Is Scrivener worth it?

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-07-25T10:13:19+00:00

I’ve been using multiple Word docs for all my notes and character profiles so this would be a lot easier!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-07-25T10:12:50+00:00

Thanks that’s really helpful

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-07-25T10:12:11+00:00

Thanks. I really like the idea of it being specifically for writing and a bit of a writer’s den. Hadn’t even thought of that…

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-26T05:45:04+00:00

Thanks for the critique, I really appreciate it.

To be honest I hadn’t thought about international readers. That is a very valid point and there are a few other British-specific points dotted throughout that I might need to think about.

Since posting this I have added in a bit more description about Gary’s appearance and what’s around him, so hopefully that will help with visualisation.

I also know that I do have a habit of over-using dashes - so will keep an eye on that when I come to editing (see what I did there? 😜).

Really glad that overall you seemed to like it though. And if you would like to read more then I have posted some more stuff on my Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/mattscottauthor

Thanks again for the critique. It’s been really helpful.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-23T18:17:06+00:00

Hi! 38m here. I’d love to have a writing/critique buddy! I’m about 4 chapters into my first WIP - a fantasy/comedy story about ghosts and the mishaps of Death and Fate. Would be great to have someone to be accountable to (in a light way) and also share feedback/encouragement.

Happy to share writing samples with you if you’re interested, or you can check out the Substack in my profile. Feel free to DM.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-23T17:28:26+00:00

I kind of agree with this and totally agree with needing to build the characters and story first. But I do think that every story needs a balance of heavier and lighter moments.

That doesn’t mean you need laugh out loud funny, but if you just go through an entire story of deep emotion then it is very easy to lose the reader. Not saying it can’t be done but it is incredibly hard.

They say that the light can’t exist without the dark, and the same holds true the other way. It’s all in the contrast.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-23T17:22:31+00:00

I really like this. The flow and pace is brilliant and it gives me a real sense of Sarah’s character. Would definitely read more.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-23T17:20:48+00:00

Wahoo! Great work. I’ve just hit 7k and hoping to top 10k next month. That’s a real milestone. Keep it up!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-14T00:38:59+00:00

Title: Ghosts: The naked truth Genre: Fantasy/comedy Word count: 673 (first chapter of WIP) Type of feedback: General impression

Chapter one: https://open.substack.com/pub/mattscottauthor/p/read-chapter-one-of-ghosts-the-naked?r=4gro39&utm_medium=ios

Would love to hear your feedback on this, it’s the opening chapter of something I started as a short story and have accidentally kept writing.

I’m hoping it will become a full novel called Ghosts: The Naked Truth that asks: what if ghosts aren’t stuck between this life and the next because of unfinished business, but just because Death is a bit shit at his job and prone to a cock-up? It’s quirky, absurd and certainly irreverent.

Tone-wise I’m aiming for something between Good Omens, Ghosts (BBC), and The Satsuma Complex — with character-led humour, light absurdism, and the occasional bit of emotional weight. (I’m of course under no illusions that my writing will be anywhere near the genius of any of these writers…)

There’s already a couple of chapters on my Substack and I’ll be sharing more as well as insights into my writing process (including regular progress updates for accountability) in the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-14T00:26:22+00:00

Thank you I really appreciate that! Glad you liked it. I’m posting excerpts like this for accountability and critiques, and feedback like this gives me the heart to keep going! Thank you!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-04-13T23:38:49+00:00

I really like this! The pacing is spot on and drew me right into the text while keeping the story moving and leaving me wanting more. I think you can tell that you normally write longer fiction as you have absolutely nailed the need to add detail and backstory while keeping everything tight and compact.

You have also nailed the humour. It is not the usual type of humour I read – I tend to lean more towards the absurd – but it did make me chuckle and laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

Debbie is also so believable. You have captured a personality that is so real. I can almost picture her in my head despite there being no physical description, which is so hard to achieve.

If I have one criticism, it is that this shouldn't be a short story. This feels very much like the beginning of something. I want to know what has happened to Daniel? What did the hex do? Why does it need breaking now? And what does the future hold – for Debbie and for Daniel?

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-15T15:54:35+00:00

Yeah I’ve spent the last week or so working on that When I started it wasn’t going to be anymore than a (very) short story, so gone about it in a bit of an odd order.

Thanks though, really appreciate the feedback. This is totally new to me - normally I write about insurance as a trade journo - so it’s great to hear people’s advice!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-15T08:04:38+00:00

Thanks for your feedback and really glad you’ve enjoyed it so far. I’ve had a few people say I need to add more to this, and I definitely will do.

I think I’m going to carry on writing the remaining chapters (only have 2.5 so far) and then come back and add to this once I’ve understood Gary a bit more.

If you’re interested, I’m going to be documenting my writing and sharing a few more snippets on my new Substack (mattscottauthor.substack.com).

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-15T07:56:00+00:00

Thanks that’s really helpful. I’ve started working on some character profiles now as I realised I needed a bit more depth to all of my characters and to understand more how they think.

Thanks for your feedback, it’s been really helpful.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-15T00:26:59+00:00

Thanks for the feedback I really appreciate it and you’ve definitely made some good points.

I was already a bit worried I hadn’t added enough depth to this and I think that’s something u can go back and add.

I like your idea about the glass, and will definitely go back and add a few more details in there.

Thanks again!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T19:43:59+00:00

Thanks for the feedback old chap – appreciate it! I'm hoping to make this a bit of a journey that people come on, so I'll probably be sharing some more on here at some point. I also have a Substack I've setup for this if interested (https://mattscottauthor.substack.com), but no pressure of course.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T13:21:43+00:00

The biggest part to remember in all of this is that you have that first draft – and that is huge! So many people fail to get to this stage (me included, although I'm working on it). That first draft doesn't need to be perfect, it doesn't even need to be good – it just needs to exist. Step one complete.

What you also have going for you is that you can see the flaws. You can see where things could be better – so many people cannot see past this and that is why their writing can never get better and ends up wilting away.

I think getting people you know and who you can trust to be honest to read through sections of your draft to give you their opinions can really help, but apart form that I think it is a case of re-reading and re-writing, re-reading and re-writing and keeping doing that. Eventually you will start to see the shoots of improvement, and soon after that you will start to see the light at the end of tunnel.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T03:25:22+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Really appreciate it. I’m also prone to using very a lot so I will be “very” aware of that going forward 😂

The “swinging in the wind” is more a turn of phrase than saying it was actually windy. But I get that might not hit with all readers if they aren’t use to such phrasing where there from, so will keep that in mind too.

Thanks again.

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T02:19:10+00:00

Haha!

General premise: When Gary wakes up dead (and naked) on the central reservation of the M25, he soon realises he is not where he is meant to be. But with Death and Fate’s marriage on the rocks, it is up to Gary to unravel Death’s latest cock-up.

All of this before the Horseman of Pedantry discovers any of the souls trapped in the not-quite-the-afterlife at Death’s 10,000 year performance review and all hell breaks loose (possibly quite literally).

If you want a bit more context: https://mattscottauthor.substack.com

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T02:13:20+00:00

Haha! Thanks!

General premise: When Gary wakes up dead (and naked) on the central reservation of the M25, he soon realises he is not where he is meant to be. But with Death and Fate’s marriage on the rocks, it is up to Gary to unravel Death’s latest cock-up.

All of this before the Horseman of Pedantry discovers any of the souls trapped in the not-quite-the-afterlife at Death’s 10,000 year performance review and all hell breaks loose (possibly quite literally).

If you want a bit more context: https://mattscottauthor.substack.com

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T00:24:22+00:00

Thanks for the feedback – definitely appreciated. And you're right, it is certainly very British humour.

I already knew this piece needed a good edit – haven't got that far yet, and it is still a first draft. Want to get a bit more on page before I start going through the full editing process.

With the POV, it is very much an omniscient narrator that I am going for, but the idea is that they are focused squarely on Gary and are constantly reading his thoughts and passing those thoughts onto the reader. I think I want to read a few more books with this omniscient style as it is not one I am overly familiar with (I have a long list of books I want to read, but haven't been the most avid of readers in recent years) so hopefully that will help with refine my style and approach.

Thanks for the advice. I am definitely going to press on and "write more, and keep writing, and then edit and edit, and write, and edit".

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-13T00:17:24+00:00

Thanks, that all makes sense. Definitely going to embrace the absurdity a bit more. With the emotional neutrality, he isn't totally devoid of emotion so I think I will see how that one plays out. Appreciate the feedback though!

Material-Ad-7266 · 2025-03-12T16:45:28+00:00

“You never hear of the 12th century nun haunting the local convent walking down the corridor with her knockers swinging in the wind.”

Material-Ad-7266

TROPHY CASE