AutoCrit sounds promising. I'll have to take a look at it.

Right now I'm not using any editing software except for what's available on Word.

The old versionof Autocrit is MY editing aid: as I write each scene, I put it through AC many times, and use its COUNTING functions - adverbs, cliches, repeated words and phrases, and even its suggestions as to how many times something is repeated being compared to some general literature database (and suggesting I eliminate some of them) - but have no interest in anything else from a mechanical editor. I won't be upgrading.

For me, having it provide a list of something with frequencies is a marvelous timesaver - because who wants to find out from a reviewer that they use 'that' too many times, when knowing it ahead of time could lead to more graceful rewording?

I'm one of the vast army of self-editing writers. I don't want someone else touching my work in an editorial capacity - I have my standards and know how to meet them. But I do need that counting work, because it quickly gets tedious if not automated.

I won't be asking AI for any help, ever, except maybe for writing advertising copy - just the thought of being ground down to the lowest common denominator of 'good writing' based on the masses of writing out there makes my teeth itch. But AC, the way I use it (I store nothing there, don't compose there, but access it frequently DURING writing), is an essential part of my writing process.

And I'm delighted by its ease of use for my purposes.

(PS Scrivener is where I write, and get as far as the ebook; since it is NOT a word processor, the print version has to go through a cycle, irreversible, through WORD, to get all my formatting needs filled.)

Hi Lisa,

I've been very happy with ProWriting Aid and havent played with their new features. The various layers of feedback from their software was thorough and useful for editing. I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for that tip on editing software!

Hi Averil,
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's encouraging to hear you have used this software for years and are still a fan.

I'm looking forward to using AutoCrit in my next project, and like your process, mine will probably be a hybrid. I'll use Word and AutoCrit.

Your point about guarding your voice is important advice as well.

Best of luck on your next book!

Kris