To Beemgee or not to Beemgee?

To Beemgee or not to Beemgee? That is the question.

For every writer, there comes a point when you start to think about software. Word? Scrivener? Google docs? Excel?

I love spreadsheets so much that my sister bought me an 'I love spreadsheets' mug. Yet I struggle using spreadsheets for planning my writing. I don't know if it's trying to mix the creative and practical in one spreadsheet, that sets me off kilter. Whatever the reason, I've made peace with the fact that Excel is not my friend for creative projects even though I use it in every other aspect of my life from holiday planning to Christmas spending.

My office is covered in flip-chart sheets and post-its. But they are no use to me when I'm sitting on my laptop at home. Hence I was intrigued when someone on a NaNoWriMo forum mentioned Beemgee. It seemed fairly new. A quick Google revealed it had some alleged teething problems. But, there was something about its interface that really appealed to me. There are sections on character and plot. There are virtual cards and great cross-referencing tools. 

I'm dipping in and out of it, taking screenshots of my work as I go since some reviews mention sporadic difficulties with saving.  At the moment, I'm enjoying the process and it's already saving me time. One click lets me see how exactly I spelt that minor characters name in chapter one. It's much easier than trying to remember which scene the character appeared in and then which document includes that scene. 

So far, it's a yes from me.

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