As much as I love Scrivener, I'd be lying if I said it didn't come with a learning curve. Scrivener boasts countless tools and features that have helped me streamline my writing life — but only after I learned how to utilize them. And now that I have, I’d like to help you do the same.

As novelists, we often do a lot of research, and keeping track of all that research?

Well, that can be a bit of a nightmare at times. Fortunately, Scrivener makes our lives a little easier with a few helpful options and features — specifically, the ability to import several different kinds of files and webpages into your Scrivener Project. Not sure how to get started?

Let's break down everything you need to know in today's video lesson and transcript, which is excerpted from our upcoming Storytelling With Scrivener, launching this Friday. Click here to learn more about the course today!

Want to easily view two documents at once as you work?

Whether you want to reference notes as you write, compare two versions of the same chapter, or view two separate scenes to ensure your manuscript is on the right track, look no further than Scrivener. You can easily split the editor window within the program to view and work within two individual files at the same time.

Pretty sweet, right? Let's break down this awesome Scrivener function in today's video lesson and transcript, which are excerpted from our upcoming video course, Storytelling With Scrivener. Click here to learn more about the course today!

The Binder is one of Scrivener's most powerful features.

If, like me, you've ever struggled to organize all of the files and folders related to your work, you're going to love all that the Binder has to offer. Its easy interface allows you to import, add, organize, and rearrange any and all documents related to your entire project — all without leaving the program.

To learn more about how to make use of the Scrivener Binder, check out today's video lesson and transcript below. This lesson comes straight from our upcoming Storytelling With Scrivener video course, so there's more where it came from if you find it helpful. You can click here to learn more about the course today! 

Feeling overwhelmed by the Scrivener interface? 

There's no doubt that this program boasts a plethora of fantastic features that have helped many writers streamline their work and build their best writing lives, as we discussed in last week's article. But upon first glance, this program and all of its many features can also be quite intimidating. 

That's why we're going to break down everything you need to know about working within the Scrivener interface today. Press play below to watch the video lesson on this topic or scroll to read through the transcript and view a few helpful visuals. 

There is no right way to write a novel — and that includes the writing program you employ.

But if you've long grown frustrated with the limited capabilities of traditional word processors, I would love to introduce you to the epic writing app that has revolutionized my writing process over the past several years: Scrivener. The program itself has a bit of a learning curve, which is why I'm going to share a few tutorials with you here over the coming weeks. 

Today, however, I'd love to begin our Storytelling With Scrivener series by sharing my top ten favorite Scrivener features so you can get a taste of why I've come to love all that this program has to offer. Let's get started!

Have you ever read a novel that was far too indulgent for its own good?

Perhaps the plot dragged on and on or the prose meandered or the author spent a highly unnecessary amount of time on world-building or the color of their characters' hair. Maybe you weren't exactly sure where the author went wrong, but you know the book could have been at least fifty pages shorter. 

A touch of fluff bears little consequence, of course, but too much filler can easily weigh a story down. Knowing how onerous such indulgent stories can be, it's time we took a look at our own manuscripts and the fluff that may be lurking within. How can you identify and cut your story's filler? Let's discuss today, writers!

When spending so much time working on our stories, it can be difficult to see the forest through the trees.

This is a phenomenon we discussed in our recent article on the importance of gaining objectivity as we edit. When we're in the thick of revising our stories, we may find ourselves so focused on all the little details that we want to improve that we fail to see some of our stories' biggest weaknesses. And the biggest of all, perhaps, are plot holes. 

What are plot holes exactly? And how can you find and fix them throughout your manuscript? Let's break down everything you need to know today, writer!

Struggling to feel confident in your self-editing skills? You're not alone, writer.

Both big picture revisions and tedious line-edits demand that writers consider countless facets of their work, from plot and character arcs to settings, themes, character development, and world-building, then on to dialogue, diction, sentence structure, tone, voice, atmosphere, and beyond. It's no wonder so many writers approach self-editing with extreme trepidation.

And while there are many techniques that can help writers approach revisions and line-edits with confidence, there is one especially powerful trick that I want to break down with you today: maintaining an objective eye. What is objectivity exactly, and how can it help improve your self-editing skills? Let's dive in! 

Writers, it's time to celebrate!

Two years ago, I was seeking connection. Well-Storied's readership was growing like never before, and I was desperate for a community where I could build relationships with the new writers I was meeting — and where those writers could connect with one another in return. It wasn't long before Your Write Dream, our Well-Storied Facebook group, was born. 

As cliché as such a statement may be, I never anticipated that Your Write Dream would one day grow to over 5,000 members. Every day, I'm astounded by the meaningful conversations taking place there, and so humbled to know that what began as a little blog on creative writing in time helped bring so many selfless and inspiring folks together. 

Today, I want to celebrate this incredible community of writers. And what better way than with a giveaway? 

Let’s talk about world-building, writers!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve broken down several key world-building elements here on the blog, including the development of fictional cultures, languages, and magic systems — all to celebrate the arrival of World-Building Warrior, our latest writing workbook here at Well-Storied.

Today, however, I’d like to talk less about how to develop your fictional world and more about the common pitfalls that threaten to derail many writers’ world-building success. Shall we dive in?

Writers, who's ready to craft fully-realized fictional worlds?

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest Well-Storied workbook today. The process of crafting an entire fictional world can be more than a little overwhelming. From geography and civilizations to cultures, religions, magic systems, and beyond, dipping your feet into world-building can be difficult enough. Developing a fully-realized fictional world?

Well, a little guidance may be in order...

That's why I've created World-Building Warrior, a digital workbook designed to walk you through the process of building your next fictional world step-by-step. With 167 pages of focused activities and guided questions, this is one resource you don't want to miss!