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Not a very newsworthy post, but many TBers will have read of my indecision about whether to purchase Scrivener.
I've downloaded the trial and will spend a few days fumbling through. Like many have said, it does appear a long learning curve; I just hope I'm up to the task. The company seems to have a good 'help forum' also. Perhaps I'll update in a few days.
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See this page, Lizy, it has visuals: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php
However, I've been exporting it (which is their phrase, and wrong - exports remove the whole thing and place them elsewhere, whereas this just makes a copy) in various formats: pdf, for my beta-reader - couldn't change the headers that were invisible on the original; Word, so that I could edit it because I couldn't sort out page numbering and losing first line indents on the original. I'm tempted to try the paperback novel format too, just to see what it does.
The original Scrivener was written for Mac, not Windows, and there are still facets of it that are Mac-only. I bought Scrivener for Dummies, which purports to cover both, though the Windows side is always tacked on as an afterthought; but it's already out of date.
The online manual is so full of tech-jargon that I haven't a clue what it means most of the time. What is needed is a simple novelists' version, that actually uses the words Chapter and Scene, rather than the cover-all one that exists.
There is a Scrivener group on FB with some really helpful members who will sort out things for you if you want.
For me the advantage was that I could keep referring back at will, on one screen, without having to toggle between multiple documents. At the same time, I could have all notes and character lists and so forth on the same screen, either at one side as a full note, or as file headings on the other for instant reference. I could also have a scene or chapter synopsis visible. It's the ability to multi-task that's so good.
When I was editing, I was able to keep the time-line of the story, and the POV of each scene, on screen.
I found this all really useful. Obviously a more Word-savvy person may say that all of this is possible there, but I'm just a writer, not a computer whizz.
I have always favoured handwritten first drafts, and then type into Word with a 'preliminary' edit. There comes a stage where technology is said to be a great aid to many professions, but all it seems to do is sap the purse (or wallet) and CREATE more work rather than simplify the task it professes to achieve.
My first try at the program was, like many I suppose, with a rush of a bull at a gate, expecting to just click a menu here and an icon there and all would fall into place. Nooooooooooo. It certainly requires a stretch of advance reading, which I'll do tonight. In all sincerity, I wonder how many of us WANT to devote time to learning a task that we can do comfortably well in another environment or program? I sense Mr Robots will be up for a response on this one!!
I'm a bit off-topic from where this thread started, but - referring to your comment about character lists - I have never made a list in my life. I always know where all of the characters in the story are, even the ones not in the present scene, or even the present chapter. I just keep writing, and I carry a general plan in my head as to who is going to reappear and when.
I think this is especially necessary to have beside us in the editing phase, because I would hate to be scratching a mole on my left cheek (face of course!) in chapter 4 and then scratching the right in chapter 27.
No criticisms to the learned cuttle, simply my perspective.
However, I too investigated Scrivener and, initially, found it to be a useful and intriguing enough to purchase the software. It has many useful features which I only scratched at the surface of.
To cut a long story short - as writers should be doing that? - I have plumped recently to use Ulysses instead. I find it a little easier to use and the main benefit for me is it synchs so very easily between my Mac, iPad and iPhone whereas Scrivener wasn't as "slick" at keeping my writing accurately up to date across my devices. And, also, I prefer the simpler look and feel of Ulysses.
As with any software these days, take advantage of the free trials offered and see which, if any, you like.
Gavin
I really have no problem with Word, and we know that we'll never have a problem with exporting from a proprietary package.
I do have a trial version, but might not be inclined to purchase.