June 5, 2024
Writing about gaming requires more than just a passion for games. It demands a toolkit of specialized software to ensure your work is polished, professional, and engaging.
Here are the top 5 software tools every gaming writer should consider and how to make the most of them.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a powerhouse for writers of all kinds, but its robust features make it particularly useful for gaming writers. It offers a comprehensive writing environment where you can manage your research, notes, and drafts all in one place.
How to Use Scrivener:
- Organize your research: The Binder stores your game reviews, interviews, and background research. It allows you to create folders and subfolders, making it easy to keep track of all your materials in an organized manner.
- Draft efficiently: Utilize the Corkboard to arrange your ideas and outline your articles. You can create virtual index cards for each article section and rearrange them to see how different structures might work.
- Focus mode: Use the Composition Mode to eliminate distractions and focus on writing. This feature lets you write in full-screen mode with a customizable background and text appearance, creating a distraction-free environment.
- Compile your work: When ready, compile your project into a single document for easy exporting. Scrivener’s Compile feature allows you to format your work for different platforms, such as Word, PDF, or ePub.
Grammarly
Grammarly is an essential tool for any writer. It goes beyond simple spell-checking to provide in-depth grammar, punctuation, and style suggestions.
How to Use Grammarly:
- Real-time editing: Install the Grammarly extension for real-time corrections in your browser and writing apps. Grammarly will underline errors and provide suggestions as you type, ensuring your writing is error-free.
- Tone detector: Utilize the tone detector to ensure your writing matches the intended mood, whether a casual blog post or a formal review. This feature analyzes your word choice and sentence structure to provide feedback on the overall tone of your writing.
- Plagiarism checker: Use the plagiarism checker to ensure your original content is free from unintentional copying. Grammarly compares your text against billions of web pages to identify potential issues.
Hemingway editor
Hemingway Editor helps improve the readability of your writing. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other areas where you can tighten your prose.
How to use Hemingway editor:
- Edit for clarity: Paste your text into the app for immediate feedback on readability and suggested improvements. The app uses color coding to highlight issues like hard-to-read sentences and passive voice.
- Simplify sentences: Follow the color-coded suggestions to break down long or complicated sentences. Hemingway Editor encourages you to use short, clear sentences to improve readability.
- Strengthen your writing: Focus on reducing adverbs and passive voice to make your writing more direct and impactful. The app highlights adverbs in blue and passive voice in green, making it easy to identify and revise these elements.
Trello
Trello is a fantastic project management tool that can help gaming writers stay organized and on track with their projects. Its visual boards and cards system is perfect for tracking progress on multiple writing assignments.
How to use Trello:
- Create boards: Set up different boards for each major project or area of focus. For example, you might have boards for game reviews, feature articles, and news stories.
- Use cards for tasks: Create cards for each task, such as research, drafting, editing, and publishing. Each card can contain detailed descriptions, checklists, due dates, and attachments.
- Collaborate: If you’re working with a team, use Trello to assign tasks, set deadlines, and communicate within cards. Trello’s commenting feature allows team members to discuss tasks and share real-time updates.
- Track progress: Use Trello’s visual layout to track the progress of your projects. Move cards from one list to another as tasks are completed, providing a clear overview of what’s done and still in progress.
ScriBBler
ScriBBler is a specialized software designed for gaming writers. It provides tools specifically tailored to creating detailed and engaging gaming content.
How to Use ScriBBler:
- Game database: Utilize the built-in game database to access information on various games, including release dates, developer details, and gameplay mechanics. This feature saves time on research and ensures you have accurate information.
- Template library: Use templates designed for game reviews, news articles, and feature stories to streamline your writing process. These templates structure your articles, making organizing your thoughts and presenting information easier.
- Analytics integration: Incorporate analytics to track the performance of your published articles. This will help you understand what content resonates with your audience. ScriBBler’s analytics tools provide insights into page views, engagement, and other key metrics.