Exploring My Favorite Writing Tools and Getting the Writing Done

There’s no shortage of writing tools out there, and two of my favorites are Scrivener and Atticus. While it may seem redundant to have two tools that offer similar features, I’m all about making things easier whenever possible.

Scrivener

I’ve had Scrivener for a while now, and while I’m a pantser, it took me a while to figure out how to incorporate it into my workflow. I say that, because so much of the writing advice out there in regard to Scrivener is from people who plot.

I also plot, however, I do it in reverse, and Scrivener’s layout option really helps. Here’s a visual to give you an idea what I’m talking about:

Let me walk you through this.

On the left side is what’s known as the binder. It’s where the manuscript, including front and back matter, research, etc. goes. Look closely and you’ll see a folder called “reverse outline“. This is where I keep track of my story as I go.

Here’s how it works…

After I write a chapter, I take a brief moment to answer a few questions about what I just wrote – I do this in the reverse outline folder. One way it helps me is to make sure that “Tom” doesn’t become “Tim” halfway through the story, lol.

In the middle window you’ll see the editor. As the note says, “this is where the writing gets done”. ’nuff said.

Then, on the right hand side of the layout you’ll see the “reverse outline” window and a “notes” window. Both windows pull content from their respective folders in the binder section.

It’s a setup that I’m finding very helpful…just enough structure that I don’t go too far in the weeds, but enough freedom to write, especially when I use the distraction-free setting a/k/a “full screen”, because everything but the editor section disappears.

Atticus

Now for the new kid on the block…at least for me…Atticus.

I bought this tool for one reason only: book formatting. But that doesn’t make it any less useful. If you want simple and easy, this the tool for you. For the most part, learning to use it was intuitive, but so far it’s been a blast and makes formatting so much faster.

Side note: I do business book formatting for clients; both print and ebook, and I’m anticipating that this tool will save me SO MUCH TIME! One manuscript, two outputs…how could it not?

Granted, I can do a lot more fancy formatting in either Word or LibreOffice Writer (which is my fav), such as tables and multi-level lists, but for most formatting needs, Atticus will be the ticket, I believe. And if we’re talking fiction, you’re silly not to go ahead and buy it – make life easier on yourself as a writer!

Note that it is possible to format in Scrivener – or so I’ve been told – however I’ve not attempted to cross that rubicon…not sure if I ever will, but we’ll see. 🙂

To 2025 and beyond! (sorry Buzz)

Finally, in the hopes that it’s helpful for someone else, I wanted to share my focus for the remainder of this year (and the next). “Keep on Swimming”! Anyone with kids (or who’s a kid at heart) probably remembers that memory challenged fish Dory in Finding Nemo…

A lot of the time I feel like that little fish – so many things try to distract me – but I’m slowly getting better at not letting myself get too far gone before coming back to where I was supposed to be. Writing this newsletter on a regular basis is one of those goals.

What about you? Are you still swimming towards your writing goals? I’d love to hear what they are!