One file or many? - Page 3

Hydrogen · 11-16-2012, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmy84

note to self: must try Scrivener...

I use one Word doc, and insert bookmarks where each chapter starts... easy to find what I want when I want it. But I do have trouble keeping my chapter's in some kind of range as far as word counts, so I might make a liar of myself after trying Scrivener...

They have a free trial. I think it's for 30 days.

Kimmy84 · 11-17-2012, 01:12 AM

Kewl, will do that today!
Additionally, I use Google Drive to back up all my work. Plus its available anywhere, even on my phone! So if im out and about and get struck by an idea I can just add a document to the drive and it will be here when i get home! It also helps for people reading the book. They download the file, add comments, then load it back again. I can just download the latest version here to read them all.

Kimmy84 · 11-17-2012, 01:12 AM

Kewl, will do that today!
Additionally, I use Google Drive to back up all my work. Plus its available anywhere, even on my phone! So if im out and about and get struck by an idea I can just add a document to the drive and it will be here when i get home! It also helps for people reading the book. They download the file, add comments, then load it back again. I can just download the latest version here to read them all.

Blinkk · 11-17-2012, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmy84

Additionally, I use Google Drive to back up all my work. Plus its available anywhere, even on my phone! So if im out and about and get struck by an idea I can just add a document to the drive and it will be here when i get home!

I do the same thing. I like it much better. I always have many back ups, of course. I like to keep everything in one file, though. It's just how I organize things. To each their own.

blacbird · 11-17-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmy84

I use one Word doc, and insert bookmarks where each chapter starts... easy to find what I want when I want it. But I do have trouble keeping my chapter's in some kind of range as far as word counts, so I might make a liar of myself after trying Scrivener...

That's a curious problem. It's ridiculously easy to count words through a selected portion of an MS-Word document. Why would having things in a single big file make chapter word counts difficult to keep track of?

caw

WeaselFire · 11-17-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacbird

It's ridiculously easy to count words through a selected portion of an MS-Word document.

What we really need is an AW forum on using Word as a writing tool.

Jeff

TheaBlowsKisses · 11-17-2012, 10:40 PM

I keep one main document, and then write parts/sections/chunks in others. I edit about every 10K words or so (blasphemy, I know!), and once something is edited, it goes into the main document. Then once I'm all done and all the pieces are in place, the whole shebang gets edited again.

Mukavetz · 11-17-2012, 11:51 PM

I fully intended to use one file in Word 2007, but started using two when I skipped ahead to write another section. My WIP is non-fiction though, and it made the files easier to work with.

They will probably stay separate until I make quite a bit more progress, then get merged back together. I don't like the idea of writing in the middle of a document for a long period of time.

I might have to give Scrivener a try. Word works well after all the various tweaks and settings are made, but obviously isn't made to format and produce eBooks.

eyebee14 · 12-13-2012, 09:54 PM

I start out as one file/document. But for my edits, I break it down by chapter. It's less intimidating for me. Once I am done with an edit, I merge the chapters together again. I always have a working draft that is a complete document for reference.

ave · 12-13-2012, 11:05 PM

I have multiple files of about 2000 words each, which is about as much as I can handle at a time without completely losing my mind. Once I finish each, it feels like I have achieved something- which does wonders for motivation.

I'll number each file, so I'll start with steal_car_01. Every time I rework the file I increment that number, so I could eventually end up with steal_car_20. And all the older files are dropped in an "Old" folder
This makes it easy if I ever want to reference an older version, or reuse something I cut out.

This is also great if I want to juggle scenes. Something I've been doing often of late.

I use Libre Office, and if I ever need larger sections, I just create a master document, select all the files and I have a complete document in a few clicks. Works for me.

ChristinaLayton · 12-14-2012, 12:19 AM

I prefer to put all my chapters in one single file, if that's what you mean.

I find it's a pain in the rear end to have to look through another file chapter just to look up a character's name or last name you've forgotten. All I have to do is go up a little bit, or do a search of the name, if I forgot the last name, for example, and it's right there.

Myrealana · 12-14-2012, 01:35 AM

I have one rough draft file. Then I do re-writes a chapter at a time. Each chapter has its own file in Word. As I finish each one, I paste it into my clean manuscript formatted file for printing and editing.

furiousferret · 12-14-2012, 03:47 AM

Each Chapter in its own file, all linked via a Master Document in Word. It just seems easier to work in measurable chunks.

benbenberi · 12-14-2012, 04:20 AM

A Master Document in Word? You like to live dangerously! (It may have been fixed in recent iterations, but for a very long time the Master Document was a seductive but notoriously buggy and broken feature. Recommended safety measure - keep backups of all the files that are NOT linked. That way if the MD goes kaplooey without warning, you don't lose all your work.)

Becky Black · 12-14-2012, 12:35 PM

One file for me. Though if I'm having a quick session on my netbook at lunchtime on the WIP I'll often just open a new file and start typing in that, then copy and paste it into the main file later. Just saves me a precious few minutes getting the current version of the WIP off my backup stick and onto the netbook - assuming that my previous session was on my home machine.

Dodici · 12-14-2012, 01:24 PM

It depends, if the novel is very long I use to create a file for each chapter, even if it's kind of messy when I have to put them all together.
Recently I managed to use a single file with summary of the chapters so I can keep track of the actual lenght of the story, I think it's better for novellas and similar

11-17-2012, 01:12 AM	#52
Kimmy84 New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 37	Kewl, will do that today! Additionally, I use Google Drive to back up all my work. Plus its available anywhere, even on my phone! So if im out and about and get struck by an idea I can just add a document to the drive and it will be here when i get home! It also helps for people reading the book. They download the file, add comments, then load it back again. I can just download the latest version here to read them all. __________________ Kim a woman posing as a writer bloggy business

11-17-2012, 01:12 AM	#53
Kimmy84 New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 37	Kewl, will do that today! Additionally, I use Google Drive to back up all my work. Plus its available anywhere, even on my phone! So if im out and about and get struck by an idea I can just add a document to the drive and it will be here when i get home! It also helps for people reading the book. They download the file, add comments, then load it back again. I can just download the latest version here to read them all. __________________ Kim a woman posing as a writer bloggy business

11-17-2012, 10:40 PM	#57
TheaBlowsKisses steaming up the e-readers Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New York Posts: 130	I keep one main document, and then write parts/sections/chunks in others. I edit about every 10K words or so (blasphemy, I know!), and once something is edited, it goes into the main document. Then once I'm all done and all the pieces are in place, the whole shebang gets edited again. __________________ thealanden.blogspot.com

12-13-2012, 09:54 PM	#59
eyebee14 figuring it all out Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 83	I start out as one file/document. But for my edits, I break it down by chapter. It's less intimidating for me. Once I am done with an edit, I merge the chapters together again. I always have a working draft that is a complete document for reference. __________________ Current Projects: Evolution Hope - YA Science Fantasy - 118,000 (editing) Evolution Resistance - YA Science Fantasy (outlining)

12-13-2012, 11:05 PM	#60
ave practical experience, FTW Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Johannesburg South Africa Posts: 516	I have multiple files of about 2000 words each, which is about as much as I can handle at a time without completely losing my mind. Once I finish each, it feels like I have achieved something- which does wonders for motivation. I'll number each file, so I'll start with steal_car_01. Every time I rework the file I increment that number, so I could eventually end up with steal_car_20. And all the older files are dropped in an "Old" folder This makes it easy if I ever want to reference an older version, or reuse something I cut out. This is also great if I want to juggle scenes. Something I've been doing often of late. I use Libre Office, and if I ever need larger sections, I just create a master document, select all the files and I have a complete document in a few clicks. Works for me. __________________ Current project: Riftwalkers

11-17-2012, 11:51 PM	#58
Mukavetz New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 12	I fully intended to use one file in Word 2007, but started using two when I skipped ahead to write another section. My WIP is non-fiction though, and it made the files easier to work with. They will probably stay separate until I make quite a bit more progress, then get merged back together. I don't like the idea of writing in the middle of a document for a long period of time. I might have to give Scrivener a try. Word works well after all the various tweaks and settings are made, but obviously isn't made to format and produce eBooks.

12-14-2012, 12:19 AM	#61
ChristinaLayton Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 452	I prefer to put all my chapters in one single file, if that's what you mean. I find it's a pain in the rear end to have to look through another file chapter just to look up a character's name or last name you've forgotten. All I have to do is go up a little bit, or do a search of the name, if I forgot the last name, for example, and it's right there.

12-14-2012, 01:35 AM	#62
Myrealana I aim to misbehave Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 755	I have one rough draft file. Then I do re-writes a chapter at a time. Each chapter has its own file in Word. As I finish each one, I paste it into my clean manuscript formatted file for printing and editing. __________________ -- Myrea "You don't fix faith. Faith fixes you." - Shepherd Book "It's not enough to bash in heads, You've got to bash in minds" - Captain Hammer

12-14-2012, 03:47 AM	#63
furiousferret New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	Each Chapter in its own file, all linked via a Master Document in Word. It just seems easier to work in measurable chunks.

12-14-2012, 04:20 AM	#64
benbenberi practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 559	A Master Document in Word? You like to live dangerously! (It may have been fixed in recent iterations, but for a very long time the Master Document was a seductive but notoriously buggy and broken feature. Recommended safety measure - keep backups of all the files that are NOT linked. That way if the MD goes kaplooey without warning, you don't lose all your work.)

12-14-2012, 12:35 PM	#65
Becky Black Making up for lost time Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,306	One file for me. Though if I'm having a quick session on my netbook at lunchtime on the WIP I'll often just open a new file and start typing in that, then copy and paste it into the main file later. Just saves me a precious few minutes getting the current version of the WIP off my backup stick and onto the netbook - assuming that my previous session was on my home machine. __________________ Writer of m/m romance. My novels are available from Loose Id. See more details in my Absolute Write Library thread.

12-14-2012, 01:24 PM	#66
Dodici New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Italy Posts: 13	It depends, if the novel is very long I use to create a file for each chapter, even if it's kind of messy when I have to put them all together. Recently I managed to use a single file with summary of the chapters so I can keep track of the actual lenght of the story, I think it's better for novellas and similar

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