Story Architect (STARC) For Linux

When it comes to writing complex stories, audio dramas, screenplays, and stageplays, the better the software, the better the results, since writing everything using default or typical text editors is not ideal.

Screenplays and stageplays (among other forms of screenwriting-related content) usually require complex characters with tons of nuances, biographies, locations, visual references, and complex relationships between all of them.

This is exactly why Story Architect (or Starc, for short) was created. Story Architect is not the first software of this sort, however, it does have some unique advantages over other apps from this category.

For starters, Story Architect is an open-source screenwriting tool. This means that you can check out the code for yourself to see if everything is as intended and if it perfectly suits your privacy requirements (which it most probably does, since the app doesn't have any associated tracking elements).

Secondly, it works on all major OSes out there, including Windows, macOS, and Linux (can be installed on most distros thanks to its AppImage binaries or via Flathub).

This is a good time to point out that the app comes in three tiers: Free, Pro, and Team. What's important to note here is that the Free tier is very useful. You get an unlimited number of projects, an unlimited number of docs per project, and the ability to create characters, locations, and all the associated quirks and tools for creating screenplays, comics, audio plays, and stage plays.

The Pro version adds a few features to the Free version and it includes extended info about characters, character relationships, location maps, corkboards, and better statistics. The Team tier also provides seamless synchronization across all your devices, realtime collaboration tools, and 5GB of cloud storage.

Before we talk about what Story Architect offers in terms of features, we have to mention this is an app that looks and feels like a modern utility. The GUI is crips, the menus have nice transition effects between them, the colors are easy on the eyes, and besides the option to choose from various GUI themes, you also get a lot of customization options as well.

The script editor is probably the best feature of this app. By default, it's geared towards simplicity and efficiency, and it takes care of formatting the text according to industry standards. Of course, the script editor's behavior is customizable.

With the hep of virtual cards, you can create and view the scenarios from a different perspective. These cards can be placed on the board in either sequences or columns. You can also apply color tags, add notes, group and arrange acts and documents, and what's awesome is that all the changes will instantly be synchronized all across the script.

The character design module is also quite important. It allows you to create complex characters and describe their relationships, biographies, and visual references.

Writing comfort is definitely something that is at the top of the priority list for the developers who created this app, and that shows. Besides the GUI themes and all the customization features, you also get a few extra little features such as typewriter sounds, typewriter scrolling, a full-screen mode, and a nice statistics module.

Last but not least, the app allows you to import files using Final Draft's FDX formats, as well as DOCX, ODT, TRELBY, CELTX, and Fountain.

Story Architect is a well-designed app. This includes the whole package, the GUI, the few available tweak options, as well as its features. Of course, for a small monthly premium you could get a bit more, but truth be told, the Free version is remarkably comprehensive, so there's really no reason to not give the app a chance if you're looking for a good screenwriting or story writing app.