FINAL DRAFT: Thoughts on final draft 8 vs 9?

Been using 9 for about a week. But I came from 7 so its to early to figure out all the differences.

One thing I hate is the new revision mode. In the past on FD7 I've made subscripts and have no issues with the revision mode.

In this version it ties it to the original and won't allow you to change revision colors. I like do subscripts of scenes so that way if I like it I can keep it. If I don't the original is not messed up.
 
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Quality said:
Screenwriting software is only to assist with structure and features, to make it easier.
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And that assistance can be of very great value, freeing the writer up to spend energy on the creative aspects of screenwriting and not the formatting details. I was amazed when I first started using screenwriting software, and how it made it so incredibly easy to move scenes around, flag the completion status of scenes, rename characters, etc. No more worrying about the time or details of doing those things--I could concentrate on the story and dialogue!
 
I found it really annoying, and never felt 'freed up' to focus on the creative aspects. Just the opposite, actually. If I change a character name, I want to see how it fits syllable for syllable each time I rewrite it.


Why would you want a software to flag you on completion status of scenes???


Way back in my university days, desktop publishing was a new thing, and most students were using it. After turning in a report for history class (I used my old-fashioned Underwood typewriter) the professor complimented the students on their spiffy presentations, but added ... the meat of the reports remained the same: some good, some poor, MOST mediocre - no matter the look. The same ratio as before DTP.

Same is true with these softwares. Screenplays are formatted more or less as good as the writer uses the program, but the story quality remains constant: some good, some poor, MOST mediocre. This 'freeing up' for creative aspects has had zero impact on story quality and the original interpretation of ideas.

a
 
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Thank you for the input. I decided not to do the upgrade deal back then and it's probably too late now.
I like having help on the formatting so I don't take as much time away from the creative time. Unfortunately I just can't do much screenwriting due to all the other obligations.
 
alex whitmer said:
I found it really annoying, and never felt 'freed up' to focus on the creative aspects. Just the opposite, actually. If I change a character name, I want to see how it fits syllable for syllable each time I rewrite it.


Why would you want a software to flag you on completion status of scenes???


Way back in my university days, desktop publishing was a new thing, and most students were using it. After turning in a report for history class (I used my old-fashioned Underwood typewriter) the professor complimented the students on their spiffy presentations, but added ... the meat of the reports remained the same: some good, some poor, MOST mediocre - no matter the look. The same ratio as before DTP.

Same is true with these softwares. Screenplays are formatted more or less as good as the writer uses the program, but the story quality remains constant: some good, some poor, MOST mediocre. This 'freeing up' for creative aspects has had zero impact on story quality and the original interpretation of ideas.

a
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I don't think anyone has made the claim that the software causes better results. I certainly didn't. What the software does is to allow me to do my work a lot more quickly and efficiently. If that doesn't matter to someone, that's perfectly fine. There are writers who still only work with a pen or pencil and a yellow legal pad. If they get the results they want that way, then that's the way they should work. If someone else needs software to help them do something in three months that might otherwise take them two years, then that's the way they should work. Software is a tool to improve the PROCESS, and if it frees up someone's mind to concentrate on non-technical aspects, who is anyone else to say it's unnecessary for them??

As for flagging scenes, the software doesn't flag them by itself, I flag them by using features in the software. That way, I can scan through a specific view to see which scenes are at what stage. I'm sorry if it bothers you that I need that.
 
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