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Scrivener Essentials: A Quick Start Visual Guide for Mac Users
Scrivener Essentials: A quick start visual guide for Mac users.
Imagine if you could use Scrivener for Mac like a seasoned professional, knowing the keyboard shortcuts, what the tools on the toolbar do; flying through the application and creating an amazing story without being distracted by having to look up how to use a feature every time you want to use it.
In the back of your mind you know that the Scrivener software you bought is going to simplify your writing process and help you become more productive. You have heard about the cool split screen views, virtual cork boards and the collections feature where you can process all instances of a document at once even though you have it in several different collections.
But best of all you’ve heard that you can export your content to multiple platforms without having to change the original draft document! Imagine the time you are going to save. Not to mention that if you can format your own work for export you will no longer be held hostage to the whims and schedules of anyone else.
The problem is, before you can do all that, you have to learn how to use the Scrivener software. This can be time consuming if you try to learn from the Scrivener users manual which is highly technical and includes every conceivable function and feature of the software. Don’t get me wrong. The Scrivener users manual has every bit of information you will ever need regarding Scrivener because it is supposed to be like that, but it sure is difficult to weed out the bits that pertain to the project you want to write. I know because that is the way I had to learn it.
What I would have liked was a Scrivener essentials guide with:
Plenty of pictures, so that you can instantly recognize the regions of the user interface. Arrows pointing right at the buttons mentioned in the instructions, making them easy to find. Instructions embedded into the images they refer to so that they don’t drift onto the next page because of the personal settings on your Kindle. No distracting instructions for Windows users that send you on a wild goose chase after functions that are not supported by Scrivener for Mac.
So I wrote a guide just like that. In it you will learn to:
Open a project and customize your workspaces. Toggle between normal Text Editing Mode, Cork Board Mode and Outlining Mode and how to use each of them as well as how to use the distraction free Full Screen Mode. Split your screen to have two documents or two versions of the same document open at once. Manage your files and folders, whether you are starting from scratch in Scrivener or want to import your content from another writing application pre-sorted into chapters or sections. Make use of Scrivener’s editing tools like collections and snapshots (which takes a snap shot of the current state of a document so that you can revert to it if you don’t like your subsequent edits.) Compile your work for export to your agent, as a paperback or as an eBook. How to download some tools so that you can preview your content before you send it out.
If you are ready to improve your writing process, scroll up, click the buy button and start making the most of your Scrivener Software today!
Imagine if you could use Scrivener for Mac like a seasoned professional, knowing the keyboard shortcuts, what the tools on the toolbar do; flying through the application and creating an amazing story without being distracted by having to look up how to use a feature every time you want to use it.
In the back of your mind you know that the Scrivener software you bought is going to simplify your writing process and help you become more productive. You have heard about the cool split screen views, virtual cork boards and the collections feature where you can process all instances of a document at once even though you have it in several different collections.
But best of all you’ve heard that you can export your content to multiple platforms without having to change the original draft document! Imagine the time you are going to save. Not to mention that if you can format your own work for export you will no longer be held hostage to the whims and schedules of anyone else.
The problem is, before you can do all that, you have to learn how to use the Scrivener software. This can be time consuming if you try to learn from the Scrivener users manual which is highly technical and includes every conceivable function and feature of the software. Don’t get me wrong. The Scrivener users manual has every bit of information you will ever need regarding Scrivener because it is supposed to be like that, but it sure is difficult to weed out the bits that pertain to the project you want to write. I know because that is the way I had to learn it.
What I would have liked was a Scrivener essentials guide with:
Plenty of pictures, so that you can instantly recognize the regions of the user interface. Arrows pointing right at the buttons mentioned in the instructions, making them easy to find. Instructions embedded into the images they refer to so that they don’t drift onto the next page because of the personal settings on your Kindle. No distracting instructions for Windows users that send you on a wild goose chase after functions that are not supported by Scrivener for Mac.
So I wrote a guide just like that. In it you will learn to:
Open a project and customize your workspaces. Toggle between normal Text Editing Mode, Cork Board Mode and Outlining Mode and how to use each of them as well as how to use the distraction free Full Screen Mode. Split your screen to have two documents or two versions of the same document open at once. Manage your files and folders, whether you are starting from scratch in Scrivener or want to import your content from another writing application pre-sorted into chapters or sections. Make use of Scrivener’s editing tools like collections and snapshots (which takes a snap shot of the current state of a document so that you can revert to it if you don’t like your subsequent edits.) Compile your work for export to your agent, as a paperback or as an eBook. How to download some tools so that you can preview your content before you send it out.
If you are ready to improve your writing process, scroll up, click the buy button and start making the most of your Scrivener Software today!
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2014
57 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Karen Prince
3 books183 followersKaren Prince was raised on a wildlife farm in Zimbabwe; a perfect childhood for someone who always wanted to become a writer. Between searching for wild dogs and other dangerous creatures on horseback and cooling off in the nearby dam - which was occupied by at least one crocodile - it was a wonder she survived.
This chaotic life was balanced during the school term by the harsh discipline and unreasonable constraints of attendance at an all girls boarding school, an overnight train ride away. This was where Karen became an avid writer. Mostly of heartfelt pleas to anyone who would listen, to rescue her soon.
Switch! Is her first novel in the Kingdoms of Karibu series. A ripping yarn, set in a world that quite literally defies belief, where magic seeps into the drinking water for anyone to use or abuse, and the terrain is impossible to navigate without help from extremely risky sources.
This chaotic life was balanced during the school term by the harsh discipline and unreasonable constraints of attendance at an all girls boarding school, an overnight train ride away. This was where Karen became an avid writer. Mostly of heartfelt pleas to anyone who would listen, to rescue her soon.
Switch! Is her first novel in the Kingdoms of Karibu series. A ripping yarn, set in a world that quite literally defies belief, where magic seeps into the drinking water for anyone to use or abuse, and the terrain is impossible to navigate without help from extremely risky sources.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 21, 2017
This is one of those books that I'll refer back to from time to time. I love the plethora of pictures the author's added to the book, making it easy to follow her instructions. She takes her time, not leaving those new to Scrivener with any questions, and she did so without making me feel uneducated. An excellent resource for those who want to try out Scrivener.
August 31, 2017
Scrivener Essentials: Mac
I picked up this guide to compare it with the Windows version to help make an informed decision as to purchasing Scrivener. While I did purchase the Windows version of Scrivener, both of these quick start guides are extremely helpful to get a new Scrivener user up and productive in no time. For the slightly more experienced Scrivener user, both versions of the guide are also useful for learning a few new features of Scrivener. I highly recommend these books.
I picked up this guide to compare it with the Windows version to help make an informed decision as to purchasing Scrivener. While I did purchase the Windows version of Scrivener, both of these quick start guides are extremely helpful to get a new Scrivener user up and productive in no time. For the slightly more experienced Scrivener user, both versions of the guide are also useful for learning a few new features of Scrivener. I highly recommend these books.
July 30, 2017
A good "how-to" book. It told me what I needed to know to use the several features of the program. After reading it I was able to proceed with confidence.
February 19, 2018
Downloaded a new version of Scrivener and wanted to catch up on the updates. Great kindle book for reference for now and future projects. Explanations clearer than Scrivener’s free pdf. Handbook.
August 29, 2018
Thorough
Thanks Karen for creating a Scrivener 3 users book dedicated to Mac users. Every page was relevant. Check her website for a video course.
Thanks Karen for creating a Scrivener 3 users book dedicated to Mac users. Every page was relevant. Check her website for a video course.
April 12, 2025
IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE RE SCRIVENER
She put a lot of effort (A LOT) into helping any Scrivener user become more proficient in its use. HIGHLY recommended!
She put a lot of effort (A LOT) into helping any Scrivener user become more proficient in its use. HIGHLY recommended!
March 20, 2015
I have worked my way through both Scrivener Essentials books because I use a Mac at home and a PC at work.
They were easy to use and work well whether you read them all the way through or just look up the features you want to know about and click on them in the Table of Contents.
I was told Scrivener has a steep learning curve but I should try not to get too bogged down with the overwhelming array of features and concentrate instead on the things I need to know. With the step by step pictorial instructions in these little books it was hard not to distract myself with those other features which was just as well because I learned some clever tricks.
As I was about to start the long and boring job of copying and pasting my work in progress into Scrivener I discovered you can import your whole manuscript already sorted out into chapters in just a couple of clicks.
It turns out that Scrivener itself is fairly intuitive, not that hard, and if you have a quick read through whichever of these books match your computer platform you will be able to tell which features you would love to try and which ones you won’t need to bother with.
They were easy to use and work well whether you read them all the way through or just look up the features you want to know about and click on them in the Table of Contents.
I was told Scrivener has a steep learning curve but I should try not to get too bogged down with the overwhelming array of features and concentrate instead on the things I need to know. With the step by step pictorial instructions in these little books it was hard not to distract myself with those other features which was just as well because I learned some clever tricks.
As I was about to start the long and boring job of copying and pasting my work in progress into Scrivener I discovered you can import your whole manuscript already sorted out into chapters in just a couple of clicks.
It turns out that Scrivener itself is fairly intuitive, not that hard, and if you have a quick read through whichever of these books match your computer platform you will be able to tell which features you would love to try and which ones you won’t need to bother with.
April 10, 2015
Love the visuals!
This is a great guide to get started with Scrivener that uses visuals to show you exactly what you need to do. I really like that the Mac and Windows versions are separate so you don't read one thing and find out it doesn't apply to your version. Very happy with purchase.
This is a great guide to get started with Scrivener that uses visuals to show you exactly what you need to do. I really like that the Mac and Windows versions are separate so you don't read one thing and find out it doesn't apply to your version. Very happy with purchase.
June 19, 2015
A very good and direct explanation of a slightly complex program.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews