tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post7831352475266898808..comments2024-01-29T06:21:11.353+00:00Comments on Sarah Duncan's Blog: Using Index Cards ISarah Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-54170093540322111942012-03-01T21:28:47.078+00:002012-03-01T21:28:47.078+00:00Scrivener sounds interesting Giles. It sounds v s...Scrivener sounds interesting Giles. It sounds v similar to index cards in the way you use it. Maybe I'll give it a go for the next book. <br /><br />Womagwriter - I'd worry that with a spreadsheet you'd feel less like moving stuff around randomly because it would look so nice and neat.<br /><br />Phil - I'm a mind reader, didn't you know? I like index cards because I'm into low tech solutions wherever possible.Sarah Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12530089356370140344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-44240204807828742652012-03-01T00:04:29.372+00:002012-03-01T00:04:29.372+00:00OMG, I was thinking of asking you whether you woul...OMG, I was thinking of asking you whether you would write more about your index cards modus operandi, Sarah, because I'm at that stage where I need to track more and more scenes. And you've read my mind... Or is it a literary coincidence?<br /><br />So, thanks for writing this post.<br /><br />And thanks for the info on Scrivener, Giles. I use Open Office Writer rather than MS Word but that imports Word documents also.<br /><br />I do keep a spreadsheet on characters and all their characteristics (but in the main, I populate that as I develop them, rather than try to define them completely beforehand. It's an aide memoire to maintain consistency.<br /><br />One of the hard truths people sometimes fail to learn about ICT systems is not to rush into encoding a work process into an information technology system until you've experimented with it, and fully understood it, manually.<br /><br />So I think I'll try Sarah's manual index card system first, until I've fully mastered it...Philip C Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506199502085466202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-10872930371548584092012-02-29T17:44:15.562+00:002012-02-29T17:44:15.562+00:00Very useful - am about to start some kind of step ...Very useful - am about to start some kind of step by step plan. I was going to just write it in a spreadsheet; maybe I'll give the cards a go... Looking forward to tomorrow's post.Kath McGurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02526923882402757423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6771775388110854391.post-1083816795972668112012-02-29T16:35:19.303+00:002012-02-29T16:35:19.303+00:00Another useful post, Sarah. I don't use physic...Another useful post, Sarah. I don't use physical index cards as such, but the virtual ones that are part of the authoring software, Scrivener. Instead of laying the cards out on the bed, you have a virtual cork board and you can shuffle the cards around on there. Scrivener also allows you to write your book as scenes and then drag those around with the mouse in the order that you want them, or insert new ones. Miraculously the index cards are reshuffled at the same time to reflect any changes in sequencing.<br /><br />Scrivener takes a a little learning, but it is instinctive and mimics the way many of us compile our work. It can be downloaded on a try before you buy basis, and it is is cheap. I never touch MS Word now except for final drafts. Scrivener exports to Word.doc format with all formatting intact.<br /><br />I don't get paid to say this by the way!!<br /><br />http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.phpGiles Digglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17121206338303291004noreply@blogger.com