Writer's Software Companion: Reviews
"an
interactive workshop that can help you improve
your fiction-writing skills . . . a writing adviser
at your fingertips"
--Writer's Digest, March, 1998
"The
Writer's Software Companion is the best software
package I have seen for the budding author. Instead
of providing plot skeletons and pushing one to
finish a piece (which results in very little learning
that can be applied outside of that software
package and stories that are not salable), it
focuses on learning the craft and absorbing lessons
which will be applicable every time one sits down
in front of their word processor."
-- Chris Lott, Eclectica Magazine
"Wouldn't
it be ironic if the ultimate book for writers
was not, in fact, a book at all, but a multimedia
CD-ROM? ... For all but the most accomplished
of authors, the Writer's Software Companion
is an incredibly useful resource, and invaluable
creative tool."
-- Pure Fiction
"I
spent several hours trying it out and was extremely
impressed...it's super-easy to navigate, has a
friendly interface, and is packed with useful
information."
-- Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Editor, Inklings,
and Inkspot
"you
get the benefits of a creative writing class but
at your own pace, and at your own place."
"The Companion is packed full of writing
wisdom and humor. It is fun and easy to use, and
those two things alone make for faster, more effective
learning . . . it is money well spent."
--Jill Kosmensky, Electronic Writers' Group
Magazine
"If
you're looking for a tool that will help you write
while you are writing, the Companion
is a good value."
--Terry Jeffress, misc.writing Newsgroup
"There
is hope for you and all your brethren struggling
to create your written immortality. The fledgling
writer has a new friend to help turn inspiration
into prose."
-- Jim Walker, reviewing the Companion
in the Wolfe-Messenger newspapers
"The
Companion supplies a writer's needs in
a simple, easily accessible way. It doesn't give
you prefabricated plots, characters, or ready-to-wear
vehicles for your story-- the Companion
provides the type of information you need at the
moment you need it, and are most motivated to
apply it . . . The user is able to get exactly
what's wanted and avoid what isn't."
-- Jackie Jones, reviewer for the NovelAdvice
electronic newsletter
"Just
to let you know, I have the product up and running
(1st try). Everything went smoothly, including
a very impressive install and first impression.
I think the product is outstanding! Your design
is one of the best I've seen, as is the content
and flow."
-- Canadian writer, Richard Bryson
"Rarely
will you find the combined professionalism of
subject matter expertise and computer-based interactive
instructional design in the same product. The
authors of the Writer's Software Companion
understand the unique opportunities within this
instructional medium. They've created a revolutionary
system for supporting the on-going growth of learners."
-- Dr. Robert A. Condello, Educational Psychologist
"Finally
someone has written a computer program for writers
that makes sense as a computer program, not just
an electronic version of a book or a player-piano
that claims to do the work for you. I didn't expect
to say this, but I'm grateful."
-- Roger Cryder, writer
"I've
reviewed a number of so-called writing programs
over the years. Even many of the best-sellers
are amateurish and practically useless because
they ignore the intelligence of the computer.
The Writer's Software Companion is the
first to use 'the machine' sensibly."
-- F. W. Armstrong, author of The Changing,
and The Devouring
"This
is possibly the easiest-to-use piece of software
I've seen this year. It's both engrossing and
immediately productive. I'll admit it; I'm surprised."
-- M. A. Slaney, technical writing instructor
and beginning fiction writer
"In
the past few years I've tried writers' workshops
and a number of do-it-yourself learning approaches.
The Writer's Software Companion puts
it all together in one package that's as much
fun as it is helpful."
-- Bob Argyris, author of Candy Stripe
"I
think the Companion is . . . a technological
breakthrough of sorts. I could have saved myself
years of work and an awful lot of money. This
is brilliant. I consider it to be one of the essential
tools for the beginning or intermediate fiction
writer"
-- Rhea Sugala, new writer
"Nancy
Kress is one of the most qualified teachers of
writing that I've read in (Writer's Digest). This
software gives you her expertise in a new and
surprisingly creative way. You could learn from
it for years."
-- Cynthia Radell, novice writer
"As
a beginner, I find the Companion to be
an invaluable tool. Most evenings, it sits with
me while I struggle on. It makes a difference."
-- Mike Radicia, journalist, novice writer
"As
a fledgling author, I found the Companion
invaluable. It has taught me how to create tension,
how to add more drama to the plot, how to decide
on a POV, and most importantly, to show the reader
rather than tell. It's a great piece of software."
-- Barbara Jean Perkins, new writer
"Ten
years ago, I showed up at Nancy Kress' writing
workshop with a draft of my first novel. I was
hopelessly stuck. Nine novels and six short stories
later, I'm still using her advice."
-- Claudia Bishop, author of A Taste for Murder,
Pinch of Poison, Death Dines Out, A Dash of Death,
Murder Well-Done, and others.
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