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Post by yrdeni on Nov 2, 2012 8:15:57 GMT
I'm using Scrivener ( www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php) to write my NaNoWriMo novel this year. I have completely fallen in love with it! I did all my novel prep (basically 'index cards' for each chapter and some character notes) in Scrivener. My favourite features so far are: - Full Screen Mode: This mode puts the writing bit in the middle of the screen and blacks out the rest. It means you don't get distracted by anything else while you're working (I also put my phone in another room, which helps).
- Typewriter Mode: On by default, you type in the middle of the screen and the text moves up. If you're like me, you'll have always been secretly harbouring an annoyance with Word because you end up consistently typing right at the bottom of the screen. Also, Scrivener doesn't do pages until you compile, so you just keep typing without worrying about page breaks and stuff
- The cork-board is pretty amazing - you can view all your index cards for a chapter or scene or for your whole novel manuscript, laid out on a cork-board style interface. Great for getting an overview and diving in and out of different bits.
Disclaimer: I'm not an employee or affiliate of Scrivener, I just bloody love the thing. Who else uses this marvellous software? If you don't use it, what are you using to write your stories?
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Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 2, 2012 10:54:09 GMT
I downloaded Scrivener when I won NaNo last year. I played around with it, but then haven't done anything since. I did like it, but I didn't actually touch my novel from last year, so it was a bit redundant!
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Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 2, 2012 10:54:28 GMT
Oh, and I just use plain old MSWord to write mine!
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Post by limebirdvanessa on Nov 2, 2012 12:34:10 GMT
I use 'My Writing Spot', also known as 'My Writing Nook'. It's very basic, doesn't have any fancy features, but you don't have to download anything, it's free, and it's all online so you can access it from anywhere, but you can easily save it to your own computer as you go along (which I do quite regularly to make sure I have a back-up!). It gives you a live word count as you go along in the bottom corner, so that's handy for NaNo! I've got a feeling it was one of the Limebirds who mentioned that they used a while ago, can't remember which one though!
I'd like to get Scrivener at some point though, I've heard such good things about it!
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Post by ottabelle on Nov 2, 2012 16:23:02 GMT
I bought Scrivener... and never used it. D:
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Post by yrdeni on Nov 3, 2012 18:42:09 GMT
I'm just so happy I found Scrivener and don't have to use Word any more! Very surprised I seem to be the only one. I'm never going back. Also, I save my Scrivener project to Dropbox, so I get the benefit of having a constant backup to the cloud, plus it's available both at home and work, so I can write during lunchtimes (Yes, my Scrivener license allows me to use the thing on multiple machines).
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Post by limebirdwriters on Nov 5, 2012 13:49:16 GMT
I normally email myself my word documents, so I can work at home and lunchtimes! I dunno, I think it's because I'm so used to word, I like it to write in!
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Post by dennismlane on Nov 5, 2012 14:35:48 GMT
I <B>LOVE</b> Scrivener! I downloaded the free trial this year and all of my prep is in there.
There are photos and drawings, even (for mood and one particular scene later on) an mp3 of someone playing a sheep bone flute.
I love the index cards and they really helped me to flesh out parts of my plot that were a bit thin. Also I like the way that you can work on a scene in isolation. It really seems to help me concentrate on the writing rather than compulsively going back and reading/ editing. That comes later!
I still work on my phone when away from my office (its amazing how many words you can write in the loo!) but as soon as I'm back at my desk I shoot the words over to Scrivener.
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Post by 4amWriter on Nov 5, 2012 15:21:37 GMT
I also use Scrivener, but I don't take advantage of all the features it offers. I am writing my NaNo novel on it, and I do like having the chapters separated. Hopefully after NaNo I'll be able to do more with Scrivener to really make the most of it.
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Post by yrdeni on Nov 5, 2012 18:23:43 GMT
Dennis, I'm so glad I'm not the only one I had a 30 day trial, but actually purchased the software on day 2! Kate, F11 Fullscreen is the feature I love more than anything. Advanced bits like coloured index cards are great, but I'm kept so happy with unbroken pages and typewriter mode! Everyone else is just missing out
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Post by ottabelle on Nov 9, 2012 0:52:57 GMT
I really need to learn to work it... I have so many papers and such everwhere.
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bonusparts
Junior Limebird Member
Rocket Cat!
Posts: 29
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Post by bonusparts on Nov 21, 2012 15:23:26 GMT
I like what I've been able to do with Scrivener, but I also like the freedom of just typing with LibreOffice. It's what I'm used to, yes, but I think Scrivener is designed more for someone who does not write in as linear a fashion as I tend to do. (I very rarely jump around in a story or book, but rather write straight through, then fill in any additional or side bits in editing.)
It also takes up more room on my server when I do my uploads, than a standard text file. That's more because of all the linked functionality, though, not a comment on any shortcomings. It's a neat program, and a nice piece of swag from winning NaNo in 2011, but it's also a lot of extra brain work for me to write in scenes only.
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