For writing. And writing.
And writing.
Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more.
Chapter 1: The Beginning
The heavy oak door creaked open, revealing a study bathed in the warm, golden light of the late afternoon sun. Dust motes danced lazily in the air, settling on the leather-bound books that lined the mahogany shelves from floor to ceiling.
He sat at the desk, an antique typewriter clicking rhythmically under his fingertips. This was where the magic happened. Not in grand halls or sweeping landscapes, but here, in the quiet solitude of his own mind, translated into black ink on crisp white paper.
Every writer knows the blank page is both a terror and an invitation. Today, it was an invitation. The story was finally ready to be told.
Mac App Store
Editors' Choice
Typewriter. Ring-binder. Scrapbook.
Scrivener combines all the tools you need to craft your first draft, from nascent notion to final full stop.
Grow your manuscript your way
Tailor-made for long writing projects, Scrivener banishes page fright by allowing you to compose your text in any order, in sections as large or small as you like.
See the forest or the trees
Hammer out every last detail before typing a word, or carve out a draft and restructure later. Everything you write is integrated into an easy-to-use project outline.
Research within reach
Your background material is always at hand. Write a description based on a photograph. Transcribe an interview. Take notes about a PDF file or web page.
Who uses Scrivener?
Novelists / Screenwriters / Academics / Non-Fiction Writers / Journalists
Novel Writing Software
In the digital age, writers have an array of tools at their disposal. Scrivener provides essential features that help streamline the writing journey from the initial concept to final piece. Whether you're drafting your first novel or working on your tenth book, the right software makes a significant difference.
- Organize chapters & scenes easily
- Keep character sheets & settings handy
- Track daily word counts and targets
Familiar Screenwriting
Whether you're drafting the next blockbuster, writing for the stage, or penning a comic, Scrivener's familiar scriptwriting features deal with the formatting, leaving you free to focus on the action.
- Auto-formatting for Industry Standards
- Export directly to Final Draft
- Mix script and standard text formats
Tools for Academics
With support for footnotes and the ability to import and refer to a library of research, Scrivener is the ideal tool for academics and students writing theses, papers, or dissertations.
- View PDF research side-by-side with writing
- Robust footnote & endnote support
- Templates for APA, MLA, and more
Organize Complex Structures
Non-fiction writers love the ability to corral massive amounts of research, interviews, and structural notes. Break complex arguments down into manageable chunks.
- Outliner for detailed structural overview
- Label and track argument progression
- Compile to Word, PDF, or Epub easily
Set the scene. The old house on the hill. Thunderstorm approaching.
Protagonist finds the hidden letter in the library book.
1920s. The original owner of the house hides the letter.
Antagonist arrives demanding the document.
Corkboard
The corkboard is one of the writer's most familiar planning tools. In Scrivener, every section of your project is attached to a virtual index card.
Scrivener's corkboard lets you step back and work with just the synopses you've written on the cards—and when you move them, you're rearranging your manuscript at the same time.
Outliner
Find the structure of your writing with Scrivener's powerful outliner. Like the corkboard, the outliner lets you work with an overview of a chapter, a part, or even your whole manuscript.
Review synopses, check word counts, and view metadata. When you realise your epilogue would work better as a prologue? No problem. Easily reorganise everything using drag and drop.
The rugged cliffs overlooked the stormy sea, crashing waves spraying salt into the air. He held the map tightly against the wind...
The geography of the coastline didn't match his memory of the old charts.
Note: The cliffs are actually on the eastern face, not western.
View Documents Side by Side
Need to check for consistency with something you wrote in Chapter Two? Writing a description based on a photo? Scrivener makes it easy.
You can split Scrivener's editor and have up to four different documents open in the same project window at once. Your research is always within reach.
Full-Screen Writing
Blank out the rest of the world while you write—or at least the rest of the screen. One click and everything else fades away, leaving just you and your words.
Prefer an old-school green-text-on-black theme? Or a countryside scene backdrop to serve as inspiration? Scrivener's full-screen composition mode is fully customisable.
Print, Export, Publish
Scrivener has everything you need to prepare your manuscript for sharing with the world. Compile everything into a single document for printing, self-publishing, or exporting.
Write in your favourite font and then print using formatting tailored to submission guidelines. Generate PDF files or ready-to-sell Epub ebooks right out of the box.
Auto-Save and Backups
Scrivener automatically saves while you work, meaning you never have to worry about when you last hit 'Save'. And it backs up your projects whenever they are opened or closed.
Set Targets & Progress
Set word or character targets for your entire manuscript or for sections within it. Check the Writing History to see how much you have written each day.
Metadata & Labels
Use meta-data to record and find useful information. Colour-code sections using labels, track the progress of revisions by applying a 'Status', and assign keywords.
Snapshots
Never be afraid of rewrites. Before embarking on a major revision, take a "Snapshot" of a section and you'll be able to return to the earlier version whenever you want.
Plays well with others
Already have writing or research in other apps? You can import all sorts of files into your Scrivener projects, and export to standard formats when you're done.
Why writers choose Scrivener
The Good
- Unmatched Organization: The Binder and Corkboard make structuring massive documents incredibly easy.
- Research Integration: Keeping references right next to your text eliminates switching between apps.
- One-Time Purchase: No recurring monthly subscriptions. Buy it once, own it.
- Powerful Compiler: Turn your draft into a formatted manuscript, PDF, or eBook easily.
Things to Consider
- Learning Curve: The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for new users initially.
- Separate Licenses: Mac and Windows versions require separate purchases (though a bundle discount exists).
- No Native Cloud Sync: Relies on third-party services like Dropbox to sync between devices.
"I genuinely think this is the biggest software advance for writers since the word processor."
— Michael Marshall Smith, NYT best-selling author.
Get Scrivener Today
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Edu/Student discounts available on the official website.
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