Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Scrivener Heaven

I finally bought it for my Mac! I'll admit I'm not even halfway through the tutorial and have a lot o' learning to do before I'll feel comfortable with it, but it's SO cool. You can create a separate "file" for each chapter so that you can move sections of your manuscript around, which should make revisions/edits much easier (hey, a girl can dream, can't she?). The virtual corkboard is also something I can't wait to try out, even though I'm more pantster than plotter. You can test drive Scrivener here for 30 days free.

As my blog Sisters know, I'm not the most technology-proficient person in the word (e.g. I still don't know how to do much on my smartphone, aside from, um, calling people). But this program seems so intuitive and fun that I might actually get the hang of it sooner rather than later.

Anyone else out there use it? What's your favorite feature? Any tips for a newbie?

10 comments:

  1. :) I tried it out for the first time last week - now I'm hooked! I thought I was super organized with my word docs until discovering Scrivener - funny how one little software makes such a huge difference.

    I haven't drafted a novel using Scrivener, but I look forward to it in Nov. for NaNo :)

    Have fun with your new writer toy!

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  2. I've been using Scrivener for a year now, and I can't imagine writing without it. I love being able to store everything for my novel in one place. I import inspiration pictures, character notes, and research. I also love the outlining feature.

    I LOVE the notecard feature to draft out my novel. It's really helpful to see the big picture.

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  3. Scrivener is awesome! I truly believe that I never would've finished my first book without it.

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  4. I want to play with Scrivener very badly, but I can't afford it right now, and they don't have it for the iPad. Not that writing on the iPad is very convenient.

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  5. Marisa-I'll use it to finish revising my current novel, and I can't wait to use it to draft my next one.

    Tara-I love the idea of importing inspiration pictures. I'll have to try that once I figure out the basics.

    Valerie-I've wanted it ever since you first told me about it. Woo hoo!

    Matt--it was on sale last week, so maybe they'll do another special. Also, my hubby uses a wireless keyboard for his iPad2...it's much easier that way. :)

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  6. I'm a pantser, too, and that is what makes Scrivener wonderful. I tend to write in scenes rather than chapters. I'll get 5 or 6 scenes ahead and then realize that I've left out something critical that has to come before them. I write the new scene and just slide it into place on the corkboard. So slick!

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  7. Liz--good to know that it works for pantsters too. Can't wait to play more with it!

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  8. I want it so bad! Does anyone know if the full version is out for Windows yet?

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  9. Lacey--I think it's coming out soon if it's not already. You'll love it!

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  10. Just found this blog! I'm loving it :)

    My Mac died a while back :( I loved that thing. Too much. Took it everywhere with me. So now I'm using a PC but I hope to get a Mac again soon. I've heard wonderful things about Scrivener and the comments here are only enforcing the fact that I need to get it.

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