First Draft Pro - Detailed Review

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First Draft Pro - Detailed Review Contents

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First Draft Pro - Product Overview

First Draft Pro Overview

First Draft Pro is a specialized writing tool created to simplify and streamline the writing process, particularly for authors, co-writers, and editors. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:

Primary Function

First Draft Pro is designed to help writers organize, write, and collaborate on their projects efficiently. It combines outlining, drafting, and editing tools in one platform, making it easier to manage and complete writing projects.

Target Audience

The primary target audience includes fiction and nonfiction writers, co-writers, and editors. This tool is particularly useful for those working on novels, but it also supports nonfiction writing, such as blog posts and other long-form content.

Key Features

Outlining and Plotting

First Draft Pro offers two main outline views: Chapter Outline and Plot Outline. The Chapter Outline organizes scenes by chapter, while the Plot Outline allows you to separate scenes into columns based on individual plot lines. This helps in tracking the progression of each storyline and its relation to other storylines.

Auto-Summarize

For writers who prefer not to use outlines, the Auto-Summarize feature generates scene titles and summaries automatically as you write. This feature is particularly helpful for reviewing and structuring your first draft.

Color Coding

The software allows extensive color coding of scenes, which is useful for visual organization and tracking different elements of your story. It offers more than double the color options compared to some other writing tools.

Links and Notes

You can link text within your manuscript to notes, enabling easy navigation between the manuscript and related notes. This feature is especially helpful for complex worldbuilding or intergenerational stories where keeping track of characters and timelines is crucial.

Collaboration

First Draft Pro supports real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors. This feature eliminates the need for emailing documents back and forth, making the collaborative process much smoother.

Research and Organization

The tool allows you to keep all your research, worldbuilding notes, and outlines in one place, ensuring that everything you need is easily accessible while you write.

Fiction and Nonfiction Settings

First Draft Pro accommodates both fiction and nonfiction writing. For nonfiction, you can organize your outline by sections and arguments instead of scenes and plot lines. It also supports adding footnotes in all types of projects.

Additional Features

Sharing and Feedback

You can share your work with friends, beta readers, or editors to get feedback quickly.

Editing

The tool includes features for tracking changes and comments, making the editing process more efficient. Overall, First Draft Pro is a comprehensive writing tool that aims to make the writing process more organized, collaborative, and efficient.

First Draft Pro - User Interface and Experience

User Interface

The user interface of First Draft Pro is crafted to be intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for writers of all levels.

Ease of Use

First Draft Pro boasts a super shallow learning curve, allowing users to get started quickly. The interface is clean and organized, ensuring that you can focus on your writing without spending too much time figuring out the software.

Interface Features

Outlining Tools: The software offers clear and simple outlining tools, including Chapter and Plot Outlines. These tools allow you to organize your scenes by chapter or plot lines, providing a comprehensive view of your story structure.
Focus Mode and Dark Mode: First Draft Pro includes distraction-eliminating focus mode and dark mode, which help relieve eye strain and keep you focused on your writing.
Internal Linking System: The internal linking system is particularly impressive, allowing you to link text within your manuscript to notes, and vice versa. This feature is especially useful for managing complex worldbuilding or intergenerational stories.
Notes and Research: You can keep your notes and research organized and easily accessible. Notes can be formatted similarly to your manuscript, and you can upload images and organize notes into folders.

Customization and Flexibility

While First Draft Pro’s outlining tools are straightforward, they are somewhat basic compared to other writing software. The software offers limited options for customizing notes and outlines, and it does not support creating personalized templates.

Collaboration and Sharing

First Draft Pro enables real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors, making it seamless to work on a shared project. The software also allows you to share your work with friends, beta readers, or anyone else for feedback.

Overall User Experience

The overall user experience is positive, with users appreciating the simplicity and ease of use. The software is web-based, allowing offline editing, and it includes cloud storage and autosave features for peace of mind. However, it lacks desktop and mobile apps, and export options are limited to Google Drive.

Conclusion

In summary, First Draft Pro offers a clean, intuitive interface that is easy to learn and use, making it a great option for writers who value simplicity and effective organization tools.

First Draft Pro - Key Features and Functionality

First Draft Pro is a comprehensive writing tool that offers a range of features to help writers manage and enhance their work. Here are the main features and how they work:

Chapter and Plot Outlines

First Draft Pro allows you to organize your story using two types of outlines: Chapter Outline and Plot Outline. The Chapter Outline displays your scenes organized by chapter, helping you ensure your story breaks are compelling and allowing you to see the length and content of each chapter. The Plot Outline view breaks down scenes into columns according to their individual plot lines, enabling you to track how each storyline progresses and interacts with others. You can add scenes and chapters in either the manuscript or outlines, and the program will automatically update all views accordingly.

Auto-Summarize

This feature uses AI to automatically generate scene titles and summaries. When you import your manuscript or write new scenes, you can turn on AI summarization to create scene cards with summaries. This is particularly useful for writers who prefer a more organic approach, as it helps them review and structure their story after the initial draft is complete. You can edit these summaries if needed.

Color Coding

First Draft Pro allows you to color-code scenes, which is beneficial for visual organization. The software offers more than double the color options compared to some other writing tools, making it easier to categorize and distinguish between different elements of your story.

Links

You can highlight text within your manuscript and link it to notes or other scenes. This feature is especially helpful for complex worldbuilding or multi-generational stories, where keeping track of characters and events is crucial. It enables seamless navigation between linked scenes and notes.

Notes

The note system in First Draft Pro is similar to the manuscript format, with access to the same editing tools. You can upload images, organize notes into folders, and use the same editing features as your manuscript. This keeps all your research and ideas well-organized and easily accessible.

Fiction and Nonfiction Settings

First Draft Pro accommodates both fiction and nonfiction writing. When starting a project, you can specify whether it is fiction or nonfiction, along with the genre and word count. For nonfiction, you can organize your outline by sections and arguments instead of scenes and plot lines. Both types of projects allow you to add footnotes.

Collaboration, Cloud Storage, and Export

Collaboration: First Draft Pro supports real-time collaboration with co-authors, even on the free plan, although only one author needs a Premium subscription to invite collaborators.
Cloud Storage: The software includes cloud storage and autosave features, ensuring your work is safe and accessible across multiple devices.
Export Options: Currently, First Draft Pro allows export to Google Drive, though other export options may be added in future updates. In contrast, other tools like Dabble offer more varied export options.

AI Integration

First Draft Pro uses OpenAI’s models for its AI features, such as analyzing project genre, generating scene and chapter summaries, and creating scene titles. Here are some key points about AI integration:

Data Privacy: When using AI features, your data is sent to and processed by OpenAI, but OpenAI does not use this data to train their AI models.
Opt-in: AI features are opt-in, meaning you must explicitly request their use.
All-off Switch: There is an “All-off” switch for AI features, allowing you to completely disable AI if you prefer.

Other Features

Magic Import: First Draft Pro offers a ‘Quick Import’ option for .doc and .docx documents, making it easy to bring existing work into the software.
Auto-scroll on Outlines: The software has improved auto-scrolling on project and plot outlines, making it smoother and more efficient.
New Writing Experience: The underlying technology for the manuscript has been updated to make the writing experience faster and smoother.
Short Story Collection Template: A new template based on Lester Dent’s master plot format for short fiction has been added, which is particularly useful for writing short stories.

These features collectively make First Draft Pro a versatile and user-friendly tool for writers, helping them to organize, write, and edit their work efficiently.

First Draft Pro - Performance and Accuracy

Performance and Accuracy Evaluation of First Draft Pro

User Experience and Interface

First Draft Pro is praised for its intuitive and organized writing workspace. The interface is clean and easy to use, making it accessible even for those who are new to writing software. The learning curve is relatively shallow, allowing users to get started quickly.

Organization and Planning

The tool excels in keeping your outline, notes, and research organized. It offers features like chapter and plot outlines, which help in structuring your story effectively. You can view your scenes organized by chapter or by plot lines, which is particularly useful for tracking multiple storylines.

Collaboration and Sharing

First Draft Pro supports real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors, even on its free plan, although inviting collaborators requires a Premium subscription. It also allows sharing your work with beta readers and others through read-only links.

Writing and Editing Features

The software includes basic writing, formatting, and editing features. However, it lacks built-in spelling and grammar checkers, relying instead on compatibility with third-party tools like Grammarly. The auto-summarize feature, which generates scene titles and summaries, can be helpful but may require editing for accuracy.

Customization and Flexibility

One of the limitations of First Draft Pro is its lack of flexibility in customizing notes and outlines. Unlike Dabble, it does not offer the ability to create personalized templates or track a wide range of story elements alongside scenes. The outlining tools, while clear and simple, are somewhat bare-bones compared to other tools.

AI Features

First Draft Pro has introduced an “All-off” switch for AI features, allowing users to completely disable AI if they prefer. This feature ensures that users who are not comfortable with AI can avoid it entirely.

Cloud Storage and Export

The software provides cloud storage and autosave, ensuring your work is safe. However, export options are limited, with the ability to export only to Google Drive. This is a significant limitation compared to other tools like Dabble, which offers multiple export formats and options.

Areas for Improvement

Customization Options: First Draft Pro could benefit from more flexible customization options for notes and outlines.
Export Options: Expanding export options beyond Google Drive would make the tool more versatile.
Built-in Grammar and Spell Check: Integrating built-in grammar and spell checkers would enhance the editing experience.
Desktop and Mobile Apps: Currently, First Draft Pro only has a web app, and the lack of native desktop and mobile apps may be a drawback for some users.

In summary, First Draft Pro is a solid choice for writers looking for an intuitive and organized writing environment, especially those who value simplicity and ease of use. However, it has some limitations in terms of customization, export options, and built-in editing tools that users should be aware of.

First Draft Pro - Pricing and Plans

First Draft Pro Pricing Overview

First Draft Pro offers a straightforward and flexible pricing structure to cater to various needs of writers. Here’s a breakdown of the different plans and their features:

Free (Starter) Plan

This plan is free forever, allowing you to try out the app without any time limits.
You can create up to 2 projects.
Each project is limited to 1 plotline.
You can create up to 10 notes per project.
Basic features such as organizing your outline, notes, and research are included.
Real-time collaboration is available, but you cannot invite collaborators to your own projects on this plan.

Basic Plan

While the website primarily highlights the Free and Premium plans, some sources suggest a Basic plan with more advanced features for plotting and writing. However, detailed information on this plan is limited, and it is not prominently featured on the main pricing page.

Premium Plan

This plan offers all the advanced features of First Draft Pro.
You get unlimited projects, plotlines, and notes.
Additional features include tracking changes, leaving comments, uploading images, and AI summarization.
You can invite as many collaborators as you like to your projects, and they can use advanced features if they also have a Basic or Premium account.
The Premium plan is available for $9/month or $85/year, with a 17% discount for annual billing.

Group and Educational Plans

For teams, writing groups, or educational institutions, First Draft Pro offers bulk and educational licensing options. These plans allow multiple users to access the premium features, which can be discussed and customized based on the specific needs of the group or institution.

Payment and Billing

First Draft Pro uses Stripe to process payments, and you can manage your billing details through your account settings. All major credit cards are accepted.

This structure allows writers to start with the free plan to get familiar with the app and then upgrade to the Premium plan as needed, ensuring access to all the advanced features that can enhance their writing process.

First Draft Pro - Integration and Compatibility

Integration and Compatibility of First Draft Pro

Platform Compatibility

First Draft Pro is a web-based tool, which means it can be used on any device, regardless of the operating system. This includes Windows, macOS, and any other OS that supports a web browser.

Device Compatibility

Since it is web-based, First Draft Pro works seamlessly across various devices, including desktops, laptops, and even mobile devices with a web browser. This flexibility ensures you can write and manage your projects from anywhere.

Collaboration and Integration

First Draft Pro is particularly strong in collaboration. It allows real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors, making it easy to work together on a project without the need for constant file exchanges. This feature is cloud-based, ensuring that all changes are synced in real-time.

File and Data Management

The tool keeps your outline, notes, and research organized alongside your manuscript, all within the same workspace. This integration helps in maintaining focus and ensuring that all necessary information is easily accessible.

Sharing and Feedback

First Draft Pro’s sharing features enable you to share your work with friends, beta readers, or anyone else you need feedback from. This helps in getting quick feedback and tracking the evolution of your work from a rough draft to a polished version.

Limitations

However, there is no detailed information available on specific integrations with other writing tools or software, such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Scrivener, unlike some other writing tools like ProWritingAid.

Summary

In summary, First Draft Pro offers excellent compatibility across different devices and operating systems due to its web-based nature, and it excels in real-time collaboration and integrated project management. However, specific integrations with other writing software are not explicitly mentioned.

First Draft Pro - Customer Support and Resources

Customer Support

While the main website of First Draft Pro does not explicitly outline a dedicated customer support page, you can infer that support is available through a few channels:

Email Support: Although not directly mentioned on the main pages, it is common for software providers to offer email support. You can likely contact them through the contact information provided on their website.
Community and Feedback: The testimonials and user feedback sections suggest a community-driven approach, where users can share their experiences and possibly get support from other users.

Additional Resources

First Draft Pro offers several resources to help you get started and stay productive:

Tutorials and Guides

The website provides an overview of its features, including how to keep your outline and notes in one place, organize your research, and use the planning and plotting tools. These guides help you understand the tool’s capabilities.

Planning and Plotting Tools

First Draft Pro includes intuitive planning and plotting tools that allow you to map out your ideas, create chapter outlines, and separate scenes into different plot lines. This helps you stay focused and maintain a well-structured story.

Real-Time Collaboration

The tool allows for real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors, even on the free plan, although some features may require a Premium subscription. You can also share your work with beta readers and others for feedback.

Cloud Storage and Accessibility

First Draft Pro offers cloud storage and autosave features, ensuring your work is safe and accessible across multiple devices. Currently, it is available as a web app, with offline editing capabilities.

Export Options

You can export your manuscript to Google Drive, which helps in sharing and further editing your work.

Special Features for Different Writers

The tool is crafted for various types of writers, including novelists, non-fiction writers, and academic writers, each with specific features to simplify their writing processes.

By leveraging these resources, you can effectively use First Draft Pro to organize, write, and refine your writing projects.

First Draft Pro - Pros and Cons

Advantages

Intuitive Interface

First Draft Pro has a super shallow learning curve, making it easy for new users to get started quickly. The interface is clean and organized, allowing you to focus on your writing.

Outlining Tools

The software offers clear and simple outlining tools, including chapter and plot outlines. You can organize your scenes by chapter or separate them into columns according to their individual plot lines.

Internal Linking System

First Draft Pro features an impressive internal linking system that allows you to link text within your manuscript to notes, creating an internal wiki. This is particularly helpful for worldbuilding and keeping track of research.

Collaboration Features

The tool supports real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors, even on the free plan, although some features may be limited. You can also share your work with beta readers and others for feedback.

Focus and Productivity

First Draft Pro includes focus mode and dark mode to help minimize distractions and reduce eye strain. You can also set word count goals to stay motivated.

Cloud Storage and Autosave

The software provides cloud storage and autosave features, ensuring your work is safe and accessible across different devices. The web app also allows offline editing.

Free Plan

First Draft Pro offers a forever free Starter plan, giving you ample time to decide if the tool is right for you without any initial cost.

Disadvantages

Limited Customization

The outlining tools and notes in First Draft Pro are somewhat basic and offer limited options for customization compared to other writing software like Dabble.

No Template Creation

Unlike some other tools, First Draft Pro does not allow you to create and share templates for your novel planning process.

Limited Export Options

Currently, First Draft Pro only allows export to Google Drive, which is more restrictive than the export options available in other writing software.

No Desktop or Mobile Apps

As of now, First Draft Pro only has a web app, although there are rumors of a native app in development. This might limit its versatility compared to tools with multiple platform support.

Fewer Features Overall

First Draft Pro has fewer features overall compared to more comprehensive writing tools. However, it is a relatively new software, and more features may be added in the future.

By weighing these pros and cons, you can make an informed decision about whether First Draft Pro meets your specific writing needs.

First Draft Pro - Comparison with Competitors

When comparing First Draft Pro with other writing tools in the AI-driven category, several unique features and potential alternatives stand out.

Unique Features of First Draft Pro

Chapter and Plot Outlines: First Draft Pro offers detailed outlining tools, including a Chapter Outline and a Plot Outline. The Plot Outline allows you to separate scenes into columns according to their individual plot lines, helping you track multiple storylines.
Auto-Summarize: This feature automatically generates scene titles and summaries, which can be particularly useful for writers who prefer a more organic writing process without initial outlines.
Color Coding: First Draft Pro allows extensive color coding of scenes, with more than double the color options of some competitors like Dabble.
Links and Notes: You can link text within your manuscript to notes and other scenes, creating a seamless and organized workflow. Notes can be organized into folders and include images.
Fiction and Nonfiction Settings: The software accommodates both fiction and nonfiction writing, with adjustments such as sections instead of scenes for nonfiction and the ability to organize outlines by arguments.

Potential Alternatives

Dabble

While Dabble shares some similarities with First Draft Pro, such as outlining and focus mode, its Plot Grid is more versatile and allows scenes to be part of multiple plot lines. However, First Draft Pro’s Plot Outline is less flexible in this regard.

Quick Creator

Quick Creator is more geared towards blog writing and content creation, using AI to generate detailed blog posts quickly. It is less focused on the nuanced storytelling features that First Draft Pro offers. If you need to produce blog content efficiently, Quick Creator might be a better choice.

Firstdraft Ai

Firstdraft Ai is another AI-powered writing tool that focuses on refining the quality of writing. It offers advanced features for outlining story structures, developing characters, and setting up vivid settings. However, it lacks some of the organizational tools like color coding and linking notes that First Draft Pro provides. Firstdraft Ai is ideal for writers who prioritize quality and nuanced storytelling.

General AI Writing Tools

Tools like Jasper, Writesonic, and KoalaWriter are more broadly focused on AI-generated content and are not specifically designed for novel writing. They are better suited for short-form and long-form content creation across various mediums, such as social media, blog posts, and marketing materials. If you need AI assistance for general content creation rather than novel writing, these tools might be more appropriate.

Conclusion

First Draft Pro stands out with its comprehensive outlining features, auto-summarize capability, and detailed note management, making it a strong choice for novel writers who need to organize and structure their work efficiently. However, for different types of writing or specific needs such as blog post generation or general content creation, alternatives like Quick Creator, Firstdraft Ai, or general AI writing tools like Jasper and Writesonic might be more suitable.

First Draft Pro - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about First Draft Pro

What plans are available for First Draft Pro?

First Draft Pro offers three plan options:

Starter plan: This plan is free forever, allowing you to try the app without any time limit.
Basic plan: This plan includes more advanced features for plotting and writing.
Premium plan: This plan provides unlimited features, including collaboration, AI summarization tokens, and more.

What features are included in the Premium plan of First Draft Pro?

The Premium plan of First Draft Pro includes all advanced features, such as unlimited projects, AI summarization tokens, and real-time collaboration with as many collaborators as you like. Additionally, it offers features like tracking changes, comments, and collaboration tools for editing.

How does First Draft Pro facilitate collaboration?

First Draft Pro allows real-time collaboration with co-writers and editors. You can invite collaborators to your projects, and they can work on the project using any account type, although they won’t have access to advanced features unless they also have a Basic or Premium account.

Can I share my work with others using First Draft Pro?

Yes, you can easily share your work with friends, beta readers, or anyone else. First Draft Pro allows you to share specific chapters or sections of your manuscript via a link, and the recipients can view but not edit your work.

What tools does First Draft Pro offer for organizing and writing?

First Draft Pro provides tools for organizing your outline, notes, and research in one place. It includes features for planning and plotting your story, setting word count goals, and maintaining focus through various writing modes like Focus mode, Sidebar mode, and Typewriter mode.

Does First Draft Pro offer any educational or bulk licensing options?

Yes, First Draft Pro provides educational licensing options for use in classrooms and bulk licensing for teams, writing groups, book coaches, or publishing houses. These options allow multiple users to benefit from the software.

How do I manage my billing and payment details for First Draft Pro?

You can manage your billing details through your account settings. First Draft Pro uses STRIPE to process monthly online payments, and you can update your payment information or switch between monthly and annual billing cycles, with a 17% discount for annual payments.

Can I use First Draft Pro offline?

There is no specific information indicating that First Draft Pro can be used offline. The software is described as an online writing tool, suggesting it requires an internet connection to function.

What payment options are accepted by First Draft Pro?

First Draft Pro accepts all major credit cards through the STRIPE payment portal.

Are there any discounts available for First Draft Pro?

Yes, if you opt for an annual billing cycle instead of a monthly one, you can save 17% on your subscription.

First Draft Pro - Conclusion and Recommendation

Final Assessment of First Draft Pro

First Draft Pro is a comprehensive and user-friendly writing tool that caters to the needs of novelists, storytellers, and anyone engaged in long-form writing projects. Here’s a breakdown of its key features and who would benefit most from using it.

Key Features

Organization and Planning: First Draft Pro allows you to keep your outline, notes, and research in one place, making it easier to manage your ideas and stay focused on your manuscript.
Real-Time Collaboration: The software enables seamless collaboration with co-writers and editors, facilitating a smooth and efficient writing process.
Writing Environment: It offers a clean, organized workspace with features like focus mode, sidebar mode, and typewriter mode to help you stay concentrated on your writing.
Sharing and Feedback: You can easily share your work with friends, beta readers, and editors to get feedback, which is crucial for refining your manuscript.
Research and Editing Tools: The platform streamlines your research process and provides tools for tracking changes, comments, and collaboration, making the editing phase more manageable.

Who Would Benefit Most

First Draft Pro is particularly beneficial for several types of writers:

Novelists: Those working on novels or long-form fiction will appreciate the organizational tools, real-time collaboration features, and the ability to keep all their research and notes in one place.
Co-Authors: Writers collaborating with others will find the real-time collaboration features invaluable, as they can work together seamlessly without the need for constant back-and-forth exchanges.
Students and Educators: With educational licenses available, students and educators can use First Draft Pro in a classroom setting to teach and learn about writing in a structured and collaborative environment.
Writers Participating in Writing Challenges: The NaNoWriMo template and word count syncing feature make it an excellent tool for writers participating in National Novel Writing Month or similar writing challenges.

Overall Recommendation

First Draft Pro is a solid choice for anyone looking to streamline their writing process, especially those who value organization, collaboration, and ease of use. Here are some key points to consider:

Free Starter Plan: The forever free Starter plan allows you to try out the software without any initial commitment, giving you ample time to decide if it suits your needs.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform is easy to use, with features like focus mode and typewriter mode that help you stay focused on your writing.
Continuous Updates: First Draft Pro regularly updates its features, such as the addition of an all-off switch for AI features and improved scrolling on project outlines, which shows a commitment to user feedback and improvement.

In summary, First Draft Pro is an excellent tool for writers who need a structured, collaborative, and user-friendly environment to manage their writing projects. Its features make it an ideal choice for novelists, co-authors, students, and anyone looking to enhance their writing experience.