Welcome to Creation Edge—Getting Started with Scrivener

CREATION EDGE - SUNDAYS
Welcome to Creation Edge, my Sunday focus on writing technology. Here you'll learn how to use Scrivener to organize, write, and revise your novel. Whether you're setting up your first project or managing your manuscript, Creation Edge helps you make technology serve your creativity.

Getting Started with Scrivener

First Steps in Scrivener

Creating Your Project

1. Open Scrivener
2. Select “New Project”
3. Choose “Fiction” template
4. Name your project
5. Select save location

Unlike traditional word processors, Scrivener creates a complete project environment for your novel. The Fiction template provides pre-built organization specifically designed for novelists, saving you setup time and keeping your work organized from day one.

Understanding the Interface

The Binder (Left Panel)

Think of the Binder as your digital filing cabinet. Here you’ll organize everything related to your novel: chapters, scenes, character notes, research, and more. The beauty of the Binder is its flexibility—you can restructure your novel by simply dragging and dropping elements.

The Editor (Center Panel)

Your primary writing space. The Editor can display single documents or multiple documents at once, perfect for referencing character notes while writing a scene. Format your text using familiar word processing tools while enjoying Scrivener’s distraction-free writing environment.

The Inspector (Right Panel)

Your story’s metadata lives here. Track scene status, add document notes, create character sketches, and maintain version history. The Inspector helps you manage the countless details that make your novel rich and consistent.

Essential Views

Document View

Your standard writing interface. Here you’ll spend most of your time crafting scenes and chapters. Scrivener remembers where you left off, maintaining your focus when you return.

Corkboard View

Visualize your story using virtual index cards. Each card represents a scene or chapter, allowing you to plan and rearrange your narrative visually. Perfect for plotting and restructuring.

Outline View

See your entire story structure at once. Add custom metadata columns to track viewpoint characters, locations, or any other story elements you need to monitor.

Basic Organization

Create these essential folders:

• Manuscript: Your actual novel
• Characters: Character profiles and development
• Settings: World-building and location details
• Research: Background information and references

Each folder can contain unlimited documents and sub-folders. This structure grows with your story while keeping everything accessible.

Today’s Exercise

1. Create a new project using the Fiction template
2. Set up your four basic folders
3. Write a test scene in the Manuscript folder
4. Try switching between Document, Corkboard, and Outline views

Next Steps

Explore each view as you work. There’s no “wrong” way to use Scrivener—find what works for your writing style.

Next Sunday: Project Organization Basics – we’ll dive deeper into Scrivener’s folder system and learn advanced organization techniques.

Remember: Your writing environment should support creativity, not hinder it. Take time to make Scrivener yours.

Schedule a consultation for personalized Scrivener guidance.

Note: If this is your first appointment, you do not have to pay. I offer a FREE—initial consultation.