5 Reasons to Use Scrivener to Write your Book

Image: Photo 59319587 © David Watmough – Dreamstime.com

Scrivener has loads of features, and or some they can be overwhelming. I often hear about people complaining that they only use 10% of the actual features that Scrivener probably offers and they want to know more.

Here are 5 things to make your Scrivener experience just a little better, and watch the YouTube video at the end of the post for step by step walk through instructions:

1. Word Counts – Using project word counts is a simple way to keep daily and total project word counts. Under the PROJECT tab, select SHOW PROJECT TARGETS.
2. Use labels in the binder to organize your chapters and scenes. Right click the chapter or scene, select LABELS. You can change the label titles. You can use this to track scenes by POV, location, or whether you have completed writing the scene.
3. Use Snapshots to save each version of your scenes. This is different than saving the manuscript (which Scrivener does every 2 seconds), this saves versions of each scene and allows you to compare current versions with previous versions. Open your inspector (the blue circle with the white i inside), select the fourth tab. Click the plus sign to save the current version of the open scene and name that version with a unique name.
4. Use the Corkboard to plan your book. it’s like having a bulletin board, cork board, index cards, colored markers, push pins to plan your book. Under VIEW MODE at the top of the screen, click on the center icon (it looks like a yellow/ orange table).
5. Make Scrivener your own, choose your background colors or upload your own background photos/ pictures. Change the font/ color of your text in any part of Scrivener. Under the SCRIVENER tab, select PREFERENCES and go crazy!

Learn Scrivener

I started out learning Scrivener on my own, and I loved the tools I found. I eventually paid for an online course called Learn Scrivener Fast. It was very thorough and professionally done, and I learned even more tips and techniques. I really loved the course, and I became an affiliate, this is my affiliate link to Learn Scrivener Fast. I do receive a percentage of anything spent through that link.