Power Structure (Novel and Screenwriting Software)

First off, there is a free download so you can try it before you buy it, which is always the smartest thing to do, at [...]Secondly, this software doesn't do much that you can't do with 3x5 cards. There is one awesome feature that allows you to assign a number (representing the degree of tension) to your various plot points which show how much tension there is in each scene. Then you can look at a graph summary which will show you if there is a good balance of tension throughout your story. Other than this, like I said, 3x5 cards would work. But if you are someone who loves using a computer program to do the same thing, you might like this program.Personally, I would just get the other software called Power Writer. It does half of what Power Structure does anyway, and better. It gives a great space to store lots of ideas, develop characters, and entire sections of the book can be moved by dragging and dropping. The organization of ideas is a lot better in Power Writer, in my opinion.Again, the trial is at write-brain for this too.Really, these two pieces of software should have been merged and sold as one. Maybe they will come to their senses at some point and do that. It was as if they were looking for an excuse to have another piece of software to sell.Both of these aforementioned software will not tell you how to write (which is exactly what I expect - just a way to organize my thoughts and my writing and nothing else.)

I enjoyed the software and the tutorial that comes with it. However the tutorial was on the program as an interactive program. The software is on a Cd and won't let you copy to a memory stick to use on a laptop.

Overall, the concept of this product is great. I've been needed a good outlining tool and this one does the job. I'd like to see an iPad version and be able to work on a project across multiple platforms. My only complaint is that there are too many drop down menus. It makes the whole interface a bit clunky and a bit dated. Make everything feel hidden and what writers like me prefer is everything out where I can see it with lots of options for organizing data. Keep up the good work!

After reviewing many products I settled on Power Structure and was real excited as I thought I had found the perfect product. However after it arrived, I tried to install it in my PC and the installation CD had no files on it whatsoever. I tried calling their tech support number and left messages but no one has returned my call, yet. I also sent them 2 emails at [email protected] like it stated on the installation CD, and they both failed. After looking on the Power Structure website for a contact number and failing to find one, I have decided to return the Power Structure software to Amazon. Amazon, however has been great as usual, no fault of theirs. I followed the easy process to return the product. Now I am on my way to the UPS store to drop it off, but I shall never trust this same product again, even though it seems like a really nice product to have I will never buy it again!

this software program is very useful and easy to manage. i love it because, i can have my stories in order.

Power Structure has been very useful to me over the years. However, it has a glich that may make you crazy. If I am working in the Character section, information sometimes fails to save. I reopen the file and my work written there is gone. The bad thing is that it happens erratically. I have gone for weeks having it save properly, only to open the file and find part of my text missing. And it may be text that was written and saved four or five saves ago, but now has vanished. It is so random that I dismissed it for a long time as a failure on my part to save information. But it's a true glitch. I've learned to constantly save new versions of the file to be safe.The other problem is that there has been only one (cosmetic) upgrade in the 7 or 8 years since I first bought the program. It really hasn't changed since its first version. For example, under the Backup To menu, the only option is backing up to floppy disk. It does do automatic backups, however, and I have sometimes found my missing text in the backup.On the plus side, I like the program. It does help organize. And the support is generally good--they've given me replacement licenses when my computer crashed. But if you press support too far, as in the missing text question, they become very quiet.

v1.8 in 2004.v1.9.9. in 20140.1.9 update iterations in TEN years.I've heard of 'tectonic' but this is criminal at the asking price.Read the info on Macupdate dot com.It is not being developed.Fonts are crap - won't let you use your own fonts - you have to use the limited pixelating fonts in the app.No export to any known TXT, RTF, OPML --- or anything else useful for working on your manuscript.Most writers would buy this if was kept updated and had an odd innovation or two every now and then.Can't some smart developer buy this and give the best writing app in the business a decent kick in the pants?

The 90 second walk through from the website describes this program as a "tool that writes the way you think." In many ways, I agree with the statement, but the program is not a no brainer. This wasn't a piece of software I jumped right into. There were so many features, I ended up referring to the quick start manual, which I found very detailed and easy to follow. I probably would have been a frustrated camper without it.So the first tab (Story/Theme) is the overall synopsis of the manuscript. It's quite useful and includes quite a few prompts to get a writer going. If you're the type who starts with the big picture, I'd definitely suggest starting here.The next tab involves the character creation. As an all-in-one product, I have to admit, this area was quite well done. It isn't as extensive as Character Writer, but it is thorough and and has quite a few prompts to help a writer get a good sense of a character. It's actually quite nice and pleasing to the eye.For my review I chose the Campbell & Vogler's Mythical 12 Steps (Hero's Journey) template.So plotting. If you're using the Hero's Journey template, the stages are preset making the task quite easy. Simply add scenes in the Journey Stages tab. What I found early on is as I inputted my entries, the program synchronized my data across the board. This was a good thing, as it reduced the need to duplicate entries. I liked that. :) If you decide to freestyle it with the Novel template, it takes a little more planning, since the program doesn't automatically place the chapters in specific Acts.One of the aspects I loved with Power Structure was the Plot Arcs. When I wrote  Shadow Cat (Fantasy Romance) (The Striped Ones) , I noticed I had quite a few loose ends when I went back to read. I had to patch them up and reread several times before I was sure I got them all. This helps prevent that. The story I used (Shadows Within) included 6 different issues (Arcs) I needed to address as I went through the story. Some were easy to forget as I plotted. But having them listed, I could easily identify which plots fell to the wayside and needed scenes to address them before the ending. Absolutely magnificent.Another feature I really enjoyed as I entered the scenes into the program was the Conflict section. Stories are supposed to build, the problems escalate until it reaches a climax. The software includes an option to introduce a new story arc, heighten a story arc, and/or resolve a story arc. At the bottom of the respective tab, the writer can specify the tension level at the particular stage in the story. As I mentioned, the tension in stories build until the explosion. :) If the user flips to the Conflict Overview tab, the program displays a line bar graph depicting the tension level as the story progresses. It's a nice feature for a quick look at the dips and whatever is the opposite a dip. :) One limitation with the conflict--the program only allows the user to heighten and/or resolve one conflict per scene. As it was, I encountered at least one scene where the tension heightened for two conflicts.Okay. The short comings from the eyes of Reena. :)Power Structure provided the basics then leaves the user on their own. Unlike Character Writer, Power Structure does not include additional questions to help define the character, plot, or scene. Take for example the subheading: Physical Attributes. Power Structure provides the prompts "Distinguishing Physical Attributes," "How would an observer describe him or her?" and "How would he or she describe himself or herself?" Simple prompts such as these are pretty much standard throughout the program. Character Writer, on the other hand digs deeper: Scars? Hair color and style? Unusual heights and weights? Dress? All the things I fail to think about until asked. In truth, this isn't a limitation to Power Structure. It just doesn't baby the user the way some programs do.One feature I didn't spend much time on was the word processor. I will say it has a nice thesaurus, a spell check feature, and basic font formatting. What I didn't find was paragraph formatting.Other than some fields being a little glitchy (Sometimes I was unable to type in the field I wanted until I clicked out of the feature and clicked back again.), I didn't really find too much wrong with the program. Really it's quite a powerful tool.

Ill conceived concept of absolute no use to a serious writer. Don't waste your time or money. Don't pass go or collect $200 dollars. Save money and purchase Scrivener.

Doesn't work with newer Mac computers. 2010 the latest. Could not even down load. Very disappointed.