Scrivener Review for Authors of Middle Grades Literature

Scrivener Review for authors

This Scrivener Review for Authors of Middle Grades Literature is part of PurdyBooks’ writing tools for middle grade authors series. In this post, we’ll take a look at Scrivener and explain why it is one of our top seven favorite writing tools. In our series, we ONLY feature the tools that we actually use on a daily basis. In other words, these are writing applications that we have found to be extremely helpful and worth purchasing for authors of middle grades books. Scrivener describes themselves as, “… the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics…” Read on to see how we describe Scrivener and to find out why we like it so much.

Writing Tools: Scrivener Review for Authors of middle grades literature

Scrivener can be an invaluable tool for middle-grade authors of all literary genres. We like it for the price, the functionality and the organizational tools it provides. Here’s how Scrivener can benefit middle grade authors from beginners to experienced writers:

Organizational Features:
- Storyboarding: Scrivener’s corkboard feature allows you to visually organize and outline your stories, making it especially helpful for planning the structure of your middle grade tales.
- Chapter and Scene Organization: With the ability to easily move chapters and scenes around, Scrivener facilitates experimenting with different narrative structures, crucial for creating suspense in middle school fiction.
Research and Reference:
- Research Folders: You can create research folders within Scrivener to store information about classic novels, short stories, or any other relevant material that inspires your literary themes.
Writing Process:
- Distraction-Free Writing: The full-screen mode in Scrivener helps you focus solely on your writing, fostering a productive environment for crafting engaging and suspenseful narratives.
- Word Count Tracking: Scrivener allows you to set word count goals for your writing sessions, helping you stay on track with your goal of publishing one or two books per year.
Character Development:
- Character Sheets: Use Scrivener’s character templates or create your own to develop well-rounded characters with distinct personalities, essential for captivating middle-grade readers.
Agent Submissions and Book Descriptions:
- Compile Manuscripts: Scrivener can compile your manuscript into a format suitable for agent submissions or book descriptions. This feature streamlines the process, ensuring a professional presentation to agents and publishers.
- Synopsis Writing: Utilize Scrivener to craft compelling synopses for your middle-grade novels, emphasizing the elements that make your stories stand out.
Collaboration:
- Annotations and Comments: If you collaborate with editors or beta readers, Scrivener’s annotation and commenting features facilitate communication and feedback, enhancing the overall quality of your manuscripts.

By incorporating Scrivener into your writing process, you can enhance your efficiency, creativity, and presentation—all crucial elements for attracting readers, agents, and book publishers, including those associated with popular middle school book clubs.

Downsides to Scrivener

We at PurdyBooks are all plodders, plotters and planners, so we love the prewriting tools found within Scrivener. However, some middle grade writers have mentioned some downsides to using Scrivener. We want to present a fair and balanced review of Scrivener for authors, so here are some of the most frequently mentioned criticisms:

Learning Curve:
- Steep Initial Learning Curve: Some authors may find Scrivener’s extensive features overwhelming initially. However, investing time in tutorials and guides can mitigate this challenge.
Interface Preferences:
- Personal Interface Preferences: The interface design may not suit everyone’s preferences. Some authors might find it less visually appealing or intuitive compared to other writing software.
Mobile Experience:
- Limited Mobile Functionality: While Scrivener has a mobile version, it might not offer the same extensive functionality as the desktop version. This could be a drawback for authors who prefer to write on the go.
File Compatibility:
- Compatibility Issues: Scrivener uses its file format (.scriv), which might pose compatibility challenges if you need to share files with others who don’t use Scrivener. The software allows export options, but it’s something to be mindful of.
Resource Intensiveness:
- Resource Requirements: Scrivener might be resource-intensive, particularly for older computers. Authors using less powerful devices might experience some lag or performance issues.

Despite these downsides, many authors, including those writing for middle-grade audiences, find Scrivener to be an invaluable tool once they become accustomed to its features. It’s a matter of personal preference and how well the software aligns with an author’s specific workflow and needs.

The Purdy Books Blog

PurdyBooks is quickly becoming the favorite website for middle school teachers, students, parents, librarians and authors. We provide weekly advice on how to enhance the reading experience for members of the middle grades community. We hope you found our scrivener review for authors of middle grades literature. Please consider signing up for our monthly newsletter (top of right-hand column) to find out more tips, tricks and suggestions for the middle grades literary community. We did not receive any sort of compensation for this Scrivener review, however the books listed below contain affiliate links that provide us with a wee bit of coffee funding to fuel our blogorific team.