I’m a huge Scrivener fan. The program is not only perfect for writing, it’s also excellent for managing everything writers need to manage, before and after writing. I’ve had some questions about using Scrivener to write a novel, so let’s look at some Scrivener tips that will help you to write with confidence.
When I mention Scrivener to authors, I always get lots of questions, so I think that it’s worth talking about using Scrivener for the pre-writing phase of writing a novel, right through to the actual writing, then revision, publishing, and finally, promotion. Most new Scrivener users look at Scrivener purely as a word processor, when the program is really so much more.
PLEASE relax with the program. Yes, there’s a learning curve. Here’s how I learned Scrivener: I just used features I needed, for at least six months. I’ve used the program for ten years, and only occasionally over the years have I tried out a new feature, and then only when it was something I thought I needed in a current project. When you open the program every day and use it, you’ll get comfortable with it in no time. And soon you’ll wonder how you managed without it. 🙂
Let’s start at the beginning. You’re preparing to write a novel.
Scrivener tips to start writing your novel
What will your novel be about? Which genre?
You don’t have an idea in your head. Instead of staring into space, and wasting writing time, open Scrivener.
1. Use index card mode (the cork board), or outliner mode, to muse, and jot down ideas
For me, the most useful mode for brainstorming ideas is Cork Board group mode. You can create as many index cards as you like.
If you write in several genres, consider creating a folder for ideas in each genre, as you can see in the image below.
Jot down ideas for books, characters, themes, and settings — one idea per card. I have a Scrivener project just for collecting ideas which I’ve been maintaining for several years.
You can maintain your own Ideas Scrivener project, or you can use your current project for your new book. If you’re using a single project, just drag all your unused material into a new Ideas folder in your Research folder.
Dragging unneeded material out of the Draft folder ensures that that material won’t be included when you compile your draft.
2. Get a handle on your book with “this is a story about”
You’ve brainstormed ideas for novels, and decided to develop one idea further. Get a handle on it by starting a sentence with: “This is a story about…” and write ONE sentence.
An example: “This is a story about a Regency widow who’s using her inheritance to give her three daughters a season: unfortunately, none of the daughters want one.”
You can and probably will change your sentence later. It’s just meant to ensure that you lay out a basic situation, characters, and a basic conflict.
3. Keep EVERYTHING related to your novel in Scrivener
Here’s the best tip for using Scrivener. When you’re working on a novel, keep everything related to the novel in Scrivener. The text for your book goes into the Draft folder because that’s the only folder that will be compiled and exported.
Everything else goes into the Research folder: text, images, videos, bookmarks, ideas, character notes, photos for locations…
Keeping everything in Scrivener ensures that you don’t need to go hunting for material.
Additionally, you can open your reference notes in new windows by using Quick Reference. When I’m writing a novel, I always have three Quick Reference floating windows open: Primary Characters, Secondary Characters, and Plot. With your Quick Reference windows open, you can check a character’s eye color at a glance. 🙂
4. Make use of many Scrivener project files, or use a single file for several books (if you’re writing a series)
When I wrote my Regency romance time travel trilogy I kept everything in a single Scrivener project file. It included typescripts of the books, research material, ideas for covers, notes from designers and editors, and much more, all in one file.
This made it super-easy to open Quick Reference material from a previous book when I was writing my current novel in the series.
Initially, I worried that if I kept everything in one file, I was putting all my eggs, so to speak, in one basket. What if the file with the books became corrupted? I discussed it with several authors, who kept their novel series in a single file, and soon decided that that was the way to go. The benefits were huge.
If you decide to use a separate Scrivener file for each book, be aware that you can drag documents from one Scrivener file to another. The document you drag is copied to your new Scrivener file.
Have fun with Scrivener: you can’t break anything
I hope these Scrivener tips help you. Watch for new articles on Scrivener, and on Scrivener iOS, which is released today.
By the way, I use Scrivener for Mac. The above tips should work just fine on the Windows version.
Tara’s Enchantment – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 1
A Regency time travel romance... What if you could escape across time, and find your soulmate?
Pure evil dispatches gorgeous Tara Ballantine across the centuries, to Regency England. Tara lands on Adam Jervoise, Earl of Hillingworth -- literally -- as he's riding through a bluebell wood.
Hillingworth is handsome, rich, and kind. He's also set to propose to an heiress.
When Tara realizes that she's falling in love with the earl, she fights the feeling.
More info →Molly’s Magic – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 2
At 24, not only is Molly Ballantine stunning, she has two sisters she loves, and a wonderful career. Then her eldest sister Tara vanishes, and her life disintegrates.
Molly's life is about to become even more chaotic. She wakes up in a brothel with a man who's too good-looking for her peace of mind.
More info →Priscilla’s Destiny: Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 3
22-year-old Priscilla Ballantine wakes up 200 years in the past, naked in the arms of handsome aristocrat, and master spy, Dominick de Roche, Lord Bellemieux. Priscilla's accused of spying, and is in danger of summary execution. She can't help thinking that she wouldn't be in such a mess if Dominick de Roche hadn't mistaken her for one of his contacts...
More info →Escape Across Time: Tara, Molly, & Priscilla (Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy)
Love time travel romances and the Regency era?
More info →