In a world full of word processors, many writers choose one of the simplest options and run with it. For years, I wrote my drafts on Google Docs because it was simpler to share with beta readers. However, that processor takes forever to load entire drafts. Luckily, I recently switched over to Scrivener. The program has a learning curve, for sure, but I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Google Docs.

Separating Your Scenes

I can’t speak for every writer, but when I’m working on my drafts, I have a hard time ignoring the page count. While I write, I find myself glancing over, desperate to know how long my chapters currently are. I’ll write my book with the page count in mind, sometimes making chapters too long because I don’t believe they span enough pages. It’s exhausting.

When I use Scrivener, this problem disappears! Until I compile my complete draft for download, the program only provides me with the word count, something I fuss about a lot less.

Not only that, but this program allows me to separate my books by chapters and scenes. When I’m in my developmental editing stages, I much prefer the scenes option. It allows me to tweak individual moments in the story, rather than focusing on the chapter as a whole.

Tracking Daily Word Count

Another incredible benefit of Scrivener is that it tracks your daily word count. If you’re someone who likes to keep a record of this, Scrivener makes it much easier. All you have to do is navigate to your project statistics.

My current novel is in the hands of beta readers, so my session statistics are at zero. You get the point, though. Right in this little pop-up bar, you can see your progress towards your manuscript’s overall goal and your word count for your current sessions. It’s nifty, isn’t it?

Compiling Your Manuscript Into a Specific Format

Formatting is a tedious process that writers often dread. However, when you use Scrivener, you don’t have to worry. The program does it for you! It can put your book in standard manuscript format, and there’s even a paperback option for self-publishing.

The Downsides

Unfortunately, this program has a steep learning curve, which is why I took forever to try it. It isn’t as simple as opening a Word document and typing away. I’m still learning all the little tricks it can do. That being said, I learned the basics from a 20-minute YouTube video. This one, actually.

Scrivener is also a paid program. It costs about $60, but after that, you will have it forever. It doesn’t require a yearly fee, which is nice. You can also complete a free trial, something I learned while navigating their website.

Lastly, the program doesn’t have an online option. You have to save your project onto your computer and ensure you hit save often. If you’re not careful, you could end up losing hours of work.

The Choice is Yours

All this being said, you can easily complete an amazing book in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Both programs do their jobs. Personally, I find the benefits of Scrivener outweigh the cost. However, they’re not paying for my promotion or anything, so I say: Use whatever you want! Scrivener is a tool you can put in your belt, or you can ignore it. It’s up to you!

If you want to buy the product, you can do so at this location: Scrivener Store. Cheers!