Developer offers enticing look at Scrivener 2.0

Not being a novelist, I'm a bit outside of Scrivner's target demographic, but I've found it quite useful for certain types of projects.

My general rule of thumb is that anything under about 10 pages, I'm better off in a normal word processor - but once you get up in to 20, 50 or 100+ page documents, Scrivner's organization tools become indispensable.

We just finished up a 250 page proposal for a client, and I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy without Scrivner. I've been waiting for a deal before I bought it, looks like now might be the time.

I have been using the trial version to help me with my college papers. Hoping I can master the application before I start with my dissertation. For those interested, the @macpowerusers podcast dedicated an episode to Scrivener where they describe the most used features of the software.

"tried the Scrivener demo several times (usually when they update it like this)"

Scrivener has *never* been updated like this; hence the 2.0 moniker.

I have written a published numerous stories and articles where Scrivener was the initial software used. I have had one problem with it, and the designer himself worked directly with me to sort out the issue as best as it could be.

Although it is certainly not designed to be to everyone taste (a choice Keith made from the outset with his program), it is invaluable tool for creative writing when compared to almost anything else on the market.

I love this program. I can't wait for the update.

I too have been using Scrivener for a long time.

It is like Photoshop. I find that I can just ignore the more complicated features I don't need at the time. When I need to some feature, I spend a little time learning how that feature works, and I am good to go.

I have used it as a glorified super-notepad for some needs like meeting minutes, and as a real writing tool for bigger projects, like a novel I am in the middle of.

There is one feature it doesn't have, and looks like it won't be getting: VARIABLES. Maybe you have a character whose name you haven't decided on. So you want to reference him with something like throughout. Then in some other place you define as Bob. Later when his name is decided as Larry, you make one change, and all references of Bob is replaced with Larry.

I am looking forward to Scrivener 2.0

I'm someone who has used Scrivener since the very first beta. I find it invaluable for my writing - whether that be editing, organising or just plain writing. I have tried (and own licences to) most other writing software on the Mac, but Scrivener and viJournal are the only two that own a permanent place in my dock.

The level of support offered by Keith (and others) through the forums is unprecedented in my experience. I'll be upgrading for sure, if nothing other than to support Keith for all his hard work.

Rather than an ad, I'd love to read a comparison to products such as Celtx.

Man, I am so there.

I love, love, love Scrivener, yet I am reluctant to recommend it. Its feature set is totally unintuitive. The parts often don't work very well together. But the individual features are so powerful and so useful that we're willing to overlook the features integration shortcomings and put in long extra hours to master the program so we can take advantage of it's many strengths.

If you're writing anything longer than an article, it's a must. But be prepared to put in long hours learning the program. It's totally worth it, but only if you put in the time and effort to make the program worth your while.

I expect to take some heat for this mini-review. If you're a Scrivener lover, you probably don't know what I'm talking about. Scrivener is like an unattractive woman with a beautiful soul. Once you get to truly know her, you can never see her as anything but beautiful, ever again.

I love Scrivener, and this looks like quite the update! Late October is perfect, right when I'll have to start churning out papers for this quarter.