A few weeks ago, I posted about how I’m using the month of October to focus and prepare for National Novel Writing Month. As I’ve been working through PrepTober ahead of NaNoWriMo 2021, I’ve been really bonding with Scrivener. My Scrivener setup has changed and evolved over time. Here is how I’m currently using it to prepare my next NaNoWriMo project.
My History with Scrivener
I first purchased this software in late 2019, using a discount prize code that I got for winning NaNoWriMo that year. It was my first time participating in the challenge, and springing for a Scrivener download was my “good job, you!” gift to me for making it to 50k that first year. I’ve used it for all of my longer-form projects since, and for several short stories (although I have drifted back to Word for shorts).
While I’m not a rank newcomer to Scrivener, my plan for tackling NaNo2021 has pushed me to really dig into setting up my binder and organize a strong environment for me to build my project within. In this blog post, I want to walk you through the way that I have set up this project, and share some tips that I’ve found very helpful in building the skeleton of my next novel.
A Couple of Quick Notes
I get no financial kickback for plugging Scrivener here – I genuinely like the software, and think it’s well worth the cost if you’re even thinking of dipping a toe into writing seriously. I wish that I had had this software back when I was writing research projects in college. Additionally, for those who are wondering, I’m using the Microsoft version of the software. It is just a bit different than Scrivener for Mac, which I’ve never had the opportunity to play with.
My Scrivener Setup
One of the most familiar parts of Scrivener is the corkboard view, but I honestly use it pretty rarely (so far!). Most of the preparatory magic happens for me out of the Outline view.
I start with a master Manuscript in my Binder, and add subfolders from there. For this particular project, I have two story arcs, with one set in the characters’ present, and the other set in the MC’s past and told through flashbacks interjected in the main narrative. To accommodate that, I have two separate “books” within my larger total manuscript.
At this point, the manuscript section in my Binder becomes my outline. I like to use archetypal plot structure as my jumping off point. I’ve been reading a lot on archetypal plots lately, and have a few books on my to-read list to learn more about them. A great source that I’ve been hooked on lately is the series on Archetypal Story Structure over at Helping Writers Become Authors. I keep a story arc “cheat sheet” in my research folder that has deeper notes on these structures to reference as I’m plotting the story out.
Inside the Manuscript, I’ve created three sub-books, one for each act of the story. Then, within each act, I’ve created a subfolder for each plot segment within the act. The “working title” of each plot segment depends on the archetypal plot structure I’m basing the story on. Having the beat, or step, of the plot as the name of a section file helps keep me working through the story logically. Each plot segment is filled with scene documents.
Filling In the Story
My process evolves every time I iterate it, but this part has stayed somewhat constant over the past three projects or so. I suppose that is the measure of something working. I literally fill in the archetype with the story that I want to tell. At this point, I’m still outlining. I use the Inspector area at the far left of the workspace to build a notecard with the scene’s expected structure.
How I’ve Been Structuring Scenes
Most of my scenes are built around a similar structure. Like the story has an overarching arc, each scene has a narrative flow. A beginning, middle, and end, dealing with a conflict that moves the story forward.
- Goal: What does the character want? Which character wants it? Whose interests are being pursued and what are they?
- Conflict: What conflict stands in the way of that goal? It might be a physical barrier, a wall or an ocean. It can be a figurative barrier, like fear or poverty disinclining a character from taking next steps. Or it could be as subtle as a friend questioning the character’s methods.
- Outcome: What is the outcome of the conflict? A delay in progress? A need to regroup?
- Reaction: How does the character react to all of the above? Did the conflict change the direction of the goal? Make the character dig heels in about the plan?
- Dilemma: The reaction creates a dilemma. There is a choice to be made. Again, it can be a pivotal choice that could change the direction of the hero’s journey. Or, it could be something far more subtle.
- Decision: This is the final choice out of the dilemma, and the setup for the goal of the next scene.
Now, this progression is a guideline – not every scene I write adheres perfectly to it, and I absolutely have scenes that I wrote intuitively that, if I may say, work very well. But keeping this general flow in mind is helpful for keeping the story tight and moving forward at the scene-level view.
My Plan
As October wraps up I’m still working on filling in my plot details, as well as worldbuilding items. But, I do have a plan for all of this, come November and beyond.
I’ll be filling in prose for each scene, using the outline structure above as a guide. Theoretically, having this legwork done lets me focus on crafting the words, instead of working out the story’s next steps. I’m also hopeful that it will help me do something that I’ve never really been able to do – write scenes out of order, if I feel like it.
This is the point where I will use the corkboard feature to click and drag scenes around. I especially plan to use this capability for this project; I already know that I will have two separate narratives that I’ll be intertwining in the final scene order. Having the structure notes in the notecard area as I work will help me interweave the two narratives to best drive the entire story forward.
Conclusion
Do you use Scrivener for your writing? Do you have a particular way that you tend to set the program up for your workflow? And, last but not least… are you excited for NaNoWriMo?? Share how you’re preparing in the comments below, and if you’re a Scrivener user, let me know your favorite feature! You can also find me posting writerly things on Twitter, Instagram, or hit me up on regular old email! I’d love to hear your thoughts! And for monthly musings on the writing life and updates on my journey, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter, Writing On Spec!
Until next time, may your coffee be strong and the Muse be with you!
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