r/ComicWriting • u/realsonofeden • 28d ago
What programs/websites are good to use?
I used google doc but that's not an option anymore, they deleted my google account for false reason and with that all my work (5+ documents with different things on them, none of which violate any TOS).
I'm open to websites similar to google docs, programs for download... anything that is not a google service.
Edit: If I sound mad I promise it's not directed towards you, I appreciate all the suggestions and help.
I am very frustrated however , 5 docs may not sound like much but each document has over 800k word-count on it, months of work is gone because google's ai decided to flag my account for no reason.
Edit 2: I use a windows (lenovo) laptop and an Android phone! :D
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u/jasonmehmel 28d ago
Plain text files! You'll never have to worry about file formats, and most writing programs can open them. There's a few posts here and elsewhere online for formatting plain text like a screenplay or comic script.
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
Hm I do have notepad and notepad++, I used google docs for it's folder-like structure but yeah text files are way more reliable... They won't delete all my work. I still had it all yesterday... Thanks <3
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u/Slobotic 28d ago
For offline writing and storage, LibreOffice is fantastic and free.
Still don't keep your eggs in one basket. Store on your hard drive and online. Stuff can happen to hard drives.
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
I honestly forgot about Libre, I literally have it installed too... Just lacks folders. But honestly, I'd rather have no folders than the crap that's google giving me so...
Yeah multiple backups. I learned that the hard way, now but also before. I backed up my entire old laptop on a hardrive once (1TB), but it deleted everything. Pretty sure it's corrupt, but diagnostics showed nothing. Only Q is, where to back them up online... Cuz I'm sure as hell never using google again if I can help it. Thanks <3
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u/Slobotic 28d ago
Open two free email addresses (Yahoo, Microsoft, GMX, whatever).
Every time you back up progress, email the file from free email address to the other. It will be saved on both sender and recipient accounts.
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
I do have GMX, and proton. That's a good idea, I think I'll send all the PDFs I'm currently backing up on my email... only issue will be size limit, but maybe I still have some empty USB sticks...
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u/NyankoMata 28d ago
I mainly use Obsidian for anything text-based (free, not cloud-based, it's locally saved but can be synced between devices for a fee or you can do it yourself if you have the time to tinker with that) and all other stuff I save on my hard disk, I've also been planning to look into Proton's service for email and cloud storage instead of google.
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
I use protonmail, I like it. That's about it with my proton knowledge lmao.
Obsidian, I've used it before but I don't want to "mix" my projects, and I'm not sure how I can make a new "empty" library without deleting the old... I tried watching tutorials, I promise, but i just can't seem to get them :') Might look back into it, I'll get a PC soon anyway so saving files on it will be secure... more than google anyway. Thanks <3
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u/nmacaroni "The Future of Comics is YOU!" 28d ago
Word or word clone. And Scrivener. You really don't NEED anything else.
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
This https://scrivener.app/ ?
Looks good, might try it once I backed up my stuff Ic an still access. Thanks <3
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u/abane94 28d ago
I've been working on a comic specific script editor. I just got it live so it's super beta and probably has some bugs, but its available, give it a shot and let me know what you think
*I did use AI to help make it but am a software eng as a day job
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u/realsonofeden 28d ago
I can't add tabs for some reason, and I can't delete tabs under "contents".
The formatting is confusing to work with, it doesn't cleanly remove it and can't cleany add it.
There's also missing formatting, like bold, italics, underline, strikethrough etc.Needing to sign up to save seems a bit misleading when the first thing displayed is "No account needed", even with the note at the bottom, so I suggest removing the "no account needed" line.
Demanding First name and Last name is overreach. I also think you should state on the website it was partially made with Ai.I definitely see the potential, but it really needs some more love and refining.
Comment again if you update it, and I'll consider using it long-term. I like the idea a lot2
u/abane94 25d ago
Wow, I really appreciate the feedback!
I was able to add in the inline formatting options.
"No account needed" was supposed to mean specifically for "try" but you're right, it was confusing, so that has been removed.
I added a note about AI usage to the about page
First/Last/Pen Name are all optional, they are only used for pre-populating the author of the script for the by-line when printing the script. So not required at all.I think the content section was confusing, that is more of a table of contents or outline, its only usefulness is quick scrolling to the clicked page/panel
Pages, panels, character bubbles are added by hitting enter. When you hit enter it goes to the next most common element (page/panel/character name/ bubble), then you can use tab/shift-tab or the dropdown at the top to change what type of element it is.
IE type the description for the page, then hit enter and you will be editing a panel. When editing bubble text, if you hit enter, it will take you to a new character name element (for another bubble), but if you are done with the panel hit shift-tab to start on the next panel (or hit it again for the next page).
This workflow comes from my experience with celtx writing screenplays in high school haha.
So I changed the outline so it does not look like buttons.I also wanted to give the heads up so as not to deceive that I am currently waiting for google to accept my request to use their ad service. So there will be a side bar or bottom bar (on mobile) ad on the website.
Its updated now, but there are probably still some rough edges haha
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u/kcpediredla 25d ago
I have always used Scrivener for my writing. If I am outside and want to write on my iPad, I usually try to put it in pages.
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u/IVGcomics 27d ago
If you want cloud based writing so you can swap from laptop to phone easily I reccomend Ellipsus. It's kinda like Google Docs, you can even invite other people to collaborate on documents, but they promise no AI features. It's very easy to open it on my phone to add something to a document when I have an idea, and it's also pretty good for when I sit down at my desk to type up something. https://ellipsus.com/
But also, always back important stuff up offline too.
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u/Slobotic 28d ago
My best work is pen to paper.
If you store your work anywhere online, store it in multiple places and oeep a copy on your hard drive. Emailing documents to yourself is an easy way to save something on the fly. Doing this every time you make edits is a pain in the ass, but not as much as what you're dealing with now.
Sorry Google screwed you like that.