Create a new project

- [Instructor] Let's begin a brand spanking new project in Scrivener. If you've never opened Scrivener before, double click the program icon to launch the start panel. If you're already in Scrivener like I am right now, you can launch the start panel by clicking on File and then New Project. This is your start panel. Here Scrivener gives you options depending on the type of document you intend to write. You can start with a blank project if you like. You can also explore templates in for other areas.

Fiction, non-fiction, script writing, and miscellaneous. For now let's go to fiction. We'll explore just one of these three templates, the novel. Let's pretend I am getting ready to start work on a new idea so I will select this novel template and click Choose. I'll need a name for my novel so just for fun I'll call it Alice and hit the Create button.

And voila, I have created a new Scrivener project. Now let's examine the binder for this project. First we see a notation at the top. Scrivener tells us it's using novel format. This will give you some instructions about how to use this template. You can scroll down and read the instructions. Next we have our top level folder and it's called a manuscript. You can click in here and name manuscript anything that you want. In the novel format they call it manuscript but here I'll call it draft.

You can actually name your top level folder anything you want to name it. If I click on it, we see that Scrivener has start us out by giving us a blank first chapter and one blank scene for our novel. You can take this basic structure and keep adding to it by clicking the Add button. And add as many scenes as you like. You can add another chapter by clicking on Add, the drop down.

And then selecting New Folder. Name your new chapter anything you wish and add scenes. You can keep adding and moving things around until you've got all the chapters and scenes you need to appropriately structure your novel. By moving things around I mean you can switch things around at will. So if you're a planner you can plan the structure of your novel and plot it out in the binder before you begin writing.

And if you're not much of a planner and more of a pantser, that means somebody who goes by the seat of their pants, you can just hop in and start writing here. And add the structure of your chapter and scenes as you go. Further down in the binder, you'll see a number of other folders. The novel template features other folders beyond Scrivener's regular default of draft, research, and trash.

You'll see characters. You'll see places. You'll see front matter, and you'll see template sheets. These folders will help you plan, research, write, and even compile your project using the novel format. Try opening the new project panel. Explore some of the many templates Scrivener provides you. Select from fiction, non-fiction, script writing, or miscellaneous. And then create a new Scrivener project that suits your own individual needs or interests.