Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Janet McAdams on April 13, 2012 at 6:08pm

I've been checking out an organizing software named Scriveners. Anyone used it?

Permalink Reply by Katherine E. Hinkson on April 13, 2012 at 6:33pm

I have used several different methods since I started writing. I'm trying a new way to organize (outline) my newest story. I'm using a storyboard with 3x5 index cards. There are programs that emulate the hardcopy board I'm using. I have photos, skeleton keys and other items to help the creative process. I have several scene posted at this time, but I can see where two or three aren't going to fit. I'm leaving them up until I figure most of the scenes. Using the cards I can move them about, replace them or take them completely out. They might fit in another book. On the cards, I have the place described, the mood of the place and the emotions I want to portray. I also list which characters are in the scene, how the scene affects the characters, and how it will move the story along. I also can see where the story isn’t moving along. I can find back-story easier. (Editor/author, Sunny Frasier back-story shouldn’t be in the book before page 50.) I use different colors to distinguish POVs. I’m able to flesh out my characters, if I change something about my characters, I can make sure that the changes are consistent, if the changes happened in scene ten, that scene three is same. Blue eyes changed to brown and flowered wallpaper doesn’t change to flocked four scenes later. I also see the arc, my character growing from self-serving to compassionate and helpful. I can see where the action is fast paced and where it’s slow. I think I may have missed a few points, but this has been a fun way to see my story materialize.

Permalink Reply by Pooja Pillai on June 21, 2012 at 5:50am

Wow Katherine...I see how your process can be very useful for me to adopt. My style at the moment is just too messy and instinctive. Do you prepare these cues before you actually begin writing at all? I tried doing an outline once, but I lost the mood in which the story gripped me and I simply couldn't write anymore.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on April 13, 2012 at 6:56pm

Hi, Janet,

I keep a lot of notes and fleeting thoughts in a little green notebook, but I also have some files stored on my thumb drive.  The compute files, I just keep them numbered with the titles and a number for each newly edited document.  I'm sure there are more organized ways of doing things, though.  This little method works for me, so far, though.  Good luck!  :)

Permalink Reply by A. Michelle Navarro on April 13, 2012 at 10:17pm

About a year ago I went to Office Max and bought 3-3 tiered project organizer bins. Each "drawer" had 3 removable totes that I could keep each of my story chapters, outlines, notes etc. I just labeled the outside with the working title and grab the handle to select. They stack on top of each other, too. I also have Microsoft Office 2007 <still contemplating getting 2010> which has One Note. Microsoft has online versions in a "cloud" so I can work anywhere Bing is loaded.

 

This is the compact version, not sure the ones I have are available but I just love them. I just pull one out and start working.

 

Namaste,

A. Michelle

 

Attachments:

• Tote.jpg, 10 KB

Permalink Reply by Lynne Favreau on April 14, 2012 at 5:57am

Hahaha! This is what stopped me cold writing my first novel. The research started to get out of hand and I had no idea what to do with it. This is what my question is for every writer I talk to.

I use Storymill, to write, keep track of research, make notes. I drag photos into it for inspiration. I jot down idea in the car in a steno notebook. Sometimes I use index cards and write out scenes but I always end up ditch them. I sketch on graph paper anything I need to see-like maps of a town.

I save everything once a week to a stick, and to my Google docs and my husband backs up my whole drive—somewhere.

I save each novel separately, in that file I save folders for each weekly save. I'm bad about saving every revision.

Permalink Reply by Janet McAdams on April 14, 2012 at 6:23am

Storymill looks useful, Lynne.

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on April 14, 2012 at 12:25pm

I outline, then make notes, then brainstorm scenes and keep those in a folder on the PC {minimum of 3 full back ups} and some notes in notebooks.

Permalink Reply by Janet McAdams on April 16, 2012 at 5:23pm

Thanks, Robin. I think I'm going with Scrivener. I took the video tour and it just seems right for the way my brain works -- I really like the virtual corkboard.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Draus on May 25, 2012 at 7:14pm

I've been using Scrivener for a month, and I really like it. The price is right, and the flexibility appeals to me--I love being able to play with the compiler, put my WIP in several different formats for saving, and the virtual index cards are handy.

Permalink Reply by Rosalie Morales Kearns on May 27, 2012 at 11:23am

I love Scrivener; used it for the most recent draft of my novel and it made everything much easier. Very reasonably priced, and as I recall they let you have a free trial run if you're undecided.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Draus on May 29, 2012 at 7:41pm

Yes! The free trial is 30 days of use--they don't have to be consecutive. So if, like me, you write longhand on the train during the week and only sit down to type up your work on Sundays, those 30 days of use pass very, very slowly.

And if you were a NanoWrimo participant this year (2011), there is a 50% off discount.

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