Make Evernote More Friendly for Writers!

[tony10000 125]

I am a writer and I really wish that Evernote would work on making the app more friendly for for writers.  This is a huge market that is always looking for new tools.  

As I do a lot of my work on a Chromebook, I rely on the web version much more than the mobile or desktop versions. I have used Evernote in the past for quick drafts and it works well for that purpose.  However, it would be really great if Evernote would optimize it for writing workflows.  

Adding word and character counts would get a great first step.  Additional features like a timer, word goal tracking, etc. would also be greatly appreciated.  Look at writing tools like Scrivener if you need other ideas for features.

Any other writers feel similarly?

[DTLow 5,736]

2 hours ago, tony10000 said:

I am a writer and I really wish that Evernote would work on making the app more friendly for for writers.  This is a huge market that is always looking for new tools.  

As I do a lot of my work on a Chromebook, I rely on the web version much more than the mobile or desktop versions. I have used Evernote in the past for quick drafts and it works well for that purpose.  However, it would be really great if Evernote would optimize it for writing workflows.  

Adding word and character counts would get a great first step.  Additional features like a timer, word goal tracking, etc. would also be greatly appreciated.  Look at writing tools like Scrivener if you need other ideas for features.

Any other writers feel similarly?

I'm not a writer, but do use Evernote the product for notes.

No objection to adding writing features. except if it takes away from other priorities.

You might want to post your suggestions as separate topics in the feedback forum so they can be better addressed as feature requests 

Lastly, is Evernote the best tool for writing?  You mentioned Scrivener, which would be my choice.

[gazumped 11,652]

Yup.  I'm a writer too,  and I use Evernote intensively in researching,  arranging and cataloguing content:  but then I use a writing app (there are several) to create the final copy. 

There's no hardship in using two apps,  and information can be copied freely between them.  In the same way I use Evernote to book and manage photo shoots but use a specialist photography app for editing and filing my pictures.  Evernote can't be the Swiss Army knife of all uses without becoming irretrievably bloated. 

[tony10000 125]

I don't want bloat, by something like word/character count would be something that is very easy to add and could be easily turned on and off.

[gazumped 11,652]

2 hours ago, tony10000 said:

I don't want bloat, by something like word/character count would be something that is very easy to add and could be easily turned on and off.

You can actually get that in Windows Desktop (and I assume Macs) - maybe when they sort the web version out again that feature will appear...

https://blog.evernote.com/tech/2016/10/17/bringing-micro-services-to-the-client-side-project-ion-and-micro-components

[HerbyDE 101]

Word/character counting is already in Desktop version - very good!

But what is really, really, really essential for writers/notes with long text: more structure! Something like Headline 1, Headline 2, paragraphe - it would be sooo great to get this! (Best would be Markdown, but this will never come in Evernote - I think so ...)

[tony10000 125]

Yes, I know it is available on the desktop version.  But as I wrote: " As I do a lot of my work on a Chromebook, I rely on the web version much more than the mobile or desktop versions."  I posted that as a suggestion a while back, but nothing has happened.  I guess the wheels of change turn slowly at Evernote.

[GiacomoLaw 134]

I would love to see better word count. That would be great for me, however I use Scrivener mainly, and EN just for research. I do use it to backup my book though.

[gazumped 11,652]

21 minutes ago, tony10000 said:

I guess the wheels of change turn slowly at Evernote.

Updates at roughly one a month across four different operating systems and the web client doesn't seem slow to me; but if you read the web item,  they're in a 'you can't get there from here' situation if they try to upgrade what's already in place for the web version. 

There's now a project to rewrite the web client completely to allow them to bring it more in line with the desktop versions.  So yes,  that might take a while...

 

[tony10000 125]

It would be nice if they would communicate what is in the works...

 

[gazumped 11,652]

Well - 1)  that's what is in the blog post,  and 2)  Evernote rarely comment on their road map - apart from anything else,  knowing what's coming up next month is commercially valuable information to their competition...

[tony10000 125]

What competition?