Outlining Your Novel

Workbook Program
Users Guide
v. 1.94


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Table of Contents

Intro 3

Chapter 1: Basic Controls

Control Window 4
Help Screen 6
Print Window 9

Chapter 2: Premise
Two Sentence Premise / Situation 10
Pre-Outline Questions /Big Moments 11
Complications 13

Chapter 3: General
Scene List 14
Connecting the Dots 18
Exporting Scenes for use in Scrivener 19

Chapter 4: Characters
Interview 20
Minor Characters 21
Characters List 22

Chapter 5: Settings
Main Settings 23
Settings List 24

Chapter 6: Outlines
Scene Checklist 26

Chapter 7: Extras
Calendar 27
Playlist 29

Menus 31

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 Intro:

The Outlining Your Novel Workbook program is based on the Outlining

Your Novel book and Outlining Your Novel Workbook by K.M. Weiland.

Every word of instruction from the workbook has been recreated in this
program, so it could be used as a replacement for the workbook—for
many workbooks!

Just as the original printed workbook and the Outlining Your Novel book
were designed to be a complete outlining package, the book and the
software will serve that same role.

This digital workbook can store any number of projects, keeping all data and notes separate.
For novelists writing a series, data can be exchanged between projects. Characters and
settings can be imported from one project to another. Once imported, the settings and
characters are independent from the originals and can be changed and modified without
affecting the data in the other project.

Scenes can be exported to Scrivener, or any other program that can import text files.

The program also includes a printable report page for every section and chapter. You may print
each section with your notes, or print from an empty project to create blank workbook pages for
written notes.

This Users Guide doesn’t cover a complete description of every layout because the program is
easy to use and, in most cases, self-explanatory. Just answer the questions and fill in the
blanks.

If you want to be systematic and thorough, you could move through each chapter in the
software just as you would the printed workbook, starting with the first chapter on the left. But
the beauty of the software is that you can do it in any order that you wish, over any amount of
time that you wish. Just have fun and be creative!

The rest of this Users Guide explains the layouts that may not be naturally intuitive.

For more information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the program’s Support
Page: http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/oynw-support

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Chapter 1: Basic Controls
The Control Window

Click the program icon in the upper left corner of the screen to open the Control
Window.

Add - Click the “+” button to add a new project. The program will attempt to create a folder in
the documents folder on your computer called “OYNdW.” That location will be set as the default
exports path. (Which you can change, if you wish, by clicking on the Exports Path display.)

Rename Project - Click the project name to open a rename window.

Choose - Click the down arrow (below “Choose”) to see a list of every project saved in the
workbook program.

Delete - Click the trash can icon to delete the currently selected project. A warning box appears
before the project is irrevocably deleted.

Help - Click the Help button to open the help window. (See below.)

About Us - Opens the About Us window, which displays links to the Author’s and Programmer’s
websites.

Print - Opens the print selector window. (See below.) Each section of the workbook program
can be printed separately, or the entire workbook can be printed.

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Save: There is no Save button because work is automatically saved every time a field is
changed.

There are also no separate data files. The data for all projects is contained within the program.
So, to back-up your data, duplicate the entire OYNdW application folder.

Back-Up - When you click on the Export button, you will be given two choices to back up your
work:

1. Export All Projects - Export every project in the program. You will have the option to
choose an exports folder. The export generates 18 files in .fmp12 (Filemaker) format.
The files can only be used with the Outlining Your Novel Workbook program. All projects
are saved together in these 18 files.

2. Export One Project - You may choose to export only the currently selected project.
This is a good way to save a backup of a work in progress. Then you can always go
back to a previous version.

Note: Exporting is also a good way to exchange projects with another writer who also has the
Outlining Your Novel Workbook program.

Note: This export is different from exporting scenes for use in Scrivener. The scene export
button is found on the All Scenes layout.

Import - You may import any exported files, either projects that were exported as a group or
individual projects. Caution: Be sure to delete a project before you try to import the same
project. You can’t have two projects with the same name or project ID number. The program will
check and warn you about this.

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Help Screen

There are three ways to navigate to the Help screen:

1) Use the drop-down menu at top of the screen to select Workbook/Help.
2) Use the Section Arrows on the upper right side of the screen to click through the 29
workbook layouts to reach the Help and About Us layouts.
The Help screen is 1 click on the left arrow from the first screen in the program.
3) Click the Help button in the Control Window.

The Help window has three tabs:

1) Workbook - This tab has links to outlining instructions from the workbook.
2) Overview - Help on how to use the program.
3) Navigation - Indicates locations of all navigation buttons and menu items.

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Help/Workbook TOC:
The workbook tab displays a Table of Contents. Each title is a link to a pop-up window with
outlining instructions reprinted from the workbook. Click outside the pop-up window to close it.

There is an arrow next to each chapter title. The arrows are links that will switch the display to
the first layout for that chapter.

Note that the six buttons on the Navigation Bar correspond to the seven chapters listed in the
table of contents. Chapters 3 and 4 about Characters have been combined into one button on
the Navigation Bar.

Creative Exercises
At the end of the first six categories, there is a section called Creative Exercises. These
sections contain helpful suggestions and questions for your consideration. There are also links
to online resources. Click the round blue buttons to open a web browser to additional
information.

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Help / Overview:

The Overview tab displays a mini-guide about the program.

Users Manual - Right click to open the guide. Windows users, select 'Export field contents" from
the contextual menu. Mac users, select 'Open in Preview.'

Help / Navigation:

The Navigation tab reviews the four ways to navigate through the program.

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The Print Window

Click the Print button in the Control Window to open the Print Selector screen.
Mark any check boxes for the sections to be printed.
Clicking the check box for any category (highlighted in blue) will select all sections in that
category.

Individual sections in any categories may also be selected or deselected.

Clear Chapters - This will only deselect the category titles.

Clear All Sections - Deselect every section.
Cancel - End the printing request and close the Print Window.
Print - Send the selected sections to the printer.
Note that some operating systems will allow the sections to be sent to .pdf files instead.

Any text typed into fields in the selected sections will also be printed.
To print out a completely blank workbook, create a new unused project, and then select every
category to be printed. It will be many pages long.

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Chapter 2: Premise
2 Sentence Premise / Situation

Since these questions pertain specifically to the Major Protagonist, the selected Major
Protagonist will be displayed under the label. If no Major Protagonist has been selected, the
field will display * No Protagonist Set *.

Choose Protagonist - Switch to the Characters/Interviews/Background screen (shown here)

where you can set one of the characters in the current project to the Major Protagonist. Only
one character can be set as the Major Protagonist.

"

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Pre-Outline Questions / Big Moments

There are two ways to enter a new Big Moment:

1) Type into field labeled “Enter description of new Big Moment” and click “Save.”
2) Scroll to the last line of the Big Moments list and type into the next empty field.

Each Big Moment may have any number of associated Complications. There are three ways to
switch between Big Moments and Complications:

1) Click the Complication Arrow beside the Big Moment.

2) Click the Left or Right Slider Arrows

3) Click the Slider Dots

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The Structure Skeleton:

Inserts the nine basic elements of the Structure Skeleton into the
Big Moments list.

The nine elements are:

• Inciting Event (12%)
• Key Event (20%)
• 1st Plot Point (25%)
• 1st Pinch Point (37%)
• Midpoint (50%)
• 2nd Pinch Point (62%)
• Third Plot Point (75%)
• Climax (88%)
• Resolution (98%)

The “To Scenes” button is set to the right of the Structure Skeleton button. Since Big
Moments and Scenes are closely related, this is an easy way to switch to the Scenes
List.

Copy all Big Moments to the Scenes List.

To copy individual Big Moments to the Scenes List, use the button on the Complications tab. (See next
page.)

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Pre-Outline Questions / Big Moments / Complications

The Complications Display is the second slider on the Big Moments tab. Every Big Moment
may have any number of associated Complications. When you fill in the blanks on the three
fields, or tab through them, another Complication record will be created.

To switch between Complications and Big Moments: Click the

Left or Right Slider Arrows or the Slider Dots

Click the Big Moments selector to choose from a list of all Big Moments.

Click the Send to Scenes List button to copy one Big Moment to the Scenes List
screen. Each Big Moment may be individually sent if you wish to include it in the All
Scenes List screen.

To send all Big Moments to Scenes List at once, use the button in the lower status bar.


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Chapter 3: General
General / Scene List

The Scene List displays every scene in the current project.

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There are three ways to add scenes to the Scene List:
1) Choose the Big Moment on the Complications screen and click the Send to Scene button.
Big Moments are shaded blue.

2) On the Scenes List, click on the Add Scene button to insert a new blank scene in
the current location. Clicking the “Add Scene” button will insert a scene inside or
outside of a folder depending on where the button is located.

3) Click the Add Scene button at the top of the Scenes List.

To drag a scene to a new location, place the mouse curser over the drag
control and move straight up or down to the new location.

Scenes may be grouped together in a folder. Drag the Drag bar at an angle
over a scene folder that isn’t already in a folder. (You can’t create folders in
folders.)
Any number of scenes can be grouped together in a folder. Any scene can
become a folder just by dragging a scene to the folder icon.

The number on the folder indicates the number of scenes it contains.

The arrow pointing to the right indicates a closed folder. Click the right arrow
to open (un-nest) and display all the scenes hidden in the folder.

When a scene is clicked, guide arrows appear, either up, down,

or at an angle.
The angled arrows indicate that the scene can be nested into
another scene. 


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Rules about repositioning and nesting scenes
A closed folder (a chapter with hidden nested scenes) will behave just like an individual scene;
it will readjust when the drag control is dragged and dropped onto it.

An open folder (a chapter with visible nested scenes) will not reposition when a scene is
dragged onto its drag control bar. If you want the folder to reposition when another scene is
dragged onto the drag bar, then close it.

You may drag an open folder to a new position. As long as you drop it on the drag bar of an
individual scene or a closed folder, the scenes will all readjust to accommodate the open folder
and all of the scenes inside of it.

To add a scene to a folder, drag and release the drag bar onto a folder icon. To remove a scene
from a folder, drag it out of the folder and release it on the drag bar of any individual scene.

If there is any text in the scene description field when the folder is created, the text will be
automatically underlined, to indicate that it has become a folder. The trash can for chapters will
be hidden to indicate that it is a folder and to hinder accidental deletion of an entire folder.

Warnings On - When warnings are on, a message will pop up

when the rules above aren’t followed.

To delete an entire folder and all the scenes in it, click the unfold arrow to
make the trash can icon appear and click on the trash can. A warning will
appear to confirm the deletion of multiple scenes at once.

Fold / Unfold All Folders - To open or close all folders on the Scenes
List screen. Click the downward pointing arrow to unfold all chapters.
Click the right pointing arrow to fold all chapters.


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Color Coding Selector:

Each scene can be set to one of five colors (besides black) to indicate the completeness or
importance of the scene. When a scene is color coded, click the same color again to revert
back to black.

! 


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Connecting the Dots

Any scenes set to red (Incomplete Idea) will appear on the Connecting the Dots screen. Once
the color code has been reset to a non-red color, the scene will be removed from this screen.

Use the Connecting the Dots screen to further consider the relevance and function of the
scene.

This screen is the next screen after the Scenes List. To switch back to Scenes List, you may
click the Previous Section arrow in the upper right corner.

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Exporting Scenes List for use in Scrivener

The Scenes List displays every scene in the current project.

Click the Export Scenes button to send each scene as a separate

document to the default exports path. You will be given the option of
selecting a different exports path.

Exported Folders and Scenes are titled with distinct sort numbers followed by the scene description. The
first twenty characters of the scene description becomes part of the name when exported.
0nn - nn corresponds to the scene number in the scene list
Fn - F = folder. n = the sequential order of the folder. ie F1 = 1st folder. F2 = 2nd folder.
Sn - S = scene. n = the sequential order of the scene. ie S1 = 1st scene. S2 = 2nd scene.

On Windows computers, the exported scenes are saved with the “.txt” extension and may be
double-clicked to opened in Notepad or any other program that reads text files.

An entire scene folder can be imported into Scrivener by dragging the

folder from the desktop to the binder, or just individual scenes may be
imported.

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Chapter 4: Characters
Interview

All characters start on this screen.

- Adds a new character.

Use the six tabs on this Interview screen, plus the next two screens (Freehand
Interview, and Personality) to create a deep description of any characters.

- Imports a character from any other projects.

Since there are over 100 blank fields for a main character, you probably don’t want to
re-type them if you don’t have to. If you’re writing a series or a sequel, you can import
any characters previously created in a different project. Once imported, the new
character is a copy, separate and distinct from the original.

- Use the character arrows to click through to view all characters in the
current project. The characters are sorted in the same order as on the
All Characters layout: Protagonists, Antagonists, Major, Minor, First
Name.

- Deleting a character in one project doesn’t delete the same character in other projects.
You will be given one warning before the character is permanently removed.


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Minor Characters

Only characters that are set as “Minor” on the Character Interview layout will appear on this
layout. There is no way to create a character from this layout. Use these six fields to describe a
minor character instead of the 100+ fields used to flesh out main characters.

Click on the name of a minor character to switch to the full Character Interview screen.

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Character List

The Character List screen displays all characters created for the current project.
Characters are sorted in this order:
1) Protagonists
2) Antagonists
3) Major
4) Minor
5) First Name

Click on the character name to switch to the Character Interview screen.

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Chapter 5: Settings
Main Setting

- Add a new setting. Switches the display to the All Settings List, creates a new unnamed
setting, and sets the cursor in the Settings Name field.

Use the 10 drop-down selectors to select the best sub-settings to use in your project.
Use the checkboxes to select the best of the best sub-settings.


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Settings List / Slider 1

All settings for the current project are listed on this screen.

- Add a new setting.

- Import settings from any other projects.


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Settings List / Slider 2

The second slider on the Settings List screen displays all settings from other projects.
Any of them may be imported into the current project.

- Import setting to the current project


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Chapter 6: Outlines
Scene Checklist

As you complete each scene, refer to this list of questions to make sure you're maximizing the
scene's potential for the story.

- Use the left or right arrows that flank the scene descriptions to
click through each scene in sequence.
- Use the scene selector to select any scene in the current project.

Scenes can’t be edited or changed on this screen.

There are ten questions divided into two displays for each scene.
Use the dots in the lower center of the screen, or the arrows in the lower corners of the screen
to view both displays.

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Chapter 7: Extras
Calendar

Use this layout to display a chronological list of all scenes in the novel. Only include the months
and years that are part of your novel, skipping over any intervening gaps in time.

Type a description into any of the day’s description field. The currently selected day will display
in the lower, larger description field. Text for the current day can be edited in the lower
description display and it will update the current day’s description.

- Every project starts with one calendar. Click the Plus button to add another.

Use the drop-down selector to choose a month.

Type a year into the year field.

Use the Left and Right Arrows at the top or bottom of the calendar to switch to a different
month.

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Auto-Number - If set to “On,” type a number into any date field (the upper left corner of each
day), then tab out of the field. All subsequent days will be numbered to the end of the currently
selected month. The month must be selected first.

This isn’t a “smart” calendar-creation program. The program doesn’t check when the first day of
the month occurs. You’ll have to do that yourself. But it will enter the correct number of days for
all months, including February, and add 29 days on a leap year.

Trash Can - Click the trash button to delete the current month. A warning will appear before
final deletion.

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Playlists

You may enter the names of songs appropriate to each element of your novel.

The small container fields beside each song title field can store and replay music files.

Several audio file formats are accepted (.m4a, .mp3).

Right-click to open the contextual menu and select Insert Audio.

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Each Element Title is a button. Clicking any Element Title button opens the Novel Playlist
Player.
Note: there must be a song saved in the element section for the player to open.

The Playlist Player will play every song in the playlist screen, starting with the selected song
through to the last song on the list. If a song field is empty, the player will skip to the next song.
Click the Next button to skip to the next song in the playlist.

Clicking the “Stop Queue” button will stop the player from advancing to the next song, but it
won’t stop the current song. Use the player controls within the song field to stop or play an
individual song.

The player is set in a separate window so that you can slide it off to the side of the screen and
continue outlining while listening.

To stop the player completely, close the player window.

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Menus


The seven menus at the top of the screen are used for secondary features of the program.

OutliningYourNovel
Preferences - Don’t change anything in this menu.

File
Open… Displays instructions to click the Logo to open the Control Window.
Close Safely shutting down the program will preserve any recent edits.
Print… Opens the print selector window to print sections of the workbook.
Export Records… Runs the Export Projects script.
Save a Copy As… Displays instructions for exporting projects.

Edit
Cut
Copy
Paste
Spelling Use the spell checker for any installed language. Right click on a
flagged word to correct it or save it to the User Dictionary.

Insert
Picture… To insert an image into the Map or Mind Map fields
Audio/Video… To insert an audio file into a playlist field
PDF… To insert a new version of the Users Manual on the Help Screen
File… Not used

Format Use these menu items to format any text typed into fields
Font
Size
Style
Align Text
Line Spacing
Text Color

Workbook
About Opens the About screen
Help Opens the Help screen
New Project Creates New Project. Same as ‘Add Project’ in Control Window
Import Demo Project Imports the Demo Project.
Send Bug Report Opens email program and copies system info to clipboard
Get Free Updates To register to be notified of free updates and program news

Help
Help - Opens the Help screen



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 ———— END ————

© Copyright 2017. Bob Miller, Inc.

The Outlining Your Novel Workbook program is co-owned by
K. M Weiland and Bob Miller.

www.HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com
www.BMillerInc.com

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