Get started with Scrivener
1 Create your document
Launch Scrivener and click Blank in the sidebar. With the Blank document selected, click Create, then give your new project a name. You can change this later; it’s just the filename under which it’s saved. When the file opens, you’ll see two distinct areas: the sidebar on the left, in which you organise scenes and chapters, and the main writing pane. There are text formatting controls across the top, as in a regular word processor, but don’t worry too much about them, as you want to keep your text fairly simple.
2 Structure your content
If you already know how your book is going to flow, create a new chapter by clicking the three dots at the bottom of the sidebar. Hover over Add in the menu, and pick Folder from the sub-menu. Call this Chapter One. Click the folder, then click the “+” at the bottom of the sidebar to create your first scene. You don’t have to organise your work like this; you could just as easily write everything in a single, long document. However, by breaking everything down you can skip back and forth between scenes.
3 Organise your work
One of the benefits of using a dedicated novel-writing application rather than a word processor is the ability to rework the structure of your book as it develops. You can click and drag scenes directly in the sidebar or, by clicking the corkboard button (two to the right of the title pane on the toolbar), view them as index cards. To the left, you’ll find the Scrivenings view, which shows all your scenes in a continuous stream, allowing you to read them through in order, which is useful when you’re editing.
4 Compile your novel
When you’ve finished your novel, you can print it, export it in an alternative format (such as Word) or compile it as an ebook. Press Ctrl+Shift+E (for Compile), then select “Epub 3 ebook” from the Compile For menu. Select the sections you want to include in the Compile pane (far right), then click the Metadata button and fill in the details under which your book will be indexed by bookstores and ereaders. At the very least, include the title name and your author name. Click Compile to complete the process.