Friday, July 8, 2011

SCRIVENER GIVEAWAY !!! & Writing product review


Hello, all!

I know most of you (if you're like me) have very exacting requirements for your writing software. I'm a very bare bones type of writer but Word was not for me because of the random, irritating little bugs. When I decided to take this whole writing thing seriously, here were my requirements:

- full screen capability
- chapter breakups (but being able to see the list)
- a research section
- a way to export to Word (as that's what my editor/agent - and every editor/agent I know - uses)

I hadn't found anything close to what I wanted. I had originally started with Open Office (remember that?) and then moved to Pages once I had my Mac, but it still wasn't doing anything for me. Then I found Scrivener. (Or to be honest, my husband did, and made me get it).

Ahhh, Scrivener.

As they say: they can't teach you to write, but they can sure organize it for you! What I like most about Scrivener is that you can take your idea - from initial idea to writing "THE END" on your final draft - start to finish - inside one file, THEN compile it however you need for whoever - including single or multiple chapters, and whatever format you require.

So I started working with it, and I fell in love. The 'binder' allows you to switch between Chapters. (Ka-ching!) Research is a snap = and has its own little section. New content pages are a breeze to set up. Basic outlines are easy peasy with the 'corkboard' feature (try using this to do your synopsis. It is awesome!) You can choose your poison, export-wise...Word, epub, etc. It is so simple and SO fast. Need a full screen to get you away from the internet? *raises hand* Consider it done.

But the nicest part about this program is the flexibility. My husband does PHD work on his thesis in Scrivener (and is a real whiz at it). Screenwriters I know use it. A journalist writes and separates all her stories inside her scrivener. Being a tech writer, I could well imagine how nifty this would be (and bypassing all the huge confusing programs out there.)

It really is great. (and they did not pay for this blog review).

HOWEVER! For our wonderful Project Mayhemers, I've got an AWESOME giveaway today!

You could win a free license for Scrivener! We've got two, thanks to the totally awesome people over at Literature & Latte!

There are caveats:

1. You must be a follower of this blog (So become one! We're cool!) Leave a comment and let us know you're a new follower!
2. Tweet, Facebook this link or otherwise promote it, and leave a comment here letting us know!
3. And sorry! You have to have a Mac.

Interested in Scrivener? Then try it for free on your Mac for 30 days here if you don't win. (It's coming soon for the PC.) Want to buy it? It's a steal for $45.00. Check out their homepage here, as it's got lots of neato little vlogs to help you decide how best to use it.

Do you use Scrivener? What do you think of it? I have to say I do and I love it. I'll not switch ever again.

Do you use another writing software? What do you like/not like about it?

We're all ears!

And good luck! I'll announce the winner on Monday!


39 comments:

  1. Shoot. Now I'm mad that I'm part of this blog, because I would love to enter, but that would just be wrong, since I kind of work here now.

    But that's okay! I'm still going to try this software soon enough, because it looks awesome. I'm a pretty organized writer, outline, character spreadsheet, scene spreadsheet, research, all that, but I'm completely disorganized about how I go about all that. I would love to have one resource for all of it.

    I have to wait for the Windows version though, which is still in beta testing last time I checked. I have to wait because although we do have a Mac at home, it's an iMac from like 2001, and is way too slow.

    Maybe I should buy a powerbook.

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  2. Lol @ Matt!

    I'm a follower and I re-tweeted Jen! I'm a new visitor, how I didn't know about this blog is beyond me, but I'm here now! I love the pink soap. ;)

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  3. I already have Scrivener. It is really great! Sadly, I paid the $45 dollar fee. :(

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  4. Ha, ha Matt! Though, I can't play either! Meh!

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  5. New follower here! I shared on Google Plus and on Facebook. Your blog is cute and I'm sorry I hadn't heard of it yet. Loved the post on characters and names.

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  6. Cool, I would love to get one of the licenses and already told the twitter world about it. I really need to get along with my thesis and you could help a lot! Nice review and nice blog!
    Thomas from Germany

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  7. New follower here... and I love Scrivener! I used their special NaNo trial a couple years now, but I just haven't gotten around to buying it. Really need to... but it'd be even better to win it!

    Tweeted about and +1ed it. :)

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  8. Hello! I'm Brigid and I just became a follower. I posted about the giveaway on Twitter. Thanks for doing this! :)

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  9. Thank you guys for reposting and retweeting! The Mayhemers think YOU ALL ROCK!!

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  10. Thanks for the overview,Jen. Like Matt, I'm hoping to give it try when the windows version comes out!! :-)

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  11. I'm a new follower! Found the blog from a tweet... Have tweeted the giveaway and posted on FB. Love the Fight Club soap!

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  12. I guess it's time for me to upgrade. What are your thoughts on I-pad 2 for writing vs. the Mac book. Just curious. In the meantime I'll continue to plunk away on my PC in Word. :(

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  13. Hey guys I am a new follower. I found out about the giveaway on from a friend on Twitter (I promoted the giveaway via Twitter as well). I downloaded the trial version of Scrivner a few days ago in preparation for law school. The learning curve has been a bit steep, but talk about features galore! It would be the perfect application for my legal writing class this fall. Thanks for the contest.

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  14. We busted the 250 Follower mark today! That's great news! I love people discovering our blog!

    GO TEAM MAYHEM!

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  15. Are you serious? I didn't think anything this great existed. I have to use Excel, Word, and One Note to get my writing done.

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  16. Christi Milligan7/8/11, 2:44 PM

    Sweet. I just found out about Scrivener about a month ago. Sounds like a great program. Will try it out. I'll definitely tweet this giveaway!

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  17. Alessandra Gargiulo7/8/11, 3:04 PM

    Hi everybody!
    I'm Alessandra, from Italy. I'm a new follower of this blog and a Scrivener lover!

    I'm actually trying the 30days free trial (yes, I have a Mac ;) ). AMAZING!
    I'm also waiting for an official Scrivener for iPad (it would be great).

    I shared this giveaway on my FB page, Twitter account and Google Plus.
    Oops! I was going to forget... nice blog, I like it!
    Cheers from Italy!

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  18. Okay, somehow I missed the part in all our emailing that you have to have a Mac. *facepalm* BUT Scrivener still sounds awesome! I just hope it really does, you know, help you write. Type. Because OpenOffice REALLY stinks. :P

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  19. Always interested in stuff to help the craft of writing. I'm gonna follow this now.

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  20. I thought Scrivener was an imprint at a Simon & Schuster. Oh wait, that's Scribner. Sorry. :)

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  21. Lol, Michael :)

    Thanks, Jen, for the great overview and the fantastic giveaway. (And no, this is not me entering. Technically, I'm not a follower.)

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  22. Sounds like a good deal, I may check it out.

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  23. Looking forward to reading all the stuff here. New follower of the blog.

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  24. Also reposted this on Facebook. I've been debating getting Scrivener, maybe I will get luck and get a free copy.

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  25. I LOVE Scriveners! I got a discount for it for winning the 2009 Nano and have been hooked ever since.

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  26. I've been using Scrivener for about 3 months and I am beginning to realise what an awesome piece of software it is. The new novel is coming along in leaps and bounds and I love the flexibility of the whole package. The full page feature, I have programmed to write in blue because I find that seems to concentrate my mind. BUT the one thing you all need to know is how brilliant the support is. Questions answered within a day by people who 'get' what you're trying to do. So, software and support. I feel a song coming on....Who could ask for anything more?

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  27. I am geeked/stoked/jazzed about this!!! I just started outlining a middle grade novel (my first) and I'm using Word for Mac, a notebook and index cards. Scrivner, huh? Sounds like a plan! Not only am I now following this lovely blog, I tweeted, posted on fb and am about to take the info to a Motown Writers meeting!

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  28. Wow. I love the organisation of it all. Count me in (I'll also take Matthew's vote since he technically can't enter, hehe).

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  29. Thanks! I'm a new blog follower and I just tweeted about this. I definitely need Scrivener!

    @TheWriteScript

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  30. Thanks! I've heard great things about Scrivener! Glad I found your blog!

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  31. Sounds like a fantastic program. A must have I think and I'm a new writer and a new reader of your blog.

    Kristen

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  32. Awesome! My Tweet about your contest got picked up by Keith Payson who added it to his daily paper on Twitter. Thanks, Keith.

    http://paper.li/KeithPaysonLA

    Good luck to everyone!
    TheWriteScript

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  33. I don't have a Mac. :( But I'll tweet this anyway.

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  34. I love Scrivener ... been using the 'Free' copy for the last few weeks but my demo ends in a few days. So please pick me!

    Oh, and I'm a new follower and I shared this on my Facebook account.

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  35. I have been curious about Scrivner and I have a Mac, so this would be a great prize! Thanks so much for offering it, and I'm looking forward to following you're antics over here at Project Mayhem.

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  36. Oh, and I'm sharing this on twitter and Facebook!

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  37. I am a new follower who really is envious of people who have Scrivener! If I don't win, I'll buy it in Sept. when my paychecks start flowing again! Off to tweet the contest!

    Thanks for sharing your love of Scrivener & giving us an opportunity to win!

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  38. Thanks for the info! I'll post this to my writing group.

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  39. BTW, I'm a new follower.
    Thanks,

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Thanks for adding to the mayhem!