Introduction
Are you looking for a writing program that is more purpose-built than Microsoft Word and Google Docs? Want to improve your fiction writing? The answer for many writers is Scrivener.
The day I bought Scrivener was the day my writing soared to new heights. I had always been an organised writer, using Excel to plot story and character arcs and a multitude of Word documents for my research and worldbuilding. Then I heard about Scrivener and was instantly sold.
Read on to find out how to improve your fiction writing with Scrivener!
What is Scrivener?
Scrivener is a writing software by the brilliantly named Literature & Latte, a team of writers who wanted to make writing easier. At its core, Scrivener is for fiction literature, but it can be used for screenplays, theatrical plays, non-fiction, and much more. I use it to write short stories and novels.
What Features Convinced Me To Buy Scrivener?
Scrivener ticks so many boxes. Here is what I liked about it:
- I could keep all my character, plot, and worldbuilding notes in the same file as my manuscript—very easy to refer to them while writing.
- I could pick up whole scenes or chapters and move them around at will without mucking up formatting.
- Speaking of formatting, I could write in any font I wanted and then have Scrivener export the entire manuscript into proper manuscript format, either in classic format (Courier New) or modern format (Times New Roman). Manuscript formatting was never a problem for me, but it was nice that Scrivener could streamline the workflow.
- I could colour code my chapters or scenes for whatever category I needed.
- I could trial it first for thirty days, but it wasn’t thirty calendar days, it was a total of thirty days of use, which was great!
- There is no subscription, just a very affordable one-off payment for the current version and all its patches and updates. To get the next full version, you just pay again (but version changes are few and far between, so you are not paying out all the time). If you choose not to get the latest version, your current version still works perfectly and you still own it!
How Does Scrivener Improve Writing Workflows?
Notes and Research
Scrivener allows you to keep all your notes in one place in a user-friendly interface. You will no longer need multiple Word documents, OneNote files, or Excel spreadsheets open to manage your complex stories. If your screen is large enough, you can comfortably have a window for writing and another showing your notes.
Focused Writing
Scrivener focuses your writing a scene at a time. By breaking down the story into smaller components, it is easier and faster to complete the first draft. The “document” you write in is only one scene within your larger story. However, there are options to view all scenes and chapters one after the other like one large document (Scrivener calls them scrivenings), or you can have a few different scenes open at once.
Project Targets and Statistics
Set word count targets for each writing session and a total project word count target. This gives you a measurable goal to work towards—great for NaNoWriMo. Easily keep track of your project statistics for the scene/chapter or the entire story.
Is It Only for Plotters?
While Scrivener certainly caters to plotters with its useful and highly customisable binder, pantsers can also use it to the full. Whether you write linearly, backwards, or jump from scene to scene until you have a full manuscript with a start, middle, and end, Scivener will work for you. Simply pick up your chapters and scenes and put them in the order you want for your completed draft.
Don’t outline? Never use character sheets? No research? Doesn’t matter! It just means you probably won’t use Scrivener’s binder as much an a plotter. I’m a plotter, and not even I use every feature. And that is the beauty of Scrivener: no matter what kind of writer you are, you will still find a comfortable workflow using Scrivener.
How Have I Used Scrivener?
The beauty of Scrivener is that every writer can use it differently. There are some features I never use, have never investigated, and or probably don’t even know exist, because I have found what works for me. Here is how I use Scrivener:
- I use the corkboard to plot my stories by chapter. This gives me broad a structure and I can see how the story progresses.
- If a chapter has multiple scenes, I use the binder to plot each scene.
- I customise the editor and other panels to suit my preference. I look at mostly white screens all day for my day job, so I really don’t want to look at white screens all night too. If I can use a “dark mode”, I will, and Scrivener’s dark mode customisation is leagues ahead of Microsoft Word.
- For simple stories, I colour code my chapters or scenes according to what level of draft they are. For complex stories with multiple point-of-view (POV) characters, I colour code according to what character is the main POV for that scene or chapter.
What Have I Written With Scrivener?
Since getting Scrivener, I have written:
- Several short stories
- Fire Over Troubled Water
- Space Trip II (written in a bit over 2 months)
- Act of Grace (my second novel which I will edit and send to an agent someday)
- Half of an untitled sequel to Act of Grace (a bit over 50,000 words in one month as a NaNoWriMo challenge—I will finish it one day).
I attribute this jump in production to two things: 1) my adoption of a more professional attitude towards writing; and 2) Scrivener, which had some influence on Point 1.
Trial It First
Scrivener offers a free trial period. If you would like to improve your fiction writing with Scrivener, I encourage you to check it out. You really have everything to gain and nothing to lose.