{"id":28084,"date":"2017-01-02T13:34:49","date_gmt":"2017-01-02T20:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https://howtoscrivener.com/?p=28084"},"modified":"2017-07-20T15:49:25","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T21:49:25","slug":"outlining-with-scrivener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://howtoscrivener.com/outlining-with-scrivener/","title":{"rendered":"Outlining with Scrivener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Scrivener Outliner – Do I Have to?<\/h1>\n

Outlinining with Scrivener is easier than you probably think. Whether you’re an Outliner or a Pantser, Planner or a Gardner\u2014however you choose to word it\u2014most would agree that there’s a place for some level of organization in your writing, and Scrivener allows you to go as deep and broad as you’re willing to go. Do you have to? No, of course not, but it should be something you explore, shouldn’t it?\u00a0We’ve already covered the corkboard<\/a> on howtoscrivener.com, and today we’ll cover the outliner\u2014the wicked outlining tool that Scrivener provides us.<\/p>\n

The Outliner and The Corkboard are Connected<\/h2>\n

The first thing to understand is that the scrivener corkboard and outliner pull their information from the same files\u2014those documents you create, write on, and move around. So, it behooves you to add all the keyword, metadata, and inspector information you can add to each of those documents. Doing so will pay off nicely as you use Scrivener more in depth.<\/p>\n

Why, in this case? Because as you change your views of those documents, Scrivener presents that information to you in interesting ways that will facilitate your creative flow, and help you get more work done. So, for this example, the outliner\u00a0and the corkboard are just different views of the same documents and information.<\/p>\n

Activating the Outliner<\/h2>\n

First off, select the folder that represents your entire novel in the binder to the left. I assume this is the view most writers would want to \"\"<\/a>view. Whatever you click on in your binder will determine what you see in the editor (main window.) Unless you’ve customized the outliner already, you’ll start with a simple, single column outline layout that shows the title of your documents, and any synopsis you’ve given them. Note: Again, this should mirror what you’ve written in your documents, and what shows up in the corkboard. If you’re worried that the outline view is too simple, don’t be. The outliner is actually highly customizable.<\/p>\n

To turn on the Outliner:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click on the Outline icon in the main toolbar (it’s next to the corkboard icon)<\/li>\n
  2. Or, alternatively, click on View -> Outline from the menu options above the toolbar<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What the Outliner can Do<\/h2>\n

    With your novel selected in the binder, you should see your documents, synopsis, titles and other information (if previously configured) in the editor. \u00a0So now that question becomes, what can I do with this view?<\/p>\n