The New Scrivener 3.0 – Should You Upgrade?

Did you know Literature and Latte released version 3 of their acclaimed writing software Scrivener?

Scrivener is famous for its rich functionality, but also its steep learning curve. If you’ve taken the time to learn an existing version of Scrivener, or are a newcomer looking to try it out yourself, making the move to version 3 might seem overwhelming or unappealing.

So why exactly should you consider making the change?

Today, I’d like to share with you some of the reasons why many authors are making the upgrade to Scrivener 3, as well as the key facts related to upgrading and whether you should.

Scrivener 3: Key Facts for Interested Writers

Here’s what you need to know about Scrivener 3.0 in a nutshell:

Scrivener 3 is currently available for MacOS, with a Windows version in development.
Scrivener 3 costs $45 for new customers.
If you purchased an older version of Scrivener at a date later than August 20th 2017, Scrivener 3 is available as a free upgrade.
If you purchased an older version of Scrivener prior to August 20th 2017, Scrivener is available for $25.
Scrivener 3 is fully compatible with its iOS version.

Also, be sure to look for updated scrivener coupons, regardless of whether you are looking to upgrade or just check out Scrivener for the first time.

So, now that you know the “what’s” of switching to Scrivener 3, let’s consider the “why’s.”

Scrivener 3 Is More Intuitive With a Cleaner User Interface

Scrivener 3 has moved towards a more intuitive and aesthetically-pleasing experience without sacrificing complexity, which you can see in action here. They have achieved this by:

Simplifying the process of using features such as “Compile,” without sacrificing any of their power.
Replacing Project Notes, References, and Favorites with a single “Bookmarks” mode.
Refreshing the visual feel of Scrivener to be more modern.

Scrivener 3 Has Better Writing Stats to Assist Your Planning and Productivity

I’ve long felt one of the best reasons to switch to a pro writing software such as Scrivener is the ability to plan and track word counts, along with other quantifiable features which greatly assist productivity and output.

Scrivener 3 can help with this by:

Allowing you to set word counts for an entire project, or particular writing session, and monitoring your progress towards them.
Assigning statuses and keywords to different aspects of your project, allowing you to keep a track of your efforts.
Viewing your Writing History to gain greater insight into your productivity patterns.

Scrivener 3 Has a Brand New “Linguistic Focus Mode” for True Language Lovers

One of the new modes authors are loving is the “Linguistic Focus Mode” which can be seen in the below image.

This new mode allows you to:

Highlight specific categories of words, such as verbs, adjectives, or direct speech. This can help you notice your own repetition and other blind spots.
Craft more believable dialogue. By having everything but direct speech fade into the background, you are forced to confront any cliched or repetitive conversation.

Prior to Linguistic Focus, you would have to use a separate tool to carry out this type of analysis, thereby losing flow and focus.

Want to Learn More About Scrivener?

Thanks to the widespread use of Scrivener, there are a couple of resources authors should check out if they are looking to learn more about Scrivener:

Scrivener’s Blog — Although they don’t keep it up-to-date as much as I’d like, it does have great information.

Scrivener’s Forum — A great place to look for help, recommendations, and any known bugs you might run into.

Scrivenerville — A website devoted to teaching authors about Scrivener features and ways to use Scrivener best for your writing needs.  It’s sort of what I’d wish Scrivener’s blog would do.

Scrivener:  To 3 or Not to 3?

In addition to the above benefits offered by version 3 in particular, I love Scrivener in general because it allows me to:

Research, write, edit, and export in a single-software environment, no matter whether I’m switching between Mac, Windows, or iOS.
Participate in a community of writers developing and sharing scrivener resources/
Use the same software favored by bestselling writers I respect such as Michael Hyatt.
Enjoy a no-pressure, 30-day trial of the software, where a day is only deducted when the software is used.

I personally love the fact that this new version will help me to be more organized when setting up to outline my books using different Scrivener functionalities.  This will help me to be a more effective and efficient writer.

So give it a go, and you might just find that when it comes to Scrivener, version 3 really is the magic number.

Wordplayers, tell me your opinion! Do you use Scrivener for writing your stories? Why or why not? Tell me in the comments!

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