How to Format Your Book in Scrivener

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The journey from a blank page to a published book is a marathon, and while writing is undoubtedly the creative heart, formatting is the unsung hero that ensures your words are presented professionally and appealingly. For many authors, Scrivener is the chosen workstation, a powerful tool for outlining, drafting, and organizing. Yet, when it comes to the final polish – the formatting – a significant hurdle often emerges. This guide will meticulously demystify the process, transforming what many perceive as a technical headache into a streamlined, empowering finale to your writing process. Forget the fear; embrace the control.

The Scrivener Advantage: Why It Excels at Formatting

Scrivener isn’t just a word processor; it’s an author’s ecosystem. Its power lies in its project-based structure, allowing you to organize your narrative into distinct scenes, chapters, and parts. This granular control, inherent in the writing process, translates directly into flexible and precise formatting. Instead of wrestling with a single, monolithic document, Scrivener’s Compile function understands the individual components of your manuscript, enabling you to define how each section is presented, both on its own and in conjunction with others. This modularity is the key to effortless reformatting for different outputs – be it an eBook, a print-ready PDF, or a standard Word document.

Setting Up for Success: Early Scrivener Project Organization

Before diving into the Compile function, a well-organized Scrivener project is foundational. This isn’t about arbitrary rules; it’s about creating a logical structure that Scrivener can interpret correctly during compilation.

1. The Binder Hierarchy is Paramount:
Your Binder is more than just a table of contents; it’s the blueprint for your compiled document.
* Folders for Chapters: Each chapter should ideally be a folder. This allows you to nest scenes (documents) within them. For instance, a folder named “Chapter One: The Awakening” containing individual documents like “Scene 1.1: Morning Ritual” and “Scene 1.2: The Unsettling Dream.”
* Documents for Scenes/Sections: Individual scenes, subsections, or even standalone intros/outros should be distinct documents within your folders.
* Part Folders (Optional but Recommended for Longer Works): For books divided into multiple parts, create top-level folders for “Part One,” “Part Two,” etc., and place your chapter folders within them. Scrivener can automatically generate part titles from these.

Example:
* Book Title (Folder)
* Front Matter (Folder)
* Title Page (Document)
* Copyright Page (Document)
* Dedication (Document)
* Part One: The Journey Begins (Folder)
* Chapter One: A Fateful Encounter (Folder)
* Scene 1.1: The Old Inn (Document)
* Scene 1.2: Whispers of Destiny (Document)
* Chapter Two: Uncharted Territory (Folder)
* Scene 2.1: The Ancient Map (Document)
* Scene 2.2: Perilous Passage (Document)
* Part Two: The Revelation (Folder)
* Chapter Three: The Hidden Sanctuary (Folder)
* Scene 3.1: The Oracle's Warning (Document)
* Scene 3.2: A Glimmer of Hope (Document)
* Back Matter (Folder)
* Acknowledgements (Document)
* About the Author (Document)

2. Utilizing Document Types (Section Types):
This is where Scrivener’s true formatting power begins to shine. Every document and folder in your Binder has a “Section Type” assigned to it, visible in the Inspector (Cmd+Opt+I / Ctrl+Shift+I, then open the “Metadata” tab).
* Default Section Types: Scrivener starts with a few defaults like “Text” and “Chapter.”
* Creating Custom Section Types: This is crucial. Go to File > Compile... Once the Compile window opens, select a Format (e.g., “Ebook”) just to make the Section Layouts tab visible. Click on the Section Layouts tab. At the bottom, click the + button in the Section Types column. Create specific types like:
* Part Title (for top-level Part folders)
* Chapter Title (for chapter folders)
* Scene (for individual scene documents)
* Front Matter Page (for title, copyright, dedication, etc.)
* Back Matter Page (for acknowledgements, about author, etc.)
* Novel Title (for the very first document that holds your book title)
* Copyright
* Assigning Section Types: Once created, systematically go through your Binder and assign the correct Section Type to each document and folder via the Inspector.

Example Assignment:
* Book Title (Folder) -> No Section Type (but it’s where your compiled content will live)
* Front Matter (Folder) -> No Section Type (container)
* Title Page (Document) -> Front Matter Page (or specific Novel Title and Copyright for those)
* Copyright Page (Document) -> Copyright
* Dedication (Document) -> Front Matter Page
* Part One: The Journey Begins (Folder) -> Part Title
* Chapter One: A Fateful Encounter (Folder) -> Chapter Title
* Scene 1.1: The Old Inn (Document) -> Scene
* Scene 1.2: Whispers of Destiny (Document) -> Scene
* Back Matter (Folder) -> No Section Type (container)
* Acknowledgements (Document) -> Back Matter Page

This structured assignment tells Scrivener precisely what kind of content each piece is, allowing you to define distinct formatting rules for each type.

The Compile Function: Your Formatting Command Center

The Compile function (File > Compile...) is where all your efforts converge. It’s a robust engine, and understanding its various panes is key.

1. Choosing Your Output Format (The “Format As” Dropdown):
This is your first critical decision. Different outputs require different underlying structures.
* Ebook (EPUB, MOBI): Ideal for Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, etc. Reflowable text is standard. Choose “Ebook” and then select the specific format (e.g., EPUB 3 or Kindle (MOBI)).
* Print (PDF): For print-on-demand services (KDP Print, IngramSpark) or professional printers. Fixed layout, precise control over margins, page breaks, etc. Choose “PDF.”
* Microsoft Word (DOCX): For submission to agents, editors, or contests. Usually a more basic, standard document. Choose “Microsoft Word.”
* Rich Text Format (RTF): A common, cross-platform word processing format.
* Plain Text (TXT): Strips all formatting.

2. Navigating the Compile Window Panes:

Once you’ve selected your desired output, a series of tabs appear. These are your controls.

Pane 1: Contents

This pane governs what gets compiled and in what order.
* “Include in Compile” Checkboxes: Scrivener automatically checks items based on your Binder structure. Double-check that everything you want in your final book is checked. Uncheck drafts or research documents.
* Order of Documents: The order in the Binder is the order of compilation. If you need to reorder, do so in the Binder itself.
* “Format As” Column: This column displays the automatically detected Section Type for each Binder item based on your earlier assignment. Crucially, this is where you link your Binder’s Section Types to the Compile’s Section Layouts. Ensure the correct Section Layout (from the “Section Layouts” tab) is associated with each “Format As” type. For example, your Chapter Title Section Type from the Binder should be linked to a Chapter Title (or similar) Section Layout.
* “Add Blank Page” / “Page Break Before” (for Print/PDF): Right-click on a document in the Contents list. For print, you’ll often want Page Break Before for new chapters, and sometimes Add Blank Page to start chapters on the right-hand page (recto).

Pane 2: Separators

This pane defines how different documents are separated when compiled.
* “Separate compiled documents with:”
* Single Return: (Ebooks, most common) Just starts the next document on the next line.
* Empty Line: Adds a blank line.
* Page Break: (Print/PDF) Forces a new page. Essential for chapters.
* Custom Separator: You can define a specific separator like *** for scene breaks.
* “Between sections of the same type:” This is useful for separating consecutive scenes without unique breaks. For example, if you have two Scene documents consecutively, you might want *** between them, whereas a Chapter Title document preceding a Scene document would simply start the scene on a new paragraph.

Pane 3: Layout (Appears as “Section Layouts” in Scrivener 3)

This is the heart of visual formatting. Here, you define how each Section Type will appear.
* “Section Layouts” Column: This lists the compilation formats you created (e.g., Part Title, Chapter Title, Scene, Front Matter Page).
* “Preview” Area: As you select a layout, the preview area on the right updates to show what it will look like.
* Customizing Layouts:
* Header & Footer: Define chapter headers, footers, page numbers, running titles. Use placeholders like <$p> for page number, <$n> for chapter number, <$T> for document title.
* Title/Subtitle Formatting: Control font, size, alignment for chapter titles, part titles, etc. Example: For Chapter Title, you might want Times New Roman, Size 18, Bold, Centered.
* Text Formatting (First Paragraph, Body Paragraph): Set indents, line spacing, font, and size for the main body text.
* Prefix/Suffix: Add static text before or after the content of a section. For example, “Chapter ” as a prefix for a chapter number.
* Thumbnails: For print, these allow you to insert chapter images or decorative elements.
* Page Breaks: Crucial for print. For Chapter Title layouts, usually select “Page Break Before.”
* Adding/Duplicating Layouts: You can add new layouts or duplicate existing ones to modify them for slightly different uses.

Concrete Example: Chapter Title Section Layout
1. Select “Chapter Title” under Section Layouts.
2. Options Tab:
* Title Options: Check Title, Number: <$n>, Name: <$T>. (This creates “Chapter 1: Title of Chapter”).
* Page Breaking: Check Page Break Before. Check Title after a blank page if you always want chapters starting on a recto page.
* Text Layout: Uncheck Use Default Text Layout. Define First Paragraph and Body Paragraph as No Indent (for chapter title).
3. Title Appearance Tab:
* Font: Choose your desired chapter title font (e.g., Serif, Size 20, Bold).
* Alignment: Center.
* Space Before/After: Adjust to control vertical spacing around the title.
4. Header and Footer (for Print/PDF):
* For the Chapter Title layout, you might uncheck Headers/Footers on the first page of the chapter, then have them appear on subsequent pages. (This is configured in the “Page Settings” pane, under “Headers and Footers,” you can set different first page headers).

Pane 4: Footnotes/Comments

This pane controls how footnotes, endnotes, and comments are handled.
* Footnotes/Endnotes: Decide if they appear at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the document (endnotes). Control their styling.
* In-line Annotations/Comments: Choose to strip them, put them in the margin, or keep them in the text. Generally, for final outputs, you’ll want to strip them.

Pane 5: Replacements

This is a powerful tool for global text changes or substitutions.
* Example: Automatically change (c) to the copyright symbol ©. Change double hyphens -- to em dashes —.
* Target: Only in compiled text is usually what you want, so your original Scrivener document remains untouched.

Pane 6: Transformations

This pane handles more complex content transformations.
* Example: Remove all images, convert smart quotes to straight quotes, or remove hyperlinks. Usually, you won’t need to touch this unless you have specific requirements.

Pane 7: Manuscript Formatting (Scrivener 3) / Formatting (Scrivener 2)

This pane doesn’t deal with the compile formatting but rather with the visual appearance of your manuscript in the editor. Think of it as your View > Text Editing options. It’s essentially a global style guide for your writing process, not for the final output. In Scrivener 3, this is mostly handled by Format > Formatting > Scrivener Formats and the editor’s options.

Pane 8: CSS (for Ebooks)

If you’re compiling to EPUB, this pane allows you to include a custom CSS stylesheet for highly granular control over your eBook’s appearance. For most authors, Scrivener’s built-in styles are sufficient, but if you have specific design needs, this is where you’d link your external .css file.

Pane 9: Images (for Ebooks/Print)

  • Compression: Control image compression for file size optimization.
  • Max Width/Height: Define maximum dimensions for images to prevent them from breaking layout.
  • Placement: How images are embedded (inline, floating).

Pane 10: Export & Metadata (for Ebooks)

Critical for proper eBook identification.
* Title, Author, Language: Fill these out accurately.
* Cover Image: Assign your cover image (often a JPG or PNG).
* Table of Contents: Scrivener can automatically generate a navigable Table of Contents (NCX and HTML TOC) for eBooks, pulling from your Section Layouts that are marked as generating an entry. Ensure those layouts (like Chapter Title, Part Title) have “Include in Table of Contents” checked in the Section Layout settings.

Pane 11: Page Settings (for Print/PDF)

This is paramount for print-ready PDFs.
* Paper Size: Choose your standard book size (e.g., 6x9 in, 5.5x8.5 in).
* Margins: Set your inner, outer, top, and bottom margins. Remember inner margins need to be larger for the binding (gutter).
* Facing Pages: Check Facing Pages for professional print (left and right pages).
* Mirrored Margins: Automatically mirrors inner/outer margins for facing pages.
* Headers & Footers: Define what appears in headers/footers (page numbers, book title, author name) and their position. You can create different headers/footers for left/right pages and even exclude them from the first page of a chapter.
* Text Sections: Settings for line spacing, paragraph indents, and font defaults. Be careful not to override per-section layout settings here.

The Compilation Process: Steps to A Flawless Output

1. Create & Duplicate Compile Presets (Formats):
Save your compile settings! Once you’ve painstakingly created your Section Layouts and other settings, click the + button in the Formats column (leftmost). Choose New Format and name it descriptively (e.g., “My Novel – eBook EPUB,” “My Novel – Print PDF”). This saves all your settings. You can then duplicate this format to create variations (e.g., “My Novel – Standard Print,” “My Novel – Large Print”).

2. Select Compile Target:
At the bottom right of the Compile window, choose your final output format again (e.g., PDF, EPUB).

3. Compile!
Click Compile and select a destination for your file.

4. Review, Review, Review:
* Ebooks: Load your EPUB/MOBI into a dedicated eReader app (Calibre, Kindle Previewer, or the actual device). Check for reflow issues, correct TOC, image display, and paragraph breaks.
* Print PDFs: Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader or a similar PDF viewer. Check every page. Look for:
* Orphans and Widows: Single lines of a paragraph separated from the rest onto a new page/column.
* Rivers: Unsightly white spaces running through a block of text.
* Page Breaks: Are chapters starting on new pages? Are blank pages inserted correctly?
* Margins: Is the text too close to the edge of the page? Is the gutter wide enough?
* Headers/Footers/Page Numbers: Are they positioned correctly, and do they increment properly?

5. Iterate and Refine:
Find an issue? Go back to Scrivener’s Compile settings, adjust, recompile, and review. This iterative process is normal. Scrivener makes it easy to make small tweaks without re-importing content.

Advanced Formatting Techniques

1. Conditional Text:
This allows you to include/exclude specific text based on the compile target.
* Syntax: <$p_kindle>This is for Kindle only.</$p> or <$p_print>This prints only.</$p>
* Use Case: Add specific instructions for Kindle users (“Tap here…”) or print-only dedications not relevant for eBooks.

2. Placeholders:
Scrivener’s placeholders are invaluable for dynamic content.
* Basic: <$title>, <$author>, <$projecttitle>
* Chapter/Section: <$n> (number), <$t> (title), <$r> (roman numeral).
* Date/Time: <$longdate>, <$shortdate>
* Custom Metadata: If you define custom metadata fields in the Inspector (e.g., Editor_Notes), you can insert them with <$custom:Editor_Notes>.
* File > Compile > Replacements: You can also use replacements to create custom placeholders if needed.

3. Front and Back Matter Management:
* Pre-defined Front Matter: Scrivener can auto-populate standard front matter (Title Page, Copyright) if you activate them in the Contents pane by checking the box next to “Front Matter” (usually near the top). Then, you populate the fields under the “Export & Metadata” tab or in the “Placeholders” section of the Section Layout.
* Custom Front/Back Matter: For more control, create these as individual documents in your Binder and assign them Front Matter Page or Back Matter Page Section Types, then format those layouts accordingly. This gives you greater control over design.

4. Scene Breaks and *** Separators:
Instead of manually typing *** at the end of every scene, designate a Scene Section Type. In the Separators pane, set Between sections of the same type to Custom Separator and enter *** (centered via the Section Layout’s “Text Layout” tab in Layout Options). Scrivener will then automatically insert this between consecutive Scene documents.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

  • Not Organizing Your Binder First: Trying to compile a messy Scrivener project is like trying to build a house without a blueprint.
  • Ignoring Section Types: The single biggest reason for compile frustration. They are the backbone of Scrivener’s formatting.
  • Overriding Styles Globally: Avoid setting large global defaults in Page Settings > Text Sections if you’re using detailed Section Layouts. Section Layouts usually take precedence and offer more fine-grained control.
  • “What You See Is What You Get” Fallacy: Your Scrivener editor view is not what the final output will look like. The Compile function is effectively a powerful conversion engine that applies its own rules based on your settings.
  • Forgetting to Save Formats: Always save your compiled settings as a custom format. You’ll thank yourself later.
  • Neglecting Print Margins: For print, the gutter (inner margin) needs to be wider to account for binding. Research standard printer specifications for your chosen book size.
  • Skipping the Review Phase: Never, ever publish an eBook or print PDF without thoroughly reviewing the compiled file on actual devices or proof copies.

Conclusion

Mastering Scrivener’s formatting capabilities is a significant step towards professional self-publishing. It grants you the power to transform raw manuscript into a polished product, tailored precisely to various platforms. By diligently organizing your Binder, strategically utilizing Section Types, and meticulously configuring the Compile settings, you’ll not only save countless hours but also ensure your masterpiece is presented with the respect and professionalism it deserves. Embrace the control Scrivener offers; your readers will thank you for it.