 Hello, hello, writers. I'm Christine Kiefer, author of fantasy fiction and creative writing resources. And you are listening to the Well-Sturried podcast, where I share insights, encouragement, and actionable advice designed to help you craft sensational novels and build your best writing life. Always in 30 minutes or less, so you can get back to writing, of course. Ready for the show? Let's get talking. Come on in and welcome once again to the Well-Sturried podcast. As always, today's episode translates the latest article from the Well-Sturried blog into audio. Today we are breaking down 10 reasons for why you should write your novel in Scrivener, my absolute favorite tool for writers. If you would like to read along as you listen into today's episode, you can visit well-sturried.com slash 10 reasons. Sound like a plan? Without any further ado, let's dive into today's episode. Traditional word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs are fantastic entry-level writing tools, but their limited features can prove frustrating when working on long-form projects. That's why I love writing my novels and non-fiction books in Scrivener, a writing app designed with the complexities of developing, drafting, and revising major projects in mind. Scrivener's interface combines traditional word processing with advanced file and folder organization, easy research and reference tools, and other incredible features that simplify long-form work. As much as I love Scrivener, I'd be lying if I said the app didn't come with a learning curve. That's why I've shared a series of free Scrivener video tutorials over on the Well-Sturried blog at well-sturried.com slash Scrivener. But today, I'd like to break down 10 ways that creatives can benefit from writing their novels in Scrivener. Shall we dive in? Benefit number one, house all your files and folders in one project. One of Scrivener's best features is the binder, an easy-to-navigate sidebar that stores the unlimited files and folders one can create within a single project. With the binder, writers no longer need to house an entire manuscript in one document or shuffle between dozens of files to find the right chapter or set of notes. The binder makes project management easier than ever. Benefit number two, customize the toolbar for easy utilization. Scrivener features dozens of unique tools, such as project bookmarks, targets, collections, and keywords. The customizable Scrivener toolbar makes it easy to access your favorite features with ease. Benefit number three, set goals with project and document targets. If you're a writer who thrives under pressure, then you'll love making use of Scrivener's project and document targets. Use these features to hold yourself accountable to your goals by setting deadlines and target work counts. You can even activate a visual progress bar and push notifications to keep you on track. Benefit number four, view and work on up to four documents at once. Using Scrivener's split the editor and copy holder features, you can easily view multiple files at once as you work, meaning you never have to switch between two or more windows to view your notes or drafts again. Benefit number five, import endless research files for reference. Have no fear if your project demands endless research. With Scrivener, you can easily import and organize your references in forms ranging from images and text to web pages, audio and video files, multi-markdown files, and more. Benefit number six, get focused with composition mode. All of Scrivener's bells and whistles needn't prove a distraction. When it comes time to get some serious words on the page, the full-screen Scrivener mode can easily help you find your focus. Benefit number seven, comments, synopses, and notes. Oh my! Never lose another important thought as you write. When working on a file, you can use Scrivener's inspector sidebar to give your document a synopsis, to capture revision notes, to leave comments on lines of text, and more. Benefit number eight, make revisions without regret. With Scrivener, you don't need to create a fresh document every time you start a new draft. Instead, you can use the snapshots feature to capture a version of your work, which you can then view or revert to at any time. Benefit number nine, organize, outline, and identify files with ease. Scrivener boasts several features that allow you to manage the complexities of long-form work. You can use the corkboard and outliner modes to visually assess and reorder your documents. You can tag files with helpful labels and statuses, and even create your own project keywords to easily navigate your work. And finally, benefit number ten, compile and format your manuscript for export. With your manuscript complete, you can easily format and export your work as a variety of file types, ranging from Moby and EPUB ebook files to paperback proofs, Microsoft Word documents, and beyond. The benefits of these core features are some of the biggest reasons why I love writing in Scrivener. Though tools like collections, project statistics, and the easy backup options also lend to what makes this writing app so incredible. If you had trouble visualizing any of these features mentioned in today's episode, make sure to check out the GIFs that I've included in today's episode transcript at well-storied.com-10-reasons. Think you might like to try Scrivener for yourself? Scrivener is available for Mac and Windows users for a one-time fee of 49 US dollars, or a one-time fee of $19.99 for iOS. You can also take advantage of Scrivener's amazing free trial, which doesn't expire for 30 working days. If you would like to purchase or download the free trial of Scrivener, simply check out the links included in today's episode transcript. Or if you already have Scrivener, but you're having trouble making use of the features, be sure to check out the free video tutorials I've shared at well-storied.com-Scrivener. No matter which writing tool or word processor you choose to write your novel, if it's the one that works best for you and your writing process, then you can't go wrong. Happy writing, my friend! Thank you for listening to today's episode of The Podcast Writer. I hope you found it helpful to your writing journey. If so, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a new episode, and to give the podcast a quick rating or review. Doing so goes a long way toward helping the podcast reach new writers and lets me know that you're enjoying what I'm creating. You can also give me a shout-out directly on Instagram at christen-keeper. For additional guidance as you work to craft sensational novels and build your best writing life, be sure to head on over to www.well-storied.com, where I share blog posts, workbooks, e-courses, and other helpful resources for writers. Again, that's W-E-L-L-S-T-O-R-I-E-D.com. Thank you again for tuning into today's episode, my friend. Until next time, happy writing!