Comments on: Online creative writing collaboration tools?

Question: Online creative writing collaboration tools?

planetthoughtful — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 01:09:54 -0800

A friend and I want to embark on a collaborative creative writing project, and we're looking for online tools to make the management of bouncing ideas and story elements etc off each other easier.

Basically we're hoping to find tools that will help us develop our project when it's convenient to each of us, instead of when it's convenient to both. For that reason, tools such as Instant Messaging or collaborative / meeting applications where you communicate in real time aren't ideal. Currently we're looking at creating a private Google Group and using that to flow ideas and development back and forth, but I have begun to wonder if there are better tools out there for these kinds of projects? So, I'm curious to know what the MeFites would suggest?

By: nibaq

nibaq — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 02:24:18 -0800

I think GoogleGroups is a great way to keep track of certain topics and be able to bounce ideas back and forth between each other via the web or just regular email access.

One other idea is to have a blog, to serve as a journal for each other. You can write what you are up to in the project and personally. This gives you a timeline of the project to keep track of where you are and what you are working on.

Then we have the wiki. This is where the real development occurs. You can both update the end product and keep track of each other changes. With each change associated with a date, you can then track the blog and GoogleGroup topics to see what led to it.

By: frenetic

frenetic — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 04:13:04 -0800

Perhaps Writeboard?

A blog would work well also. You could sign up for a free Wordpress blog.

If you want to go the wiki route there's PB Wiki.

By: blag

blag — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 05:43:14 -0800

Writely is an excellent collaboration tool: you can watch your co-author's changes happenning in real-time. However, sign-ups are currently closed and have been for some months so you may be out of luck.

But, yes: a wiki or a writeboard would be ideal.

By: Alterscape

Alterscape — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 05:48:21 -0800

If you're both on on MacOS, there's always SubEthaEdit. It may be more suited to realtime collaboration than what you're doing. I think the wiki/writeboard tip has it.

By: Wild_Eep

Wild_Eep — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 06:51:47 -0800

I second PBWiki.

It's so easy to use.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:23:54 -0800

wiki, wiki, wiki.

There are all sorts of wikis out there depending on how elaborate you want to get (some are even hosted for free). I just finished my master's project on wikis and online collaboration and they are ideal for what you're doing.

If you want recommendations about tools or set up you are welcome to email me (email's in my profile).

By: Sharcho

Sharcho — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:21:15 -0800

You can use a wiki, or use one of the collaborative real-time editors

By: papercake

papercake — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 11:35:13 -0800

I third or fourth or whateverth the wiki. I'm using PBWiki for exactly the kind of project you're talking about and it's insanely easy and useful.

By: Scram

Scram — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:14:35 -0800

I've found Rallypoint works well for two writers working on multiple collaborative documents. We can edit separately, then alert the other via email that changes have been made.

By: planetthoughtful

planetthoughtful — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 20:10:24 -0800

Thanks to everyone for your input! I'll take a more serious look at a wiki solution, and in particular PB Wiki, as mentioned by several.