On the subject of writing books, one of the common ebook writing functions is a bit of software program known as Scrivener. In contrast to Phrase, which is designed for everybody, Scrivener is designed for authors. Utilizing Phrase to write down a ebook is like making an attempt to screw in a screw with a swiss military knife. It’s potential, however it’s a lot simpler with an precise screwdriver.
Likelihood is you’ve got Scrivener in your laptop, and chances are high good that you’re solely utilizing a fraction of the facility that Scrivener gives. Shopping for scrivener and never utilizing all of the options is like shopping for a Tesla simply since you want a strategy to cost your mobile phone. Whereas a Tesla is a good way to cost a cellphone, it does excess of that.
Scrivener has dozens of hiddens options that may assist you write higher books quicker. So, what are they?
As we speak we’re joined by David Lee Martin, one of many prime Scrivener gurus. He’s the creator of Scrivener Unleashed – a course that has helped 1000’s of authors put Scrivener to higher use.
David Lee Martin, welcome to the Novel Advertising and marketing Podcast!
David: Properly, it’s nice to be with you, Thomas. I’m glad to assist individuals recover from that obvious mountain that stands of their means relating to utilizing Scrivener.
Why is Scrivener So Widespread With Authors?
Thomas: I ought to begin off by asking… Why is Scrivener so common with authors?
David: Scrivener tends to work on a way more granular foundation than a software like Microsoft Phrase. As a substitute of getting one lengthy doc that goes on and on, Scrivener lets you break every part down into folders, chapters, and even sections inside chapters.
I wish to assume that Scrivener helps me construct a ebook, quite than merely write a ebook. After I write a narrative or create a ebook, typically the concepts don’t essentially circulate so as. As I’m writing, I uncover that this specific a part of the story would match higher earlier within the ebook or perhaps later within the story.
After we’re creating these tales, we truly enter into that world in the identical means the reader enters in. And typically, we ourselves are stunned as we’re writing. We wish to discover out what occurs subsequent.
However as we study extra in regards to the story and the characters, we could wish to return and develop some character traits or nuances into the story earlier on. If we’re writing in a linear trend, that is troublesome to do.
However with Scrivener, as a result of every chapter or scene turns into its personal constructing block of the story, it’s a lot simpler to return and make changes to your storyline. You possibly can simply seize sections and transfer them to totally different locations within the circulate of your storytelling or your ebook constructing. It makes the entire means of story crafting and world constructing extra artistic, fluid and versatile.
How Can Scrivener Assist Me Arrange My Writing and Analysis?
Thomas: A little bit later we’ll focus on how Scrivener might help you write higher and write quicker. However earlier than you possibly can write higher or quicker, you want to manage your writing.
Let’s speak in regards to the organizational a part of Scrivener. Scrivener is de facto sturdy in serving to with group. What are among the alternative ways which you can manage your writing and analysis in Scrivener?
David: With Scrivener, every part you want to your story could be saved inside one Scrivener challenge. It’s all saved in a single place. You possibly can create folders inside your Scrivener ebook doc.
Thomas: This isn’t like a folder in your laptop with plenty of phrase paperwork in it. Every Scrivener doc can have a number of folders to your analysis, chapters, character bios, and so on.
David: Precisely. You’ve gotten your major folder, the place you’re truly constructing and writing your ebook. Then you possibly can create a analysis folder the place you possibly can drag photographs, MP3s, movies, internet hyperlinks, or different paperwork. If it might probably sit in a folder in your laptop, it is going to be capable of sit in a folder in your Scrivener challenge.
Thomas: Once you’re writing your ebook and also you come throughout one thing you’ll have to reference while you’re enhancing, you possibly can embed a hyperlink to that data proper into your doc. For instance, you can create a map for a battle scene you might be writing, add an image into the Analysis folder, after which hyperlink to that picture out of your major writing doc.
Chances are you’ll be the one one who sees the horrible drawing of this battle, nevertheless it helps you retain the troops in the best positions. Scrivener makes it very easy to tug up that picture. And never only for you, however anyone else enhancing or accessing that Scrivener doc.
David: Additionally, with the Scrivener dashboard, you aren’t restricted to only one merchandise exhibiting at a time. You might have your writing doc open on one half of your display screen, whereas on the opposite half of the display screen you’ve got your analysis paperwork or your character sheets, or your location sheets. And it’s all saved inside one Scrivener challenge.
Does Scrivener Save A number of Revisions?
David: One other factor Scrivener helps with is revisions. I’m positive lots of you’ve got labeled your Phrase Docs, My-Guide-Last.doc, or My-Guide-Last-Last-Last.doc, or My-Guide-Last-for-Actual-I-Promise-.doc. We’ve all performed it.
However while you’re writing with Scrivener, the software program saves a number of variations of your ebook as you construct it. And you’ll all the time return to a earlier model. Possibly you’ve got an amazing thought late at night time after pizza and a glass of wine. You assume, “That is it. That is the important thing to the story opening up.” And also you pound it out on the keyboard.
And then you definately rise up the subsequent morning, learn what you’ve written and assume, “What planet did this individual come from?” Properly, with Scrivener, you possibly can truly revert again to a earlier model, earlier than you ruined your story.
Thomas: A traditional mistake many authors have made is while you lower a bit of textual content and also you imply to stick it some place else in your doc, however then you definately overlook. And also you’re afraid it’s gone eternally. With Scrivener, you possibly can return in time to a model of your doc earlier than that textual content was lower. You possibly can copy it, paste it, after which save that textual content. So that you don’t should rewrite it.
Utilizing “Snapshots” in Scrivener
David: One factor that I actually love about Scrivener is one thing known as “snapshots”. You possibly can spotlight a portion of your writing and take a “snapshot”. So when you’re going to make some revisions, and also you’re unsure whether or not it’s going to work or not, you possibly can actually take a snapshot of your doc and that snapshot will likely be saved inside the Scrivener challenge. After which you possibly can evaluate totally different snapshots or parts of your writing facet by facet.
Scrivener saves your recordsdata each 25 seconds or one thing loopy like that. And each time you shut your Scrivener challenge, it’s going to save a backup in addition to saving the file itself. So that you don’t ever want to fret about shedding your work.
Some time again, a buddy of mine known as me in tears. Her Mac had fallen over backwards off her desk. She thought she’d misplaced a 100 thousand phrase novel.
It was good to have the ability to wipe the tears from her eyes and inform her that each one her work had been saved as a backup. I felt just like the superhero coming in, in his Scrivener Cape.
Utilizing the “Corkboard” in Scrivener
Thomas: One other organizational software is the Corkboard. It is a function of Scrivener that has no comparability in Microsoft phrase. David, what’s the Corkboard and the way would anyone use it to assist keep organized?
David: I keep in mind the best way we used to arrange our writing, again within the “old skool.” Folks would get small index playing cards or sticky notes, and write the chapter titles or scene concepts on totally different playing cards. They might pin all their playing cards to a wall. Every card would have a synopsis of the chapter or the scene. After which they might transfer these playing cards round to arrange and construct their story. Possibly a few of you continue to do it like that. Visually organizing your story lets you see the large image and perceive how your plot will circulate and develop. However there’s a greater means. Scrivener lets you create a digital wall of sticky notes.
What are the Completely different Varieties of Web page Views in Scrivener?
David: There are a selection of various views that you need to use inside Scrivener. The primary is named “Scrivenings”, which is what we might take into account the standard phrase doc look with simply the phrases on the web page.
Subsequent is the Corkboard view, which supplies you these little playing cards on a digital board. Every card has the chapter title and any synopsis that you simply’ve put in there. You may as well put photos on the playing cards.
After which there’s an Define View. On this view, you possibly can see the chapter titles and chapter statistics. What number of phrases are in that chapter? What number of characters are in that chapter? You may as well set objectives for every chapter.
What’s the Finest Side of Utilizing Scrivener to Arrange Your Guide?
David: I’m not naturally an organized individual. My mind can soar from the top of the ebook to the start of the ebook, to the center of the ebook inside a nanosecond. For me, one of the best a part of Scrivener is with the ability to pull all of my analysis, my ideas, my concepts and my notes straight into the Scrivener challenge. I really like with the ability to construct the ebook in a really versatile, artistic means.
Thomas: Relying what sort of ebook you’re writing, this organizational function could also be much more helpful. When you’re writing a romance that takes place in current day in your hometown, you might not have quite a lot of analysis to do. However when you’re writing an epic fantasy that takes place in a very totally different world with totally different creatures and an advanced magic system, you’ll want a extra strong system of group for retaining all of it straight.
What I like about Scrivener is which you can construct your individual “Wiki” to your complete story world. You possibly can construct your individual encyclopedia. And all of it lives proper there in that one Scrivener doc.
When you’re writing a nonfiction ebook and you need to gather plenty of analysis, you possibly can hold all of it organized with out it cluttering up the ultimate product.
David: Lots of people will write in a sequence. Or they are going to write particular person tales inside a world they’ve created. And the good factor is, you possibly can truly drag and drop gadgets from one challenge into one other.
You’ve performed all of that work of world constructing and character constructing. You’ve bought all your analysis recordsdata and character sheets. Now, you possibly can merely open that first Scrivener challenge, then open one other challenge beside it and drag and drop something you need from that earlier challenge into the brand new challenge.
How Can Scrivener Assist Me be a Higher Author?
Thomas: We’ve been speaking about utilizing Scrivener to remain organized. Now let’s speak about how you need to use Scrivener to make your writing higher. It has quite a lot of actually enjoyable instruments that you simply wouldn’t discover in Microsoft phrase.
Like a “Identify Generator,” for instance. David, inform us in regards to the Identify Generator. Will it assist me provide you with higher names for my fictional characters?
David: I actually love the Identify Generator. One in every of my major makes use of of the title generator was to generate pen names. I truly run a publishing firm. One of the enjoyable makes use of for me was creating wild and fantastic pen names that I’ve now revealed beneath.
You possibly can inform the title generator to provide a listing of simply feminine names or simply male names. Or perhaps names that start with a sure letter.
Thomas: There are some nations in which there’s a sure record of names that folks are allowed to offer their youngsters. Any title that’s exterior of that record is an unlawful title. For instance, Germany has a listing of authorised names. So, if in case you have a German character and also you wish to have a authorized German title, you need to use the title generator. It’ll solely generate legitimate German names.
David: One other helpful function of the title generator is you possibly can truly import your individual record of names. When you write fantasy, and also you’re creating wild, outlandish names to your characters, you possibly can truly import a listing of first and final names. Scrivener can then churn out a brand new record of names in all kinds of various iterations.
Find out how to Use the Linguistic Focus Software in Scrivener
Thomas: One of many instruments in Scrivener that you simply’ve most likely by no means used earlier than is the “Linguistic Focus” software. The title itself has most likely scared you away from ever utilizing this function. But it surely’s truly very helpful.
The Linguistic Focus software lets you spotlight each occasion of a selected a part of speech, like all of the nouns or adverbs. It is a useful gizmo to make use of when you’re making an attempt to cut back the adverbs in your writing. With simply a few clicks, it’s going to spotlight each adverb in your manuscript. Then you possibly can undergo and consider if that adverb actually must be in that sentence.
David: Writers usually tend to overuse sure phrases. The Linguistic Focus software helps you to see at a look if there’s a selected phrase you employ too usually. You possibly can then both eradicate that phrase altogether, or use the inbuilt thesaurus in Scrivener to exchange the phrase with a greater one.
Thomas: That’s proper. You’ll actually see your writing with complete new eyes while you use the Linguistic Focus view. One other means to make use of this software is while you wish to analyze the dialogue in your writing. You possibly can toggle the view so you might be solely seeing direct quotes all through your manuscript. You possibly can see when you’re utilizing too many attribution tags or when you want extra motion tags.
This software can rework your use of verbs as nicely. Everyone knows it’s higher to make use of a powerful verb than a weak verb. Or worse, we attempt to add adverbs to make our verbs stronger. Hopefully most of us discovered that in class. It’s in each ebook on writing. However there’s a distinction between realizing that you want to do it, and having all your adverbs soar off the web page saying, “Hey, have a look at me.”
You then notice you’re not doing in addition to you thought you have been. Once you use this Linguistic Focus function, you’ll have a stronger manuscript going into your edit, which then helps the entire remainder of the method.
Utilizing the Textual content Tidying Software in Scrivener
Thomas: One other writing software that’s constructed into Scrivener is Textual content Tidying. Textual content tidying is a software that helps you clear up the sort setting of your ebook. Some individuals will press the area bar as soon as after a interval, and a few individuals press it twice. Most model guides name for only one area after a interval.
Scrivener can undergo your complete doc or a number of a doc, and standardize it. When you’re going to do two areas after a interval, you want to do it persistently all through your complete ebook. You may as well standardize the quantity of area between paragraphs, main tabs, and so on.
Generally while you begin writing in Phrase and then you definately copy and paste into Scrivener, your formatting could also be all around the map. Nonetheless, there are different instruments which may be higher for this textual content tidying sort perform. I believe Atticus is fairly sturdy at this and Vellum can also be actually good.
What Software program do You Use to Format Your Last Book?
Thomas: Scrivener does have the performance to format and export book recordsdata. However Vellum might be a greater software for that. What’s your means of formatting your closing ebook?
David: I used to make use of Scrivener for every part, however now I do use Vellum for my ebook formatting. Scrivener actually is an multi function sort of software program — from the very inception of your thought proper by to spitting out a print-ready PDF or EPUB file.
The function that codecs books for print or digital distribution is named the Compiler. As a substitute of making a digital model of the ebook after which a totally totally different model for print, Scrivener can produce a number of sorts of codecs out of your unique manuscript. You might create a manuscript that you’d ship to an agent or to a publishing home, or a print prepared file that you simply add on to KDP.
So, it’s potential to arrange your complete workflow, from starting to finish, in Scrivener. And if that’s interesting to you, that’s high-quality. However that’s not what I do now.
Now, I construct the ebook in Scrivener. I then export it from Scrivener as a DocX, after which drag and drop that file into Vellum. I exploit Vellum to format the ebook.
Thomas: That’s what I like to recommend as nicely. Though Scrivener can generate book recordsdata for indie authors, I believe both Atticus (when you’re operating home windows), or Vellum (when you’re operating Mac), are higher instruments to make use of for formatting. It’s value the additional funding. Scrivener is de facto sturdy is within the writing instruments. But it surely’s greatest to make use of different instruments for formatting and publishing.
I lately came upon that Scrivener gives you statistics on what probably the most continuously used phrases are in your complete manuscript. It’ll depend up what number of occasions you employ a favourite phrase or phrase. It has quite a lot of actually cool options like that. However relating to producing the book, instruments like Atticus or Vellum gives you a greater expertise.
David: Scrivener is worlds aside from most different instruments. I like it. Once you put the 2 items of software program collectively — Scrivener for writing, Vellum or Atticus for formatting — they’re actually simply energy twins and make the entire means of writing pleasant.
How Can Scrivener Assist Me Write Sooner?
Thomas: We talked about how Scrivener might help you keep organized, in addition to enhance your writing. Earlier than we go, I wish to speak about the way it might help you write quicker.
The primary function that attracted me to Scrivener again in 2006, was Focus Mode. On the time, this was a revolutionary idea. Virtually everybody has copied this function now. In Focus Mode, you possibly can put Scrivener right into a view the place it hides all distractions and it blacks out your complete display screen count on for the manuscript you’re engaged on.
And I believe it even turns off spellcheck. It recreates the typewriter expertise the place there’s nothing to do in your laptop however write. Solely an writer would recognize that. For lots of writers, if there’s any distraction by any means, they’re going to get off monitor. However with Focus Mode, you possibly can disguise these distractions. You possibly can simply sit down and write, which in the end helps you write quicker. But it surely additionally helps you write higher as a result of you possibly can keep within the “zone”. That’s when your greatest writing comes — while you’re within the “zone.”
Utilizing the Goal Characteristic in Scrivener
Thomas: One other function it has that helps you write quicker is Writing Targets. Let’s say you’ve got a 50,000 phrase manuscript due in a month and a half. You’ve already written 5,000 phrases. What number of phrases do you want to write at this time to remain on monitor?
Scrivener can determine that out for you. It could assist you monitor your writing objectives. It could monitor by phrases, or pages. It’s a very highly effective software for serving to you recognize whether or not you’re heading in the right direction or not. One of many issues that separates skilled—historically revealed authors who hold getting contracts—from those who solely get revealed right here and there, is whether or not or not they will reliably hit their deadlines.
Utilizing Scrivener to Dictate Your Manuscript
Thomas: The ultimate function we’re going to speak about at this time is dictation. Do you know that Scrivener integrates with the dictation software program in your laptop? Lots of people don’t notice this, however each Home windows and Mac now include free dictation software program, the place you simply speak into your laptop and it turns it into textual content.
You don’t should pay for Dragon. Now, you possibly can simply speak to Siri. Siri is about pretty much as good if not higher than Dragon at changing textual content into speech. And when you allow that in your laptop, you possibly can speak straight to Scrivener. It’ll then flip the audio of your voice into transcription which you can edit proper there in your doc.
For the individuals who write actually quick—the people who find themselves writing a ebook a month—dictation is nearly all the time part of their workflow. For one factor, writing a ebook a month is tough in your wrists. But additionally, most individuals can speak quite a bit quicker than they sort. A standard speaking tempo is nearly as quick because the quickest typists.
David: Dictation expertise now could be so superior. Dictation takes just a little little bit of time to get used to. It’s a discovered talent in the identical means that writing is a talent that should be discovered, practiced and perfected.
However when you get used to it, you’ll marvel why you didn’t do it sooner.
Thomas: I consider for each Home windows and Mac, dictation instruments pressure you to place within the punctuation. Whereas when you pay for among the on-line instruments like Descript or Sonix, these will truly put the punctuation in for you. They’re just a little bit extra superior, however you need to pay per hour for that transcription. Dictation software program has come a good distance.
What Different Software program Instruments Can I Use for Dictation?
David: Have you ever used otter.ai earlier than?
Thomas: Otter.ai is nice. Pleased Scribe is nice. There are a bunch of instruments which might be actually good. Half of them are simply reselling Amazon’s text-to-speech. So half of them are secretly powered by Alexa.
Scrivener Doesn’t Should Be Sophisticated
Thomas: We’re nearly out of time, however what’s one widespread delusion about Scrivener that you simply’d wish to debunk?
David: The most important delusion about Scrivener is that it’s troublesome to make use of. It’s not troublesome to make use of if you’ll give your self about one hour to familiarize your self with the fundamentals of the software program.
Thomas: You simply have to leap in and begin pushing buttons. Discover out what every part does. Identical to a baby exploring a brand new toy. Simply play with it.
David: I’ve bought just a little booklet that I can provide to the listeners that can assist them study the fundamentals of Scrivener in half an hour. It’s a PDF that can present you quite a lot of the identical issues that we spoke about at this time. It’ll assist you break down among the fundamentals.
And truthfully, inside half-hour you’ll really feel very assured to open up Scrivener and start to discover additional. I’ve additionally bought plenty of programs, with full variations for each Mac and Home windows in addition to the iOS app.
If anybody want to take a look at my programs and quick monitor their Scrivener profession, they will soar over to www.DavidLeeMartin.internet/Scrivener. Once you take a look at, use the promo code NOVEL, and it’ll take 50 p.c off%. As a result of I really like Thomas a lot. He’s such an incredible assist to us all.
Thomas: Yeah, thanks. I’ll have hyperlinks to the Scrivener in 30 Minutes starter information and in addition to all three of these programs, in addition to the coupon code.
I extremely encourage you, when you’re going to make use of Scrivener, it’s vital to spend money on coaching. A little bit bit of coaching at first of your profession can prevent lots of of hours of frustration. That is true no matter what software you employ.
A number of months in the past I did an episode about Atticus, which is one other actually good software.
There are such a lot of higher alternate options to Microsoft phrase on the market. All of them have totally different strengths and weaknesses. Scrivener is stronger within the writing space, nevertheless it’s weaker in collaboration or publishing than Atticus.
So you can begin off in Scrivener and then you definately kick it to Atticus. They’re not costly. They’re all cheaper than Phrase, particularly in the long term.
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