A few friends have asked me if I really like using Scrivener and what the point of it is, and my answer is that I really, really do like it because Scrivener has a ton of USEFUL functionality. I thought I would share how I’m using the program. FYI, I’m using the Windows version.
BREAKING YOUR NOVEL DOWN:
My mother taught me that a huge project is much more manageable when you break it down into smaller tasks. When you’re using Word, chapters are my smaller pieces. If my chapters are longer, then scenes become my smaller pieces. YET, with Word, all of those pieces are compiled in one long document you have to scroll through. And I can see I’m on page 20 and feel the pressure of having hundreds of pages to go.
What Scrivener does:
In Scrivener, you decide how to manage your project and how to break it down within my project binder. I create folders for each chapter. Within each chapter folder, I create separate documents for each scene. I can do this as I write, OR (if you are an outliner like me) I can jump to my Corkboard view and type a few quick notes on the little “post-it” for each scene or chapter. When I’m ready, it’s easy to Compile the manuscript into a Word doc with the “Compile” feature in Scrivener.
OUTLINER HEAVEN:
As mentioned here, I’m an outliner. It’s a skeleton at best, but my outline provides a few key points each chapter needs to hit on to keep my plot and emotional arcs on track.
What Scrivener does:
Scrivener is an outliner’s dream. For each chapter or scene, I can include a few quick notes for the highlights it should include. I can do this in the Corkboard view where every chapter looks like a little post it note (that I can type on) or I can do it in a little sidebar box next to my document. Scrivener has several ways to view these notes, too. Aside from the Corkboard view, I can also use the outliner view. This lets me see my outline in neat rows similar to Excel. I prefer the Corkboard view, but it’s great to have the flexibility.
RESEARCH, WHERE ART THOU FILE?:
I do a lot of research. Location research. Character name research. Medical research. Police procedure research. I find images to use as reference for describing settings and characters. I used to store all of this research into separate Word files. Then I’d have to go find them all each time I needed them and keep flipping back and forth between my manuscript and the pictures. And then I’d have a file of just URLs to reference in case I needed to find that website that told me how doctors treat punctured lungs. I’m organized, but I still had a hard time tracking things.
What Scrivener does:
There’s a Research folder. I can import web pages. I can import photos. I can create a folder for a person or place and then drop whatever I like into that folder. Pictures, web pages, character notes. It’s all there in one place WITH my manuscript. I never have to hunt for files. And get this… I can even have any of those files pulled up on my screen next to my manuscript as I type. What does my MC look like again? Oh, wait. Here’s the photo of her. It’s that easy.
EDITING MADE EASIER:
Have you ever deleted an entire scene or chapter? Say it’s Chapter 2 of 40. What a nightmare to have to renumber every chapter and shift everything around. The same can happen if you have to add chapters. These kinds of edits are time consuming.
What Scrivener does:
Every scene is its own little unit in Scrivener. When you’re in Binder view, every scene has its own icon that can be dragged and dropped in the binder. You can move it within a chapter or between chapters. You can select a bunch of scenes and move them around with a couple clicks. It’s SO convenient.
STAT CHECKERS:
Don’t laugh at me. I have an Excel spreadsheet where I track overall and daily word counts. I track how many words I need to do each day in order to finish a book by X date. And I adjust those figures based on my daily actual word counts. I’d love to not have to do this, but if you’re serious about writing, you better get serious about deadlines. Make them your friend.
What Scrivener does:
I know Word has that a total word count you can track at the bottom left corner of the screen. Scrivener does more. You can track scene and chapter word counts. Better yet, you can set daily word count goals within Project Targets. LOVE this. And, if you like to track which chapters you’ve edited, finished writing, etc., you can also do this in Scrivener. At a glance, I can see where I left off the last time I was working.
INTERFACE:
Okay, I’ll admit it. When the first beta of Scrivener came out, I LOATHED the interface. It was single-spaced and kept putting weird returns between my paragraphs. I couldn’t see the edges of my pages. I felt paralyzed by the interface. So I ditched the beta and went back to my cozy, comfortable Word world. When I decided to give Scrivener another shot, the beta had been updated to include much more functionality. I can do everything Word does, except see the edges of my pages (which I still kind of miss). BUT on the upside, Scrivener has a Full Screen view that grays out your background, including that distracting Twitter and email inbox.
So that’s a very basic breakdown of why I’m in love with Scrivener and going to have its babies. I hope this helps some of you if you’re sitting on the fence about what Scrivener can do. If you try it out, I recommend you watch the tutorial videos. They are short, easy to follow and will save you hours of floundering.
*All images are the property of Scrivener.
“and am going to have its babies” LOL I don’t utilize the research folder enough, but MAN. I love Scrivener!
The research folder is one of my favorite things! No more saving links everywhere. 😛
I just converted to Scrivener based on an earlier post you made about it. It took me FOREVER to get my novel inputted, but now that it’s all the way in it makes my life so much easier.
My favorite tool? The name generator. I get horribly stuck on names. Now I don’t have to have three windows open while I write, and it’s so easy to keep track of character details. Since my book is the first in a trilogy, I’m going to keep all of the character files and maps on the program for the subsequent books.
Thanks for the heads up!
Hi Scooter – I’m glad I didn’t lead you astray! And I’m finding Scrivener helpful for my trilogy, too. It’s easier to keep track of all the details.
Very useful, thank you!! I know Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments series) uses Scrivener, but I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was only available for Mac. Thanks for setting me straight!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thanks for writing this! It took me a while to try Scrivener because it felt like most writing programs were a waste of a money, advertising features like, “Hey, it gives you story prompts!” and “Look, it has step-by-step directions on how to write a novel!” I fell in love with Scrivener this past NaNoWriMo and was bound and determined to hit the 50k mark just to get the discount. ^_^
I’ve bought a couple of other programs with the same issue – the program didn’t really help me with the process of writing or wasn’t flexible for my process. And I’m jealous you got the discount. 🙂
Hello,
I’ve been anxiously awaiting Scrivener for Windows and want to get started using it as soon as possible. Can anyone advise me on whether it makes more sense to wait for the finished version’s release in June or to download the latest Beta version? Have the writers who’ve been using the Scrivener for Windows Beta version been finding many bugs that hinder their working process?
Much thanks.
Wayne
My opinion: Play with the beta. Then you can use it for a while before you decide to buy it or not. I ran into a couple bugs very early in the beta of it, but as it went on later, it’s gotten better and better and I couldn’t imagine not using it, frankly.
(Hi Cory!!!)
Hi Wayne – I emailed you, but I would definitely recommend playing with the Beta now. Most of the bugs have been worked out.
Hi Laina! *waves*
Go ahead and try the beta. I haven’t found any bugs. I don’t even seem to have ones other people are reporting. There’s a few things I wish for, that I’ll put up on a wish list when they get that far, but I’ve had so little trouble with the program, I feel guilty as a beta user – as I haven’t been much use 🙂
I’m not near as organized as the OP (the hints you’re giving are helpful to me too, as I haven’t used all that – I’ve got to play with the research folders more too), but Scrivener helps with my lack of organization. My outline is basically a bunch of scene blurbs. I can look down and write the next scene, or decide I don’t want it. Or add or delete scenes with a button push. Ignore everything and just write and know it’ll be easy to fix up at the end. I can throw whatever in wherever and still find it when I need it.
Have you ever written a bit character and then need to have some more from him/her 5 chapters later, but need a reminder of his voice? Or you’re going back to a place you wrote in 3 chapters ago, and need all the details. You can just click on the scene list on the side and go right to place where the character speaks or the place is described for a refresher. You’d have to scroll around forever or have some sort of scene titles in word to search for to be able to do that. With this program, one click and I’m there.
We get a bonus for having 50,000 words? I’ve got that much in my current WIP – how do we get the bonus? 🙂
I love this program. I’ve been looking for ways to pay for it, even though it’s still in beta. Thank you so much!
Laura
Thanks for the comment, Laura! I love being able to move scenes around for the same reason. It makes editing a dream. I think the 50K bonus was only good during November for Nanowrimo. Unfortunate, but at least Scrivener is affordable.
Have you tried to compile yet with this structure? I notice you have your Character folder under the Draft folder; my understanding is that anything under the Draft folder will get compiled into the final manuscript. I have my Character folder outside of the Draft folder for this reason.
Hi Beth – the images are from Scrivener and aren’t of my manuscript. I keep my character files in a Character file outside the draft folder and my location research in a Places folder under that. I haven’t had any issues compiling my manuscript with that setup. Thanks for commenting!
I’m loving the beta version too. The only thing I can’t figure out is the best way to do a revision or track changes.
Hi Alicia – I’ve had the same thought. You won’t be able to utilize Word’s track changes efficiently since you’ll have to have Word and Scrivener open. That’s one point that seems out of reach still.
Thanks for the review of how you use Scrivener. I’ve been using the Beta for Windows since NaNoWriMo and love it. Each update makes it better and better. Yet, I find that you are doing organizational things that I am not as I continue to work on my novel. I am going to try a few of your techniques for my next project…and I got to try that word tracking feature. That looks awesome and I had not realized that the program did that!
Thanks for the run-down of how you use Scrivener Beta. I started using the original Beta for Windows as soon as it made it’s way to the public, however I started getting paranoid about using it with so many bugs popping up. Since then, I went back to using Word & then started using another software while waiting for the regular release, but think I’m going to input my NaNovel and see how it “fits.” Can not wait for the Scrivener for Windows release.
Thanks again.
Engrid
hahahahahahah I read it wrong and thought it said SCREWDRIVER hahahahaha and I thought what is she doing in her apartment with a screwdriver and then I thought this should be a funny blog….duh…but could you write a funny blog about a screwdriver!!! lololol
Thanks for this! How do you get the colour tabs on the index cards, by the way?
Time for Keith to bring out Scrivener for Dummies.
I love Scrivener, although I just began using it. Besides the writing I am doing with it I also began to use it as a database for my other writings (poems, etc). It is a great program!
I too just got Scrivener, and am enjoying using it. On Scrivener for Windows, at least, I am still finding the formatting a bit kludgy, and the spell check has some rough edges (it can’t handle ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ for example, insisting on ‘Mr. And Mrs.’. I can’t fix it, either. I figure I will just wait till I export to Word.)
I love the outlining features, but am still getting used to the various windows.
Great article. I have both Mac and Windows versions and agree with Von than the Windows version is less impressive than the Mac one. I wouldn’t want to be without Scrivener now that I’m finally used to it! My favourite feature is Project Targets. I love setting myself a word count target!
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