Writer’s Blocks is a powerful and intuitive writing tool designed to help writers efficiently capture, organize, and structure their ideas from the initial brainstorming phase to the final draft. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what the product does and its key features:
What Writer’s Blocks Does
Writer’s Blocks is more than just a writing software; it is a comprehensive tool that mimics the traditional use of index cards but with the advanced capabilities of a modern word processor. It allows writers to break down their work into manageable, discrete blocks of text, each of which can hold up to 32,000 characters. This approach enables writers to visualize, arrange, and organize their ideas in a highly flexible and efficient manner.
Key Features
Blocks and Organization
- The core feature of Writer’s Blocks is the use of text blocks, which can be created, edited, and arranged with drag-and-drop simplicity. Each block functions like a mini word processor document, allowing for extensive text input and formatting.
Auto-Features
- The software includes several automatic features such as AutoArrange, AutoNumber, AutoCenter, AutoMax, and AutoSize, which help in positioning, numbering, and sizing the blocks automatically. This streamlines the organization and editing process, saving time and effort.
Integrated Word Processor
- Writer’s Blocks comes with an integrated full-featured word processor known as the ‘Manuscript Panel.’ This allows writers to expand on their ideas and flesh out their story within the same program, eliminating the need to switch between different applications.
Power Panel and Brainstorming
- The Power Panel is a floating toolbar that provides quick access to various functions, facilitating brainstorming and the capture of ideas. It enables writers to consolidate information from multiple sources and arrange it later, making the outlining process faster and more efficient.
Customization and Linking
- Writers can customize the blocks to fit their writing style, using features like color coding, linking related blocks via hyperlinks or arrows, and naming and numbering each block and column. This enhances the visual organization and navigation of the material.
Productivity and Structure
- Writer’s Blocks increases productivity by allowing writers to capture ideas at the speed of thought. The software helps in creating a better structure by enabling the arrangement of blocks under user-defined column headings. Features like AutoArrange and AutoNumber keep the blocks in neat rows and columns, making it easier to flesh out the story.
Document Overview and Output
- The software provides a bird’s eye view of the document, giving writers a comprehensive overview of their work. This helps in generating research reports and other written works more efficiently. Writers can save their blocks as text files, import them into other word processors, or print them out for reference.
System Requirements and Pricing
- Writer’s Blocks is compatible with various Windows operating systems (Windows 10, 8, 7, and XP) and requires a minimum of 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 100 MB free disk space. The current version, Writer’s Blocks 5, is priced at $149, with a free trial version available for testing.
In summary, Writer’s Blocks is an indispensable tool for writers, offering a unique combination of visual outlining, powerful organization features, and an integrated word processor. It is designed to enhance productivity, creativity, and the overall writing experience, making it an excellent choice for writers of all levels.