Things to Know Before You Start
Creating a New Project and Scrivener Introduction
Navigating Your Project with the Binder
Understanding the Inspector
Closing, Moving, Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Scrivener Projects
Writing in the Editor
Getting to Know the Editor
Working with the Format Bar
Using the Header Bar
Working with the Footer
Viewing/Editing Multiple Files
Working with Documents and Folders
Outlining (or Not)
Adding a Text Document
Adding a Folder
Renaming or Deleting a File in the Binder
Moving Items in the Binder
Importing Files
Splitting a Document
Changing the Default Scrivener Formatting
Applying Default Text Settings to an Existing Document
Exploring Options for Setting Up a Project
Understanding the Binder
Recognizing Scrivener’s Common File Types
Working with Root Folders
Taking Out the Trash
Navigating the Binder
Planning Your Project with the Synopsis and Corkboard
Introducing the Synopsis
Working in the Synopsis
Viewing the Corkboard
Understanding and Customizing the Index Card Elements
Working in the Corkboard
Finding Anything in Your Project
Using the Quick Search Bar
Finding Anything with Project Search
Other Search Options
Protecting Your Work with Backups
Backing Up Your Work (Why Bother?)
Changing Automatic Backup Settings
Backing Up a File Manually
Restoring a Project from a Backup File
Compiling (Exporting) Your Manuscript
Introducing Compile
Compiling to a Word Document
Saving or Clearing the Compile Settings
Quick Exporting Options
Getting More Help
Finding More Scrivener Help
Course Information
Course Instructor
- Enrollment in this course closed on 30 September 2025.
Things to Know Before You Start
Creating a New Project and Scrivener Introduction
Navigating Your Project with the Binder
Understanding the Inspector
Closing, Moving, Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Scrivener Projects
Writing in the Editor
Getting to Know the Editor
Working with the Format Bar
Using the Header Bar
Working with the Footer
Viewing/Editing Multiple Files
Working with Documents and Folders
Outlining (or Not)
Adding a Text Document
Adding a Folder
Renaming or Deleting a File in the Binder
Moving Items in the Binder
Importing Files
Splitting a Document
Changing the Default Scrivener Formatting
Applying Default Text Settings to an Existing Document
Exploring Options for Setting Up a Project
Understanding the Binder
Recognizing Scrivener’s Common File Types
Working with Root Folders
Taking Out the Trash
Navigating the Binder
Planning Your Project with the Synopsis and Corkboard
Introducing the Synopsis
Working in the Synopsis
Viewing the Corkboard
Understanding and Customizing the Index Card Elements
Working in the Corkboard
Finding Anything in Your Project
Using the Quick Search Bar
Finding Anything with Project Search
Other Search Options
Protecting Your Work with Backups
Backing Up Your Work (Why Bother?)
Changing Automatic Backup Settings
Backing Up a File Manually
Restoring a Project from a Backup File
Compiling (Exporting) Your Manuscript
Introducing Compile
Compiling to a Word Document
Saving or Clearing the Compile Settings
Quick Exporting Options
Getting More Help
Finding More Scrivener Help
What Others Have Said
Thank You!
By: marta@wordhound.com
I am entirely new to Scrivener and have heard mixed things about it from various folks, so I felt like I needed some guidance to be able to use it well. And you have provided it with a wealth of thoughtful detail. I love that I'll be able to refer back to all the lessons as I go forward! Many thanks!
Great Tool
By: PeterKPitsch
Covered all basic stuff. Clear and Concise. I found the format very useful: first read and then watch the video. I found I was remembering the content much better.
Scrivener 3 Fundamentals for Mac
By: robertcowin@gmail.com
Hi, Gwen I enjoyed so much your teaching and what I learned that I have returned to the course a second run-through. Thank you for making this free and happy return possible. Cheers Robert Cowin
Great for Beginners
By: pollyseven
This is a great course for beginners, and then some. I took this course after writing my third novel in Scrivener without any lessons. Even though I'd been using the program for quite some time, I found this course hugely helpful, in honing my Scrivener skills at the basic level. I'd recommend this for anyone with doubts about their moves in Scrivener.
Detailed, clear, and thoughtfully planned
By: Wendy LaCapra
This course was thorough and thoughtfully planned. I'd been using Scrivener for several months before taking the course but the course material opened up features & uses that are already transforming not only how I use Scrivener, but also how I write.