Here it is the last day of August, and I’m wondering where this year has gone! I’m sitting here already ready for church. I’ve made and ate breakfast with hubby (biscuits and gravy, a treat every couple of weeks), already walked on the treadmill and ready to go! 🙂
Fire Wizard is now with beta readers. I’ve already had one person come back and say they couldn’t put it down so they stayed up late reading it. That’s a good thing, right? The cover is practically done, just a little tweaking needed. I can’t wait! I plan on having a Facebook release party, but this time, I’m not going to do it myself. More about that later.
I spent hours yesterday reading a tutorial on Scrivener. I’m still not sure if I’m going to get it (I have the trial version), but I’m leaning toward it since somebody told me I could convert the file for my print book (with page numbers) as well as ebook formats. It’s only $40, which is a bargain considering all the bells and whistles it comes with. It would be a great tool for those who are serious plotters. But it’s good for pantsers who need to plot just a little.
What’s up with y’all?
lauralynnelliott.com 
I’m also wondering where the year has gone. It seems just like yesterday I was wondering how I was going to get any writing done while the kids were home for summer vacation. Now, I’m wondering where summer went.
I heard of Scrivener, but I don’t know much about it, except that it’s supposed to be good with tracking things people put in a manuscript.
I’m interested in knowing how your release party goes. I hope you keep us updated on it. 🙂
Scrivener might keep me from changing the kind of car the hero drives three times. LOL. You have a folder that says “research” and you can put websites, pics, all kinds of stuff in there. It’s pretty neat.
I’ll let you know when Judy and I decide to do it. End of September or first of October, probably. She already has about five in September.
Sawmill gravy?
I went to a webinar (okay, I listened to a replay) the other day on Scrivener. Didn’t learn too much new, but it’s rekindled my interest in it. The guy who ran it is Joseph Michael, “The Scrivener Coach,” and he has a few training classes that might be interesting, if you plan on buying the package (unless you’re like me, won’t pay that much to learn a $40 software package).
Honestly, the tutorial that’s actually in the software (since I have the trial version) pretty much tells you what you need to know. I learned a LOT. It’s really detailed and interactive. I got kind of lost during the compilation process because they did some stuff that I think could have been done in the actual manuscript ahead of time. And I was tired and sleepy by then. LOL
John, what is sawmill gravy as opposed to regular gravy?
I have Scrivener but haven’t used it all that much yet. Just set up the word documents from my first draft in it.
Some of the features that I do like are the outliner – helps with planning/plotting – and the way you can move files/docs around in the binder area and all the associated text in those files/docs moves too. Very handy if you want to move a scene somewhere else. No cutting or pasting required.
There are a lot of people using Scrivener who post tutorials on their blogs, and there is a Google+ group as well where you can get handy templates or tips on how to use Scrivener for whatever purpose you might have in mind.
https://plus.google.com/communities/109597039874015233580
And there is a discount for Scrivener if you “win” NaNo, or there are winners who donate their winner’s discount code if they already have Scrivener. The discount code is worth 40%.
I’ve heard from several people that the feature they use the most is the outlining and moving around the scenes. I see where this could be a really nice tool. I’m such a linear writer, I don’t know if I would ever move a scene around, but I definitely want to outline more, and I love how you have a synopsis card attached to a scene. This program is really powerful for the price. I was surprised it was only $40. I no longer participate in NaNo (I just don’t have time to write that much in such a short time). I should have gotten it one of the two years I won.
Tell me about it. It’s September already. So much still to do! I did the Scrivener tutorial yesterday (it was a birthday present from one of my best friends), I think I get it, but I will have to just dive in and see what happens with it.
September has given me a chance to start fresh, with Scrivener and making a change in how I writing and getting more organized.
Congrats on getting to the Beta Reader stage!!! 🙂 Been starting to use Betas with some of my shorter works, as I am feeling more comfortable with my work. Hope your week continues to be awesome!!
And thanks for visiting me, Lauralynn! See you around…
Scrivener is a powerful tool, but there’s a learning curve. The good thing is, you can go to whatever part of the tutorial you need to when you’ve forgotten something. I think the compiling part was the most confusing, but that was also the part I was reading when I was really sleepy. LOL
I’ve heard from two betas, and they were VERY positive. I have two more. I’m curious to see what my most critical beta says. 🙂