Writing In The Cloud

I have recently become fascinated with the concept of "the cloud" and all of the tools that people are developing for cloud users.

In case you aren't familiar, here's a quick run-down:  "In the cloud" means that the application and stuff that you are doing is actually stored somewhere on the internet.  You don't have to install a bunch of software on your PC and you don't actually save files on your PC.  The beauty is that you can then view, edit, and save documents from your PC, your work PC, your phone, your iPad or other tablet, and various other gadgets, so long as they can access the content on the internet.  The two largest cloud application groups are (not surprisingly) tailored towards users of the two largest consumer smartphone platforms (I said consumer because I am really just guessing that these are the two largest, and I bet Blackberry has lots of business users but fewer consumers, who knows): Android and iPhone.  Since I'm a PC user and a Google whore hack, I've decided to focus on the applications that are available on Google Chrome (and perhaps later for me a Chromium notebook and/or Android phone - we'll see how far I go with this).

If you want to play along, you can go download Google Chrome browser and then visit the Chrome Web Store where you can get most of this stuff for free.

So for this first little evaluation and whatever of software, I thought I would toss out a few of the available writing utilities that I've found for Chrome and let you know which one I like best.

Google Documents

Google Docs is more than just word processing, there are spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and forms, too.  It's like a lightweight office suite in the cloud.  It has a full-featured word processor, doesn't require additional login besides your google login, and auto-saves.  Not much downside, and is probably the best writing platform in Google for Microsoft Word users relocating to the cloud.

Scratchpad
Scratchpad is a pretty neat editor that lets you pop between panel view and a full tab window.  Stores docs in Google Docs library.  Reminds me a bit of WordPad for the cloud (better than NotePad, less overhead than Word).

Simplenote
Simplenote seems, well, too simple for real writing.  Looks good for writing some notes, but I'm gonna kill my account most likely.  Nice mobility stuff, though, if you're an Apple fan.  Don't like the separate account deal anyway.

Scriblr
Scriblr is good as a journal.  Not as a writing package.  If you need a diary or journal, though, and don't want a blog, it might be for you.

QuietWrite
Seems like more of a weird blogging platform than writing application.  It does have distraction free UI, but does not seem to make efficient use of the screen real estate. Also works apparently on iPad.

Just Write
This seems simple enough, and supports markdown, but I'm not sure it gives me really what I want.  Very simple and clean interface though if you are just looking for words on page.

Quick Note
Quick Note is a big yellow digital legal pad.  If you like that, this is for you.  If you don't, move along.

WriteSpace
When I clicked this I thought I had entered WriteMonkey.  Nice.  But then I realized I couldn't save.  Or do anything else.  Maybe this one is too early, but it has potential.  Someday.  If you want to write, this is a cool interface, but it appears you have to copy it somewhere else to save it.  Fail for now.

Notebook
Weird a-z line numbering throws me off on this one, as well as a very small screen.  Also not sure how to actually work this.  Another fail for now.

RawScripts
Wow - if you write screenplays, this is pretty sweet.  If you write novels, move along.  If I decide to do ScriptFrenzy, this would be my tool of choice - it auto-formats and everything.  Also allows collaboration.  Pretty impressive, I'd say.

Scriptito
I had some problems logging into this with my Google and Yahoo accounts, so I ended up creating an account (though I almost gave up on this).  Holy moly am I glad I did not.  This looks like THE cloud app for Scrivener or YWriter users.  It's clunky and takes some getting used to, but it has sections, research, character and location information, and other breakdown sections for each project.  Definitely going to play with this and see how well it translates from my PC-based apps.

Pillarbox
This again looks somewhat like WriteMonkey, but it appears to only allow you to edit one document.  Cool extras though for a single writing session, such as a timer and wordcount goal tracker.

Software	Login Required	Auto-Save	Word Processor Features	Distraction-Free	Local Editing
Google Docs	Google Login	Yes	All	No	No
Scratchpad	Google Login	Yes	Basic Text Formatting	Tab View	Yes
SimpleNote	Separate Login	Yes	None	No	No
Scriblr	N/A	Yes	None	No	No
QuietWrite	Separate Login	Yes	None	Yes	No
Just Write	Separate Login	Yes	Markdown - not traditional	Yes	No
Quick Note	N/A	Yes	None	No	No
Write Space	N/A	No Save	None	Yes	Yes (but no save)
Notebook	N/A	No Save	None	No	Yes (but no save)
RawScripts	Google or Yahoo	Yes	Basic and all sorts of nice screenplay formatting	No	No
Scriptito	Google via OpenID or Yahoo via OpenID or Custom (what I had to use)	Not sure	Basic with great organizing a la YWriter or Scrivener	No	No
Pillarbox	N/A	Not sure	None	Yes	Yes

The Verdict

Easy answer for me - Scriptito.  It is a full-featured writing suite targeted at the organized and/or planning crowd.  It is very similar to a cloud-based Scrivener which is exactly what I've been looking for.  And it's free (though I'd love to find a way to donate to the cause other than the annual fee - we'll see).

Runners-Up
Well, if I were looking for Word in the cloud, then Google Docs it is.  And with some enhancements, Pillarbox might start giving WriteMonkey a run for its money at distraction free zenware.  But for now, I'm off to play with Scriptito and try to work my way through the tutorials and manual.

Until next time.