MyNovel

Editors' ReviewDownload.com staffDecember 17, 2009Writing a novel can seem like an overwhelming process. All those characters and details to keep track of, not to mention finding the proper structure and pacing. Many would-be novelists just don't know where to begin. MyNovel breaks the novel-writing process into manageable pieces, giving writers a clear idea of how to proceed through each step of the writing process.The program's interface is attractive and intuitive, with a layout that's similar to Office 2007 products. Although the program's Help file is well-written and thorough, most users should have little reason to visit it. MyNovel guides you through the first steps, helping you decide if you want to write a character- or plot-driven novel and explaining how the action should rise and fall. The program is definitely geared toward novice writers; experienced novelists will likely find the program's guidance too basic and obvious. But for those just getting started as writers, the program's advice will be tremendously helpful. Once users select what kind of novel they want to write, the program offers a straightforward way to organize every aspect of the novel, including chapters, characters, places, subplots, and much more. Diagrams allow users to chart everything from chronology to character relationships. The program has many extra features, including guidance on finding an agent or publisher and access to an online writers' circle.MyNovel is free to try, but certain features, including saving and printing, are disabled. The program installs desktop icons without asking but uninstalls cleanly. We recommend this program to all beginning novelists.