There are plenty of places to learn how to use Scrivener (see the Resources section below), but I’m going to give you a brief tour of the main components. I’ve been using it for many years, and I probably learn something new every day. There’s a bit of a learning curve to using Scrivener. But if you’ve got a better system, I’d love to hear it! The Main Components of Scrivener In fact, the MMD export keeps quite a bit of HTML formatting, so there’s actually less work involved than pasting from MS Word. This is far from a perfect system, and there’s a bit of cleanup required after pasting, but it is no worse than pasting from word processing software.

When I finish writing, I typically export the file to Rich Text Format (.rtf), which is readable by most types of word processing software.īlog posts, on the other hand, get compiled (a form of export) to MultiMarkdown > Web Page (.html) and then pasted into the HTML editor of WordPress. When I need to find something I’ve written, it is almost always right there within my Primary Scrivener file, so no time is wasted searching for files.įor larger writing projects, such as client reports and that book I’ll probably never finish, I create separate Scrivener files. My go-to Scrivener file is called “Primary,” and it is set up for the majority of my writing projects and organized by folders for blog posts, video scripts, lectures and presentations, Toastmasters speeches, and writing for other publications. In fact, I seldom open my word processing software anymore, except when someone sends me a Word file or when I need to convert a file to send to someone else. It is no exaggeration to say that I use Scrivener for ALL of my writing projects. How I Use Scrivener for Family History Writing Whether you’re a solo writer or part of a genealogical society’s team, Scrivener is a project management tool for any publishing project, big or small.

Many genealogical and historical writers have already embraced Scrivener as their go-to writing software because it helps them write, outline, view their research, take notes, and organize everything in one, simple space. Originally created for novelists and scriptwriters, Scrivener is a robust, content-generation tool that lets you focus on your writing while giving you complete control of your project. Simply put, Scrivener is software for writers.

8 Reasons Scrivener is Better Than Word Processing Software.

How I Use Scrivener for Family History Writing.

Template for family history book