I don’t believe that software can help you to write [more, better, clearer, with more imagination, with verve]. If you are having problems writing then the only answer is to write [more, better, et al]. Software will not motivate you or generate ideas. Then I discovered Scrivener and realised Word is not perfect. Word is problematic if you want to write at length. My opinion shifted. So, when I heard about Ommwriter, I was willing to give it a go.
Ommwriter helps me write [more, better, et al]. It does this by reducing the number of features available to me (most text processors insist on adding more features to solve problems, which does nothing but add more problems). More options = more distractions from writing. Ommwriter understands this. Its best (and only) features are:
No spell check. You would not believe how distracting those red and green wavy lines are, how they act as an anchor around your ankle as you try to write, how the knowledge that they may appear at any moment keeps you focused on the words you have written rather than thinking about those you are about to write. You can check your spelling and grammar after you’ve finished the scene or chapter. It takes seconds.
Full screen. You can’t quickly visit the Internet when an application takes over your screen. Or check your email. Or Message someone. The result: you focus on the job in hand.
No text, paragraph or document formatting. No bold. No italics. Four font options universal to the document. No paragraph spacing or indenting or tabs or headings or any other styling tools that you could mildly obsess over. You can increase or decrease the font size to make it easier to read. That’s all. The words become paramount. The way they appear on the page becomes irrelevant.
Music. Sweet, sweet music. Stick your headphones on. The music is abstract, ambient. In addition to the music there is a set of four (always four) sound effects linked to keystrokes. The click, click, click of the keys. The result is something that is stunningly immersive. There are so few barriers between your mind and the words appearing on the screen that your word count will spiral out of control.
The words will flow, I promise you.
Ommwriter is free, for a while, and doesn’t cost much after the while is over.
Written by Adrian Robinson
17th August, 2011
