Scrivener

Poetry and fiction differ, but poetry’s language elements can enhance all writing types. Poetry’s focus on sound, rhythm, and emotional imagery offers valuable tools for authors. Recommended readings include Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook, which teaches poetry’s craft, and Rules of the Dance, focusing on metrical verse. Dr. Mardy Grothe’s I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like highlights metaphor’s use in language. Robert Hass’s A Little Book on Form explores poetic constraints that inspire creative writing. Poetry anthologies provide exposure to diverse poetic styles and cultures, enriching writers’ perspectives.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/5-books-on-writing-poetry-and-why-every-author-should-read-them

Scrivener doesn’t use AI; prompts on Mac stem from Apple’s AI tools. Unlike many apps, Scrivener keeps all text on-device and doesn’t send data to servers. Users may see AI features in newer macOS versions, but these cannot be removed from Scrivener. To disable Apple’s AI prompts, turn off Apple Intelligence in system settings.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/scrivener-and-ai-why-do-i-see-ai-prompts-in-my-scrivener-projects-on-mac

Scrivener is excellent for long-form projects and collections of shorter works, offering features ideal for short stories and essays. It provides various templates for organizing writing, allows for effective revisions with snapshot backups, and helps manage story sequencing for a compelling collection. The final compilation process prepares works for sharing or publication, including ebook formatting options. Kirk McElhearn, writer and podcaster, authored “Take Control of Scrivener.”

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/how-to-write-short-story-or-essay-collections-in-scrivener

Historian Alexander Rose’s book Phantom Fleet recounts the US Navy’s capture of a German U-Boat before D-Day. Rose, influenced by British writing style, emphasizes narrative art in history, blending storytelling techniques used in screenplays. He organizes his writing in a semi-planned manner and utilizes Scrivener for composition and research management.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-56-alexander-rose-historian

Scrivener’s Corkboard helps visualize complex novels with multiple point-of-view characters and timelines, ensuring narrative coherence. Authors can label scenes or chapters for clarity, as seen in works like A Game of Thrones. Managing multiple timelines involves using labels and statuses to track character perspectives and chronological events. Scrivener aids in organizing these elements, enriching storytelling.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/keep-track-of-point-of-view-characters-and-timelines-in-scriveners-corkboard

Scrivener’s custom metadata enables file organization by adding key details like character names, dates, and locations for easier searching and sorting. The article elaborates on using custom metadata to manage character-heavy narratives, especially in complex genres like fantasy and mystery. Four metadata types (Text, Checkbox, List, Date) help track character details, roles, and timelines. It discusses how to search with collections based on custom metadata and view it in the Outliner, aiding in managing extensive character information. This feature is particularly valuable for projects with numerous characters.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/use-custom-metadata-in-scrivener-to-manage-characters

Tips for writing 50,000 words in November:

1. Plan Ahead: Prep before November; outline story direction.
2. Set Routine: Block time daily; consistency is key.
3. Use Scrivener: Track word count, set targets for motivation.
4. Aim for Progress: Focus on writing, not perfection; draft 50,000 words, refine later.
5. Write Out of Order: Use Scrivener to write scenes as inspired.
6. Take Breaks: Use short writing bursts with breaks for better focus.
7. Use Prompts: Overcome writer’s block with unrelated prompts.
8. Anticipate Obstacles: Prepare for interruptions; exceed daily goals.
9. Don’t Stress: If you don’t reach 50,000, value the progress made; keep writing.

Author: Kirk McElhearn, offers Scrivener resources for writing.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/writing-a-novel-in-november-these-tips-will-help-you-hit-50000-words

Scrivener allows the creation and customization of character sketches to organize character information, supporting multiple templates and folders for complex projects. Users can develop detailed character profiles with various attributes and relationships, using cascading character sketches for deeper insights. This flexibility is beneficial for managing numerous characters, especially in extensive narratives.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/using-advanced-character-sketch-templates-in-scrivener

Maria Reva’s novel Endling, longlisted for the Booker Prize, combines themes of snails, romance tours, and the war in Ukraine, reflecting on her experience as a Ukrainian immigrant. The book explores the impact of the Russian invasion on her writing process and features an unconventional structure, including direct reader engagement. It highlights the fragility of species and critiques the romance tour industry’s exploitation, using innovative narrative techniques developed during her writing process with Scrivener.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-55-maria-reva-booker-longlisted-author-of-endling

Scrivener offers customizable document templates for quick project creation, adapting to various writing needs. Users can create, store, and manage these pre-formatted files to organize elements like character sketches, email formats, and more, enhancing project efficiency and consistency. For creation, duplicate existing files, retain formatting, and store templates in designated folders.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/how-to-create-and-use-custom-document-templates-in-scrivener