Apps for a Personal Passion

Dear Professor Theresa.

The paragraphs below describe my experiences with 5 applications geared towards creative writing. The system I used to rate each app was dependent on the presence of pop-advertisements and in-app purchases, the presence and sophistication of the included spellcheck software, the presence of a syntax software, aesthetic appearance, level of difficulty to use, and additional features within each app. All of the above factors determine an app's placement on a 1-5 scale, with one being the lowest score and five being the highest score.

Creative Writer:

Positives: Creative vs Standard keyboard.

Negatives: A distracting purple keyboard. An unnecessary learning curve to accessing the keyboard. Subpar editing system. Requires in-app purchase such as a dictionary, rhymes, etc. Total price almost $13 on top of the free download.
Review:
The application includes in-app purchases totaling $13 additional dollars to unlock the full potential of the app. The editing in-app editing software does not detect common misspellings and include only three possible options for an incorrect word. There is no software to detect errors in syntax, meaning there, their, and they're mistakes are not acknowledged. The application is not visually pleasing and requires significant time to understand. All of these factors contribute to an overall rating of a 1.

StoryCraft:

Positive: Multiple story types: Multi-Path Stories, Single-Path Stories, Main Chat, Role-Playing Original Characters, Announcements.

Negative: Requires an account to create your own stories, Frequent pop-ups, no built-in editing mechanics.
Review:

The application possesses frequent pop-up ads and can not be full accessed without creating an account. Without an account, there is no ability to access to a word processor or spellcheck software. The app itself is visually appealing and easy to understand. The ability to view other stories on a public forum based on story type are also positive features of the app. A rating of a 2 justifies the few positive attributes, but can not justify the overall ineffectiveness of the app.

Hanx Writer:

Positive: Straightforward typing mechanic. Different typewriter models. Optional typewriter-like typing and sliding sounds along with animations of replacing paper. Modern advantages of deleting typed words and copy/pasting new words into a sentence. Over all novelty of using a typewriter in a practical function. No additional purchases required.

Negatives: Very basic editing software. No page dimension shown. The font can not be altered. A novelty app for recreational writing rather than professional writing.

Review:
The app does not have pop-up ads, but does include in-app purchases. The spellcheck software is relatively standard, catching most spelling errors and offering options to replace the misspelling. Font size, spacing, and font type can not be altered as well. There is a lack of a syntax software as well. The app is aesthetically pleasing, with the ability to alter the typewriter's appearance with additional purchases, and straightforward to use. There are sound effects used to make the app feel like a typewriter. There are no other features to improve writing or organization either. A rating of a 2 accounts for the in-app purchases and overall below average performance as a creative writing application.

Writer:

Positives: Relatively straightforward to use. The app allows work to be broken up into four categories. Outline, Notes, Character Planning, and Chapters.  A side bar arranging your work by categories, date, or alphabet is available. Has microphone setting to allow audio recordings to be included in your work. A camera option allows pictures to be taken and included in your work.

Negatives: Requires premium version to access unlimited categories, pictures, and recordings.

Review:
The app requires the purchase of the premium version to unlock its full potential. However, the app does not have pop-ads. The app provides a standard spellcheck software and syntax software. The app is aesthetically appealing and straightforward to use. This allows writers to categorize their writings into four categories as illustrated above. The app also includes an integrated audio and camera capture option. The many additional features and standard editing software cement the app's rating as a 4.

WerdSmith:

Positives: Aesthetic features such as page color and brightness can be adjusted. The app is straightforward. You can jot down random ideas or create large writing projects. Adequate editing system when coming to spelling and punctuation errors. Includes a word count, word count goal,  time spent writing, and estimated time of reading a given passage.

Negatives: Aesthetic changes and advanced editing system require $5 per month subscription. 
Review:
The app possesses a $5 monthly subscription, but does not include various pop-up ads. The spellcheck software average, but can be upgraded with the purchase of the monthly subscription. The syntax software is average, but can be upgraded with the purchase of the monthly subscription. The app is aesthetically appealing and straightforward to use. The application includes the ability to monitor word count, a goal, the time spent on a given story, and how long it would take to read the passage. All these factors contribute to an overall rating of a 4.