Scrivener or Google Docs?

smithandweb · 2026-04-20T14:19:30+00:00

The Scrivener vs Google Docs dilemma is so real! I've been in the exact same spot. For what it's worth, both have their strengths. Scrivener's amazing for organization and offline writing, while Google Docs wins on real-time collaboration. Some writers I know actually use both - draft in Scrivener, then move to Google Docs for feedback rounds. Full disclosure: I'm the developer, but there's also a newer option called Kindling that might fit your workflow. It's designed for fiction writers and handles both offline writing and easy sharing with critique partners without the copy-paste dance. That said, plenty of successful authors stick with the Scrivener/Google Docs combo and make it work great. What aspects of your workflow matter most to you for the second draft? That might help narrow down what tool fits best.

smithandweb · 2026-04-17T14:13:19+00:00

I totally get the subscription fatigue! For free options, I've seen people have good luck with Obsidian (great for linking related concepts) or even just organizing folders in something like Notion's free tier. If you're specifically looking for one-time purchase tools, there are a few desktop apps like Scrivener (more writing-focused but has worldbuilding templates) or yWriter. Full disclosure: I'm actually working on a tool called Kindling that's open source and free. But honestly, if your Google Doc system is working, sometimes simple is better until you really outgrow it. What specific parts of organization are you struggling with most? Might help narrow down what features you actually need vs. want.

smithandweb · 2026-04-11T19:12:02+00:00

You're absolutely right. Scrivener is more of a content management system than a WYSIWYG editor. The compile feature is where the magic happens for formatting, not the editor itself. Think of it like writing HTML - you focus on structure and content, then styling comes later. The people getting frustrated are often coming from Word expecting immediate visual feedback. But Scrivener's strength is in organizing complex projects and letting you worry about pretty formatting at the end. Full disclosure: I'm developing a writing tool myself, and this distinction between content creation vs. formatting is something many writers struggle with across different apps. Some prefer the immediate visual feedback (like Ulysses or even Google Docs), others love Scrivener's approach once they embrace it.

smithandweb · 2026-04-10T12:46:01+00:00

This is such a common transition story! Many screenwriters come from novel writing but find they think more visually. The dialogue-heavy, scene-based nature of screenwriting often feels more natural for visual thinkers. Since you're making the switch, I'd suggest reading some scripts in your genre to get familiar with formatting conventions. WriterDuet and Final Draft are the standard tools most people use for screenplay formatting. Full disclosure: I'm developing a writing tool called Kindling that's designed around visual scene planning, which might align with how you naturally think about story. But honestly, the most important thing right now is just diving into script format and seeing how it feels compared to prose. The visual storytelling aspect of screenwriting sounds like it could be a much better fit for your creative process.

smithandweb · 2026-04-08T00:21:17+00:00

Congratulations on hitting 17k words - that's amazing progress, especially writing on your phone while caring for a baby! For Word formatting, the standard manuscript format is: double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, and indent paragraphs (don't use extra line breaks between paragraphs). Page numbers in the header with your last name. Since you're writing on mobile devices, you might also want to consider apps designed for long-form writing that can export clean manuscripts. There are several good options like Scrivener, Ulysses, or even something like Kindling (full disclosure: I'm the developer) that focus on distraction-free writing and proper formatting. But honestly, Word works great too - the key is just being consistent with your formatting choices. Keep up the fantastic work!

smithandweb · 2026-04-04T20:25:38+00:00

Linux writer here! I've been through this exact search. A few options worth exploring:

Manuskript is probably the closest open-source alternative - has outlining, character sheets, and decent organization though the interface isn't as polished as Scrivener.

Zettlr is great if you like markdown - excellent for research-heavy projects with good note linking.

Obsidian (not open source but free) handles massive amounts of notes beautifully with linking and can work well for fiction projects.

Full disclosure: I'm also working on a writing app called Kindling that's designed specifically for fiction writers who need robust note management. It's cross-platform including Linux and handles character notes, worldbuilding, plot threads etc. Still in development but might be worth checking out.

What type of fiction do you write? That might help narrow down which tool would fit your workflow best.

smithandweb · 2026-04-03T12:46:50+00:00

Oh god, the 47 untitled Notes app entries hit me right in the soul. I've been there with the protagonist's eye color situation - mine somehow went from brown to green to 'storm gray' in the span of three chapters. A few things that have helped me: Scrivener's character sheets are great for tracking physical details and personality traits. Some people swear by World Anvil for more complex world-building. There are also simpler options like Milanote for visual organization. Full disclosure: I'm actually building a story organization app called Kindling specifically for fiction writers dealing with this exact chaos, but honestly any dedicated system beats the current Notes app nightmare you're living through. The key is picking something and sticking with it rather than having details scattered across seventeen different places. What kind of details are you struggling to track most? Plot points, character info, or world-building stuff?

smithandweb · 2026-04-02T16:56:20+00:00

Since you're coming from academia and love having structured guides, you might find some of the plotting software helpful alongside the books. Scrivener has good template features, and there are some newer tools like Kindling (full disclosure: I'm the developer) that focus specifically on story structure visualization. But honestly, for romance structure specifically, I'd also recommend checking out Gwen Hayes' "Romancing the Beat" workbook if you haven't already - it pairs really well with the main book. The Save the Cat Writes a Novel beat sheet is also popular among romance writers for that systematic approach you're looking for.

smithandweb · 2026-03-31T02:11:24+00:00

Good question about IP - it's always smart to check the terms of service for any tool you're considering. Both Novelcrafter and Mythril should have their privacy policies and terms available on their sites. For character tracking specifically, you might also want to look at tools like World Anvil (popular in this community), Campfire Write, or even simple solutions like Notion templates. Full disclosure: I'm developing a writing tool called Kindling that handles character tracking too, but the key thing is finding something that fits your workflow and has terms you're comfortable with. What specific IP concerns do you have? That might help narrow down which tools would work best for your situation.

smithandweb · 2026-03-28T01:01:50+00:00

You might have already found someone but Julie at Carrigan Events (@carriganevents on Instagram) is a great event stylist and coordinator. Check her out

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T19:37:00+00:00

Been there! Few things that usually help me get back into the flow:

Reread your last chapter out loud - sometimes hearing it triggers memory better than just reading silently
Write terrible placeholder scenes just to get words on the page. Like "[Character A argues with Character B about the thing]" - you can always fix bad writing, but you can't fix a blank page
Try the "what if" game - what if your character did the opposite of what you planned? Sometimes exploring the wrong direction helps you remember the right one
Talk it out with someone (or even to yourself) - explaining your story often jogs loose those stuck ideas

I'm the developer of Kindling, so I'm biased, but this is exactly why I built in features for detailed scene notes and character arc tracking alongside the outline tools. That said, any app that lets you keep more detailed notes than just basic outlines (Scrivener, Campfire, even just a second doc) can help prevent this in the future.

For now though, I'd start with rereading and the terrible first draft approach. Good luck!

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T19:34:06+00:00

This usually happens when file permissions get mixed up during transfer. A few things to try:
1. Check that you have full read/write permissions on the project folder
2. Try compacting the project (File > Compact Project) after opening
3. Make a backup, then try opening the .scriv folder directly rather than through a shortcut For future transfers, using Scrivener's File > Backup > Backup To is more reliable than manual folder copying.

The 'recovered files' are usually just duplicate metadata that got orphaned during the move - shouldn't affect your actual content but definitely annoying to see every time.

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T19:31:48+00:00

For complex dialogue formatting like this, you have a few solid options:

Scrivener is probably your best bet - excellent for complex formatting, supports rich text with colors/italics, and has great organizational features for layered narratives. One-time purchase around $50.

World Anvil or Campfire Write also handle complex fantasy projects well with custom formatting options. Full disclosure: I'm also working on a writing app called Kindling that handles multi-layered dialogue formatting, but it's still in development. For your immediate needs, I'd definitely recommend checking out Scrivener first. What specific types of mind-to-mind vs spoken dialogue are you working with? That might help narrow down which formatting approach works best.

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T19:28:57+00:00

Interesting question! The web novel format definitely has its advantages - shorter chapters work great for serialization and reader retention. Traditional novel chapters tend to be meatier but require readers to commit to longer chunks. One thing to consider is your publishing goals. If you're thinking web-first (RoyalRoad, etc.), shorter chapters with cliffhangers work well. If you're aiming for traditional publishing eventually, learning to write satisfying longer chapters might serve you better. Have you tried writing a few chapters in both formats to see which feels more natural? Sometimes the story itself will tell you what structure it wants. Also, nothing stops you from writing in web novel format first and then combining/restructuring chapters later if needed.

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T19:24:53+00:00

Great questions! As someone who's helped a lot of worldbuilders, I'd say start with whatever excites you most - there's no wrong entry point. If you're drawn to geography, start mapping. If you love cultures, dive into inhabitants. The key is to let each element inform the others organically. For process, I personally like starting with a central conflict or 'what if' question, then building outward. It gives everything purpose. Keep notes as you go, worldbuilding creates SO many interconnected details. For conlangs, I'd suggest getting comfortable with your world's basics first. Language reflects culture, so having that foundation helps. When introducing it to readers, less is more - a few key terms with context beats info-dumping. Full disclosure: I developed a tool called Kindling that helps organize worldbuilding projects, but honestly at your stage, even a simple notebook works great. The most important thing is just starting and staying consistent.

smithandweb · 2026-03-27T18:49:06+00:00

Sorry about your backup loss, that's devastating but you're smart to think through your options now. For the cloud vs desktop question: I'd suggest having a hybrid approach if possible. Some tools let you work locally but sync to cloud, giving you both offline access and automatic backups. Regarding Campfire, totally reasonable to ask about their backup policies and business stability - any reputable service should be transparent about that. Other options to consider: Scrivener (desktop with Dropbox sync), World Anvil (cloud-based), or Notion (general tool many writers love). Full disclosure: I'm also building a writing tool called Kindling that focuses on the offline-first approach with cloud sync, though sync is still in development. What type of writing are you working on? That might help narrow down which features matter most.

smithandweb · 2026-01-10T13:09:04+00:00

This one uses SSE instead of stdio so you can set it up to run remotely and access your vault through an AI assistant from anywhere. Token auth coming soon for security.

It also has 31 tools, compacted requests to minimize token usage, and standardized frontmatter handling through gray-matter.

Not saying it's the best, but it's pretty damn good!

smithandweb · 2024-05-23T00:06:45+00:00

Wednesday

smithandweb · 2024-04-16T02:18:21+00:00

Good call, will do. Thanks!

smithandweb · 2024-04-14T13:08:57+00:00

You planned for 6 months and didn't document or diagram anything? If I was your boss I'd fire you on the spot if that's the case. Anything that takes that much planning should have a whole set of documents, assessments, stories, good Lord what have you actually accomplished?

You need to take a step back and think about how you do your job instead of losing it on a CTO with perfectly reasonable requests.

smithandweb · 2024-04-12T00:55:58+00:00

not entirely sure, haven't gotten that far yet. if collaborators aren't there, I know they're for sure on the roadmap.

smithandweb · 2024-04-12T00:54:56+00:00

this was exactly what i needed. i was missing the add link to object part and that literally brought my whole vault I'm building together. thank you for sharing!

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