Scrivener Tips and Tricks For Dummies

[Old_Man_Steve2016]

If you use Google Docs to write your story and Scrivener to assemble it, you might run into the hyperlink problem where all your text gets pasted as an internet link.
This irritated me for a long time, with random solutions that took more work than it should, until I figured it out. Paste the text from Docs into a page then select it all and right-click. Click on 'remove link' and the problem is gone.

 

[Vaz]

This thread is awesome. Really helping me understand the depth of Scrivener and what to use to make it simpler.

 

[millymollymo]

Ok so, this bit of kit is all of the awesome, isn't just? I'm currently working on a draft while exploring this wormhole of an application, and yes, I'm a convert. I know Scrivener gives a word count overview on each doc. I know within the manuscript section it will tally all docs within it under the Project> Stats. Me being me, I'm not working in that. How the heck do I get it to do the word count a different folder?

 

[millymollymo]

Figured it out. In Outliner: View > Outliner Columns > Check relevant tabs

 

[Phyrebrat]

Sorry. I was teaching and today has been difficult. I was going to reply when I got home and could check properly.

Glad you sorted it out

pH

 

[Adrian Christopher]

I have had difficulty exporting from Scrivener into a word PDF when I was sending out sample chapters. There is a wealth of useful info here to help though!

A feature I found helpful was the ability to change a word throughout the entire manuscript very easily. Last minute change of character name? no problem!

 

[Andrew Lambert]

I'm new to Scrivener. Will return here and note some of this advice

 

[zmunkz]

I wrote up a little blog entry on the new Scrivener / iOS sync feature. I've been using this mobile app for a week now, and it is absolutely fantastic. Interestingly, just having Scrivener on my phone has done great things for my word count. I find that when ideas hit me on the go, I can easily write a paragraph or two right where it should go in my manuscript, then those random paragraphs easily grow into whole chapters when I get back to my computer.

 

[Tim Murray]

Since the excellent Scrivener deal I had posted about a week ago had such a good reception, I've been inspired by @Phyrebrat and @allmywires to set up this thread.

I'm a newbie at using Scrivener, so are a bunch of Chronners (e.g. @Vaz @millymollymo and @DG Jones) who had just bought the programme via the deal. Therefore, if anyone - *cough*
@Phyrebrat *coughcough* - who has been using Scrivener for a while have any tips, tricks, videos, or wisdom to share about making the most out of this neat little writing programme, please do share it here.

Pretty please?

How do you insert page numbering? I do like that hyphenations show up a lot less in the program.☺

 

[Phyrebrat]

When you compile, you can include a placeholder tag in header and footer choices in the options box that comes up by using <$p> Which Inserts the page number.

You just hit compile and then select the appropriate things you want to tweak and then output to pdf, doc, rtf etc.

pH

 

[Ed Ryder]

I really like Scrivener, but I never worked out how to do custom chapter header formatting or tables of contents so I did the final edit(s) in Word. Plus the Grammarly plug-in for that is useful.
My workflow seems to be Evernote for ideas, outlines and research, Scivener for writing and Word for polishing. Evernote is also great as I can use it on any device and sync later, before copying and pasting into Scrivener.

 

[allmywires]

I wrote up a little blog entry on the new Scrivener / iOS sync feature. I've been using this mobile app for a week now, and it is absolutely fantastic. Interestingly, just having Scrivener on my phone has done great things for my word count. I find that when ideas hit me on the go, I can easily write a paragraph or two right where it should go in my manuscript, then those random paragraphs easily grow into whole chapters when I get back to my computer.

THERE'S AN APP?! :O

I feel like this is about to revolutionise my writing life...

(Sometimes Chrons isn't completely for falling into a black hole of un-productivity )

ETA: hang on. Why do I have to pay for the app when I've already bought the software? That seems a bit like daylight robbery...

 

[zmunkz]

THERE'S AN APP?! :O

I feel like this is about to revolutionise my writing life...

ETA: hang on. Why do I have to pay for the app when I've already bought the software? That seems a bit like daylight robbery...

LOL I had 100% the same reaction. I saw the little sync button in Scrivener and I was like, "Holy s**t there must be an iOS APP!" then about thirty seconds later when I found it in the app store I was shaking my head and groaning at that stupid little "BUY NOW" button.

But in the end they got me. $20 isn't so much to ask for a program that I'll actually use.

 

[allmywires]

LOL I had 100% the same reaction. I saw the little sync button in Scrivener and I was like, "Holy s**t there must be an iOS APP!" then about thirty seconds later when I found it in the app store I was shaking my head and groaning at that stupid little "BUY NOW" button.

But in the end they got me. $20 isn't so much to ask for a program that I'll actually use.

Now I've got over the shock I agree...I'm probably going to end up buying it, but I'll mull it over for a while. That seamless syncing is so very tempting, though!

 

[crystal haven]

Yes, I know this thread is old, but I just had to say...

Scrivener has sat on my computer for ages. I'm at last using it for writing, and more to the point it's actually making sense now! I am really enjoying using it so far. The difference is I've given myself time to learn how to use it.

 

[Phyrebrat]

There have been two new updates to Scrivener since this thread was started and the most recent one has quite few changes to layout.

I know there are people who use Scrivener here, but little more than a glorfied Word programme. Some of the most useful (to me) features have been moved, and I wanted to share this screencap with you so you can see where they now are, and of course if you don't use them, how to do so.

Click below.

HTH.

pH

 

[Vaz]

Have the updated the Windows version to make it as good as the Mac one, or do I need to buy a dreaded Apple product?

 

[Phyrebrat]

Have the updated the Windows version to make it as good as the Mac one, or do I need to buy a dreaded Apple product?

Hey everyone. Look who it is? Long time El.

I’m not sure TBH. I only upgraded because Dan had and was asking me questions about it I couldn’t answer! (Also a little bit of FOMO).

I’d say you’re allowed to get an Apple MacBook but stay faaar from their phones. I mean Windoze or Apple: its the Devil or the Deep Blue Sea isn’t it.

pH

 

[Dan Jones]

I mean Windoze or Apple

And Huawei - they'll steal your face.

 

[night_wrtr]

I've been using the phone app and it works perfectly. Lately, its all I've been writing on.