Ideas for Using Scrivener

 

What can I say? Scrivener is one of the most perfect apps for writers. It’s designed to create books, novels, scripts, epic poems, and nonfiction masterpieces. How can you use this program to enhance your writing? Start by opening up a doc and playing. There’s so much inside this program that will strengthen your writing process. Here are a few of my favorites.

Word Count—Deadlines are a thing, whether you are under contract, participating in National Write A Novel Month, or just trying to learn your own process. Scrivener has a great word count feature to help you keep on track whatever your time restraint.  Under the Project menu, use the Project Targets option to set up your goals. The app will keep track of the total goal and the word count for each session. The feature is very helpful to not only stay on track but to determine your writing pace. Under that same menu, you can explore Project Statistics, like the number of printed pages, useful for a set contract goal.

Drafting—I use Scrivener exclusively for drafting. The Binder on the side of the screen shows all the chapters/sections I’ve written in order. If I need to change a scene, it’s easy to find the spot in the doc. If I need to move a scene, I just click and drag. Editing doesn’t get much easier. I also use the Binder to make a mini bible for the book. I add a few extra folders—character, setting, timeline, the reject folder. As I’m drafting, I can refer easily back for details.

The Forums—I cannot stress enough how valuable the Literature & Latte forums are. Writers from all walks are on there and happy to talk shop. They have fantastic ideas for how to use and customize the program, especially templates. Many writers have taken the basic novel or script template and customized it to create a unique usable doc. You’ll find every kind of genre and subgenre. Get on those forums and talk to people. Learn a few customizations of your own to generate your own template to make the program even better for your writing. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is a learning curve for the program. Play with it, export to Word once in a while, just in case. But the best way to understand Scrivener is to use it. And for the price, I’m not sure you’ll find a better writing tool.

 

 

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.