Scrivener hacks

[Cory Swanson]

I got scrivener for iPad this week and am completely converted. I have a feeling that it does more than I have been able to figure out so far. What are your favorite things you can do on scrivener?

 

[Phyrebrat]

It's a much simpler, pared down version of the Mac app, and does integrate seamlessly. I'd just say remember to close and save to your Dropbox account before you open the project on another device so that it's always synced. I really moaned about the sync route when it came out, but it's really not noticeable or inconvenient in these days of ubiquitous data/wifi spots, and I don't know why I was moaning, really.

Although it's not a Scrivener thing, I wish there was a L - R arrow cursor on one of the keyboards. Trying to get to certain points on a bumpy tube or bus is hell and it takes me ages to select certain text because of that.

I'm very easily demotivated so having something that makes writing so easy (and doesn't have the appalling lag of 'Pages' or 'DocHD') is great. This week I've written a 3.5k story on it during my commutes.

Under Writing Resources there are some Scrivener threads and @The Bluestocking started a 'for dummies' one in GWD a few months ago.

pH

 

[Cory Swanson]

Cool. Thanks for the info on the threads, I'll have to check that out. I found arrow keys in the little top strip of the main keyboard on the second scroll through. Just swipe left on it and you'll see them. They work great.

 

[zmunkz]

I wish there was a L - R arrow cursor on one of the keyboards.

If you have a device with 3D touch, you can press hard on the keyboard and you get a fully maneuverable mouse cursor under your thumb. This absolutely saves my life when I'm writing on my iPhone (which is a lot these days... more than I would have thought possible considering what a hassle it is to write on a phone).

Only other "trick" I use on the iOS scrivener is swipe-left in the binder to expand a category... I like to see all my folders opened at once so I don't have to dive in and out of them. Since it is related, if you do run into a sync issue, I documented some steps to resolve that manually in my blog.

Then the other iOS "trick" I use a lot is to attach "invert colors" to the accessibility shortcut. This way if I'm working on my story at night in bed with the wife sleeping next to me, I can triple-click the home button and I get a nice black background with white text, which is much softer on the eyes in the dark.