Just in reply to Mg's query: I only started writing fiction four years ago (before that I was in technical writing and translation), then took a break over the past two years to fulfil a long-cherished dream of playing in folk sessions, so I'm not terribly experienced at writing fiction (though I have done a lot of technical writing).

To give you an idea of length, I generally aim at at least 100 pages, to get a story as close to novel length as I can--the one I'm currently working on has about 200 pages so far and counting. The stories are murder mysteries set in the Victorian era and I never know the perpetrator or even many of the characters when I start, but once I get into writing the ideas start flooding in, and I have to get them down somehow, even when I'm deeply focused on writing some chapter. So as I said earlier on I end up with dozens upon dozens of these notes on plot, scraps of characterization, things to research, etc.

From my technical writing background I've been trained to edit, re-write, and edit again, and while doing this I get lots more ideas, so it's a matter of finding the most efficient way of dealing with all of this, and from past experience I reckon a good program would help a lot. I've gone through lots of programs over the past 25 years, but this a new requirement for me and I'm sure I'll hit upon the right one for the task.

Thanks, Don