How to Use Scrivener

 

Manufacturer: Literature and Latte

Cost: Free 30-day trial, $49, with a “generous household” license

 Getting Started

1. Open the program and click the File menu and select New.
2. On the pop-up window, choose a template to help you create your novel or choose Blank to start from scratch.
3. Type in a name for your project in the “Save As” field and press Create.

Navigating Scrivener

• ·         Your Binder—the left side of the screen

o   Draft—a place to see the entire novel on a story board

o   Untitled—a page in the novel

o   Research—save any research docs, webpages, pictures

o   Trash—place to hold those hidden gems or just trash

• ·        Center Screen—the work area

o    View Document—Click to see the page

o    View Corkboard—View doc and all sub docs in one spot

o    View Outline—Click to view outline of doc

Setting Project Statistics

1. Click on the Project menu and select Project Targets. A small pop-up window will appear.
2. Type in the total number of word you expect for this project in the field below Draft Target. Scrivener will keep this number for the entire project.
3. Type an estimated word count for this writing session in the second field at the bottom of the box. Watch the bar turn from red to green as you reach your goal.
4. Click and drag this window to the side of the screen. You can keep it open for your whole session to track your words. Or click the X to close it.

Adding Text/Folders

1.  Press the little arrow next to the Add Text button (small gree plus).
2.  Select Folder or Text.
3.  Name folder or text. (Double-click on Untitled if object is not highlighted.)

• ·         Tip: add a folder with a blank text doc. Label the folder “Cuts” or “Edits”

Moving Text/Folders

• ·         Click add drag desired object up or down the list in the binder.

Working with Text

1. Set up your chapters and scenes.
2. Click on the first Untitled doc to create Scene 1.
3. At the top of the screen, select your font, font size, and spacing. This is NOT the final look of your doc. This is solely for your own writing style.

Using the Inspector Feature

1. Press the Inspector window button (small blue i) at the top right of the screen. A window down the right side of the screen will appear. (Use this feature for both scenes and chapters.)
2. Type in a synopsis for the chapter or scene at the top.
3.  Add metadata to your scene/chapter including content type, characters included (if you use that template), draft status, and inclusion of this part in the end Compile of the doc.
4. Type notes in the Document Notes section of the Inspector to makes comments on work, add a picture or whatever you need to keep writing.

These are the basics of the program. Using other features such as the Cork Board, Outline, or Script mode, you can design your doc in many ways. But I think for Scrivener, it’s best to start with the basics, and get a good working knowledge before trying the tougher aspects.