How to Use Scrivener to Write a Novel

In this blog post, you will learn how to use Scrivener to write your novel.

Long-form writing projects, notably a novel, require an organizational system and workflow.

To break down a large project into smaller, more manageable tasks and to help keep the material organized, many authors turn to Scrivener, and there are more than a handful of reasons why they do.

While Scrivener is custom-built for both fiction and nonfiction, the tool is best known for its ability to organize a novel.

Scrivener gives users the freedom and flexibility to write wherever they want and keep everything in one place.

It assists in everything from outlining and character development to writing drafts, research consolidation, a revision/editing stage, and formatting and export.

(HERE are some apps you can use to increase your writing productivity

Reasons You Should Consider Using Scrivener for your Next Novel

Before we delve into how to use Scrivener, let’s first look at why it’s overly popular among authors for writing a novel:

1. Simplicity – Scrivener makes organizing everything in one place easy. You get to create folders, sub-folders, and documents with no learning curve. You can also keep multiple projects organized, so switching from one novel to the next is a breeze. Scrivener’s simplicity is further epitomized by its easy navigation system and the ability to drag, drop, and move information with a few clicks of your mouse.
2. Flexibility – If you’re writing a complex story with multiple storylines and characters, Scrivener makes it easy to view how everything fits together. You benefit from various formatting options when writing, so you can switch between a script and prose format. This convenience corresponds to a better understanding of your story. In other words, you can “see” the novel as a whole more clearly, rather than getting caught up in one particular scene or chapter.
3. Focus – Scrivener helps you to focus on the parts of a novel that matter by breaking down sections into manageable chunks. You conveniently make notes and annotations, so your ideas are easy to find when needed. Meanwhile, the full-screen mode removes distractions from your mind, allowing you to focus on your writing. This one’s a nifty feature, especially if you’re used to using a computer to complete your work.
4. Research Consolidation – Scrivener has this feature where you can add photographs, audio recordings, PDFs, and more to the project for easy access during research. This means no more hopping back and forth between open browser tabs or documents as you search for information on characters or settings. This is another great time saver.
5. Writing Tools – There’s also an extensive range of writing aids to help you write better and more efficiently. These include word count tracking and goal setting, auto-saving features, focus mode (which blocks out distractions), and split-screen view options for keeping an eye on research material while writing. You may feel like those are features you can live without, but once you try them, you’ll see how they can improve your writing productivity.
6. Revision/Editing – Most writers will tell you that editing is the hardest part of writing a novel. But Scrivener enables you to revise sections or chapters without losing your place. You can also export your manuscript in different formats for different editing stages, so you can comfortably transition between proofreading and corrections.
7. Outlining – Scrivener’s corkboard feature is a nifty way to plot your story or novel. You can add notes, rearrange scenes, and drag and drop documents as you create the outline for your book. Also, you can easily access and edit your notes, so there’s no need to rewrite them in a different document.
8. Goal Setting and Tracking Progress – The software allows users to set goals for each session, track word count progress for the entire project, and easily view where they are in their writing journey. The goal-setting feature gives you the much-needed push to keep pushing forward and make progress toward completion. In a way, it’s the motivation you’ll need when you’re stuck or have no idea where to start.

Now that you know why Scrivener is so popular, let’s see how you use it for your next novel.

How to Use Scrivener for Writing a Novel

Since this is your first time using Scrivener, it makes sense that we start from the very beginning, which is setting up a new project.

Create a New Project

To do this, hit the “Create New” button in the top left corner of the window.

You’ll then be prompted to choose a name and location for your project file.

Next, you’ll have to choose the project type, i.e., Fiction, Nonfiction, Scriptwriting, or Miscellaneous.

Since you’re writing a novel, choose Fiction.

After this, you’re presented with different format options: Novel, Novel with Parts, and Short Story. The best choice here is “Novel,” unless you want to write a short story. Your choice here is crucial since it will set up the rest of your project.

Set up your Writing Environment

Once you’ve chosen the type of project, it’s time to set up your writing environment.

You can do this by hitting the “Edit” button at the top of the window and then clicking on “Preferences.”

Here, you can specify how much information is displayed in the Binder, customize your toolbar, and set up keyboard shortcuts.

You may use the Editor options to set up a distraction-free writing environment.

You can choose from a full-screen mode with no visible menu bar or sidebar (which is great for deep focus) or opt for a split-screen view to have a reference document open in the background while you write.

Create an Outline and Populate Binder

Now it’s time to start outlining your story. To do this, click the “Outliner” tab on the left side of the window and get started. Here, you can add chapters and scenes, move them around as needed, and link related documents in the Binder.

The Binder is where you can store all of your project-related documents or files. You can also group documents into folders for easier organization and use labels to categorize your work further.

Before proceeding with the rest of the writing process, let’s look at the binder, as this component proves very useful later on.

The Binder is a hub for all the files associated with your project, including research documents, character sketches, drafts of chapters/scenes, and more.

You can organize these documents into folders or sub-folders to keep everything tidy and accessible.

Several sections appear in the binder:

Manuscript – As the main component of this binder, the manuscript is where you write and store the actual novel. Scrivener lets you add documents and sub-folders as you wish, plus you can easily move them around with drag and drop.

Pro Tip: Use the folder when transitioning to a new chapter, while a document is intended for a new scene within a chapter. Working this way means you can easily find and reference previous chapters or scenes later.

Characters and Places – As the names of these sections suggest, this is where you keep all your information related to characters and places. You can add documents with character profiles, sketches of their physical descriptions, and locations related to your book.

Pro Tip: Use the software’s built-in templates to create profiles and sketches for your characters and settings. Doing so can save you a lot of time.

Research – In this section, you can add all the research material used in your project. You can add PDFs, images, webpages, and other documents to support the development of your novel. Research files are an indispensable component of your novel and a valuable resource for future projects.

Front Matter – This section contains stuff like the copyright page, acknowledgements, dedication, etc. You may also include other documents, such as manuscript submission templates or sample chapters.

Template Sheets – This is where you keep documents related to the structure of your novel. These include storyboards, outline templates, etc. Expanding this section gives you access to two documents: character sketch and setting sketch. You use them to create a brief profile of your characters and settings.

Trash – Like the recycle bin on your desktop, this is where all deleted documents go. These files can be easily restored if you change your mind.

Project Targets

One of the unique features of Scrivener is its “Project Targets.”

This tool helps you track your writing progress and stay motivated.

You can set individual targets for each document in your project. The most interesting is a word count target, which works like a progress bar.

Once you set your targets, the software automatically ticks them off as you write and can even give you reminders when lagging.

It’s up to you to decide how many words or pages you should complete each day, week, or month to stay on track.

But even if you prefer not to set goals or monitor your progress and choose to adopt a free-flowing approach, you may still see your manuscript’s word count through the “Project Statistics” section.

The Scrivenings Button

The Scrivenings button is a handy little tool that lets you write across multiple files without switching between them.

When clicked, the software scours all documents in the binder and combines those related to your current writing session into a single window or “draft.” You can refer to different parts of your novel without clicking back and forth between documents.

To arrange all your documents to be seen within one window, navigate to the desired folder and click on Scrivenings – it’s the left-hand button of a trio located in the toolbar above the editor. Doing so lets you enjoy an effortless view of each document without changing settings.

Don’t forget that the ‘Manuscript’ button in the binder will give you a unified view of your entire manuscript.

Click on it, then hit the “Scrivenings” mode button to get an overview of your work.

Full-Screen versus Split-Screen Mode

In the editor window, you can toggle between full-screen and split-screen modes.

The latter allows you to see two documents on one screen.

It’ll be easier to compare information or copy lines of text between different documents without opening new windows.

You likewise can switch back and forth between full-screen and split-screen modes by clicking on their respective icons in the toolbar.

In theory, the full-screen mode is meant to eliminate the usual distractions from using a computer.

When toggled, it hides the menus and other panels along the sides so you can focus on writing without interruption. It also means there’ll be no other tabs that will lure you away from the task.

Pro Tip: The F11 key quickly switches between the full-screen and windowed modes.

As for the split-screen mode, you benefit from sticking to your manuscript while glancing at your notes and references. This comes in handy if you need to verify facts or check out a character’s background on the fly. It also allows you to refer back and forth between parts of your work without changing windows.

Using Labels

Sometimes it can be confusing to distinguish different files within the Manuscript, so using labels will make it easier to identify them.

You can assign labels to each document in the binder by clicking on the coloured dots beside its title or right-clicking and selecting “Label.”

Doing so will give you a range of colours.

These tags are useful for keeping track of different notes or segments of your novel.

You can group documents with the same label by clicking on them in the binder’s side panel.

An example is if you use green for character sketches and yellow for plot ideas, it would be easier to find these documents when you need them.

The amazing thing about using labels is that they also appear in the draft window.

This means you can identify which document it belongs to when writing your novel. Furthermore, labels are a great way to categorize your resources, background research, and other materials.

And if you’re prone to distractions, you can quickly navigate back to your manuscript without searching for it.

Compiling Your Work for Export

Once you’re done writing, you must compile your work into a single document.

This involves merging the documents into a cohesive narrative with the appropriate formatting and font size. You must use the Compile button in the File menu to do this.

The software allows you to choose between different document types, i.e., ebooks, PDFs, Microsoft Word files, and HTML. If you like, export your work in multiple formats simultaneously. Doing so means you don’t have to go through the tedious process of converting it for different applications.

Before you hit Compile, don’t forget to look at the settings in the Manuscript Format panel on the right-hand side. This is where you choose font type and size and set the line spacing and paragraph indents accordingly.

Remember to save your work as you go along.

The software automatically creates backup files if a technical glitch or power failure prevents the program from saving your work.

You can also manually save backup copies of your work on another device – an external hard drive or USB drive will suffice as it’s not a big file.

With Scrivener having your back, you’re relieved of one of the most challenging writing tasks – keeping track of your work.

So, it’ll make sense to add it to your routine the next time you write.

Further Reading

How To Write A Business Book

Hiring An Editor For Your Book

How To Publish Your Book

How To Become A Ted Talk Speaker 

Publishing Trends in 2022

How To Write A Book Proposal 

How To Hire A Ghostwriter 

Hybrid Publishing Vs Self Publishing 

How To Hire A Ghostwriter On Upwork