Why I Love Scrivener - The Basics

I'm been asked multiple times about Scrivener and why it works for me, so I thought I'd put together a few posts. Hopefully, they're helpful!

I don't use the whole range of tools in Scrivener but I've found that MANY of the features really work for my brain. This program has saved my sanity and my stories on many occasions.

When I first tried out Scrivener, I had a completed first draft that needed a lot of work  (rewriting and reorganizing). I tried to copy and paste this story into the program and then rework it from there. This was a big mistake for me. I found the whole thing confusing. But so many people loved the program, I decided to try it for my next fresh story. And this is when I fell in love!

Scrivener is organized into folders and files. These are my organizing units.

Inside my First Draft Folder, I put in another folder for each chapter. Inside each chapter folder are two files. One for the scene from the female pov, the other for the male pov.

In the sidebar (called Binder), I can right-click and change the names of both the files
and folders. I use titles for my chapters (in this case hashtags), so I put these right in the binder. I don't use titles for scenes, so instead, I put brief reminders of what the scene contains (ditch, anderson, lesson...). This makes it incredibly easy to find the right scene when I want to double-check on something or when I want to revise/edit.

The screenshot shows a glimpse of the binder for Reaching For Normal. You can see that each scene also has a coloured dot. That dot tells me quickly whether the scene is from Myla's or Sawyer's pov. Yes, the colours are stereotypical but it's just a reference.

You can change the colours and the reasons for the dots. I like them for pov but you could use them to indicate whether a scene is an action scene or a contemplative scene, set the colours for locations or settings, or whatever you like. It's easy to change the labels and colours.

This screenshot shows the Info section. Well, it's actually called Inspector, but I think of it as Info. The blue button at the top shows/hides it. At the bottom where it shows Myla in pink is where you click to change colours/names for the dots in the above screenshot.

At the top of this screenshot, you can see the index card synopsis of the scene. You can put whatever you like here. I use it for notes on goals for each character, main conflict, stakes for each, and the Cymbal Crash. This is the way the end of the scene hooks the reader to keep reading (a tip from Libbie Hawker's Take Off Your Pants book).

I don't use the Notes section very often, but it's a good place to keep my Add/ Change/ Remove notes as I'm reading through the draft.

I tend to keep these in another file, but I'll get into that and the reasons for it in another post.

At the bottom, you can see No Status. This is for more organized and visual brains than mine.

The small screenshot shows the labels you can attach to your chapter or scene. The Edit button at the bottom allows you to change those labels to whatever you'd like. This can be colour-coded as well.

How about you? Do you use writing software or word documents? Can you think of any other uses for the colour coding? Any requests for topics within Scrivener for me to discuss?

Jane Godman & Finding Writing Inspiration

Please welcome the lovely Jane Godman back to the blog today!
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Inspiration can strike at the strangest times, just as it can dry up when we least expect it to. Here are some of the things that I’ve found over the years to fire up my ideas:   

1. Read a variety of books

Stephen King once wrote, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” The links between reading and writing are well known.

Within the pages of books other than your own, you will find ideas, learn about different writing styles, structure, and formatting. 

Research also helps you to relax and broadens your imagination, making it a great source for writing inspiration.

2. 2. Listen to Music

Music can help you unwind while at the same time fuel your imagination, helping you write a piece conveying the same emotions as the songs you’re listening to.

The lyrics of a song itself can also tell a story. It can be the inspiration for a setting, dialogue or scene. I use playlists to set a mood according to the scene I’m writing. Action. Romance. Sexy. Sad. 

3. Watch Television 

Television programs display different cultures, places and time periods. 

You can observe characters in situations that you wouldn’t see in real life. Take notes of memorable quotes from dialogues, turning them to inspiration for prompts or new topics.

4. Engage with readers

Ask your readers for opinions about what they’ve read and what they want to read next. This can present you with a different point of view and new ideas.

By communicating with them, you’ll be able to know which areas you’re lacking. Take criticism as a way to improve and as inspiration for your next content.

5. Always carry a notebook and a camera

Writing inspiration everywhere. It can be an old building, a painting, a newspaper article, even a person you pass in the street. 

Ideas don’t arrive when you want them to. They will often turn up when you least expect them. 

Keep a notebook and an album of photographs (or a Pinterest board). You can keep adding to it as you go along.  

These are a few ways I use to ignite a spark but there are so many others.  I hope you’ll share yours!

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JANE GODMAN is a 2019 Romantic Novelists’ Award winner and 2018 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. She writes thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense/Mills and Boon Heroes and paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne/Mills and Boon Supernatural and St. Martin’s Press Romance. She also self publishes her historical and gothic stories.

Jane was born in Scotland and has lived in Germany, Wales, Malta, South Africa, and England. She still gets the urge to travel, although these days she tends to head for a Spanish beach, or a European city that is steeped in history. 

When she isn’t reading or writing romance, Jane enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and enjoying the antics of her dogs, Gravy and Vera.  

 Connect with Jane Godman on the web:

Website         Facebook          Twitter         Goodreads

Colton 911: Family Under Fire

An unexpected family

A once-in-a-lifetime reunion in danger…

After a bitter breakup, FBI agent Everett Colton never expected to see his ex-girlfriend, Alyssa Bartholomew, again. Suddenly, tragedy reunites them—and makes them guardians of an orphaned baby girl. Everett suspects that her parents’ deaths were anything but innocent. When his instinct for danger proves correct, it’s his job to protect the child he’s grown to love…and the woman he never forgot.

Buy on:

Amazon Kindle      Amazon Paperback

Amazon Aust    Amazon UK

Harlequin                 B&N 

Kobo        Book Depository        iBooks

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Thanks Jane! Those tips are excellent! For me, music is always a source of inspiration and a way to find my way out of a dilemma. Reading too - although that may be just another excuse to read more!!

How about you? What are your favourite ways to find inspiration?

Pippa Roscoe & How To Pitch

Please welcome Pippa Roscoe to the blog today!
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So you’ve got that five minute slot with an editor – perhaps you know of them, even better, you know the publisher! You’re nervous, you’re terrified that you’re going to waste an opportunity, you’re worried that you’re not wearing the right clothes, you won’t get to express how much you want this, or how great your book is… 

Yup. It’s so overwhelming that it’s quite likely you’ll walk away thinking – what just happened? What did I say? (or in my case – did I actually say that?!) It’s brain short-circuiting, emotionally draining, terrifying stuff! 

But it doesn’t have to be. So here are some handy tips on how to get the most out of your one-to-one with an editor:

1. 1. Know what the publishing company you're pitching to is looking for. This sounds like the most simple and obvious thing in the world, but it’s not. At a conference or book fair, there are a lot of publishers out there, all printing vastly different genres. It may be that you don’t necessarily have control over who you get to pitch to, but once you have their name, look them up. You don’t have to be BFFs with them, but you do have to know what they’re looking for. Because pitching a post apocalyptic sci-fi who dunnit romance to an indi digi only non-fiction publisher is going to be a little awkward. 
2. Don’t panic if your one-to-one is with a publisher that doesn’t publish your genre. If you’ve got five minutes with them – they’re in the publishing industry and may be able to help answer any questions you might have about the industry rather than your specific genre. Can they offer advice on how best to write a covering letter? Do they know any editors looking for your genre? Do they have any do’s and don’ts about first submissions? They might not be able to help with your specific book, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help with the experience of writing and submitting. 
3. Have a three – five sentence outline of your story ready. This is sometimes called an elevator pitch, a premise, a blurb… But you don’t want to waste the five minutes explaining the backstory of a secondary character who is vital to bringing your hero and heroine together on the last page of your book. 
4. Know what your hero and heroine’s conflicts are in one sentence. This sounds deceptively easy, but it’s really hard and will require a bit of homework. There’s a whole host of information out there on the internet about conflicts, but this is the central tension of your romance… and one that the editor will want to know. It’s the beating heart of your story. And if they don’t ask? Then they’ll be even happier when you present it to them without them asking! 
5. Know that this isn’t your one and only shot. It’s not the last chance saloon, this editor is not the last editor you’ll ever meet. It may feel like it, but it’s not. Writing is hard, and takes determination and takes many meetings with editors. So take a deep breath and think of it as an experience to be intrigued by, to be curious about, and see it as a huge achievement, because it is! 
6. And lastly, editors are humans too. They may not feel like it, seem like it, or sometimes even sound like it, but they are. They understand that this is important to you, they also understand the nerves, so don’t worry and have fun with it.  

I hope this helps, and I wish you the very best of luck! 

***

Mills & Boon author Pippa Roscoe lives in Norfolk near her family and makes daily promises that this will be the

day she will leave the computer and take a long walk in the countryside. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t dreaming of gorgeous alpha males and misunderstood heroines. Totally her mother’s fault of course—she gave Pippa her first romance to read at the age of seven! She is inconceivably happy that she gets to share those daydreams with her readers.

Pippa Roscoe on the web:

Website          Facebook        Twitter 

Conquering His Virgin Queen

Six months ago, their marriage ended…

He has twelve hours to claim her back!

Odir Farouk is about to become king—but to take his throne, he needs his errant wife by his side! Odir denied his hunger for Eloise, refusing to compromise power for passion. His rejection drove her away. Now Odir has until news of his succession breaks to win back his queen…and pleasure will be his most powerful weapon!

Read Reader Reviews

Buy on:

Amazon Kindle             Amazon Paperback

Amazon UK                 Amazon Aust

Harlequin        B&N

Kobo               Book Depository            iBooks

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Thanks Pippa!
Pitching in person sounds terrifying to me! But these tips are perfect for helping me out if I'm ever lucky enough to get to a conference!

How about you? Any tips to add? Have you ever had the chance to pitch your story? How did you conquer your nerves?

Peepers on People!

I'm over at From the Write Angle today talking about People Watching tips. I LOVE to people watch and I've developed a few games I like to play. Watching people and looking for both the expected and unexpected is fun and I think it helps my writing. I think most writers are people watchers and look forward to hearing some of your stories!

I hope you'll check it out and add any tips of your own!

Easing In

First off, thanks to you all for your best wishes and kind thoughts. Without saying too much about the situation, a very little guy in our close circle has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. His folks are the best, but we're all helping out and will continue to do so. Family and friends come first. Always. So, thanks again. We appreciate every kind word and thought sent our way - they do indeed make us stronger.

So, obviously, writing has been pushed to the background for the last little bit, but it's pushing its way forward again. It always does! :)

It's only been a couple of weeks, but it's amazing how much momentum and rhythm I've lost. I tend to be the kind of writer who works in spurts anyway, but this has been a long stretch. I'm right at the climax scene in one story, and in the middle of that dreaded rewrite in the other. I think I'm just going to reread the last chapter or so of the one I'm near the end of and ease back into it that way. Or maybe I'll work on the query letter to immerse myself back in the story. Hmmm.

What hints do you have? How do you ease yourself back into the routine and rhythm when you've not been able to write for one reason or another?

Agent Query

All aspiring authors need to check out this site! It’s an amazing resource for all aspects of writing. I first stumbled across this site when I finally decided it was time to get a little more serious about my writing. I think I’ve always written, but it was always just for me. For fun.

Agent Query has it all. There is great advice for everything from writing the dreaded query letter and synopsis to finding an agent. Their database of agent information is truly incredible and very user friendly.

Agent Query Connect is a free forum for writers. There are well over 100 discussion groups to help you out. The most popular is the Query Critique forum. Writers at all stages of their careers help each other to create the best queries possible. Other groups focus on first pages, first chapters, agent updates, writing tips, and so much more. There are also several critique groups focusing on various genres.

Check it out using the link on the side. You won’t regret it!