Scrivener, A Good Place To Store Your Writer's Toolbox.

Scrivener is a word processor designed with the writer in mind. With countless features and functions, its use can be dynamic or static, but won't get in the way of the writing process. Any feature can be used as easily as it is ignored, dismissed as easily as it is brought up.

Here are some great tutorials on how to use Scrivener, but the purpose of this post is to show how Scrivener can help, not explain how to use it. These are the features I've found the most useful.

The Binder: Chapters, POV's, scenes, any size of text can be broken down into sub files, organized, rearranged, and searched. This allows large projects to be broken down into individual sized chucks and the search options prevent any file from becoming lost.

Target Word Count: Allows the writer to set a target word count and pops up a notification when the goal has been reached. Includes a progress bar showing percentage of completion.

Compose View: Allows the writer to tune out all on screen distractions, the screen is filled with a white sheet for text and a customizable backdrop. At the bottom is a popup bar that provides options for adjusting the transparency of the backdrop, the width of the paper sheet, navigating through separate files of text, and text view size. As the writer types, the curser stays in the center of the screen.

Corkboard View: Presents each file in the Binder as a note card. With the option to create a synopsis of what each files contains, Corkboard View makes it easy to see what is in each file and rearrange their order.

Group Mode: Shows groups of files in the binder, along with their individual target word counts and any other information tagged onto them. Great for seeing which parts of the story still need work.

Compile: This is where the real magic happens. Once a story is done, it can be exported in any format, as any file type, through any medium the author wishes. The process is a little complicated, but easy to understand. This makes it simple to share a PDF with one person, create an ePUB for amazon, or a .docx document for a query letter with no need to reformat the root text. Do it all with Scriveners compiler.

There is much much more Scrivener can do. There are custom icons for each file in the binder, meta-data, comments, footnotes, quick reference pop out windows, collections, inspector, labels, notes, scratchpad, name generator, audio notes and dictation, and a unique "Scrivenings" mode.

The best feature of Scrivener is that, while it is a powerful and robust tool, any part of the interface can be ignored as easily as it is implemented. Don't need an inspector? Don't know what "Scrivenings mode" is? Ignore them! The tools you do need are intuitive and will be easy for you to pick up without needing any tutorials to get started.

Scrivener's goal is get out of the way of the writing process and let creativity flow. I've found it to be useful. If you are interested in trying it for yourself, check it out here.

Writing Excuses

If you want to learn how to write and publish your writing, then the Writing Excuses podcast is a vital resource for you. Subscribe to the podcast for their latest episodes, or follow this link to find their archive of writing advice. It's free.

Writing Excuses has four members. Mary Robinette Kowal - Howard Taylor - Dan Wells - Brandon Sanderson. Their podcast is between fifteen and twenty minutes long and covers any topic related to writing, business, creation, process, or other.

They also really like bacon and marshmallows, so really, go check them out.

At this point in my journey as a writer I have been working on my story for four months. This podcast is my principle way of receiving instructions. I download episodes from their archive for listening on my way to classes, and I catch their weekly updates as soon as they come out.

Writing excuses offers a fix for any trouble I might encounter while writing. If a character isn't working, they have an answer. If I'm caught by endless revisions of a chapter, they have an answer. If my plot is broken and I'm out of ideas, they have an answer. Hundreds of episodes means answers to almost any question you could encounter as a writer. And if you have a question they haven't answered? They often seek questions from their listeners.

At the end of each podcast they include a challenging writing prompt that is meant to push your abilities and practice the topics discussed in that episode. The prompts are a great resource for practice.

The podcasters also offer Book suggestions that exemplify the episode's topic. Because they are sponsored by Audible, you can use their name and receive a free audio book. This lets you see professional examples of the principles they discuss.

As a final side note, each year they hold an "Out of Excuses" Writer's Retreat and Workshop for hands-on instruction. Compared to other Workshops I've seen, their's is inexpensive. Tickets usually go on sale in mid-January, though seats are limited. 2014's slots ran out after less than ten minutes. Check their website frequently and listen to their podcast to receive details on availability and pricing.

It's free, it's professional, and it's entertaining. So why not give it a try? Their website link is here, and this is the link for submitting questions. There is also a forum.

This podcast has done wonders with my ability to write, it can help you as well.