In the last two posts I focused on the organizational aspects of Scrivener.

The index cards, outlining, ability to have notes, character sketches, PDF’s, etc in one place, are all useful components I like.

The three screens open at the same time while you write:

So Cool.

This past week I decided to set up the formatting for my WIP. Huh.

Scrivener is not a word processor so I know it doesn’t work the same as a Word Document. But after years of working with WORD, and previous to that, WordPerfect, I knew it might be hard to change. However, I found working with the actual document part of Scrivener frustrating. Although I could change the formatting on the current page, I couldn’t seem to easily change the formating on my entire document.

My friend who thinks Scrivener is the second coming (cough… Sara) showed me her MAC screen with “wrap” and her page set up. I couldn’t find any of that on the Windows screen. She checked mine and couldn’t find it either.

No way to set up a page setting to look like a manuscript page. I’ll have to do it manually.

I played around. Read the users manual and finally came up with this process (many hours later but that’s how you learn to use programs – trial and error)

Choose TOOLS from the menu. Then OPTIONS.

You can change colours and some other options but the important one for me was the Editor:

This is where you change the font and the spacing to double spaced, etc. For some reason the ruler only goes to 6.5 so I couldn’t change the right margin on the ruler. Nor could I change it on the “editor  margin” lower on the page. So, I changed what I could and clicked apply.

Then I chose “FORMAT”, “Text”, “Spacing” to set the margins. Huh. Not perfect but maybe I can get used to it.

To make the same changes for the entire document. Choose “DOCUMENT”, “Convert,” “Formatting to default settings” This changed all future documents but not the current ones. To do that: Select All, and then Convert the Document to the default settings. Whew.

But, wait. There are no page breaks.

What, no page breaks? Say it isn’t so.  Yes, dear writers, it’s true. From the Scrivener website:

• No page layout view in the Windows version (that is, you can’t view your text as virtual pages).
• No “Preserve Formatting” feature in the Windows version (in the Formatting menu).
• No “Revision Mode” in the Windows version.
• No “presets” available from the format bar in the Windows version. (And likewise no Format > Formatting options for presets.)
• No line numbers ruler in the Windows version (an option available in Format > Options on the Mac)

Coupled with the difficulty in changing formats  this was the deal breaker for me. I can’t write a book without pages.

I was tempted to download a sample of Scrivener for Mac on my daughter’s computer to see how it worked with the page feature but thought, why torture myself with something I can’t have.  And, honestly, I’ve spent hours with the formating and I just find it too annoying to write without the pages.

Conclusion: I won’t be buying Scrivener until they get the page set up added.

Last night I searched for alternatives. I need to upgrade my Office software to 2010 and it includes OneNote.  A search indicated that writers were using this software to organize their writing material.  I’m going to try it. Stay tuned for some posts on that.

I’d love to know if you’ve tried Scrivener. Mac versions? The new Windows version? What did you think?

So, I left off yesterday on this screen:

(to enlarge, click on the image)

I chose Novel (with parts) Saved it to my desktop file using the title of the book, and hit the “Create” Option

Another screen opens with information on the Novel Format.  This is where you start getting into the nitty, gritty of the program:

I would read this information. You’ll also notice the menu on the side.  I would read  the  “Sample MS” on the left side menu, close to the bottom.

Click on the Title pg in the left menu and fill in the information.

I started organizing my Files into Parts/Chapters/Scenes using the menu on the left side. Play with this a little bit until you get the hang of how to add folders in the corrects spots.

As you can see from my menu, I organized my folders into four parts – Act 1, Act 11.1, Act 11.2, Act 111

 

Then I started organizing the chapters. And then scenes.

I write each scene separately. If you write by chapters, you don’t need the scene folders. If you don’t organize your work by Acts or Parts then you choose “Novel.” And organize your menu with just chapters.

If you’re a seat of the pants writer, you just open up that chapter or scene file and write.

However, if you do a little more planning/plotting than that, you’ll want to use the index cards. There are three little icons at the top of the screen.

IF you click on the middle one, a cork board pops up. On the cork board are the index cards associated with the menu item.  For example if you clicked on Act 1 – the chapter files you set up under that folder will show on the cork board. Underneath each of the chapter cards are the Scene cards associated with the chapter.

Index Cards! On a Computer!

How clever is that? You just click on the index card and write on it. Just like a REAL one. AND you can color code them.

I just don’t even know what to say. Where have you been all my life?

I’m off to play with the index cards. Think this might take some time. So I’ll be back in a few days with some more info on Outlining – I’m giddy just thinking about it.

 

 

 

Sara Crabtree, a member of my local RWA chapter turned me on to Scrivner, formerly available only to mac users but now available in beta for windows. You can download your own copy of the trial version here: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivenerforwindows/  It will be available for sale for about $50 shortly.

Sara swears by this writing software. I must say I was impressed by the index cards, templates and screens she showed me but more so by her crazy enthusiasm.  It looks like it might be a steep learning curve after spending all my time in a Windows and Word environment. But, I’m working on a trilogy with a crime thread weaving through so I could use some help keeping things organized and on track.

I found a few blogs on Scrivner for Mac but thought it might be useful if I blogged about the new Windows version for anyone who wants to come along for the ride, or is thinking about using it for their own WIP.

I downloaded a copy this morning. Easy.

I opened to a page that looks like this:

I chose to watch the interactive video. You must save the file to your computer. To be honest,  I find the only way I  really learn how to use software is to actually use it. When I stumble across something I need help with then I go back to the resources. However, I did go through the interactive tutorial figuring it couldn’t hurt.

After the tutorial - which takes about an hour and I ended up doing over a couple of sessions – I went back up to the “File” section and the “New Project” screen and  chose “Fiction.” :

And I was presented with my first dilemma. Did I want Novel or Novel ( with parts). Searched around for info on what “with parts” means didn’t find an explanation.  But I was assured that whatever choices I made I could change them later. Since I write using the three-act structure, I want my novel to be broken down that way as well. So I chose  “Novel (with parts.)

Now, I’m getting somewhere.

The screen opens with information on this template. AND there’s a sample Manuscript in the files section.

Also, the Owner’s Manual, also provided, works better as a resource tool for me than the tutorial. It seems structured in a linear fashion that is more insinc with the way I think and learn.

I’m off to set up my MS. Will blog about that tomorrow.

This better be worth it, Sara.