Scrivener 1 for Windows: The Basics and Beyond

**SCRIVENER 3 released in March 2021. Unless you have no plans to upgrade, I recommend you register for one of my new SCRIVENER 3 courses.**

Enroll anytime for indefinite access to lessons, videos, and the class instructor for questions.

Description: This course walks you through the basics of Scrivener and into some intermediate topics (see course outline at right). You'll learn how to customize your projects for the way you write, including simple but powerful tools for organizing, visualizing, revising, and sharing your work. Includes 80+ step-by-step lessons, 40 instructional videos, cheat/review sheets, a Q&A forum and Facebook group, and a progress chart to keep you on track.

Help: The instructor checks in regularly to answer questions.

Price: FREE

Course Information

Categories: Windows

Course Instructor

Gwen Hernandez

This author of romantic suspense—and Scrivener For Dummies—has been helping people learn Scrivener through books, classes, workshops, and private training since 2010.

FREE enrollment

FREE

Things to Know Before You Start

How This Course Works

Conventions, Assumptions, Software Versions, and Other Important Stuff

Asking Questions

Downloading, Installing, and Registering Scrivener

Selecting Multiple Files

Capturing Screenshots

Creating a New Project and Scrivener Introduction

Starting Scrivener (Yep, the absolute basics)

Creating a New Project from a Built-in Template

Getting Familiar with the Scrivener Screen

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

Changing the Default Scrivener Formatting

Applying Default Text Settings to an Existing Document

Using the Header Bar

Working with the Footer

Using the Ruler

Working in Split Screen Mode

Viewing/Editing Multiple Files

Working with Documents and Folders

Outlining (or Not)

Adding a Text Document

Adding a Folder

Renaming a Document/Folder

Moving Items in the Binder

Grouping Items

Splitting a Document

Merging Documents

Importing Files

Exploring Options for Setting Up a Project

Understanding the Binder

Recognizing Scrivener's Common Item Types

Working with Root Folders

Taking Out the Trash

Changing File Icons

Navigating the Binder

Planning Your Work with the Synopsis

Introducing the Synopsis

Renaming a File from the Synopsis

Adding Text to the Synopsis

Creating an Image Synopsis

Color-Coding and Organizing Your Files with Label and Status

Understanding Meta-Data (It's not as scary as it sounds!)

Renaming the Label or Status Field

Changing the List of Values for Label or Status

Changing Label Colors

Changing the List Order and Default Value

Assigning Label and Status Values to Files

Turning on the Colors in Your Binder, Corkboard, and Outliner

Staying Organized with Notes, References, and Keywords

Looking At What the Inspector Has to Offer

Leaving Document and Project Notes for Yourself

Creating References to Locate Materials Quickly (including Evernote notes)

Using Keywords to Track Document Content

Saving Versions of Your Files with Snapshots

Storyboarding and Planning your Project with the Corkboard

Viewing the Corkboard

Understanding and Customizing the Index Card Elements

Working in the Corkboard

Getting a High-Level View with the Outliner

Viewing the Outliner

Customizing Columns in the Outliner

Working in the Outliner

Writing Without Distractions using Full Screen Mode

Entering and Exiting Full Screen Mode

Adjusting Full Screen Mode Settings from the Control Strip

Changing Background and Paper Colors

Adding a Background Image

Working in Full Screen Mode

Compiling (Exporting) Your Manuscript

Introducing Compile

Using Built-in Compile Presets

Choosing What to Include (Contents Tab)

Setting Up Transitions with Separators

Making Your Compiled Manuscript Look Right (Formatting Tab)

Working with the Format Editor

Auto-Numbering, Formatting Titles, and Page Padding

Converting to Plain Text, or Not (Transformations Tab)

Setting Up Headers and Footers (Page Settings Tab)

Saving or Clearing the Compile Settings

Creating an E-Book (EPUB)

Creating a Kindle E-Book (MOBI)

Quick Printing and Exporting Options

Marking Up Your Manuscript with Comments and Annotations

Leaving Notes in the Sidebar with Comments

Making Notes in Your Text with Annotations

Searching for Comments and Annotations

Finding Anything in Your Project

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

Getting More Help

Finding More Scrivener Help

What Others Have Said

Brilliant!!

By: Clodagh Murphy

I've had Scrivener for quite a while, but have never really got to grips with it and all its functionality. I've watched tutorials and read manuals, but could never quite get my head around it. This course has changed all that! It explains everything so clearly, and I finally feel like I understand Scrivener and will be able to use it to its full potential. It will transform my writing life, and I can't wait to set up my new projects. Thanks, Gwen!

Well Worth It

By: Jennifer Cary

Want to thank you, Gwen, for making this easy to follow in small bites. I had taken the complete tutorial Scrivener prvided when I downloaded the program but felt like I wasn't utilizing all the capatilities I could. Now I am more confident and have already tried out several new things. I also printed out all the PDF Cheat Sheets and am making a binder for easy access--I'm old and the brain just can't hold much more. Thank you so much. this was so worth it!

Scrivener 1 for Windows: The Basics and Beyond

By: BJ Hester

This course was well worth the money spent, and the time invested to complete it. Very thorough. I recommend it highly.

Scrivener by Gwen

By: Lison

I appreciated the scrivener's class by Gwen because they are clear, easy to follow, either written or by videos, wich serves me well because I like as much to read the rules than to follow them on a screen. And most of all, Gwen is always there to help you solve a problem. Always... Thank you Gwen, Lison Dubreuil