Plotting my ENTIRE fantasy romance novel (again) using SCRIVENER ✍️ 📖 ✨

[@76kilosofshade81]

As a pantser, I'm a) fine with Google Docs and paper 😅 and b) a bit jealous of people who can plot the whole thing and not suffer the whims of their characters such as I do...👀

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

google docs is just as good :) I am also a pantser haha replotting my outline on draft 5 was definitely a result of following my crazy characters whims lol but scrivener just helped me organize my messy brain crammed with ideas.

[@CodyTheWriter]

I used google docs for my first draft and I liked it because it wasn't as easy for me to go back and edit. I didn't want to find myself stuck in an editing loop during my first draft. I just put my characters through hell and didn't look at the big picture until I was doing my first read through and made notes to fix it from there. Also, I love google docs because its easily accessible from any device so if I got a quick burst of inspiration, it was easy to get to my document!

[@Hello-hello-hello456]

Even if you plot, a lot of the time, the characters do their own thing and the plot changes as you start writing

[@jinnadennisauthorscreenwriter]

I appreciate anyone who can plot out the whole thing. I tried, had the whole thing laid out with post it's and a white board...and I just got more confused. So I do a basic outline of what scenes should be about then wing it. :) The outline works out my plot holes. Good job!

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

my original outlines were super loose ideas about what I wanted to happen but now that I'm so many drafts in its gotten pretty specific. But I am definitely a pantser which is why I am outlining so late in the game haha but do what works for you :) winging it is so fun it helps with creativity!

[@CodyTheWriter]

I have recently started on Draft 3 of my project, and this go round, I also dove headfirst into scrivener! It has been so helpful to organize these rewrites and being able to leave myself notes in future chapters/scenes has been immensely helpful in making sure my MC arc/motivations remain consistent! Best of luck to you in this next draft! You got this! :)

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Thank you so much Cody! Yes! Exactly--scrivener has been helping me with consistency too! It's so great.

[@starsbythepocketful92]

Okay I know we're all here to see how you plot, but your hair is SO CUTE. 🎀

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Aww you’re too sweet thank you.

[@jasminv8653]

The whole intro was just like you were describing my last few weeks 😂🙈 I took up a project of reading craft books this summer amd now I've completely hit a wall with the main turning point of my plot argh... Thank you for sharing the experience

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Glad we could commiserate together! Hope things have gotten better! I’ve learned I just have to do and my writing will get better with time. You got this!

[@katendress6142]

One warning with Scrivener; be sure to keep a backup that's in some other format, especially before you upgrade. It has a bad habit of rendering documents in a previous format unreadable.

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Oh my gosh this is so good to know. Thank you for sharing. ❤️ Losing my work is my biggest nightmare! I’ll have to back up often then!

[@chantellelambertauthor]

I’ve never had that problem, so great to know!

[@clairesmith9574]

I never comment on KZbin but i just wanted to say this is amazing! Hearing you at the beginning saying you hated how you wrote the book, not the content itself but the writing and organizational process, I feel that so hard lol I’ve done about 5 drafts as well and have gone through the query process but after no bites after eight queries (i know i should keep going) I hit a writing and querying slump. Loving your video and your tenacity! Good luck in your writing journey and this novel

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Thanks so much Claire! Same to you!! You’ve got this. 💛 and congrats on querying! That in itself is a HUGE feat! I never knew how important the organization and set up of writing was! It always seemed like you just have a “great idea and write it down” haha I wish!

[@booknookchats]

Watching this video made me want to commit to organizing and planning out my story ideas! Lovely seeing insights into your writing journey, subscribed 👌🏻😊

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Aww I'm so glad my video motivated you. :) Thank you for subscribing! So glad to have you here! You've got this! ❤️

[@itsmydestinee01]

I've been writing since I was in middle school but I always get overwhelmed and quit after the first few chapters. I'm a pantser, solely because I don't understand how people plot lol. I need a step by step on how-to before I think I can do it too, but there's no step by step to story telling so I just stop 😕 But watching this was so so fun, I recently decided to pick up my fantasy romance again and I'm trying to figure out the plotting, as you said I too mainly have vibes and little plot UGHHH. I've been using milanote to plot, but I LOVE how your scrivener is setup, I'm gonna try that style out! Thanks for sharing!!

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

So glad I could help! :) A few things that have helped me are save the cat writes a novel by Jessica Brody her website/book taught me to plot with their beat system its step by step instructions which you might like! And other people have given me the advice to write the ending when you're feeling stuck at the beginning and then work your way backward asking what would need to happen to get to that ending scene over and over until you get back to the beginning! Hope that helps! You've got this! ❤️

[@theresakidd]

Yes! Once I understood how Scrivener works it helped me a ton. I hope it helps you too. 😊

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

I'm so glad! Same! :) Its been so helpful!

[@lesyablackbird]

well now i'm curious about the other characters personality types

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Ooh yay! I’ll have to share it in a short or new video or something :)

[@amateuraries]

Since I got a new computer and it doesn't have word on it, I have been using google docs. I prefer word but it is so expensive. I can't afford many of the writing based apps and programs unfortunately. My question is, what happens to your work on scrivener after your free days are up? And if you can't pay?

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

Hmmm I believe when it expires you just cant use the program anymore but you can download what you have written on it. (I'd export it all ahead of time. before the expiration date though) The good thing about scrivener compared to word is it is a one time purchase rather than a yearly subscription so you only pay the $59 once. But I think Word has a cheaper version that you can only use on the internet, but its still more than scrivener I think. I hope you find something that works for you! :)

[@amateuraries]

@@sarahwawrzyniak I didn't knw scrivener was a one time purchase. Now that I know that I might save to get it.

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

@@amateuraries yeah! That’s what I ended up doing. I used Google docs until this year when I realized it would be worth the price!

[@HH-zb5ul]

Is the novel the same of book ?

[@sarahwawrzyniak]

yes! I am writing a fantasy romance book set in ancient Egypt at the Library of Alexandria about a secret society of witches trying to break a curse and a dangerous prince sent to kill them! :)