Scrivener to the Rescue!!

Posted by Aug 18 2011, 1:01 am in , , ,

Hello, my name is Elisa, and I’m a recovering pantser.

Kate’s post yesterday was all about taking not-so-scary baby steps towards becoming JUST ENOUGH of a plotter to actually finish books. Excellent advice, there. I intend to follow it in the future.

Well, what if you’ve already finished a book (seat-of-the-pants-style) and it’s um…kinda messy…and you’re trying to clean up the plot so it works well enough to sell?

Since I’m in confession mode, I’m going to share my embarrassing secret: it’s about my Golden Heart manuscript, which finaled in 2009 and won the Golden Heart when it finaled again in 2010. Apparently, the book opens really well, as evidenced by a heap of other contest wins and requests for the full. It also, apparently, ends really well, according to the one editor and the couple of agents I’ve shown the whole thing too (whilst quietly dragging my feet on those other full requests….)

Strong opening, strong close….and a bit of a swamp problem in the middle.

Call me stubborn, but I’ve been sitting on the thing, reworking it and rethinking it and revising it, through three or four major overhauls, for TWO BLOODY YEARS.

(*Elisa hangs head in shame, nurses ulcer*)

The book kept getting stronger, but no matter how many times I read through it and made changes, there was still something not quite right in the plot trajectory.

See, I wrote the book as a total newbie, with no clue about “Major Act One Turning Points” or “Big Honking Things in the Middle” or “Big Black Moments.” With much help from my Ruby Sisters (see Hope Ramsay’s recent posts on the BHT and the BBM) and a shelf full of books on writing, I’ve got a pretty good grasp of those things for future books.

But what about this one? The swampy one?

Can This Manuscript Be Saved???

I knew that to fix it I needed to look at the overall structure of the thing, but I can’t hold 369 pages in my head all at once.

People advised me to thumbtack a big roll of paper to a wall and jot down plot points on Post-It notes and graph out my plot for analysis and revision that way. I love the tactile / visual aspect of that plan (I can picture myself moving the Post-Its around merrily, wearing pearls and spiffy high heels!!) and I’m sure it would work great if I could put it into practice.

Unfortunately, my house is the size of a kleenex box (a very cluttered kleenex box with zero free wall space and perpetual drifts of dog hair) and my kids constantly grab at whatever I’m working on. Big rolls of paper and Post-It notes and nobody bothering Mommy while she works? Yeah, that’ll happen …right after I enjoy a quiet afternoon in the back yard lounge chair drinking gin and tonics while my kids clean the bathrooms for me. (Excuse me while I wheeze with helpless laughter.)

Other people advised me to write a couple sentences about each scene and print those sentences out and process the plot arcs that way. Certainly more manageable than trying to think about 369 pages all at once, but it lacked the tactile / “move the Post-It notes around” advantage of Suggested Method #1. Looking at all those sentences on flat paper sent my brain into sludge mode.

I was feeling really stuck.

And then I found something!! (Here comes the testimonial part…for which I, unfortunately, will receive no remuneration whatsoever. Damn.)

I found Scrivener!

Okay, okay, I know a lot of you know all about Scrivener, and probably use all the wonderful bells and whistles for all sorts of plot-crazy acrobatic maneuvers. And I bow down to you. You can ignore the rest of this post and go have a gin and tonic yourself, since I haven’t even scratched the surface of all that stuff.

Me, I’m all about the corkboard.

For those of you who don’t know Scrivener, the corkboard is a simple but ingenious little tool for draining plot swamps. And it’s saving my manuscript!!

The corkboard lets you create digital index cards on a corkboard, write a little bit on each, and move them around to your heart’s content. Same basic concept as the Post-It notes, but dog-hair and grubby-kid-paw free….and these cards won’t blow away and end up under the refrigerator with the old Hot-Wheels and lost Barbie shoes.

Here’s what it looks like, in a Moby Dick version created by Kirk McElhearn in a May 2011 article in MacWorld:

 

 

 

One of the advantages of Scrivener’s corkboard is that you can’t fit much writing on each index card (at least not if you want to keep your whole plot visible at once). You have about the number of characters you have for a tweet, or a short Facebook status update. It forces you to boil things down to the essentials.

It’s such a simple thing, but for me, making one index card per chapter and condensing the essential action down to a few words let me see the whole darn plot in a manageable frame.

And I could play with the parts, moving things around (simple drag-and-drop), deleting index cards, inserting new ones where something new needed to happen.

And suddenly the sloppy, swampy, sludgy mess I couldn’t think my way through became mentally manageable. I’d read that manuscript over and over and over without quite being able to unknot it, but now the problems I couldn’t put my finger on were GLARINGLY OBVIOUS.

And, better yet, they were FIXABLE.

There was a big long stretch in the middle (surprise, surprise) in which the hero and heroine’s mode of relating to one another was too static. And I could see very clearly whether or not I’d hit the Big Honking Thing in the Middle and the Black Moment as hard as I could (I hadn’t yet, but I easily saw how I could.)

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

HURRAY!!! Listen to the sound of my happy dancing!

What about you? Do you have a swamp to drain? Will the Magic Corkboard work for you? I make no promises, but I’d say it’s worth a try!!

You can download a free trial of the Mac version of Scrivener at http://www.literatureandlatte.com

The Windows version (the one I used) is still in Beta testing, so the free trial is your only option for now. (It’s supposed to be available for purchase in September.) You can find it at
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivenerforwindows/

Oh, and if you “won” NaNoWriMo last year, you can purchase your copy for half price! (Check your winner goodies over at nanowrimo.org).

If you’re interested in learning more about Scrivener, you can check out video tutorials at http://literatureandlatte.com/video.php.

Anybody else had a good experience with Scrivener? How about other organizational programs for writers?

53 Comments

Comments

53 Responses to “Scrivener to the Rescue!!”

  1. Laurie Kellogg says:
    August 18, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I didn’t even know about it, Elisa. However, it sounds wonderful. I have a PHYSICAL cork board that I bought EIGHT freaking months ago still waiting for my hubby to hang on the wall for me. I haven’t pushed the issue because since I got my laptop, I rarely work in my office anymore. This program would be great since it will be on my laptop. When Scrivener comes out in September, I will have to download it for my birthday. Thanks for giving us a heads-up.

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 11:58 am

      You can download a free trial of the beta version right now–it’s so close to its official release, I think most of the bugs have been worked out at this point, and you can update to the improved version when it comes out.

      Reply
  2. Anne Barton says:
    August 18, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Elisa, I’m still chuckling over the gin & tonics thing. If only! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the links and the cool screen shot. I just downloaded the beta version and am looking forward to playing around with it.

    A while back, I made a plotting board (using one of those tri-fold science fair posters and Post-its) and it really helped me view the novel at a glance BUT it was so labor intensive. Once I got all the scenes laid out, I was like, Hmmm. I finally got this thing looking good, I’m not messing with it anymore. Which kinda defeats the purpose!

    The Post-its on Scrivener could be just the thing. So glad to hear it’s helping with your GH story because I can’t wait to read it. :)

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      Thanka, Anne! I’m looking forward to seeing it finished myself, LOL.

      Of course, school starts again tomorrow, so my available writing time is about to plummet, unfortunately. As a fellow teacher, I’m sure you know what I mean! (That’s why I got here so late this morning…I had every intention of waking up at my school-year time of 5:30 so tomorrow won’t be such a shock to my system, but my deep lizard brain decided to take advantage of my last chance to sleep in…)

      Reply
  3. Vivi Andrews says:
    August 18, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Congrats on the clarity, Elisa!

    I’ve never used Scrivener, but I might have to look into it. I have sticky notes covering the bookcases around my desk, but when I’m traveling they’re a bit harder to see from a distance of a few thousand miles. Bet that Scrivener cork board would come in handy on the road. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 12:07 pm

      The portability aspect is nice!

      I move around to lots of different computers during the day, so having it on a flashdrive and on my email lets me “carry” my corkboard everywhere.

      Reply
  4. Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
    August 18, 2011 at 8:46 am

    My stomach is roiling, my knees are knocking, and my head is screaming, “NO, NO, Not another program to learn!”

    With the escalating speed with which technology is evolving, I’ve become a bit of a techno-phobe. Okay, more than a bit. My brain doesn’t do warp-drive very well—at least not on the learning technology front. It needs time to assimilate, dissect, and understand. However, within that time, something new has already rendered the “new” technology obsolete!

    Reminds me of my dad saying he wouldn’t buy a color TV until they finished refining the technology. Had Mom not put her foot down, he’d still not have one!

    I don’t have grubby-handed youngsters—much—and my white board holds my timeline, but like Vivi, I’m not always home to take advantage of my nice, comfortable, old-school accouterments. Since I’ll need to work while Hubble’s in the hospital, I may have to bite the bullet.

    My poor teeth. *sigh*

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 12:04 pm

      I’m actually a REALLY slow adopter of new technologies myself (I just learned to text on my cell phone a few months ago, and i still can’t use Twitter), but you can learn to use this corkboard in about five seconds. Very intuitive.

      Reply
      • Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
        August 18, 2011 at 2:03 pm

        Thanks for the pat on the hand (says she who refuses texting on the phone. Phones are for calling!) I’ve a load of stuff to complete ere Hubble goes into the hospital, and the time is passing too fast, but I’ll give it a go . . . maybe. ;-)

        Reply
        • Elisa Beatty says:
          August 18, 2011 at 2:42 pm

          Cheers for considering it, Gwynlyn!

          I keep trying to convince my 75-year-old hard-of-hearing Dad to learn to text–he can barely hear anything on his cell phone–but he’s just not willing to hop on board. (And of course my 13-year-old daughter looks with scorn on all my technological loser-ness.)

          Reply
      • Eileen Emerson says:
        August 18, 2011 at 2:45 pm

        And by “I just learned to text on my cell phone a few months ago,” Elisa means that she MIGHT remember to check her texts every three weeks or so–usually when her daughter sees the text indicator on her phone–and will then answer a complex question you asked a loooong time ago with a very confusing “yes.” (It’s happened just last week, and took me a few minutes digging through old texts to even remember what question I asked originally.)

        Reply
  5. Vanessa Barneveld says:
    August 18, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Oh, Elisa, you’re not alone in the swamp. I’ve been revising the same darn book since 2004! One day, I’ll get it right, I swear…

    Scrivener’s a great help, isn’t it, though? I’m glad it works so well for you, too. I have the Mac version. I love the way you can keep all your research notes, pictures, encouraging rejection letters, and the ms in one place.

    Reply
  6. Hope Ramsay says:
    August 18, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Ha Ha Ha Ha

    I knew nothing about scrivener before this, but this looks like a handy writing aid.

    As everyone who reads this blog knows, I have serious OCD tendencies when it comes to writing. And also, something you might not know, I can write computer code.

    So, facing 3X5 index card and postit note overload in my tiny house, I sat down to write a database program for myself about sever years ago. This program — based on Microsof access database sofware — has been embellished over the years to become my own personal writing tool. In my database application I can create scene cards that allow me to track the POV character, the setting, time line iformation, and the basic conflict and resolution of the scene. I can also apply a specific story step or turning point to any scene, as well as reorganize it’s placement in chapters. My program provides easy access to several 3-act story structure tags including Chris Vogler and and my own personal mishmash of story steps that work for me.

    In addition, I’ve included features that allow me to create GMC charts for every character, as well as sheets with character traits, mannerisms and props. I’ve got Carolyn Myss’s archetypes preprogrammed into it, so I can easily brouse archetyes when I’m starting a book.

    My program allows me to print stuff out, track minor characters, and assemble the information in my scene cards into a short or detailed scene-by-scene outline that I can export to a wordprocessing file. What comes out of my database is usually the first draft of any synopsis or book outline I might write.

    Finally the program also has a contact manager built in, so I can keep track of submissions and editor/agent contacts — not just the contact information, but which books I’ve pitched to which editors and agents and when I received rejections.

    I know. I’m anal. It never occurred to me to actually work this little program into something people might want to buy. First of all that would take way too much time away from writing, because the program works, but it doesn’t have a pretty user interface. And second it never occurred to me that anyone would want to be as anal as I am about this stuff.

    An opportunity lost, apparently.

    Reply
  7. Anne Marie Becker says:
    August 18, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Elisa, thank you for this post. I’ve thought about getting Scrivener (even almost asked for it last Christmas as hubby was scrambling for ideas), but wasn’t sure I wanted to learn a new program. But everyone I’ve heard talk about it raves about it. I may have to check it out!

    Reply
  8. Eileen Emerson says:
    August 18, 2011 at 10:26 am

    I totally FORGOT that I can get the program half price, thanks to NaNo! Hopefully, that deal is still in effect when the full Windows version becomes available in September.

    I started with the presentation board idea for my NaNo book last year and it helped me immensely. But I have all these scenes that I “dropped” in order to finish the ms in time to get it shipped off to the Golden Heart.

    Now… ugh… I’m trying to splice those scenes back in and I think I’m gonna have to knuckle down and figure out the Scrivener corkboard today.

    Thanks for the push!

    Reply
  9. Kelly Fitzpatrick says:
    August 18, 2011 at 10:58 am

    I admit to having some murky manuscripts on my computer. I’d sort of abandoned them and moved on. I always tell myself…”some day”, but opening them and reading them feels too daunting. As a pantser, some of my earlier stories went off the reservation and onto a meandering deer trail through a dark forest surrounded by a tall chainlink fence with razor wire and armed guards. Could it be as simple as some organizational tools to escape? Sounds easier to simply start over with a new story, but some of my old writing have characters I love and plots that have promise, and a few contest finals to their credit. You have me intrigued, Elisa.

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 12:18 pm

      Yeah, I’ve run into some serious razor-wire myself.

      You know, as an English teacher, I’ve always taught my students to do “reverse outlines” when revising their papers: they the same cascading roman numerals as they teach you for outlining papers in elementary school, but you do it AFTER the first draft of the essay is finished, to get a quick snapshot of what you actually have.

      It’s always worked like a charm for helping kids see where their arguments have gone completely off the rails.

      The Scrivener corkboard just makes it easy to “reverse outline” a novel to see where the problems are.

      Reply
  10. Darynda Jones says:
    August 18, 2011 at 11:34 am

    “…draining plot swamps.” LOL!!!

    This is one of those programs I keep swearing I’m going to try, and then I’m like, “But do I really want to have to learn another program?” So I put it off. Honestly, I’ve visited the site so often, I could be a tour guide.

    Okay, I’m going to do it, darn it. I’m just going to bite the bullet and download this thing. Who knows? It may be right up my alley. I am a plotter anyway. This could be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

    GREAT post, Elisa!!!
    ~D~

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 12:19 pm

      Woo-hoo!! Go for it!

      Actually, one of the best ideas for managing a plot I’ve ever heard came from you: making your outline, and then putting the relevant chunk of it at the start of each new chapter to keep you on track.

      Once I’m done with Swamp #1 and am using a few plotter tools for the next books, I’m definitely trying that!

      Reply
  11. Beth Langston says:
    August 18, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Di Layne mentioned Scrivener on Facebook a few months ago and I thought, what the hey. So I gave it a try (on Windows) and became instantly hooked. It took a 10-min youtube video and a little tutorial practice–and I felt like an old pro.

    I went to a writing retreat a couple of weeks later–and, yes, I am now a pusher. My other four writing buddies are hooked too.

    I love how you can color-code the index cards. My heroine’s scenes are pink, the hero’s scenes are blue, and scenes that further the romance are purple. [External subplots have other colors.] When I have view the index cards on the corkboard, I can see if I have scenes organized well. Five pink scenes clustered together might need to be interleaved with a blue or purple one.

    Also, like Vanessa mentioned, having the research in there is totally cool. Just split screen–and view your notes and ms at the same time. On my little netbook, that feature isn’t easy to accomplish with WORD.

    Yeah, I’m a happy camper with Scrivener.

    Reply
  12. Kelley says:
    August 18, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    Great post, Elisa. Thanks so much. I’ve been playing around with Liquid Builder—very high learning curve. Maybe I’ll give Scrivener a try instead!

    And thank for being generous enough to share your struggles with the Torturous Middle and the BBM and all that—I feel less alone! :) Seriously.

    Good luck finding your story its Ultimate Home.

    Reply
  13. Kate Parker says:
    August 18, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    It sounds really interesting, Elisa. I have 2 3x4foot white boards that I use to organize things, and it’s getting harder to get up and down off the floor to write all over them. (And no wall space to hang them.)

    Is there a place to write all those pesky details like the butler’s name and the heroine’s eye color in Scrivener? And will it fit on a flash drive to haul around with you from computer to computer? Inquiring and computer phobic minds want to know.

    Thanks for the info.

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 2:46 pm

      Yes, Scrivener has all sorts of functions for storing character info / Story Bibles / research info. I haven’t really learned how to do it all, but it’s part of the program.

      Reply
  14. C.J. Chase says:
    August 18, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    My cp swears by Scrivener. She’s been trying to convert me for several years, but I just don’t want to bother with another program to learn.

    I kind of like my post-it method. I have a chalk board in the hallway and I just stick them up on there and move them around to my heart’s content.

    Besides, if I didn’t have the post-its on the chalkboard, it would be just a blank green rectangle and constant reminder of when my son and I used to work algebra problems back in the day. Something up there keeps me from dwelling on the fact that my babies are growing up and don’t use the chalkboard anymore.

    Reply
    • Elisa Beatty says:
      August 18, 2011 at 4:31 pm

      Good for you for making the board and Post-It method work! If my house was big enough to have any hallways, I might have stood a chance! (This is the downside of living in the beautiful Bay Area….houses are itsy-bitsy mid-century bungalows with no basements or proper attics…not to mention that you have a pay a fortune even for that.)

      Reply
  15. liz talley says:
    August 18, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    It sounds frighteningly useful. This is plotting that I’d like to do AFTER I finish the book. Seems like it better fits a revision Liz than a creative Liz. Thanks for showing it to us, Elise :)

    Reply
  16. Tina Joyce says:
    August 18, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    Elisa, I’d heard of Scrivener, but didn’t really know what it was before now. Your description makes me want to take the plunge (although I’m pretty tech-challenged). That corkboard function really appeals to me, and that in itself might be worth the money. I’m off to check it out, thanks for this!

    Reply
  17. Tia Ramirez says:
    August 18, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    Amazing post Elisa! I’m also recovering pantser ;) Thoguh I’ve developed my own way of plotting I LOVE this! Can’t wait until it’s out for windows (minus the bugs).

    Reply
  18. Rita Henuber says:
    August 19, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    Very late to the psrty but this is somethihng i’ve been thinking about. We may need to talk

    Reply

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