Optimizing Scrivener for Self-Publishing Fiction Novels

As writing tools go, Scrivener is a powerful and flexible choice for novelists who aim to create self-published fiction. The saying 'There are nine and twenty ways of setting up a Scrivener stack—and each and every one of them is right' holds true, and choosing a setup that suits your specific needs can greatly enhance your writing and editing workflow. Here, we'll explore the best practices for setting up Scrivener for self-publishing, with a focus on formatting, revisions, and the final stages of publish-ready preparation.

Setting Up Your Scrivener Project for Novel Writing

For novel writing, a slightly modified 'Novel with Parts' template is highly recommended. This template provides a clear structure for organizing your work. It's important to differentiate your Research and Notes folders to avoid clutter and ensure that all your key points and ideas are easily accessible. Many writers, including myself, find it helpful to keep these sections separate from the actual manuscript. This division allows for a more organized approach to outlining, conceptual sketching, and general brainstorming.

Manuscript Organization: Scenes and Flags

The core of any novel lies in its scenes. In Scrivener, all text is kept within Manuscript in individual Scenes. This organization makes it easy to work on one scene at a time, and the flagging system can be very useful for managing your progress. By setting flags, you can easily mark scenes that need additional work, feedback, or revision. This helps streamline the writing process and ensures that no important details or plot points are overlooked.

Handling Revisions and Backups

Self-publishing often means going through multiple rounds of revisions, which is why it's crucial to have a solid backup strategy. Scrivener allows you to copy problematic scenes as a backup, ensuring that you don't lose any critical work. Once you are confident that a backup isn't needed anymore, you can move it into a Notes folder for safekeeping. This practice protects your progress and saves time when you inevitably hit a point where older drafts might be useful again.

Utilizing Scrivener's Split Function

The split function is a particularly useful tool, especially for revision. By splitting a scene, you can work on the new content without losing the original text. This allows for easy experimentation and ensures that you can revert to the original if necessary. While this function is available in both Windows and macOS versions of Scrivener, it is notably absent on iOS on the iPhone, which can be a limitation.

Screen Layout for Revisions

For those using an iPhone, the missing split-screen feature can be a drawback. To compensate, I often use an on-screen keyboard or an external keyboard to maximize productivity during revisions. Split-screen capabilities on your desktop or laptop can significantly enhance your editing workflow, allowing you to compare drafts side by side for a more efficient revision process.

Exporting for Self-Publishing

Once your manuscript is ready, the next step is to export it for self-publishing. Scrivener offers both PDF and Kindle formats. While the PDF format may lack some of the specialized features found in more advanced editing software, the Kindle format is quite readable and largely meets the needs of most self-publishers. For Kindle publishing, note that manual intervention with KindleGen may be required, but the resulting file generally looks fine when viewed on a Kindle device or through the Kindle app.

Final Formatting and Book Preparation

Scrivener's templates come with the necessary front matter for various book formats, making it easier to structure your book correctly. Cover art and interior illustrations can be included, although for technical or dense interior illustrations, it might be more efficient to use dedicated software for formatting these elements. Scrivener offers a simple markup language for customizing chapter headers and scene breaks, which is a significant advantage for achieving a unique and polished look.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of self-publishing, Scrivener remains a valuable tool for writers looking to streamline their writing and editing processes. By setting up your project correctly and leveraging the software's powerful features, you can create a professional and engaging self-published fiction novel. Remember, the key is in finding the setup that works best for you and your writing style. Happy writing and publishing!