Do you Scrivner? ~ by Leah St. James

Since revamping my WIP’s plot a few months ago, I’ve been getting some traction in the story...finally! I wrote an entirely new prologue (and sadly ditched the old one, even though I really loved the opening line. Argh.) I’ve worked through two-thirds of the first chapter, and I’m finally starting to “feel” this story again.

But mechanics-wise, digging through the guts of almost 75,000 words that I hadn’t really looked at in more than a year was daunting. Aside from forgetting what I’d written, even managing the files could pose a challenge – old chapters, new chapters..and what the heck happened to that description I wrote for what’s-his-name?

For me, Scrivener came to the rescue. I’d started the project in Scrivener and my files were there, just as I’d left them, ready to be broken down and remolded into a readable and hopefully (!!) entertaining story.

For those who haven’t heard of it, Scrivener is a writing application that builds all sorts of gadgets into its functionality intended to help writing productivity. It will format the pages for a novel, a screenplay....and I forget what else. It has sample templates for settings and character descriptions. And those are just the basics.

Even though I only use about a quarter of its functionality, I find what I do use so helpful in keeping my easily scattered brain (somewhat) in focus.

Here are a few of my favorite features. (Scrivener users out there, feel free to correct me if I’m getting any of this wrong!)

File Navigation
I write sequentially. I’m not one of those brainy plotter-types who can write the ending, then the beginning, or random sections in the middle and make them all work together. I have to advance the story in my head in the actual order it takes place.

Scrivener opens up to a view of your project with the files running down the left and the main work section on the right. (It’s probably customizeable but I haven’t tried it.) While I’m working, I have a snapshot view of the other chapters/sections in the order that I want them. 

Basic view when I open the app.

 
 
Even better, there is a “move” feature that allows me to reorder the files with couple simple clicks; the list’s view isn’t dependent on a file name or date or other file properties. To stop working on one file and move to another, again, it’s just a simple click, either from the left-hand list or a couple buttons on the top that let you move forward and back.

Side-by-side view of file list before and after moving my "Sunday" file.

Notes and Outlines
I tend to keep my stories in my head while I write. (Um...yeah...that’s how I end up going of track.) I find reading through paper notes annoying. But with Scrivener, I can create a cork board (bulletin board) for each chapter as an easy reference for whatever detail/information I think I might need. It could be a general plot point, character information or scene goals. It’s like a handy-dandy index card.  (Mostly I put the basic scene outline, but you can put notes in there, reminders–whatever you want.)

I can even split the screen so I can see the corkboard while I’m working on the scene. I can also split between two text files to copy/paste  from one to the other.

 Or I can view an image or website I’ve saved for reference. 
 

This is from a website; the link is displayed at the bottom.
I have all sorts of things stored in my "Research" folder.

And if I mess up and do the unthinkable–like inadvertently write over something I needed–Scrivener runs backups on the files so I can always retrieve an older version. When I’m done, I can “compile” the Scrivener file into another format (or simply copy/paste into the other application). I then email it to plot-master hubby and myself so it’s somewhere other than in my computer.

There are tons of other intriguing-sounding features that I learned about when I took the tutorial a few years ago but have NO CLUE how to use now. I think I’ll do myself a favor and retake that tutorial.

I’d love to hear from other Scrivener users on your favorite features. Or those who use other apps or tools, what do you find most useful?

If you haven’t tried Scrivener but would like to learn more, go here. There’s a free trial, and the full program is a pretty cheap (by software standards) $40. I believe it’s available for both Windows, Mac and iOS. (And no, I don't work for them. I just love their software.) :-)

Whatever you use, happy writing!

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Leah writes stories of mystery and romance, good and evil and the power of love. Currently her backlist is available for Kindle. Read more at leahstjames.com or visit her on Facebook where she mostly hangs out online. She loves chatting with readers and other authors!
   

Retirement? Hah! by Alison Henderson

When I retired two years ago, my sister told me not to worry about being bored. Stuff would materialize to fill my time before I knew it. Boy, was she right.

I’ve always considered myself an energetic person. Before retirement, I had worked full-time outside the home for decades while raising a family, managing a home, and writing four books. I expected that level of activity to continue, only now—without the outside job—I would be able to increase my writing output exponentially. Right? Wrong.

I neglected to consider the seductive power of slower mornings. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in more than nine years. (I’m sixty, so you can probably guess the cause.) The last few years I worked, that early-morning alarm became a snarling monster, out to sabotage my mood, my motivation, and my health. Of all the benefits of retirement, being able to grab an extra hour of sleep—no matter how fitful—is my favorite.

However, lolling around in the morning, reading the paper and having breakfast in my pj’s, comes with a price. Throw in a little gardening or an errand or two, and the morning has disappeared. Social media has to take some of the blame. When I retired, we moved from Minnesota to California. The weather is fantastic, but I lost my in-person social contacts. Also, due to the time difference, I feel like I’m behind the rest of the country by the time I sit down for breakfast. I want to catch up with old and new friends on social media and check out what’s happening in the world. More time gone.

And then there’s OG. He’s around all the time. When I worked and he was home alone, I didn’t worry too much about him. He was responsible for his own time. That’s just the way things were. Now I feel guilty if I don’t spend enough time with him, don’t give him enough interaction and attention. I used to come home from work, fix dinner, watch TV with him for an hour, and then retire to my office to write. I never felt guilty. I’m not sure why the dynamic is so different now, but it is. Maybe it’s because retirement is an adventure we’re facing together in a new place, with few social contacts aside from each other. I would tell OG to get out there, do something, make friends, except that he is by nature a grumpy, old hermit and would tell me to buzz off.

Fortunately, he likes to take a siesta every day after lunch. That’s my me time, my writing time. If I were good and wrote every day, those two or three hours would be sufficient to accomplish my writing goals, but during the upheaval of our relocation I let my writing slide. Now, it’s like I’ve fallen off the horse and forgotten how to get back on. Whenever a writer tells you how important a regular writing schedule is, LISTEN TO THEM. It is so much harder to get your groove back once you’ve lost it.

Last year, for the first time in five years, I didn’t have a new book out. I’m determined not to let that happen again. I know myself and my level of ambition and motivation—I’m not likely to want to do what it takes to publish two or three titles a year—but I do want to publish one book a year on a steady, routine basis. This year, SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS TALES is on target for a fall release, and I’ve started the second book in my female bodyguard series. I know I can finish that one next year if I muster the necessary self-discipline.

To help keep me on track, I’ve recently connected with two new critique partners, fellow Roses of Prose. I’m now responsible to other writers to produce pages on a regular basis for the first time in years. I’m excited by the possibilities. Wish me luck!

Alison

www.alisonhenderson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.henderson.33

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alsnhendersn

The Zen of Nathaniel Hawthorne by Alison Henderson

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Who knew Nathaniel Hawthorne was such a Zen guy? This sounds more like a quote from the Dalai Lama than one of America’s pre-eminent nineteenth century novelists, and the man who brought us The Scarlet Letter. However, in modern America, where busyness is often equated with happiness, it bears consideration.

We rush, rush, rush to accomplish as much as possible, but does accomplishment bring happiness? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.

Think about your writing career. Completing a piece of writing—whether a novel or a blog post—brings a certain sense of satisfaction. I don’t know any writer who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of having written. The journey has its ups and downs, but the ending is sweet. At that point, do you take enough time to “sit down quietly” so happiness “may alight upon you”?

Career success these days stresses quantity. We are told we must be prolific in order to succeed. Every successful marketing strategy I’ve seen stresses the importance of producing multiple books every year, year after year. The best example is the three-book series, released back-to-back in three successive months. Obviously, each book is not written in a month, but one would still need to crank them out pretty quickly in order to be ready to do it again next year, and the next.

If a writer is capable of this level of productivity, it’s an excellent way to build a readership. It requires dedication, organization, and a tremendous level of plain, old-fashioned hard work. But does it allow time to re-charge, to sit quietly and let happiness happen? For those of us who are not Nora Roberts, this can be a quick path to burn-out. We think the frantic pursuit of higher sales will bring happiness, but will it? We’re all in different places. Only you can answer that question for yourself.

I don’t have an answer, but I do have this photo of a hummingbird at my lemon tree. To capture this image, I had to be still, sit quietly, and simply wait. I invite you to take a few minutes from your daily rush, take a deep breath, and let a little happiness find you.

Alison

www.alisonhenderson.com

http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com