Is This the Ultimate Writing App for Authors, or Just Overkill?
Scrivener is the name that always seems to pop up in writer circles — often with reverence, sometimes with confusion. It’s one of the most feature-rich writing tools out there, built specifically for long-form projects like novels, screenplays, academic writing, and non-fiction.
But if you’re a new writer, you might be wondering:
“Is this something I actually need, or is Word (or Google Docs) enough?”
Let’s break it down.
🧰 What Is Scrivener, Exactly?
At its core, Scrivener is a writing and project management tool. It’s not just a word processor — it’s a whole ecosystem built around the writing process.
It lets you:
- Write scenes out of order
- Split your novel into chapters and subdocuments
- Store notes, research, and outlines all in one place
- Create character sketches and location profiles
- Compile everything into a single draft for export or printing
It’s the digital version of a whiteboard, a ring binder, a corkboard full of index cards, and a document editor — all mashed into one.
🖥️ Who Is Scrivener Best For?
- Writers working on novels, screenplays, or series
- Those who like to organise their writing into scenes or chunks
- People who want everything in one workspace
- Writers who draft non-linearly or like moving scenes around easily
If you write short stories or blog posts and you’re a linear thinker? Scrivener might be more than you need — or more than you want to learn.
✍️ Features Worth Highlighting
🧱 The Binder
On the left-hand side is a collapsible tree menu of your entire project: chapters, scenes, notes, character bios, research — all arranged like folders.
You can drag and drop scenes to rearrange your plot, just like shuffling index cards.
🗂️ The Corkboard
Each document (or scene) can be viewed as an index card on a corkboard. You can:
- Add summaries
- Reorder your scenes visually
- Use this to map out your story like a storyboard
🔎 Split Screen
You can view your draft and your notes (or your research and your scene) side by side — super helpful when working with outlines or references.
🧶 Project Targets
Set a total word count goal, and even a session goal. Great for Nanowrimo or daily tracking. You can see your progress fill up like a digital progress bar.
📦 Compile Tool
When your draft is done, you can export it in just about any format — DOCX, PDF, ePub, Kindle, screenplay format, or even Markdown.
👍 What It Gets Right
- ✅ Organisational power: Everything in one place, easily sortable
- ✅ Scene-focused writing: Great for non-linear writers
- ✅ Distraction-free mode: Focus on the words when you need to
- ✅ Custom templates: For different kinds of projects
- ✅ Low one-time cost: No subscription model — just a single payment (~£47)
👎 What Might Frustrate You
- ❌ Learning curve: The interface isn’t instantly intuitive — expect to watch some tutorials or Google things as you go
- ❌ Not cloud-based: You can use Dropbox or OneDrive, but it’s not truly cloud-native like Google Docs
- ❌ No live collaboration: It’s not built for co-writing in real time
- ❌ Mac/Windows versions differ: The Mac version is slightly more polished
🧠 Is It Worth It for Beginners?
It depends on your personality and goals.
If you’re just trying to write your first book and get used to the process, Scrivener might feel like learning to fly a plane just to cross the street. Tools like Google Docs, Word, or your Lovable dashboard might be a better place to start.
But if you’ve got a full story idea, a few chapters written, and you’re starting to lose track of your scenes or characters, Scrivener can give you structure without locking you into rigid templates.
🧾 Final Verdict
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5 for novelists, 3/5 for casual writers)
Scrivener is a powerful tool made with writers in mind. It shines brightest in big projects — where planning, tracking, and wrangling chapters is part of the process.
It won’t write the book for you. It won’t magically make your scenes better. But it will keep everything organised, focused, and export-ready.
For many writers, that’s enough to make it indispensable.
