I was following Campfire for some months now looking exactly for these answers and this thread answered them nicely. Thanks to all who typed their thoughts and findings on the program.

I am in the same boat and it's not for me. I have a lot of different scenes, backgrounds and so on from various characters and would love a program to organize all that mess, but right now it's best to just organize myself by using the basic software's that we have out there.

[mhspear]

I use evernote and campfire. I can open both at same time on my desktop and laptop. I also have evernote on all my kindles and my phone. I use campfire for all my "notes" the stuff, details I am always looking for. I have an enormous universe. I write in evernote and it auto syncs across all my devices. I would NOT want a word processor in campfire. I understand the one program thing, but its not for me. I can open campfire, add or delete any details and when I am writing look up the spelling, names, places etc. Evernote does auto spell. So I add the "weird stuff to my dictionary and it stays, across everything. I am happy with campfire pro with the worldbuilding. iIt's just another learning curve.