Well, roller derby practice was cancelled tonight, so I finished the conversion of my novel into Scrivener. I had originally started doing this in an overly manual, as in cut-and-paste each chapter, way. I decided that was silly and I have too much computer background to be mucking about with that nonsense. I started using the import feature.
The first attempt with the import just put it in one big file. At first glance, I thought this wasn't what I wanted, so I tried another one.
The second import attempt, I tried the split feature using the # symbol. It didn't work. It went through the motions but didn't populate any information into my project.
I started screwing around a bit and found an option that lets you select text and have it and everything that follows it split out into a new scene. This, I decided, would do the trick if combined with the first import attempt.
I did a first pass of separating them out into the chapters. Next I created chapter folders and dragged-and-dropped each chapter scene into its folder.
I have some more work to do such as:
- Rename all the chapter folders
- Further split the scenes as some chapters have multiple scenes in them
- Figure out what to do with the comments I had in my MS Word version. They copied over, but they are in with my text now instead of being somewhat hidden
- Enter character information into Scrivener instead of having it all over the damn place
Once the comment thang is handled, I think I can compile my current work and have people review it. I don't think they need to read all of the insanity that is my notes.
Some of my chapters have been earmarked for book 2 or book 3, so my word count has gone down to around 27,500, but this is a good thing, I think. One of my writer's group friends had mentioned that each novel of a series should stand alone and be its own story and that wouldn't have happened leaving those parts in this novel. That's not to say there can't be a plotline that runs through the whole series, but if you think of a series like Harry Potter, while the major plotline runs throughout the series, each book is its own individual piece.
At any rate, word count is no indication of quality. I just use it as a basic progress marker. Sometimes taking a step back launches you into something greater!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao,
R~
The first attempt with the import just put it in one big file. At first glance, I thought this wasn't what I wanted, so I tried another one.
The second import attempt, I tried the split feature using the # symbol. It didn't work. It went through the motions but didn't populate any information into my project.
I started screwing around a bit and found an option that lets you select text and have it and everything that follows it split out into a new scene. This, I decided, would do the trick if combined with the first import attempt.
I did a first pass of separating them out into the chapters. Next I created chapter folders and dragged-and-dropped each chapter scene into its folder.
I have some more work to do such as:
- Rename all the chapter folders
- Further split the scenes as some chapters have multiple scenes in them
- Figure out what to do with the comments I had in my MS Word version. They copied over, but they are in with my text now instead of being somewhat hidden
- Enter character information into Scrivener instead of having it all over the damn place
Once the comment thang is handled, I think I can compile my current work and have people review it. I don't think they need to read all of the insanity that is my notes.
Some of my chapters have been earmarked for book 2 or book 3, so my word count has gone down to around 27,500, but this is a good thing, I think. One of my writer's group friends had mentioned that each novel of a series should stand alone and be its own story and that wouldn't have happened leaving those parts in this novel. That's not to say there can't be a plotline that runs through the whole series, but if you think of a series like Harry Potter, while the major plotline runs throughout the series, each book is its own individual piece.
At any rate, word count is no indication of quality. I just use it as a basic progress marker. Sometimes taking a step back launches you into something greater!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao,
R~