How Scrivener Can Help You Complete ‘The Challenge’




If you haven’t heard of Scrivener before or maybe you have, but you’re not sure how it works or what all the fuss is about, then I would like to take this opportunity to give you a brief explanation. Scrivener is a writing management software program that has amazing capabilities. It’s a fantastic app for writing long text such as family history stories but offers you many features that make it much more effective and efficient then let’s say Word.

Scrivener is built on four core ideas.

  1. Write your story in sections as small or as large as you like and easily rearrange them.
  2. Add synopses to sections, so that it is easy to work with an overview of your manuscript.
  3. View research and other parts of your writing side-by-side with your writing.
  4. Export your work using different formatting for different requirements.

 

 

Of course, this is stating the program very simply. While I’m confident, you can see how this program can benefit you in writing your family history stories. Let’s take it one step further and get a little more specific with a few tips on how it can help you in our upcoming Challenge.

Set Your Targets.

You can set a goal of how many words you want to write each day. Scrivener will keep track of your targets for you. Knowing you’ve met your target for today will make it that much easier to write tomorrow. You’ll find Targets under ‘Project’ the menu.

Incorporating Your Storyboard into Scrivener.

In our Challenge Prep Course, you learned how to create a storyboard, a story plan so that you know exactly what you are going to write each day during these four weeks. Create your storyboard in the Research section of your Draft. This will allow you to reference the storyboard as you go but will also enable you to have the freedom of keeping the storyboard as a separate entity from your draft.

Jump Between Sections.

It’s so easy in Scrivener to jump around and write different chapters or scenes as you see fit. You don’t have to write in chronological order. If you followed our Challenge Prep Course and created a storyboard then you can pull anyone of your scene cards and write.

Create Some Target Points.

If you don’t have a storyboard ready you can still create an outline to help guide you.
In the Draft folder in Outliner mode, create some blank documents with titles and short synopses for each of the critical scenes you identified for your storyline. This will help to tell you where you are going. Not as detailed as a storyboard but it can still be very helpful in keeping you focused. However, you can work towards filling in the spaces in between. They’ll sit in the binder and make sure you know where you’re going. If your story changes direction, you can change them or delete them as needed. Having a destination can help you to keep moving forward even if you decide to change course later.

Import Your Inspiration.

In Scrivener, you can split the editor, so that half of your screen is your story and the other half allows you to view your research. This can also be a great help when you are in need of inspiration. For example, when it comes to describing the setting of your story, take some time to search the Internet for some setting pictures of the location of your story. Upload them to your research files and then when it’s time to write that setting you’ll have inspiration at your fingertips.

Make a Research List in Document Notes.

This is probably one of my favourite tips. When you are writing the last thing you want to do is stop writing and get pulled on the Internet doing research. Keep your writing and research times separately. I like to use Project Notes to keep me on track. In the Inspector, under Project Notes, I create a new note that I’ll title Research List. As I’m writing and I come across something that I need a little more information on, rather than leaving my writing, I will make a small note in my manuscript where I want the information and then add the item to my Research List. When I’m not writing and I have some time, I can pull up my research list do some research.

Scrivener Special

This year during the Family History Writing Challenge, I am going to offer some small tips in our Daily Dose emails on using Scrivener and helping you to improve your use and knowledge of Scrivener. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about using Scrivener then this is the year you may want to give it a try.

 A Discount From Scrivener

Scrivener has been kind enough to create a coupon code that will give you a 20% discount on the purchase of a standard licence for either Scrivener for macOS or Scrivener for Windows. For your discount use coupon code: FAMILYHISTORY
If you don’t yet own Scrivener, you can download the 30-day free trial. Click Here.

 A Discount From Us

In addition to your Scrivener discount, we are offering a 30% discount off our eBook Scrivener for The Family Historian. It regularly sells for $9.99 we are offering it for $6.99. This price is in effect for the next 72 hours.

Extended to Monday Jan 22, 2018.

Use coupon code: challenge2018
If you’re still not sure about Scrivener, check out our Scrivener Video Page where you’ll find videos that will give you a look inside Scrivener.

Related Post

The Writer’s NotebookThe Writer’s Notebook

The writer’s notebook, it’s not a diary or a journal but a valuable tool to help you develop your writing skills.  It’s a place to be a writer.

A writer’s notebook can help you develop your writing skills through a variety of ways.

  1. A writer’s notebook will help you to pay attention to the world around you. By recording events, ideas, dialogue, people that you come across in your day, you become more aware of your surroundings, the setting, how people interact. In your notebook capture what moves you in the day. Perhaps it was a conversation you overheard, or person you saw, or something in nature that caught your attention. Write it down, explore what it means to you. Practice transforming what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste during your day in to words on the page.

 

  1. A writer’s notebook will help you develop ideas. Your book is a place to capture seed ideas. Whether they are ideas for stories or scenes or even if you’re not sure what you plan to do with them.  It’s a place to nurture ideas, keep them safe until you’ve ready to explore them further.

 

  1. A writer’s notebook can help you develop your creative writing skills. Practice scene writing, dialogue and descriptive writing. Heard a conversation,  recreate it in words on the page, what did they say, how did they say it. It can teach you to listen. It can teach you to be aware to details.

 

  1. A writer’s notebook can help you to expand your vocabulary. Record favourite words, unusual words you hear in your day, or a new word you’ve recently learned.

 

  1. A writer’s notebook is a place to explore your memories bring them out of your head and onto the page.

 

  1. A writer’s notebook is a place to map a story, draw a plot line, sketch a setting, or draw a character, maybe an ancestor?

 

Spend 10-15 minutes a day free writing in your writer’s notebook. Carry it with you throughout the day. It will help you to develop your voice and your sense of self as a writer.

 

Don’t restrict your entries to family history thoughts and ideas. Our ancestors lived in the real world. They interacted with the world around them. Observing your world today can help you add tremendous detail to your stories and help you to learn the tools of character, setting, dialogue and description enhancing your creative writing skills.

 

Here are a few prompts to help you get your notebook started.

 

  • A gesture, word or phrase you found interesting
  • A conversation you overheard
  • An interesting person who you met or observed
  • A person from your past, you want to remember
  • A description of a photograph
  • What you see outside the window
  • Surroundings you may have passed in your daily travels
  • A quote you heard today
  • A dish or meal that you made or ate, note its characteristics using all your senses or just one.

 

One thing is certain, to become a better writer; you must be an observer of the world and you must practice writing.  Starting a writer’s notebook is an opportunity to incorporate both into your daily routine.

 

Creating a Family History Book: Detours, Delays, and DistastersCreating a Family History Book: Detours, Delays, and Distasters

Many of us start out with the best of intentions when it comes to turning our family tree research into a family history book. But then something happens.  Our book project is completely thrown off course, and we can’t seem to get back on track and bring it across the finish line.

You are not alone when it comes to struggling to complete your family history book. There is any number of detours, delays, and disasters that can keep you from finishing.

Let’s look at a few of the more popular problems that can happen to your project and how to fix them and get you back on track.

Disaster – I can’t afford to print my book

I’ve written my book, but it is too big. I mean really big and I can’t afford to print it. This is a disaster first because the entire goal of writing a family history book is to be able to share it. If you can afford to print it, or your family can’t afford to purchase a copy what is the point. What was all that work for?

 

THE FIX –  Take on manageable size projects

Break your family history into sections, one book per surname or couple. You can even create a book on a single ancestor if you have a lot of research for them. Don’t think that your family history must be one giant book. There are so many more viable options that will not only interest your family but make the book more affordable.  If your book is already written, consider natural breaks in your book. Turn the book into a series and print it in volumes reducing the cost to your family.

 

Delay – Life keeps getting in the way of creating my family history book.

I really want to create my book, but life keeps getting in the way. I just can’t seem to find the time.

 

THE FIX–  Comprise a detailed plan

You need a detailed plan with manageable tasks and deadlines that takes you from start to finish. You also need to carve out time each week to work on your family history book. If you don’t make it a priority in your life no one else will. The only way to do that is to schedule it into your weekly calendar and make that time non-negotiable.  When you have a plan, you have a focus, and it becomes much easier to stay on track.

 

Delay – My research isn’t complete.

I want to get a little bit more research done before I start writing my book.

 

The FIX – Adopt a new mindset

Stop it. The research will never be done. Create a book with what you have. If you keep waiting to find that next piece of research to include in the book, you’ll never get around to making your book. You need to adopt a new mindset. Create a book with what you have – One ancestor, one story at a time.  Learn the process of building a book on something small and manageable. Then later you can take on that bigger book. Also, many on-demand printers allow you to make changes to your book at any time. You can always go back a few years from now and make any changes you want, provide updates and second editions.

 

Detour – I can’t figure out how to organize my book.

My book is chaos, it has no organization, and I don’t know how to fix it.

 

The FIX –  Outline the scope and span for your book

Taking some time upfront to identify the scope and span of your book before you start will go a long way in keeping chaos at a distance. Identify very clear parameters for your book, including the ancestors that will be in it, what years you will cover?  How many pages, how many stories? Without these clearly defined parameters, you’ll quickly get off track, and the whole project can become a runaway train that is hard to bring back under control. Mindmap out your contents.  Divide your book into parts, sections, chapters, and stories. When you compartmentalize the book, it becomes easier to organize. Don’t try to write your family history as one long story from beginning to end. Family histories are comprised of many individuals each with their own story. Don’t try to make them all fit together in one story.

 

Delay – I don’t have the tech skills to make a book.

Many family historians are intimidated by the software available to create beautiful coffee table style descendant’s books.

 

THE FIX– Anything can be learned or hired out. 

Build some time into your schedule to learn. If the tech element of producing a book is not your strength, then create a team. Find family members with these skills who are willing to help you. There are also lots of online courses and videos to help you learn book building software. Most of this software has simple drag and drop features. Explore what is out there. It’s easier than you think.

 

Disaster -My stories are boring

My stories are boring, and I want them to be better before I print my book. What good is a book that won’t be read?

 

THE FIX- Learn to turn your facts into entertaining stories.

By learning to write narrative nonfiction, you can turn the true-life stories of your ancestors into entertaining and engaging stories. Narrative nonfiction uses details, description, plot, tension, and dialogue to bring family history stories to life on the page. Take a class and learn to turn facts into real stories.

 

 

Do you have a delay, detour, or disaster that is preventing you from creating your family history book?

 

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