Managing a Novel in Microsoft Word

As promised in my previous post this has been moved with some updates from second blog to here.  Second Blog will be deleted after all the posts have been transferred.

 I love Word. Now that we got that out of the way, you can continue reading.

I started writing in a notebook about nine or so, and progressed from a notebook to a computer.  I'm not sure how seriously I would have taken writing in the days before the word processor, but I was born to them and quickly learned the art of repeating the same mistakes and expecting a different result. Every writer goes through this phase. Some grow embittered, which I did. Some press on via pipe dreams and blind faith that they're going to make it one day! (This phase usually involves more dreaming than writing=)

I did that too. Some quit while others  eventually have a first tome 9218 words too long.  Once I found myself among the latter, I also found myself with nearly thirty files creatively named "Chapter 1" and  "Chapter 10" and so on.

Managing large files in Word can be tricky so I tried other programs with the bandwagon. We hated the program for the same reasons but like many, I always returned.   I didn't start loving Word until I started learning how to use it. That came as a direct result of my first teaching job in South Korea. There are tons of tutorials on how to do the things I'll teach you about Word.There are also tons of tutorials on Google or YouTube. (Of course, you have to know what you're looking for in order to search for it, ha)  Now lets get on with this tutorial.

How to manage a novel in Microsoft Word

For demonstration purposes I have c̶a̶r̶e̶f̶u̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶f̶t̶e̶d̶  copied and pasted a 257 page, 69,738  word novel.  It's called Lorem Ipsum. Free copies are available upon request.

Now,  only there was a way for writers to mange large documents, drink beer and eat Ramen at the same time!

I'm not the only one who thought this was a good idea.

Drinking beer and eating Ramen at the same time is kind of like learning to drive a stick shift. However, once you learn to boil your beer instead of water, you realize, you simple have to dump it over the noodles and add the flavor packet. As for managing your large files, you have t̶h̶r̶e̶e̶ a lot of options in Word. I discuss three below.

1.  Add book marks
2. Add headings for a table of contents. The table of contents itself is optional.
3. Mix both, which is a lot like learning to eat Beer Ramen.
   

Here I have used the reference feature in word. This creates links to chapter headings, scenes and whatever else you might want to jump to quickly.  So how did I do this?

Once you are finished with creating your table (or at any other time) click on the view menu. ( In early versions of word look for the sub-menu show/hide.

Check the box beside Document Map. The map will appear to your right and show your table headings.

1. Click on the references menu.
2. Highlight your chapter title.
3. Click on Add Text.
4. Chose a level. (1, 2, or 3) or create a style with more levels.
   

• Remove any mistakes by returning to the reference menu, highlighting the offending text and clicking on Do not show in table of contents. 
  
• If you don't want a table of contents to show at the beginning the document, click on Table of Contents and then Remove Table of Contents at the bottom of the menu. This will not affect your document map.
  

In word 2010 and later, you can grab the heading in the Document Map menu and drag it anywhere you want in the file. Word will automatically move the associated text. That means you can drop and drag scenes and chapters.  But be careful. If you highlight and delete a title from the document map, you also delete all the assassinated text. When you don't want something in your map any longer, you have to click the offending title, go to  to reference and and click "do not show in table."