Also with respect to brainstorming, I have friends who LOVE Miro, Milanote, Notion (there are many novel planning templates available), Scapple (same company as Scrivener, a mind-mapping option), and Plottr. I recently just bought Plottr because their timeline feature is SO useful to me as a planner, even though the software feels a little clunky (but is still improving). You could do a TON of brainstorming in there (scene templates, plot templates, tags, characters, settings, custom metadata), and then export to Scrivener or Word, but so far just the color-coded outline views that can be vertical OR horizontal have been what I used.
But for generating ideas... Still trusty pen and paper. I have the specific kind of pen I use that works really great on smooth or recycled paper (Pilot V-Ball) and I just handwrite ideas by freewriting. (Importantly, go back and underline, star, or highlight the things you ended up deciding on, in case you, for example, have to come back to it four months later, not that I've ever done that.)
"Maybe those opportunities will be new forms of publishing" Hey like Substack! Thanks Susan I still will avidly follow your "traditional" efforts. Good luck with the release and thanks for these updates and industry ideas.
Great advice/reminder about sticking to what we control: working on the writing. Keeping our head down and doing the work and not paying attention to all the algorithm/social media/trends garbage. Worth my subscription.
I'm so glad you mentioned your experience about the reMarkable Paper Pro +. I gave in to my desire for the reMarkable 2 after reading your review and I love it. The two things I've been wishing it had was color and a light. But I am so glad I went for it. No more wasting tons and tons of paper. I'm just as happy editing on the reMarkable as on paper. I felt a little queasy seeing the release of the Paper Pro +since it had both things I wanted... but yeah the price. I feel so much better now and will remain content with what I have and maybe buy a clip on light. Much appreciated!
Ooh I really find value in the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel beats. I’ll check out John Truby’s plot points too. His book is one of the first writing books I bought and hearing you and Erin reference it made me realize yes, good idea to read it!
Ha, yes! Get on Zazzle and make them whatever you want! I have a few different plotting beat systems I've made. It's not cheap...but I've also used them so much, it has been totally worth it!!
This is a wealth of great information, Sooz. Thank you so much.
Thank you! At least luck favors the prepared! 💪🏻
Also with respect to brainstorming, I have friends who LOVE Miro, Milanote, Notion (there are many novel planning templates available), Scapple (same company as Scrivener, a mind-mapping option), and Plottr. I recently just bought Plottr because their timeline feature is SO useful to me as a planner, even though the software feels a little clunky (but is still improving). You could do a TON of brainstorming in there (scene templates, plot templates, tags, characters, settings, custom metadata), and then export to Scrivener or Word, but so far just the color-coded outline views that can be vertical OR horizontal have been what I used.
But for generating ideas... Still trusty pen and paper. I have the specific kind of pen I use that works really great on smooth or recycled paper (Pilot V-Ball) and I just handwrite ideas by freewriting. (Importantly, go back and underline, star, or highlight the things you ended up deciding on, in case you, for example, have to come back to it four months later, not that I've ever done that.)
"Maybe those opportunities will be new forms of publishing" Hey like Substack! Thanks Susan I still will avidly follow your "traditional" efforts. Good luck with the release and thanks for these updates and industry ideas.
Great advice/reminder about sticking to what we control: working on the writing. Keeping our head down and doing the work and not paying attention to all the algorithm/social media/trends garbage. Worth my subscription.
I'm so glad you mentioned your experience about the reMarkable Paper Pro +. I gave in to my desire for the reMarkable 2 after reading your review and I love it. The two things I've been wishing it had was color and a light. But I am so glad I went for it. No more wasting tons and tons of paper. I'm just as happy editing on the reMarkable as on paper. I felt a little queasy seeing the release of the Paper Pro +since it had both things I wanted... but yeah the price. I feel so much better now and will remain content with what I have and maybe buy a clip on light. Much appreciated!
Thank you for sharing!
Ooh I really find value in the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel beats. I’ll check out John Truby’s plot points too. His book is one of the first writing books I bought and hearing you and Erin reference it made me realize yes, good idea to read it!
Okay wait. Talk to me about the custom magnets. This is so genius???
Ha, yes! Get on Zazzle and make them whatever you want! I have a few different plotting beat systems I've made. It's not cheap...but I've also used them so much, it has been totally worth it!!