yWriter Comprehensive Help File

This document was recovered from the lost yWriter google sites page, and is still a work in progress

ABOUT yWriter

What does yWriter do?

Features:
Organise your novel using a 'project'.
Add chapters to the project.
Add scenes, characters, items and locations.
Display the word count for every file in the project, along with a total.
Saves a log file every day, showing words per file and the total. (Tracks your progress.)
Saves automatic backups at user-specified intervals.
Allows multiple scenes within chapters.
Viewpoint character, goal, conflict and outcome fields for each scene.
Multiple characters per scene.
Storyboard view, a visual layout of your work.
Re-order scenes within chapters.
Drag and drop of chapters, scenes, characters, items and locations.
Automatic chapter renumbering.
Who has developed this and made this writing tool freely available?
Simon Haynes. For further information go to: http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html

Can I write all the content of my novel in yWriter? How secure is the information?

Yes. Your chapter and scene content is stored in individual RTF files while everything else is contained in the yWriter5 project file. It is backed up every five minutes automatically so you can never lose more than five minutes work. (See also backups below.)

When everything updates to a new version, will I lose all my data if I upgrade?

No.

Are there any other uses for yWriter besides writing stories?

Some possibilities:
(1) Outline your memoirs for an ethical will/legacy statement to leave for your family
(2) Make an inventory of assets room by room,
(3) Keep track of correspondence: Letters/emails I must send in one chapter; letters/emails of people who must reply to me in another,
(4) Create a file for Recipe book (with downloaded photos), collection of poems, memorabilia
(5) Record discussions held on various blogs, etc.,
(6) Use as a sophisticated filing cabinet.

Where do I find the NEW yWriter discussion group?

The new Google group is here: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/yWriterg

How do I use this help menu below?

Questions and answers have been categorized. By double-clicking on a question the answer is revealed. Double click again to turn the toggle off.