On Tuesday 21st May, I finally decided that I’d had ENOUGH of writing in Microsoft Word and took a long, hard look at Scrivener.
But why, you might ask, when more than half of the writers I’d spoken to said it was the best thing ever, had I waited so long???
Well, (long story short) I’d always been happy to use Word in all of its incarnations since before Office 95 was ‘the latest thing’. But now, as I began to use Office 2010, acquired in March 2013, my heart sank. The darn thing seemed to have a mind of its own.
From paragraph formatting to bullet points it suddenly felt as if Word didn’t want me to be there any more.
I use * * * to separate paragraphs – have you tried to type that in Office 2010? It turns into bullets!!
Still, I persisted and wrestled with it for another four weeks, working around the peculiarities as I assembled articles, short stories and…my CreateSpace version of ‘A Construct of Angels.’ Huge gaps between paragraphs and page breaks that refused to undo became the final straw. For three nights, I was forced to cut and paste sentences in order to get around this idiotic formating problem and when the time came to begin my next project, my brain cried ‘ENOUGH! I can’t go through all that again!’
So, in desperation to soothe my addled mind, I Googled the best price for the latest (or even the previous, for I am not proud) version of Scrivener.
Not so easy, for here in soggy England, we’re unable to take advantage of the NaNoWriMo offer price on Amazon (unless you know of a way around that…) as it’s only on Amazon.com…and we poor Brits aren’t allowed to download from there in case there’s none left for everyone else. We’re quite a ravenous bunch over here – we have been since WW2 rationing ended.
But I managed to uncover a trial download from PC World – priced at $40. Why dollars? Well the download linked to Literature and Latte dot com who seem to have no problems with feeding us hungry Brits.
And so I went for it, desperately hoping that this shining light, this gift from the Gods (they are there…they’ve just retired) was everything that it had been purported.
All right, Toynbee…don’t oversell it!
So far, so good. It downloaded (49MB), installed (even on my stone-age Windows Vista Netbook) opened and allowed me to explore. The tutorial looked daunting, but because it’s interactive (‘try this…see what happens; now try this…isn’t it good?’) it’s more kinesthetic than cramming.
I think that Scrivener and I are going to get along just fine. My ex (Word 2010) will still be allowed to visit at weekends, but that relationship has definitely cooled.
I will let you know if romance blossoms with the new girl in town.
So, with Scrivener in mind, Write On!
* * *
eTilde
May 31, 2013 @ 15:06:09
I’ve considered trying this. Word is too awkward and bossy for story writing and editing. I look forward to your update!
LikeLike
L. Marie
May 30, 2013 @ 16:04:37
Most of my writer friends use Scrivener and love it. I’m still off to the side using the dinosaur Word 2003. *Hangs head* I don’t like Word 2010.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:59:15
Me neither. We had a royal falling-out over margins, tabs and unreversible page breaks. I liked 2003, but since I made the mistake to upgrade (I had to do it for work-compatibility reasons), 2003 has gone from my life. 😦
LikeLike
L. Marie
May 30, 2013 @ 19:38:32
I totally understand. Many businesses headed that route. My company still used 2003, for which I was grateful!
LikeLike
jumpingfromcliffs
May 30, 2013 @ 14:36:02
Sounds well worth investigating. Although if you’re using the trial version and can’t purchase from the US, what happens when the trial expires? Or is it only Amazon US that won’t allow you to purchase?
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:57:23
Amazon refused to let me download it at all. 😦
So I found my way to L&L and they were happy to let me go ahead.
There’s an option to purchase under the ‘help’ tab…so fingers crossed that it all goes to plan. 🙂
I’m going to complete the novella before I click, though…just in case.
LikeLike
Ravven (@Ravven)
May 30, 2013 @ 09:40:25
You should be able to buy from the L&L site and use your NaNo winner’s code – that’s what I did. It’s not expensive, but I couldn’t have justified it at the time without having it half-off. I love Scrivener so much!
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:54:24
Ah, but there’s the rub – I ain’t a NaNo winner. Nor am I a loser – I just didn’t participate. But others who read this might..thanks for the tip Ravv!
LikeLike
Adria Waters
May 30, 2013 @ 04:12:46
I bought Scrivener for its discount price after “winning” NaNo a couple of years ago. I immediately sat down with an ENORMOUS cup of coffee and went through the tutorial. It’s a fantastic program and my friend swears it is the best thing that has ever happened to her, but for me, it is not useful. I use a netbook to write and the screen is approximately 10″ – I don’t think Scrivener is designed to be viewed on a small screen. Best of luck in your writing endeavors on your new program!
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:52:47
Adria
I do all my writing on either a 10.1″ or an 8.9″ netbook (yes, I have two….looong story) and I can concur that there are a lot of files down the side. But they can be hidden when you are head-down and writing.
I just bought reading glasses. B)
LikeLike
Adria Waters
Jun 02, 2013 @ 14:37:04
I look forward to your updates, then! I thought I was the only writer out there still typing away on a little netbook! 🙂
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
Jun 02, 2013 @ 19:28:39
*squints at Adria’s tiny writing* oh, no. I find the Netbook to be incredibly useful as my work dictates that I travel all over the UK. A Notebook / Laptop would be too cumbersome.
LikeLike
Jacqui Murray
May 30, 2013 @ 00:59:41
Open Office saved me a few times when Word corrupted files. I will always have a fond spot for OO.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:47:47
I think I may have uncovered a few members of the OO Appreciation Society here 🙂
It’s nice to find software that you really get along with. Mine WAS Office 2003, but when she grew up to be 2010…no, that was the end of a long relationship.
LikeLike
MishaBurnett
May 29, 2013 @ 22:26:12
I tried Scrivener, but we just didn’t hit it off–she’s too smart for me. I’m an Open Office guy.
LikeLike
LindaGHill
May 30, 2013 @ 00:27:24
Open Office is all I use too. My interest in Scrivener is piqued however.
LikeLike
MishaBurnett
May 30, 2013 @ 01:02:12
I tried the free trial of Scrivener, and I can see why so many writers like it. It has a lot of different ways to organize and display data. For a writer who does a lot of research I think it would be a great resource. I’m just not that organized
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:48:49
Ms. Scrivener DOES have that feels, doesn’t she? ‘Fill my files with data,’ she begs.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:45:23
See my reply to Misha – it can depend on what your pet project happens to be. Small word count projects, probably not worth changing over. Novellas and upwards – can be very handy!
LikeLike
LindaGHill
May 30, 2013 @ 18:54:04
My novel is currently sitting at 212,000 words, so… yeah. I may just have to look into it. 🙂
Thanks for the info!
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 19:02:30
Mine is sitting at 234,000 and I must revisit it someday. Sounds like you’ve done most of the hard work putting it together. Others may correct me on this, but Ms. Scrivener seems to work best when constructing a story from fresh. Where she scores is in the organisation of the research notes, pics and links. Not sure if she would help much at this stage…
Can seasoned Scrivener-ers add anything to this?
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:43:38
Horses for courses, dif’rent strokes, all for one, and…oh, hang on, that’s wrong.
I guess it could depend on what you asked of Ms. Scrivener. She’s not recommended for short projects (although a 15,000 word novella is benefiting) as the story is written before the research is filed in her archives.
OpenOffice is a different kettle from MS Word – perhaps it isn’t as flighty as Mr. Gates’ baby…?
LikeLike
JC
May 29, 2013 @ 22:22:09
Looking forward to your ongoing reviews… Am thinking of moving to it as Office 2010 is just rubbish… Good luck!
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:40:31
JC
I’m putting together a short story using Word 2010 at the same time as constructing the novella on Ms. Scrivener – and Word feels like a magazine cover give-away in comparison.
LikeLike
JC
May 30, 2013 @ 19:04:34
Good to know. I have just downloaded it so your comment came at a very opportune moment! Thanks.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 19:08:14
From Literature & Latte? Or did Amazon let you get hold of a copy (unlike me)?
LikeLike
JC
May 30, 2013 @ 19:12:26
Directly from them… with a 20% off coupon I came across…
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 19:14:38
We must compare notes on our experiences. 🙂
LikeLike
JC
May 30, 2013 @ 19:18:44
Definitely… am going to start working on it tomorrow so we should keep in touch. Just dumped 300 pages written on MS Word and have started again as my plotting was going awry and tangential so Scrivener it is… can’t be worse than Word that’s for sure.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 19:26:06
Gather, gather, gather all your notes and images, for Ms. Scrivener will cherish them all.
But be sure to work through the tutorial first…it makes more sense if you do. 🙂
LikeLike
JC
May 30, 2013 @ 19:32:01
Cheers, good to know! I am not the image type, tend to keep those in my head, notes though are another thing… reams of those that need sorting so this should be just the ticket.
LikeLike
karengadient
May 29, 2013 @ 21:57:41
I’ve used Scrivener since 2007. Love it and recommend it to all writers.
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:38:07
Karen
Yay! I’m heading down the right road, then – not that I had any doubts. *hides chewed fingernails behind back*
LikeLike
KWhipkey
May 29, 2013 @ 21:38:02
I’ll be curious to see what you think. I, too, have long heard that it knocks Word on it’s a$$, but have yet to invest in a copy myself. I’ve been toying with the thought for about a year now, so hearing first hand experiences from someone I trust will definitely help me decide. 🙂
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:36:56
You trust ME? Muhahaha! *rubs hands together in a sinister manner*
But you can trust me to appraise this from an unbiased point of view. *quietly slips $40 fee into back pocket then smiles innocently* 🙂
LikeLike
Natania
May 29, 2013 @ 21:35:21
Truly, Scrivener changed everything for me. I’ve been using it forever, it feels like. Welcome to the club!
LikeLike
Andrew Toynbee
May 30, 2013 @ 18:37:06
Natania
I’m not finished reading through the tutorial but I’ve already created the outline for a novella with it – and it feels like I’m home. Yes, Ms. Scrivener can definitely remain beneath my roof. In fact, she’s already unpacking and taking over my storage space!
LikeLike
Natania
May 31, 2013 @ 01:00:35
Rock on. It’s liberating, isn’t it? Seriously… I’m pretty sure I’d be talking about eventually finishing a book if I didn’t have Scrivener in my life.
LikeLike