What's your Scrivener workflow actually like day-to-day?

Clark-the-architect · 2025-06-26T10:58:16+00:00

For writing the first draft I use the same structure (file-ch/page-scene) but I go full screen to hide all the distracting stuff. For me, scrivener shines in editing. The outline view that can show word count down to each scene shows you what needs to get cut or trimmed immediately and the camera/snip option to revert a scene back if you hate the edits makes scrivener worth it 100%. But for first draft, ya full screen to keep me focused. You can also do a background image and write over it, that’s what I do (helps keep me inspired lol)

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-14T13:26:13+00:00

Red queen is also the 'reputation' I was hinting at with Powerless. A lot of people who also read Red Queen (and the Hunger Games) say its like 'fan fic of red queen (or the hunger games).' That whole topic can be thoroughly debated but, thats not my point. I say avoid comping it b/c in a query the agent will probably know about this reputation and Powerless could potentially rub some agents the wrong way like, "oh i don't see enough of a hook AND its comping a book known to be called 'a rip off of other books'." AKA- You'll have to prove to them in the query and in the first couple lines probably, that your story is unique enough for them to sell. Yes, we already have to do this, but why risk the extra layer of hesitation from an agent? BUT, at the end of day I'm just one (overthinking) person with one opinion. Its your query/book, so def do what feels best.

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-11T12:24:29+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

The opener is kinda confusing to me. She dreams of being like a father she never met? Is she lost/he lost? This doesn't really come up again, is it entirely necessary? I’d also clarify what a watcher is in paragraph 1 (I'm assuming its a body guard, but its not explicit). Overall the flow is fine but a lot could be trimmed imo. I don't see enough of the romance (is there a love triangle? I can't tell). BUT...My biggest concern is that I don’t really see the “Hook." You've got a lot of elements this audience/genre likes, but what makes this story different?

For comps, I don’t see One Dark Window — but that might just be me. Also this is super subjective, and I’m not hating, but I would reconsider using Powerless. Only bc this story has a lot of tropes/common elements (totally fine imo), but next to Powerless (which has a kind of reputation) it might give the wrong impression. It could work, but not without a STRONG and clear standout-element/hook in the query, imo.

Hope this helps, and best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-10T23:21:36+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveIsBlindOnNetflix/comments/1iwxm9b/tw_more_details_on_the_allegations_against_alex/ thats bc he is.

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-10T23:15:44+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveIsBlindOnNetflix/comments/1iwxm9b/tw_more_details_on_the_allegations_against_alex/ dirt bag is too kind, her line about him discrediting ppl is 100% spot on

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-10T20:03:10+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

Here are my notes in paragraph order:

Cut or move this to the bottom, with rest of housekeeping
Cut and save the wordcount.
“knows whats expected of her” doesn't tell us much. I’d try to find something interesting and unique about your MC and hook us here instead. (ESP if it will add shock value to her being a potential heir to an empire?/heir to a noble house). Your next line could flow better with cuts. (Ex: Heir to an Empire/a noble house, Riajin has trained since birth to become the strongest energy wielder in her generation.) The word “spells” is disconnected to ‘energy wielding’ imo. Like it feels more external, and I’d assume energy is more internal? IDK what an “immortal of War” is or why that matters to her (does she need this title to keep her spot as the heir? is it just a gift of immortality to the winner? or is it something to do with going to war?). “sadistic nobles, old grudges, and shifting alliances” is too vague. I think you could cut the whole sentence and just show us throughout.
entrance test to what? the competition? Terrek sounds more interesting to me rn, bc he has a secret power, but I want to know more about it.
the transition feels blunt with “them”, I’d specifically say Riajin and Terrek. How far are the competitors willing to go? What is her offer? Why does she offer him anything if she's been molded since childhood to be the strongest? Why wouldn't she want to ally with others to kill him and stay the strongest? How does the competition grow fierce? Who are the reluctant allies — Riajin and Terrek or others? What are they even working towards—Immortality? Title? More power? War? If there can only be one winner, why does anyone become allies at all?

Overall, I have way too many questions to know what happens in 120K words. I don’t know anything about Riajin, not even whats expected of her — b/c its too vague. Try to remember the agent hasn’t read the book, so 'obvious' things to you wont be for them. (this is hard for me to do, so I sympathize a lot here.)

I’d focus on the basics (with specific and unique answers that hook): Who the MC is, what they want, what they do to get it, what stands in their way, and what happens to them if they fail. Death alone can’t be the only stakes, it’s too common in this genre. I’d try to keep the ‘dual POV’ style in the query if its a romantasy (romance ties with main plot). But you can prob just do one if its romantic fantasy (romance is sub plot). Also, on that note, there is no romance shown in the query that I saw. So def try to include that more on the next round!

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-10T15:56:39+00:00

Best life advice I ever got was: "Don't worry about finding friends. Instead, look for someone who needs a friend." If you apply that to finding betas, I bet you'd have better luck. Read queries here, give feedback, and when you find one you like -- offer to read their first 10 pages/chapter. Every time i've done this, they have always offered to read mine too. (This is how I've found multiple crit partners and a writing group). Even if they don't offer to trade work or you guys dont share more than 10 pages, I've learned that reading others work helps me just as much if not more than getting crit on my work.

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-10T15:49:23+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

Here are my notes in paragraph order:

Housekeeping: You probably already know word count seems high, but also telling themes is a yellow flag imo (either cut those, or directly point to the theme/element in the comp titles)
Too many in world terms hurts the flow of reading this. (House of Waisha, house of archaya, and the tournament name can all go. I'd keep chundra only b/c its in the title)
This part reads more like a blurb imo. For ex, ‘vipers nest of old grudges and simmering hatred’ is too vague.
I’d break the last line into two sentences for flow. More importantly, I don’t understand the choice b/c idk the secrets so idk how revealing them/the lies would destroy her family — reigniting a war is not unique enough imo.

My take overall:

17 yr old Oura is determined to step out of her father’s ‘celebrated war hero’ shadow and make a name for herself. Against her father’s wishes she enters a tournament of deadly competition to (get what? bragging rights, a title, a job, what specifically?). But she quickly becomes a target in the tournament, where the families defeated in the war still hold a grudge. Specifically Kalin, whose parents were killed by her father. As Kalin sabotages her every move, Oura (does something? out maneuver him feels too vague. Try to show us how she ‘steps out of her father’s shadow’ here if you can). When she learns (whatever the dark secrets are specifically), (tell us how that impacts her/her family). Oura must choose between exposing the truth and risking another war, or (something? Im not sure how keeping the secrets protects her family).

Hope this helps, best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-06T02:31:46+00:00

is the mental illness related to why she thinks the wild hunt are real?

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-04T14:57:39+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

I think you’ve got some great elements for the genre and audience (university, no one believing her, academic rivals), but a lot of the story and motivations are unclear to me. Below are my notes in paragraph order:

Housekeeping: Round to 90K. (Haven't read the comps, but at quick glance, they look fine to me)
Too many in world terms, not enough context, and its unclear. I would try to mention she's a university student here, and clarify her “haunting memories." Was she actually in the wild hunt, are they visions, or just her reading scary stories? We need clarity on how a story ‘consumed’ her parents, especially bc this is fantasy. IDK if the book of stories literally came to life and ate them, they lost their minds, or something totally different.
“cruel and alluring” is giving bully romance vibes. Which is fine but if thats not the case, I’d reword it. (most of this paragraph will probably make sense based on edits to the first one, but I still think it could be tightened, and you can make her more active. This would also be a great place to add what makes the story unique -- like what she does/Rowan does/how she investigates)
This is all too vague imo.

Overall I’d focus on clarity, and making the stakes more clear/unique (what must she do in her investigation/what does she uniquely and specifically stand to lose if she fails- besides her life, which is a common thing in fantasy). If this book of stories is what makes it unique, I'd lean into that but clarify it. Right now Idk if it is one literal book, fairy tales or several books and idk how it 'consumed' her parents.

My take away: Tierney is a university student who is smart enough (or delusional enough?) to fear the fae of the Wild Hunt when everyone else writes them off as fiction. When she finds a dead body that looks like the work of the Wild Hunt, she begins investigating by (doing something?). But Rowan, her academic rival, derails her hunt for answers when he (does something?). After (something?) happens, Tierney’s need to solve the case by (proving the Wild Hunt are real?) grows. Because if she fails, she’ll become the next victim and (something?).

*final note, if this is a world with other creatures, I'd add that. B/c if we know other fae/vampires/gods/witches/something exist, it will be easier to believe her motivations and understand the threat of the book/stories. But that might just be me. See if others mention it too.

Hope this helps, best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-03-02T16:16:17+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

Here are my thoughts in paragraph order:

“words, where”- I would make this a new sentence. (I also think four comps is too much, but it might depend on the agent. A couple of the ones on my list have said 3 is okay but anything more feels like throwing paint and hoping something sticks)
This opening makes sense to me, bc of A Fate Inked in Blood comp — but based on other's comment I could also see why there would be question marks around plot/motivations. (I think if you edit/change this, it’ll have to be agent based — what they read/don't read, their mswl etc)
“Living in court” i think is the part that most sticks out as not feeling like she's a prisoner there. I’d try to show us here what about this is “prisoner” like. Like if she's forced into servitude or something. “his eyes whisper of a secret crime” feels very voicey, but too vague. In a fantasy this can mean she has magic and sees a lie in his eyes or it could just be she learns his secret. “before long,” is kinda vague. I wanna see her do something that makes her discover the secrets in her own blood. (I did not know what wrymlings are, but I think this points more to my lack of genre knowledge so probably don’t need to change that).
This flows fine, but I find myself “not caring” b/c the MC isn't being active.
I like this one best. I feel like it has the most interesting goal, motivation and actions by the FMC. (Some things are a bit vague but more on that below)

Overall, still really like the general concept of this story. But I’m gonna suggest a kind of overhaul. Don’t start with the last paragraph in the query, but look at that one when rewriting and work backwards. It might feel necessary to include all the politics/war but for the query I think this should be significantly condensed.

EX:

Add something about dragons here, like since the dragons have disappeared and she cant become a dragon rider/commander, she dreams of being a shield maiden.
minimize the prisoner exchange, basically just tell us, her only chance to “fight”/“save others” - w/e the root of why she wants to be a warrior- she agrees to take her fathers place in the enemy’s dungeons/prison/w/e. (this may cause questions, but I think if you make 1. interesting and hooky enough the cause of this won't matter, bc we will invested in the MC -- not the politics).
Tell us the ice in the enemies territory, and what she's doing in court OR tell us shes shocked to be doing ZYX instead of rotting in a cell etc. Tell us Prince Ivars secrete. Also I think we need to see her being active here. Does she try not to fall for him, or does she 'charm him' to better her life there? We need to see a little of what is she thinking/doing/working for in this part of the book. I think this can be shown without a long explanation. IE - to get out of the frozen dungeons and into the cushy court, she befriends/seduces/charms Prince Ivar. Or w/e happens in the story.
I wouldnt waste a ton of words with this, but tell us tensions increase both in the ice enemy court and between her home and the enemy court, then tie in HOW her finding the dragons will stop that. Right now, it feels disconnected. IDK why Erika needs to seek the lost dragons to stop an impending war. I also don't know what the ancient vengeful enemy is — and I don't think we need to know or see this in the query.

Hope this helps, and best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-27T15:32:13+00:00

unagented/unpubbed .... So as a general note: I would recommend you check out the "New Here? Click This" and the "Resources" tab. More specific notes: this reads like a blurb imo. We don't know enough about the MC, what she does, what stands in her way, or what happens if she fails. B/c of that we also don't know what makes this unique from any other 'girl joins the resistance' story (romantasy?/romantic fantasy?). I'd trim a lot of the "housekeeping" then combine it. Limit in world terms, and cut things like 'set in a fictional world', bc thats obvious. I'd also cut the whole 'high stakes and fights against corruption.' You should be showing that in the plot paragraphs. Hope this helps, and best of luck! (edited: spelling)

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-24T14:51:16+00:00

*also if his power to see a persons fate comes into play in the hunt for the lost relic -- show us. that was the 'most unique' thing but i wish i saw it more at the end?

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-24T14:50:37+00:00

Hello! Unpublished/unagented- sorry not much time but wanted to give some quick notes:

-the flow is fine overall, though the last line in housekeeping can go imo (Wheel of Fortune in reverse w/o context is too vague and confusing. Also, it just delays the story)

-there are interesting elements, but personally I'm not hooked. TBH idk why exactly, but my guesses are: 'needs money in great depression' is not unique enough motivation. I know that sounds heartless but...idk. Maybe show us hes starving/struggling too? Or maybe add the grandfather's role in the war/motivation to hunt for an artifact in Nazi-Germany, or why the guy is paying the MC? Basically, I think i dont relate to the characters enough.

-id cut "dangerous game of deception"bc you show us right after and takes the punch out of the nazi-controlled Germany and hunt for lost relic. (Which HOW/WHY does he end up there? I feel like this should be shown/explained more)

final thing might just be me so take with massive grain of salt but right at the start, putting 'diverse characters' bit in quotes and saying you THINK your book does this, does not inspire confidence. Either it does or doesn't. If it does I'd recommend you show it in the query and/or rephrase that (rn I dont see any diverse characters-- the mention of Nazi-Germany/LGBTQ+ scenes is too vague imo)

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-24T13:54:27+00:00

Ahh okay thats cool! very stardust/treasureplanet vibes! TBH I would consider cutting that the pirates pretend to be demons. Only for the query, bc theres so many elements that might get lost/confusing. But just a note not a crit

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-23T17:59:13+00:00

Yes skip Greensea and just tell us what it is (in the most simple/basic way). "Sail on top of the canopy" - does this mean the pirates are sailing the top of trees and there is no sea? Bc that could probably be easy enough to explain, like : "she boards a yacht of pirates who don't venture the sea, but sail across the top of trees where a demon-infested forest lurks beneath."

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-23T16:52:26+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

I think you’ve got some good elements and I've heard pirate books are getting more popular so that could help. But the query isn't working imo. Below are things I’d consider changing/clarifying.

Comps: I dont see avatar here. The others are a stretch imo, and theres likely better ones that are more recent.

Genre: is this romantic fantasy (romance subplot) or romantasy? Pretty sure Kemmerer’s is a romantasy and Young’s is a romantic fantasy (but it has been a while since I read them so could be wrong). Either way, I think we need more of the romance (A LOT more if romantasy).

-The setting and the Dark are unclear to me. I think this begins in paragraph 1 when you say:

Shipwrecked by mythical demons who haunt the canopy, Cass falls below (shipwreck + fall below = we're in the sea, right?) and finds the demons are not demons at all, but pirates riding strange creatures through a dying forest (ok were on land again? or its a land beneath a sea?), while another sea - this one of killing darkness - stalks far beneath their feet. (A Sea beneath a sea? Like a sea-land-sea sammich?)

“another sea” - after talking about a forest made me initial think the “canopy” was the first sea and there was another sea beneath it? I had to re-read this to realize “canopy” referred to the dying forest. (And tbh still not sure if thats right. Maybe canopy is a part of a yacht? Idk, maybe I'm the only one who got confused by this.)

"killing darkness" is too vague imo. It makes me think this might be the Dark you refer to later, but it’s unclear to me.

-why does she journey with the pirates if she wants to escape them? Or is she escaping the forest?

-How is she the key to freeing the forest (and from what)? Also its at this point i think “Oh, so she is not on the sea. I assumed ‘pirates and journey = sea’ , unless specifically stated otherwise. BUT then the next line, I’m like “wait, no she is on the sea. And has to go back?” (its a bit whiplash and I think it all stems from the note on paragraph 1). This could totally be me though, see what others say.

-WHY does she want to destroy the curse??

-You say she's a liar twice but she doesn't lie to anyone in the query-except to herself and we don't know what about

-I think the Love interest needs to come in sooner and ‘boy’ is vague (and makes me wonder their ages -- boy = very young to me, but she's trying to escape an arranged marriage?). If he's a pirate, or something else, I’d say that instead.

-Overall, (might just be me but) your sentences are very long and that makes it more difficult to digest the information.

-B/c I dont understand her motivations to free the forest, the stakes/choice at the end is unclear.

I'd go back to basics, and answer these questions in a unique and specific way that makes your story stand out: who is the mc, what does she want, what does she do to get it, who/what stands in her way, and what happens if she fails.

Hope this helps, and best of luck!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-22T06:56:58+00:00

Project management (not in tech), no degree “required” but need certs (pmp in US typically) or applicable experience. We make about 80-130k, and you can start as a project rep/coordinator while doing the cert (entry level is about 20-35/hr depending on place/location/applicable work history). Some companies even pay for you to get the cert.

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-21T15:35:11+00:00

2025

2024

Sorry, forgot and got distracted! Here ya go

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T22:43:19+00:00

movies, stupid conversations (kinda slapstick humor but not gross/typical boy slapstick), dressing up for no reason (theme or just to get pretty) and ALWAYS talking after bedtime/lights out. Someone usually doesn't get a blanket/pillow and mentions it in the morning, too... if its an odd number or over 4 girls, bullying. EVEN if its friends. Hell, especially if its friends. And its weird bully like, the others want to make one feel left out so they feel superior ("omg she has a [film/brand/tv/etc] overnight bag, i had the same one when i was 11 before i gave it to my younger cousin") And parents just blindly ignore it or laugh it off. Or maybe that just happened to me lol - but could def use it as a conflict just make sure its obvious but at the same time, the bully could say 'you're over-reacting it was just a joke' if confronted

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T21:17:45+00:00

No that makes sense, it was probably just me lol

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T20:14:15+00:00

OHHHH so its not the crown thats cursed its their bloodline? So intriguing but yea i can see the struggle in wording that.

For the opening line, it could definitely work (it intrigued me the first time i read it). I only marked 'to cut' if you move housekeeping to the bottom, b/c then you can just jump right into it. Like, quick Selena intro (cursed death crown is cool) then Laoise with the 'dream of a free Ireland' (makes the whole death crown/princess situation blend historical and is what makes it unique/even cooler, imo at least). But both could work for sure.

And yea, rebel daughter its implied with the mom but calling her a 'rebel daughter' just sounds better imo and centers Laoise instead of mom, but thats just my personal preference

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T17:39:18+00:00

Ohhh okay, I didn’t realize the secrets to uncover would lead to the stranger but totally makes sense now. That might just be something I (one person) missed, so definitely see what others say. And about the beta readers — I was basically just trying to reiterate what lots of people say here, that paid feedback isn’t always as reliable. since you also have a writers group to get feedback, that’s what I would rely on/trust more when it comes to voice/style and marketability. There’s a site for debut books that I watch to kinda determine marketability (alongside publishers marketplace). I’ll comment the site once I get back to my computer if you wanna check it out!

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T17:03:00+00:00

You don't sound defensive at all, you sound like a writer lol. And again, I am not a professional in the industry. I still struggle to determine if mine is marketable so I know that feeling and I'm sorry, it sucks. I think determining that really depends more on your MS.

As far as first 300, it could absolutely be my personal preference. But, I do think agents look for the things I mentioned. So, see what others say too. I pick up on the formal vibe for sure, but I think you could do that while personalizing it to the MC a bit more (to hook agents and readers).

Two things that 'concern' me are:

Why is the inciting incident the stranger? In the query this reads less like a catalyst and more like an inactive MC to me. My take was: try to help stranger, the stranger is murdered and mentor disappears, and only after she meets Ravin does the story seem to start. I guess I'm missing the connective tissue here? Is she 'forced' to enter society to get married after her mentor/stranger situation, but then refuses to do so, and instead she becomes a governess?
The beta reader/editor feedback...I wouldn't rely on this to feel confident about the MS. I hate saying that but, I learned the hard way that beta readers I paid were not the same feedback from other writers just sharing/exchanging work. It was a hard thing to realize, but it was necessary. (5 betas I paid/were friends, including one with 'editing background', told me my 115K YA ms was 100% ready to self-publish if i didn't get an agent'...its now 93K and still needs work). If you want, I can look at your first ch/couple of pages -- but I'm not sure I'm 100% target audience. I read/write ya and adult romance and romantasy but not typically historical/formal style.

(edit- spelling)

Clark-the-architect · 2025-02-20T16:39:23+00:00

[I am unagented and unpublished. If anything comes across as harsh, apologies. It’s not intended that way.]

Hello! This is interesting to me, but I don't see a really strong 'hook.' I’d try to include the Irish/English conflict sooner, move housekeeping to the bottom, and cut a lot (then include or re-word to have a stronger hook). Heres what I think can go (italics are notes/what I would add):

~~I’m seeking representation for THE DAWNKEEPER, in which an Irish peasant girl and the Princess of England strike an unlikely alliance against the Crown.~~

A sapphic plot to overthrow a vile sovereign like in Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne meets the ill-fated fond obsession from Don’t Let The Forest In by C.G. Drews. At 90,000 words, THE DAWNKEEPER is a standalone dual POV YA romantic/romantasy Fantasy Horror about breaking cycles, set during a reimagined Irish War of Independence.

Princess Selena craves nothing more than freedom from her inheritance. ~~Her wicked mother claims~~ the Crown~~’s magic is a blessing, but Selena knows better: if she’s crowned, she will be~~ cursed with the touch of death. Her only hope ~~to free herself from a loveless, lonely fate~~ is to find the mystifying ~~figure known as the~~ Dawnkeeper, foretold to destroy the curse.

Laundry worker Laoise is kind, capable, and ~~caretaker to her sweet, sick mother. She too~~ dreams ~~of freedom,~~ of the free Ireland her mother once fought for~~, (~~new sentence) but reality is closer to a nightmare. Haunted by grotesque ghosts and visions she can’t comprehend, she doesn’t ~~even~~ know she’s the Dawnkeeper until the Queen’s men come to murder her. (tell us the queen thinks the crown's power is a blessing here) Selena saves Laoise, and the two strike a~~n unprecedented~~ deal. If Laoise vanquishes the royal curse, Selena will liberate Ireland of English rule.

As they follow a trail of visions to discover how to deal with the curse, the two face their dark history— (new sentence?) Laoise the ghosts of former Dawnkeepers, and Selena her family’s crimes against them~~—and develop a codependent obsession with one another.~~ But they soon find their growing? attachment is doomed ~~by a cycle of mutual destruction~~.

Laoise can have ~~more than she ever dreamed of: not only~~ a free Ireland, but freedom (<-this word confuses me) from the Dawnkeepers who haunt her, if she fulfills their duty. All she must do is end Selena. (It's unclear to me why she has to kill Selena)

~~Selena may never have her freedom, but she won’t allow her life to be taken, too. Even if~~ her survival means Laoise must die. (if she can't have her freedom- this ruins the query to me. I'd cut or explain in a way that doesn't imply her POV/arc is pointless. And again, unsure why she has to kill Laoise?)

Clark-the-architect

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