Does anyone here use Scrivener?

[DieBeachballDie]

I bought Scrivener new about 4 years ago, for my 2013 iMac, and i loved it. I write novels. That iMac died rather abruptly (accident), and i was able to drag the majority of my files over to this old loaner iMac (2010) and re-install Scrivener from the Apple store. I somehow lost some files, but i got all the important stuff back.

Fast-forward to today, and i'm typing this (FINALLY...) from my brand new 16" 2019 i9. Back when the accident happened, talking to the Scriv support guy, he said that when i get a new computer i'll have to buy the new Scrivener 3. I had the old version. That 2013 iMac had Mojave, and the loaner had Sierra OS. I paid a lot for something i cant actually hold onto, and i'm not terribly enthusiastic about doing it again. To re-buy is $40 (with 45% discount). He said my new Catalina MBP wont work with the old version.

I dont need anything fancier than the old version. I dont use 90% of the app anyways. Is there any way to make the old version work on my new MBP? Tried re-installing my paid-for old version from the Apple store and though it downloaded, clicking the 'open' button does nothing.

Am i out another $40? I'm a starving artist here. Even more now after this new MBP business...

 

[mj_]

You spent over $2,500 for a 16" MacBook Pro but can't afford another $40 for software that you use to make a living? Surely you must be joking, right? Right?

 

[sublunar]

Scrivener 3 is a 64-bit app, Scrivener 2 is a 32-bit app. Basically there's no way around it because Catalina is 64-bit only. If you don't use 90% of the app then you should look for a free app that replicates that 10% that you need.

 

[motm95]

I have heard some folks moved over to Ulysses but that's a $40 annual subscription. Two others to look at are iA Writer and iWriter. I sometimes write and tend to just use Google Docs. Check the Mac App store for other writing apps and test 'em out.

 

[DieBeachballDie]

Scrivener 3 is a 64-bit app, Scrivener 2 is a 32-bit app. Basically there's no way around it because Catalina is 64-bit only. If you don't use 90% of the app then you should look for a free app that replicates that 10% that you need.

Thats fine, i get that, but i paid a one time premium for the first one. It was the most expensive by far and in a market where probably half of them are free. To have to pay it again is galling. There should be an upgrade, like Apple does with it's OS.

I've tried a few free ones, and looked at many others, none have the same look/feel. My new MBP comes with Pages, and i'm checking that out, but it seems rather simplistic, even lacking some of the simple features i like that every app should have. Maybe i just dont know how to use it.
[automerge]1586329133[/automerge]

I have heard some folks moved over to Ulysses but that's a $40 annual subscription. Two others to look at are iA Writer and iWriter. I sometimes write and tend to just use Google Docs. Check the Mac App store for other writing apps and test 'em out.

The above, and i guess i'm just sick of downloading stuff i dont use.My last computers were full of apps that didn't work or were no good, and you cant delete them. I've heard good things about Ulysses, but that one's even more money.

 

[PlayUltimate]

There's always TextEditor.

But on a serious note, software costs time and money to create. I'm old enough to remember when software was really expensive. The one downside to the iPhone is that software was assumed to be inexpensive.

On an aside, how much do you get paid for your writing? If you make as little as $15/hour, the software is about 4 hours of your time. If it is a necessary tool to do your work, then pay for it.

(looking back at one of the original commercial spreadsheet programs: Lotus 123. It cost $495 in 1983. That kind of pricing was the norm. Now, Numbers is "free")

 

[26139]

You bought massively overpowered computer for writing but won't spend money on the proper software to do it?

I...what in the hell, man.

 

[brookter1]

The cost is around $45 BEFORE the discount, not after, so if you already have a valid version 2 licence you can upgrade for $25-ish. https://www.literatureandlatte.com/upgrade-to-scrivener-3-for-macos. (See the link for how to get this if you bought V2 from the App Store.) That's $2 a month spread over the first year.

Version 3 is a significant improvement on version 2: it's not just a minor point release, and many programs charge for new major releases. Download the trial which you can use for 30 days actual use, and then make the decision.

If you really don't want to buy after that then your only real option is to install an older version of OSX in a Virtual Machine such as VirtualBox.

 

[DieBeachballDie]

The cost is around $45 BEFORE the discount, not after, so if you already have a valid version 2 licence you can upgrade for $25-ish. https://www.literatureandlatte.com/upgrade-to-scrivener-3-for-macos. (See the link for how to get this if you bought V2 from the App Store.) That's $2 a month spread over the first year.

Version 3 is a significant improvement on version 2: it's not just a minor point release, and many programs charge for new major releases. Download the trial which you can use for 30 days actual use, and then make the decision.

If you really don't want to buy after that then your only real option is to install an older version of OSX in a Virtual Machine such as VirtualBox.

Hmmm...I was going by the App Store price. I was not aware there was a cheaper re-licensing price. Maybe you're unaware i'm in Canada? $67 USD is $48 US.
[automerge]1586351871[/automerge]

You bought massively overpowered computer for writing but won't spend money on the proper software to do it?

I...what in the hell, man.

Massively overpowered for writing sure... but not for other things i do.

But hey, it must be nice to just spend money wantonly. Some people dont have much, and reeeeeaaaaally have to stretch to make a big purchase like this. I'm telling ya... for the next few months, things are going to be thiiiiiin around here...

And the point was i DID spend the money. Happily. One-time purchase they said. Now they've upgraded with things i probably dont need. Now i'll spend it again. Unhappily. Things is... i like the product. I've tried a few.

 

[brookter1]

Yes, I was unaware you're in Canada -- all $ look alike to us over the pond. ;-)

But you can get a discount on the App Store price by contacting the Scrivener people and giving proof of purchase. You'll be given a discount code to use to buy from the developers direct, but that's a good thing, because the App Store version is missing a couple of minor features (this is Apple's policy, not Literature and Latte's).

Just to reiterate, though -- Version 2 was good in its time, but Version 3 is a significant improvement if you can afford it. There's a reason everybody on Windows is complaining that they haven't got V3 yet.

 

[DieBeachballDie]

There's always TextEditor.


On an aside, how much do you get paid for your writing?

Hah!!! Thats how i started, with Text Edit. Worked okay until it just got tedious once the number of projects began to mount.

Alas, i dont get paid a thing. Classic starving artist, doing it for the satisfaction right now. Maybe it'll be good enough someone will want to pay for it....
[automerge]1586352215[/automerge]

Yes, I was unaware you're in Canada -- all $ look alike to us over the pond. ;-)

But you can get a discount on the App Store price by contacting the Scrivener people and giving proof of purchase. You'll be given a discount code to use to buy from the developers direct, but that's a good thing, because the App Store version is missing a couple of minor features (this is Apple's policy, not Literature and Latte's).

Just to reiterate, though -- Version 2 was good in its time, but Version 3 is a significant improvement if you can afford it. There's a reason everybody on Windows is complaining that they haven't got V3 yet.

Oh, i'm sold. Just gotta wait now for another paycheck. The laptop and monitor, and all the stuff in between just wiped me right out. Would've been nice to just plug in and go...

 

[brookter1]

Hah!!! Thats how i started, with Text Edit. Worked okay until it just got tedious once the number of projects began to mount.

Alas, i dont get paid a thing. Classic starving artist, doing it for the satisfaction right now. Maybe it'll be good enough someone will want to pay for it....
[automerge]1586352215[/automerge]


Oh, i'm sold. Just gotta wait now for another paycheck. The laptop and monitor, and all the stuff in between just wiped me right out. Would've been nice to just plug in and go...

Well, don't forget that if you get it from the website direct you get 30 days use before you have to pay. That's 30 days on which you actually use it - so if you only write every other day, the free period last 60 days. There are no limitations other than the time period -- it's the same program in every other way.

 

[mj_]

And the point was i DID spend the money. Happily. One-time purchase they said. Now they've upgraded with things i probably dont need. Now i'll spend it again. Unhappily. Things is... i like the product. I've tried a few.

The point is that application IS still going to run and remain usable until the end of time on a system that was current back when you purchased the software itself. THEY haven't upgraded. THEY are not forcing you to upgrade. THEY have not included a kill switch in their software that will force you to update. YOU have upgraded your underlying computer hardware including the operating system. YOU have chosen a Mac that runs a version of macOS that is no longer compatible with your beloved software. How exactly is that Literature & Latte's fault?

If instead of aforementioned overpowered 16" MacBook Pro you would have chosen a different slightly older Mac, such as for example the 15" MacBook Pro (2019) or the 27" iMac 2019, you would have been able to run macOS 10.14 Mojave with full support for 32-bit applications, and continue to use Scrivener 2 for as long as you want.

 

[D.T.]

I know someone said TextEditor, but I'd go even more old school and use vi

Anyway, there are a ton of free options for word processing, a number of Open Office flavors, Google Docs, and I'd even say, if you wanted something with minimal UI noise, a Markdown editor. However, I thought part of what was powerful about Scrivener, was the screenplay tools, and it had like a "idea manager", kind of like a pasteboard for managing snippets of thoughts.

You might also look out for a bundle that includes it, I saw one in the last several months and it was like $39, but it has 12 or so apps including Scrivener, you could sell off the others - or - look for someone to split it with (who doesn't want Scrivener).

 

[Aika]

In a sea of Mac apps trying their luck with subscriptions, we should be thankful for premium apps like Scrivener that have stuck to the very reasonable and consumer friendly business model of charging again only for major new version releases every few years.

 

[26139]

Massively overpowered for writing sure... but not for other things i do.

But hey, it must be nice to just spend money wantonly. Some people dont have much, and reeeeeaaaaally have to stretch to make a big purchase like this. I'm telling ya... for the next few months, things are going to be thiiiiiin around here...

And the point was i DID spend the money. Happily. One-time purchase they said. Now they've upgraded with things i probably dont need. Now i'll spend it again. Unhappily. Things is... i like the product. I've tried a few.

No, you upgraded.

Scrivener didn't change a thing.

You're telling me that paying for good software is somehow wantonly spending money?

I'm assuming you're pirating all the other software you need on your $2500 computer?

 

[DieBeachballDie]

You're telling me that paying for good software is somehow wantonly spending money?

I'm assuming you're pirating all the other software you need on your $2500 computer?

Whoever that was in response to was implying i'm cheap. I'm definitely not cheap, i'm just rather POOR. Big difference. I dont mind spending money on nice things, and supporting good companies.

Heh... No, that would be my PC friends. I wouldn't know how.
[automerge]1586413615[/automerge]

In a sea of Mac apps trying their luck with subscriptions, we should be thankful for premium apps like Scrivener that have stuck to the very reasonable and consumer friendly business model of charging again only for major new version releases every few years.

Yeah, thats a good way to put it. When searching writing apps, i was overwhelmed by the choices. Is there a need for 100 different writing apps?

 

[adib]

Hah!!! Thats how i started, with Text Edit. Worked okay until it just got tedious once the number of projects began to mount.

Alas, i dont get paid a thing. Classic starving artist, doing it for the satisfaction right now. Maybe it'll be good enough someone will want to pay for it....
[automerge]1586352215[/automerge]


Oh, i'm sold. Just gotta wait now for another paycheck. The laptop and monitor, and all the stuff in between just wiped me right out. Would've been nice to just plug in and go...

Besides TextEdit, there's also emacs and vi – works great with text. There's also free apps like SubEthaEdit in the Mac App Store. Heck, if $40 is a problem, there's Xcode that works well with Markdown...

 

[DieBeachballDie]

Besides TextEdit, there's also emacs and vi – works great with text. There's also free apps like SubEthaEdit in the Mac App Store. Heck, if $40 is a problem, there's Xcode that works well with Markdown...

Dont even need to look for free stuff... this thing came with Pages. If nothing else, its gotta be WAY better than Text Edit.

 

[mw360]

I hope you make the purchase. Scrivener is a great app from a very small team of developers. I'm not even sure there's more than one of them working on it. I've been using Scrivener for easily 10 years and considering how much I love using it, I don't think I've given them enough money over that time.

And since this is probably sounding like a paid commercial by this point, their other app, Scapple, is great too!

Good luck with your writing.

 

[PlayUltimate]

I hope you make the purchase. Scrivener is a great app from a very small team of developers. I'm not even sure there's more than one of them working on it. I've been using Scrivener for easily 10 years and considering how much I love using it, I don't think I've given them enough money over that time.

And since this is probably sounding like a paid commercial by this point, their other app, Scapple, is great too!

Good luck with your writing.

It did start with one guy that wanted to develop something for himself. And I agree on Scapple. (just wish it was available for iOS.)

 

[26139]

Whoever that was in response to was implying i'm cheap. I'm definitely not cheap, i'm just rather POOR. Big difference. I dont mind spending money on nice things, and supporting good companies.

Heh... No, that would be my PC friends. I wouldn't know how.

Okay, so what's your issue with buying Scrivener at a discounted upgrade price and supporting the company behind it?

 

[bobob]

Apologies for interrupting the chastisement of the OP ( ), but since there are so many Scrivener users gathered, I thought I would attempt a small lateral threadjack.

I have been considering purchasing Scrivener for a rather complicated non-fiction project I have been working on, but I am a bit concerned about comments I've read about it's steep learning curve.

I have been working on it in Pages, but it really is unsatisfactory for a bigger project like the one I'm working on - - it's become quite a rat's nest. I had planned to switch to MS Word because I can always find answers for problems with it, but am also skeptical about its ability to manage complexity.

Is Scrivener worth the climb?

 

[DieBeachballDie]

I hope you make the purchase. Scrivener is a great app from a very small team of developers. I'm not even sure there's more than one of them working on it. I've been using Scrivener for easily 10 years and considering how much I love using it, I don't think I've given them enough money over that time.

And since this is probably sounding like a paid commercial by this point, their other app, Scapple, is great too!

Good luck with your writing.

I did buy it. Like i said, i used it exclusively before, and since i've tried a few, and was playing around the the Pages that came with my MBP, but it just wasn't close.
[automerge]1587734084[/automerge]

Apologies for interrupting the chastisement of the OP ( ), but since there are so many Scrivener users gathered, I thought I would attempt a small lateral threadjack.

I have been considering purchasing Scrivener for a rather complicated non-fiction project I have been working on, but I am a bit concerned about comments I've read about it's steep learning curve.

I have been working on it in Pages, but it really is unsatisfactory for a bigger project like the one I'm working on - - it's become quite a rat's nest. I had planned to switch to MS Word because I can always find answers for problems with it, but am also skeptical about its ability to manage complexity.

Is Scrivener worth the climb?

Honestly man, i dont use 90% of it, but there sure does seem a lot of neat stuff on there, and it seems a lot of pliability to cross platforms and media. As for learning curve, i'm not exactly computer-friendly, and it seems pretty simple to me? The tutorial is pretty comprehensive, and i only went through the basic. There are advanced parts too. And then there is a forum which i've also found helpful (just lurking, not even posting).

You can try it free for 30 days. Nothin' to lose...

 

[monokakata]

Apologies for interrupting the chastisement of the OP ( ), but since there are so many Scrivener users gathered, I thought I would attempt a small lateral threadjack.

I have been considering purchasing Scrivener for a rather complicated non-fiction project I have been working on, but I am a bit concerned about comments I've read about it's steep learning curve.

I have been working on it in Pages, but it really is unsatisfactory for a bigger project like the one I'm working on - - it's become quite a rat's nest. I had planned to switch to MS Word because I can always find answers for problems with it, but am also skeptical about its ability to manage complexity.

Is Scrivener worth the climb?

Depending on what "manage complexity" means to you, I'll suggest that Scrivener is very, very good at that.

The way I use it (fiction, nonfiction) is to compose my text in "chunks" as small as is workable. Sometimes this is what a person would call a chapter, sometimes a section, sometimes just a few paragraphs. Each of these is named with a descriptive name and sits, easily viewed, in the sidebar.

Eventually I'll want to rearrange or combine them, and with Scrivener this is almost trivially easy. I can also see my current organization in the sidebar.

Another procedure I'll often use is to open two windows, with one being what I'm currently writing, and the other either an earlier version of it, or notes, or a different chapter or section I want to check out and perhaps copy from.

Another important feature is the great ease with which I can include notes, research, etc. in another part of the binder, and take a quick look at that material any time I want to, without necessarily leaving the section I'm working on.

Of course things like this can be done using other text apps. But in my experience, Scrivener makes it easier to do them, by far. No comparison.

Eventually everything is output to Word documents.