Hi, I’m wondering how others have merged a 16-page detailed outline of a novel into Scrivener. I currently have it printed (from Word) but figure there must be a good place to put the information. The corkboard ‘synopsis’ and ‘notes’ areas are too small. Likewise, it doesn’t make sense to make it a part of the Draft because of compiling in the future. Any ideas? How do you integrate a very detailed outline or synopsis? Thanks for your advice!
The ‘Notes’ area is actually a full document behind the scenes – yes if you look at it in the Inspector, then the view on it is limited (albeit scrollable), but there is another way to see the Notes for a document.
[EDIT: the method below assumes you want the notes for each scene attached to that scene. If you just want it available as a whole, then Bridey’s ‘Bookmark’ method below is better - you can view the bookmark either in a split editor or by using the same Quick Reference window approach I use below…]
If you right-click on the relevant document (a scene, say) in the binder and choose Open > as Quick Reference, you’ll see the document itself in a fully resizable window. This window can be split to show both the text and the contents of the Inspector Panels, including Notes. e.g.
When you first open the QR window, the dropdown box in the top right says ‘Editor Only’, but you can choose to show the Notes as in the Screenshot.
The screen shot was taken on a 12" MacBook – with a wider screen, the Notes QR panel could be a lot wider, but obviously, it’s scrollable as it is. Basically, the QR + Notes approach lets you see considerably more text at once than if you view it in the Inspector. (The same is true for the Synopsis if you use that split instead).
So, the plan would be:
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Split your novel into the separate Chapters as folders, with individual scenes and child documents below the relevant chapter.
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Add a short (paragraph) synopsis to each scene in the Synopsis area. Add your detailed notes to the Notes area.
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As you write each scene, work on it in the Editor of the main window and open a QR window with the Notes next to it.
HTH.
I create a synopsis file outside of the draft and add it to the inspector as a project bookmark so that it is always at hand.
Thank you so much for your responses!! brookter - this method seems a fantastic way to attach a detailed outline to each scene. Actually, I have bought an app called ‘Magnet’ which seems the perfect tool to ‘snap’ windows to a particular size so will help greatly in this matter. Likewise, Bridey, having the outline as one ‘reference’ document outside the Draft as a bookmark seems a brilliantly simple solution for having a compiled outline in one document.
(Although there will be data duplication), I think I will proceed by employing BOTH of these methods - I can see there are advantages to each. I an indebted to you both!! Thank you.