Writing a novel with Scrivener - David Hewson's new ebook

[bodsham]

As I've already explained... I would love to be able to release this book as an epub title. Sadly, since I'm not based in the US, this just isn't practical. DRM has got nothing to do with it. The current options are simply unfeasible from a practical point of view as I tried to explain below.

http://www.davidhewson.com/blog/2011/5/ ... books.html

[garpu]

They absolutely require a mac, and mac only? Sheesh, between that and the ISBN, I can see why you don't do iBooks. (And I say this as one who isn't a fan of DRM.)

[Tacitus]

Sadly, not having a Kindle means I won't be reading it.......

Not sure how the "Take Control of..." series works, but would publishing it through them be a viable possibility?

[Grandad7]

You don't need a Kindle to read the book. Download the free Kindle reader for pc from Amazon and you can download the book and read it on your pc.

[bodsham]

Kindle can be read on a Kindle reader, a PC, a Mac, an iPhone, an iPad, any Android device and Blackberries too. The software's free. It's just about the most universal ereader format there is - and the best in my opinion. You can make notes, bookmarks, and if you use a Mac or PC keep a Kindle file open while you work on something else. Any Kindle book you buy can be read on ANY of the devices in your account.

I don't know how TakeControl do things but really - if anyone wants to get the book it's readily available already. I don't have time for a small project like this to set up a publishing house - nor is it needed.

[TylerGred]

David,
I recently read your book and I loved it. I came across your idea of a "Story Diary" in one of the chapters and became intrigued by the idea. I went to your site and found this post you made in your blog regarding your book diary:

http://www.davidhewson.com/blog/2009/8/ ... qus_thread

In your blog entry you write, "Some of those folders are used for research, character and location notes and anything else associated with the project." You also have a chapter in the book called "Useful Folders" and you have many folders where I would assume you'd have these notes too.

I'm curious to know a little more on your workflow, when it comes to your book diary and your Scrivener project document. Do you export notes from your diary and place/file them in your Scrivener project? You mention a few times about keeping it simple, so is your diary where you can keep it messy?

I really do like the idea of having another document, used in another application, that can be a mental dumping ground. I would just be concern that amongst the mess there is a hidden gem that wouldn't make it out...

Thanks again for the advice, the book, the blog, and all the work you do.

[bodsham]

Glad you found the book useful. I don't do anything as complex as you suggest. I keep research and notes in one window, in MacJournal, Evernote or whatever. And I keep the book in Scrivener. I'm not a fan of cutting and pasting stuff or making things complex. If you get the hang of tags in something like MacJournal, Evernote or OneNote, you can simply tag things as you go and guarantee you will pick them up later.

I hope to expand on these ideas in a longer, broader book about writing at some stage. Hope to have news on that shortly. But really - dump ideas, diary everything down into a journal with tags and that's it. You could probably do it in Scrivener too but I haven't tried because i like to keep right brain and left brain work separate.

This is how tagging works in OneNote. The idea's the same in MacJournal and other similar apps.

http://www.davidhewson.com/blog/2010/5/ ... heend.html

And in Evernote. There may be other tags articles in the blog if you search for them.
http://www.davidhewson.com/blog/2010/12 ... rnote.html

[druid]

In your OneNote entry, the link is broken in the sentence, "You can read more about it here, and even more if you search for ‘MacJournal’ in the sidebar." Thanks for pointing to these resources, however.

[bodsham]

Sorry - caused by site translation from WP to Squarespace. Link removed.

[mbbntu]

[quote="bodsham"]i like to keep right brain and left brain work separate[/quote]

The Wikipedia article on brain lateralisation comments:

"Broad generalizations are often made in popular psychology about certain functions (e.g. logic, creativity) being lateralized, that is, located in the right or left side of the brain. These ideas need to be treated carefully because the popular lateralizations are often distributed across both sides."

This is a polite and restrained way of saying that popular ideas about left/right brain are a load of rubbish ;-). Having spent the last five years retraining in psychology I have to say that I find the idea that creativity could be confined to one hemisphere completely unconvincing, and I've yet to come across any solid scientific evidence for it, though I must add that it is not my field of psychology. There may well be some, though I'd be surprised if it were not hotly contested.

You are to be congratulated for blazing a trail by showing us all that one can publish direct from Scrivener. I don't write novels, so I confess I haven't read the book yet, but the mere fact of its production has given me all sorts of ideas. Thank you.

Best wishes,
Martin BB.

[bodsham]

I was using it as a form of speech not a medical diagnosis. A way of saying I like to keep the shapeless, creative writing separate from the factual, hard research. Research gets in the way when I'm writing. I only want to see it when I need it. Others will feel differently.

[mbbntu]

That makes it much clearer. Thanks for the explanation.

Best wishes,
Martin BB.

[Lord Lightning]

Mentioned this earlier. If you missed it and want to read David's book and don't have a Kindle and can't be bothered converting the book's Kindle format to a PDF (which takes all of thirty seconds) - then here is a useful site to help decide which e-reader might suit you best:
http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/free-ebook-reader.html

If you want to consider Kindle and have a PC - http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/r ... 1000426311

If you have a mac and want to download the free Kindle app - http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/r ... 1000464931

And just go to the Apple App Store to download the version for the ipad etc. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8

[Fluff]

[quote="Lord Lightning"]If you want to consider Kindle and have a PC[/quote]

Ah, My Lord Lightning, we meet at last. Or is it...'again'?

I was wondering Sire, whether it's worthwhile pointing out, that, his Lordship vic-k has a Kindle, as well as Kindle for PC, on his wife's Wintel jobby, and whenever he downloads something on one, it automatically appears on the other as well!! He's quite tickled with the arrangement. He thinks he's getting two for the price of one unbeknownst to Amazon!! If he finds out I've put it out on the forum, he'll have a seizure. Probably think Amazon will start taking liberties with his Amazon account.

I trust you and your kin are well my Lord?

Do take care Sire
Fluff

[Lord Lightning]

My dear Lord Fluff - you iridescent old rascal. Is it possible that you have both Kindles using the same name? Books in the Kindle store typically come with 6 simultaneous device licenses.

http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/si ... dle-store/

Be hearty old mate!