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The first draft of a novel serves as the foundational scaffolding of a story, containing the essential elements such as the main plot arc, point of view, characters, setting, and dialogue, though none need to be fully polished or finalized. Writers are encouraged to include major story events and character motivations while leaving room to revise or add details later, using notes and placeholders to maintain writing momentum. This approach views the first draft as a discovery process rather than a finished product, supporting subsequent revisions that deepen and refine the narrative.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-first-draft-of-a-novel

Jaima Fixsen’s novel Don’t Look Close is a historical mystery set in 1950s Canada, featuring a polio survivor and a nurse protagonist, inspired by personal and family experiences. Fixsen uses Scrivener extensively throughout her writing and editing process, appreciating its flexibility for managing multiple viewpoints and evolving storylines, which supports her creative workflow in crafting the novel’s tension and structure.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-67-jaima-fixsen-mystery-and-thriller-author

Scrivener offers several auxiliary windows beyond its main integrated writing environment to enhance project management and writing workflow. These include Quick Reference windows for viewing multiple project parts simultaneously, the Scratchpad for taking persistent notes even when Scrivener is in the background, Project Bookmarks for quick access to important files, and specialized tools like the Name Generator, Project Targets, Writing History, Find, and Keywords windows. These additional windows provide practical support for organizing research, tracking writing progress, and navigating complex projects efficiently.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/the-many-windows-of-scrivener-and-how-to-use-them

The Booker Prize shortlist, announced this week, highlights a diverse range of authors and helps both writers gain recognition and readers discover new voices and topics. Book prizes increase book sales, media attention, and library acquisitions, and often influence academic study, while judges play a key role in recommending noteworthy titles. Although there are many prizes, those focusing on niche genres and underrepresented authors help broaden readers’ exposure beyond mainstream selections.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/why-book-prizes-are-important-for-readers-not-just-authors

Scrivener offers project bookmarks that enable writers to quickly access frequently used research files within complex projects, independent of the document being edited. These bookmarks can link to internal documents, external files, or URLs and can be managed and viewed through the Inspector, toolbar icon, or a dedicated Project Bookmarks window, which can remain open for constant reference during writing. This functionality helps writers seamlessly integrate research into their workflow by allowing multiple viewing options, including editor splits, quick reference windows, and external apps.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/use-scriveners-project-bookmarks-to-easily-access-research-files

Scrivener for iPad and iPhone allows users to compile writing projects into various file formats with basic default templates, including Manuscript, Modern, Palatino Book, and Script formats. While customization options are more limited than on desktop versions, users can edit compile formats using simple YAML text files called .scomp files, enabling detailed control over formatting such as font, spacing, chapter numbering, headers, footers, and page breaks. This advanced editing approach requires some learning but offers many of the same formatting capabilities available on Mac and Windows, allowing writers to tailor their exported documents precisely.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/how-to-customize-compile-formats-in-scrivener-for-ipad-and-iphone

John Degen, author and head of The Writers’ Union of Canada, wrote his latest novel, Seldom Seen Road, entirely on his iPhone using Scrivener, utilizing daily commutes to maintain a consistent writing routine. The novel features a detective trio set against the vast wilderness of northern Canada, where the landscape acts as both a character and an omnipresent threat, reflecting Degen’s deep connection to his environment and interests like birding. He also addresses issues of authors’ rights amid AI training data concerns and plans to create a writing shed to further separate his imaginative work from daily life.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-66-john-degen-author-and-head-of-the-writers-union-of-canada