Yes! Omg YES! Get Scrivener! It's the best thing that happened to writing since the typewriter. You can chop up your story however you please, by scene, chapter, day or even paragraph and compile it with a neat little bow, ready for submission or printing. If you self publish, then you can easily edit the completed project in the word program of your choice for the margins, page size, ect. This lets you be free to write your way instead of being forced to write the way word (or whatever) wants you to write. Imagine this. You write a scene and go over your book. You suddenly realize that scene Q would be better off before scene K. If you had a normal word processor then you would have to cut scene Q, then find it's place before Scene K and pray that they meld together well enough so the reader doesn't notice it's a clip on scene. I've done that a few times. In Scrivener you have all your scenes within their own named little file in the document tree on the left, and summarized in the inspector on the left with the text in the middle. You simply open the new chapter folder (Which you can add your chapter name if desired or name it by chapter) and drag scene Q up to its new home as scene J. (I suggest using a placement name before the title like "Ch01-01 Name" just in case you drag out the wrong one) Switch to side by side or top and bottom view, which splits the document area, and select the new I scene as one half. You make sure that I and J flows together then put J up top and K on the bottom (or left and right) and do the same. Blam, your Q scene has a new home right in front of K with no one the wiser that it was once further in the book. When you set up the compile you can change the font, the spacing, anything. You can even have the folder names become the header and sub header without having to add it manually. Chapter One The Winter Fig Tree For example. Plus, there is even a place to put your Front pages and back pages, reference, templates, character and scene notes and you can even easily recover your trash files/folders. Importing your work is a breeze too. Use symbols for the folders and files like @ before your chapter to create Folder Chapter One and #name for the chapter content itself. You might have to do some minor rearranging and name, deleting the #name but it's an almost painless process. Divide your chapters up however you wish by the split command Ctrl+K and name it how you wish. I could go on and on about the joys of Scrivener. The iOS version is also wonderful to have once you set both versions up with Dropbox. Just make sure dropbox is synced before you open it. Above all else close Scrivener or you will get an error. You can even install Scrivener on multiple pcs/macs and work on which ever computer you want to. Okay, phew, I'm done. Just get it and try it out. Watch the videos and use it. You'll soon be counting your bills to hand over to https://www.literatureandlatte.com.
Just based off the comment above, it kind of seems like it would be a WHOLE lot easier to just move things around in Word. Maybe not, but since you outlined both methods and the one for scrivener seemed more confusing and much lengthier... What's the benefit?
well, the scrivener version of it you don't have to name it ch01-01, but it does help in case you accidentally drag it around to the wrong spot. I had that happen a few times and it was not fun so I came up with that technique. You could just plop scene Q before K without the side by side or top and bottom comparison. I just said that because you could do that if you wanted. You could simply go back and forth between the scenes to mesh them together, keeping things simple. Here's an example of how my scrivener looks. I messed with the customizable interface some but the overall layout is the same. If you're interested, my world is high magic sprinkled with science. In this case a wizard, the main character, is launching a satellite. you can see the character places and the front matter, along with the research and conflicts folders. Every note and folder is its own file and constantly saved.Like I siad, to me, scrivener is the best thing to happen to novel writing since the typewriter. But that's just me. Scrivener isn't for everyone.
I write my ideas in Notes on my phone. I get inspired randomly, anywhere so I keep my phone handy for quick recording of ideas. Once I have built a theme on my phone I then transfer these ideas into a proper written format in Word on a PC or a laptop. I find this process saves me a lot of time as by the time I get to Word I already have a very thorough understanding of what needs to be written and how.
I'm usually typing directly - then, at some point, I revise. When I've no chance of having the laptop at and I'm going old school - using a notepad and a pen. However I've come to find that lately Ideas hit me in the worst moment... whenever my laptop is miles away or I don't have a chance of putting them down. I will try getting my hands on a voice recorder (smartphone isn't the best options) - Has anyone exprience with that? I'm not quite sure wether it'll work, usually the blue ink of my pen inspires me... xD Yea, I know I'm strange.
well, you could always get Google Docs on your smartphone. Cloud saving and in a familiar word like interface. You can use it in iOS, Android and even mac and linux so it's truly universial. You can use it in any browser too. Most smartphones allow speech to text so you can dictate your notes right into it.
Ever tried collaborative writing? Google Drive is amazing for it because you can both work on the same document simultaneously and see where they are in it. Works well with editing documents too. Can leave notes and what not in real-time.
oh yeah! I sometimes show off my work to my fiends and discord group. I forgot about that feature, thanks.
I do write in Google Docs regularly, esp. role plays... However I don't Like it in my phone, the Screen ist too small...
I agree, but I have to use my phone because I'm travelling for work a lot. So naturally I've gotten used to it.
Lately I've been thinking of converting the unused 5¼" bays on the front of my desktop into a minibar, too. Maybe leave one lonely CD drive at the bottom to work as a retractable coaster.
I try to stick to somewhat of a process, though that is never easy. I personally am often scatterbrained, so I have files saved here and there that I'll open up and work on. I usually have a Moleskine or two with me that I use for my regular job and writing on the side. I've also been known to have post-it notes or little scraps of paper strewn about when and idea comes up. I try to write in the evenings, though that gets interrupted by other errands or just the desire to relax on the couch instead . I often get a good chunk of writing done first thing in the mornings on Saturday/Sunday though. Essentially, my process is that I don't have a set process, and just go about it dynamically and spontaneously...probably why it's taking me so long to go full force with my novel.
I write 100% on my iPad Pro using the Apple keyboard case. I’m fortunate in that I have a lot of air travel for work. As such, I spend all of my air time writing which, oddly enough, I find is when I have the clearest head and most creativity.
