I recently discovered that Scrivener is now available for Windows (and also for Linux), and one can use the beta for free through mid-August. I've been using it for about a week, and I'm quite impressed. Impressed enough to post about it in the off chance that I'm not the only one here who hasn't tried it yet.
The 'log-line' for Scrivener, for those unfamiliar with it, could be "A word processing package for writers that combines outlining, editing and storyboard functions for a complete writing experience."
It has me seriously considering ditching the MS Word for everything but manuscript critique. I haven't explored if Scrivener has a comment system the way MS Word does.
If you've been using Scrivener for a while, please do share your experiences with it, especially any issues that might not be evident from the first week of use.
Posted by Grayson Morris (Member # 9285) on :
I started using Scrivener (on a Mac) a couple of months ago, and I love it. I haven't found any glitches, but I *have* found that I keep finding ways to make it even more useful to me. For example, the first couple of stories I wrote using it had only one scene document, and I inserted hash marks myself to indicate scene changes. Somewhere along the way, I started using different documents (within a single Scrivener project) for each scene, and it's been a plus.
I've also tweaked the basic templates, adding in standard docs I created for "Eight-Point Story Arc" and other helpful brainstorming tools. I love the way you can copy and paste an image into a backstory page of notes, and the way the inspector panel on the right-hand side of the window lets you type in a summary, notes, etc. And snapshots of the story at a current state of development -- handy, handy, handy.
I also love the way Scrivener compiles what you've written for various forms of output. It will convert italics to underlines, slap on a standard header (with your address, word count, etc), convert to Courier 12 if you don't like writing in that font, and so on. And so far, it seems to have none of the RTF formatting issues that OpenOffice has. Moreover, you can define custom compiles, so I've got one for WOTF, for example, that strips out the author last name in the page header and doesn't include the first-page header material, and one for regular submissions that does include these things.
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
quote:I've also tweaked the basic templates, adding in standard docs I created for "Eight-Point Story Arc" and other helpful brainstorming tools.
Have you had any luck or have you tried 'power-pointish' templates? I ask because I use a modified version of the "character-diamond" that I made in MS Powerpoint. Its a combined visual/text template and when I tried to copy/paste it into Scrivener, it just made the whole thing an image file. I know I can just 'translate' it to text, but I like visual templates.
It would be nice if there were some central template database for people to share Scrivener templates.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Gents,
How is the Thesaurus in there? I live and breathe by the right click/synonym in Word.
Axe
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
@Axe, I can't speak for the Mac version, but I haven't seen a right-click thesaurus at all.
Posted by Grayson Morris (Member # 9285) on :
@Axe - hmmm, no idea....*searches*....yes, it's there, under Edit > Writing Tools > Look up in dictionary and thesaurus. No shortcut key listed in the menu, but I think those are customizable in Scrivener.
@Osiris - (how are you, by the way?!? I have been my usual terrible correspondent self, through no fault of yours!) I haven't tried inserting anything more complex than an image...it doesn't look like there's a facility for that, but the Help manual mentions something called the Outliner -- maybe that has the functionality you're looking for?
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
@Grayson, I'm well, thank you for asking. No worries, we all get busy in life (and congrats on your DSF sale!). Hoping you are still up for critique exchanges when you have more time for it.
The windows version states it is missing a few features, but the Outliner is there. I watched a vid tutorial of the Outliner, it seems it more for annotating your chapters/scenes/notes and shuffling the order around.
Posted by mrmeadors (Member # 6378) on :
I've been using Scrivener on my mac for about a year and a half now, and I really like it. I haven't upgraded yet to the new version (the one that people on windows would see) but even just the way you can set the formatting for manuscripts and all that, it makes my life much simpler. I've been using it almost exclusively for my writing projects since I bought it. It also keeps things nice and organized... I have not explored all of its capabilities yet, since i'm lucky to get writing time as it is, i haven't taken much time to play around with it. but even in the limited way I use it, i love it.
Posted by EmilyS (Member # 9447) on :
I've been using scrivener for about 2 years now, and I love it. Using separate documents for each scene is the most useful feature, and it's great being able to keep all my research and brainstorming in one location, nicely organized. The corkboard is also helpful in the plotting stage, moving around scenes to come up with a basic outline before writing.
I've recently started making better use of the synopsis function. I write in a several-sentence summary of what happens in the scene, then compile just the synopses to get a scene list that is extremely handy when beginning the revision process. I was able to look over the whole novel in about 20 pages and make notes of what needed to change before diving into the actual text.
@Osiris, yes, it does have a comment feature (at least the mac version), as well as footnotes and hyperlinks to the web or elsewhere in your scrivener project.
@Axe, sorry, no thesaurus. That's why I always keep thesaurus.com open in my browser
@mrmeadors, if you're still using the old version, then you're missing out on the compiler. I used to fight with it all the time, and have to go back and fix things after export, but now it works perfectly to every format I've tried--rft (word), pdf, or straight to my kindle.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Hmmm, I was almost convinced to get a copy since I need a modern WP but if there is not a dictionary and/or thesaurus then I have to rethink it. My WP is old and sometimes cranky but it has both and they work pretty good... usually.
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
Thanks for this note. I'm going to give it a try. Though I still see myself as writing in Word and then using Scrivener as an organizing tool. I tried it with y-writer, but it was a little more complicated than it was worth. I'll see about this.
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
I use Scrivener too and love it. I use a separate "document" for each chapter, helps me organize things a bit. I know I'm only scratching the surface of what it offers, but I like the interface better than word, however I do end up compiling to word and moving to word to do final edits and formatting in the end. But I prefer writing in Scrivener.
Posted by mrmeadors (Member # 6378) on :
quote: @mrmeadors, if you're still using the old version, then you're missing out on the compiler. I used to fight with it all the time, and have to go back and fix things after export, but now it works perfectly to every format I've tried--rft (word), pdf, or straight to my kindle.
Oh, really? That would be my one complaint...that's awesome if they fixed it. I've been afraid to upgrade... Just nervous that they changed things too much or whatever. I haven't taken the time to really look at the new version and see the differences.
Posted by Tani (Member # 8608) on :
I've used Scrivener for a few years now, and don't miss Word at all.
My transition from the old to new version was seamless; I can still do everything I used to, and then some. I like the upgrade.
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
So far my only complaint with the windows version is occasional hangs/pauses that are likely explained by the fact that it's a beta version.
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
My system has shut down twice since I downloaded Scrivener. I have Windows XP. Since that's the only change I've made, I'm hoping that's what caused the problem. So I've uninstalled it. I'm just posting this in case anyone else has the same problem they'll know they're not the only one. I'm also going to run a deep virus scan tonight to check my system in cast that's not it.
Posted by mrmeadors (Member # 6378) on :
Yes, it was originally only for Mac, so this is the first time it's out for Windows--I would expect there to be a couple bugs. If you see anything wrong, I'm sure you can contact Keith--he'll be glad to hear of your reports, in order to make Scrivener a better product.
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
Yeah, I'm not surprised by some bugs. It is a Beta version and it's clear that's a possibility. I'll contact them once I'm more certain that's the cause. When I was installing (or shortly thereafter) I got a warning about a certain kind of file my security software detected. Because I assumed it was something that came in with Scrivener, I figured it was okay and said to ignore it. Maybe it wasn't so okay.
