Popular Writing App 'Scrivener' Now Available for iOS

[MacRumors]

Popular writing environment Scrivener made its long-awaited debut on iOS this morning.

For those unfamiliar with the Mac application, Scrivener is a scalable long-form writing platform and author project management system featuring multiple editing and organization tools.

Note cards, character sketches, place descriptions, and research notes are just some of the options available to writers, with import options for media, web pages, PDFs, and more also forming part of the package.

As a standalone writing environment, the new Scrivener iOS app functions in much the same way, offering rich text editing with support for comments, footnotes, keywords, and so on.

Many of the features from the desktop version have also made the port, such as the Binder, Outliner, Corkboard, and Inspector, although certain features that require more screen space -- the Corkboard, for instance -- are iPad-only.

The app syncs with Scrivener for macOS (Scrivener v2.8) and Scrivener for Windows using Dropbox, or users can copy projects between devices via iTunes. As mentioned however, the iOS app also works as a standalone tool, featuring multiple manuscript compilation and print formats as well as project export options, such as ebook, ePub, and PDF.

Scrivener 2.8 for Mac is a free update for all registered users of Scrivener 2, and along with iOS support, it also includes a number of bug fixes and minor tweaks.

Scrivener for iOS was first announced back in 2011, with an early launch goal originally estimated to be "some time in 2012." When that date slipped, lead developer Keith Blount kept fans updated on the troubled development of the app, with the iOS team running into coding issues and other setbacks over the years.

Scrivener for iOS costs $19.99 and is compatible with any device running iOS 9.0 or later. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Popular Writing App 'Scrivener' Now Available for iOS

 

[iLondoner]

Fabulous app on the Mac, will definitely be buying on iOS, giving the ability to edit and compose on the road.

 

[Avieshek]

Doesn't look like an Evernote alternative.

 

[Wildkraut]

Doesn't look like an Evernote alternative.

This tool is not for normal notes taking, it is for serious "book,script,story,etc." writers.

The more professional alternative to Scrivener is Finaldraft.

 

[Daws001]

So happy this finally hit iOS.

 

[fitshaced]

I'd love to write a book and have a few concepts in mind. But, looking at this app, it seems a little overwhelming. 'Where to start' has always been the problem for me. This app adds the question 'where to start with this app?' But I think I'll download it and have a go.

 

[Chris in DC]

Thrilled by this news. Hope they eventually allow syncing via iCloud (if that's possible?).

 

[Wildkraut]

Thrilled by this news. Hope they eventually allow syncing via iCloud (if that's possible?).

The missing iCloud sync support it's what keeps me from buying it yet.

 

[Traverse]

Thrilled by this news. Hope they eventually allow syncing via iCloud (if that's possible?).

The missing iCloud sync support it's what keeps me from buying it yet.

They have explained this on their website. iCloud's syncing structure doesn't handle package files well (a scrivener file is like a fancy folder). They said they would actively check iCloud, but until Apple makes some back-end updates, it is too unreliable.

Here's the link.

 

[glindon]

The missing iCloud sync support it's what keeps me from buying it yet.

This really is a sore spot for me but Dropbox is free for the most part. Keith the developer can't implement iCloud because the scrivener docs are packages and not flat files. Apple is opening up iCloud a little more so eventually it will come.

 

[Chris in DC]

They have explained this on their website. iCloud's syncing structure doesn't handle package files well (a scrivener file is like a fancy folder). They said they would actively check iCloud, but until Apple makes some back-end updates, it is too unreliable.

Here's the link.

Thanks for the info! I can live with Dropbox, not a deal breaker.

 

[Traverse]

Doesn't look like an Evernote alternative.

It was never intended to be. It's a very specialized piece of software for users with specific needs. It's not for everyone and the creators acknowledge that.

This tool is not for normal notes taking, it is for serious "book,script,story,etc." writers.

The more professional alternative to Scrivener is Finaldraft.

I think that's limiting it a bit. Scrivener *can* be used for a novel, script, diary, notes, journal, etc.

Pretty much anything that lends itself well to Scrivener's core idea: to break your writing up into pieces instead of one long singular document (like a Word file). Everything else are just added features that you can utilize or ignore based on your specific needs.

 

[Exile714]

This tool is not for normal notes taking, it is for serious "book,script,story,etc." writers.

The more professional alternative to Scrivener is Finaldraft.

I'm not sure FinalDraft is more "professional" per se, but it's more heavily focused on screenplays while Scrivener (and Ulysses) seem more novel-focused.

***

I was hoping there might be a discount for Mac/PC users for this program. Both programs charge you $40-45 for their desktop/laptop counterpart, and for those users the iOS version is more of a quick extension rather than a full workspace.

But the iOS App Store, while great, is quite limited in certain respects including seller discounts. There's no way for Scrivener's creators to give a discount for Mac version purchasers, and they don't want to give away the iOS version because some will use it as a main driver.

 

[fitshaced]

I'm not sure FinalDraft is more "professional" per se, but it's more heavily focused on screenplays while Scrivener (and Ulysses) seem more novel-focused.

***

I was hoping there might be a discount for Mac/PC users for this program. Both programs charge you $40-45 for their desktop/laptop counterpart, and for those users the iOS version is more of a quick extension rather than a full workspace.

But the iOS App Store, while great, is quite limited in certain respects including seller discounts. There's no way for Scrivener's creators to give a discount for Mac version purchasers, and they don't want to give away the iOS version because some will use it as a main driver.

Could be worse. They could go the other way and have subscription only.

 

[kd5jos]

The more professional alternative to Scrivener is Finaldraft.

Correction, the more FOCUSED alternative is Finaldraft. Scrivener can help produce scripts for shows AND can be used to create books, reports, research projects...

This doesn't make it less "professional," this makes it more useful.

And isn't it funny that Finaldraft for iOS goes on sale the same day Scrivener is released?
[doublepost=1469018616][/doublepost]

I'd love to write a book and have a few concepts in mind. But, looking at this app, it seems a little overwhelming. 'Where to start' has always been the problem for me. This app adds the question 'where to start with this app?' But I think I'll download it and have a go.

The app (Scrivener) actually answers that question in the "How-to" that comes with it. There are also iBooks you can get on using Scrivener... and Ulysses for that matter.

 

[Lisat78]

I'm very happy with this! I do enjoy Ulysses in both iOS and OS X, but Scrivener's still my first choice. I do wish they'd done a first day discount though! It's absolutely worth the money but £15 is still £15. However, give it a couple of weeks and I'm absolutely buying this. My reasons for holding on to a Surface Pro are dropping by the day.

 

[IAmGLaDOS]

You humans and your unbelievably low capacity to store information.

 

[2499723]

I once invested in Scrivener, mainly to help with writing up a PhD thesis, but I simply found that it was more work than it was worth. It also would have taken hours (days?) to reformat its MS Word output into something presentable. In the end, I used Pages, because Word on Mac struggles with long (most?) documents. One feature missing from Pages, which is nearly unforgivable, is the inclusion of hyperlinks to access areas within the body of the text from, say, a Contents page.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I really like Scrivener on OS X. If you write (professionally or as a hobby) it's a great tool, I definitely recommend it. I'll be trying out the iOS version now too.

 

[harrisondavies]

Yes! Now I can seamlessly switch from Mac to iPad/iPhone. Thank you Literature & Latte.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Doesn't look like an Evernote alternative.

It doesn't remotely try to be.
It's much different.

Thrilled by this news. Hope they eventually allow syncing via iCloud (if that's possible?).

If Apple eventually wakes up to the many complaints from developers they had been receiving for years now then yes, Scrivener for iOS and Mac will feature iCloud support.
The dev basically said he's pretty much just waiting for Apple to revamp iCloud.

In the meantime, I'm glad Dropbox exists for things like these.
Ultimately I'd prefer non-centric syncing (Bittorrent Sync-style), but oh well...
Everyone wants to entrust someone else with their most precious data these days it seems.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I'd love to write a book and have a few concepts in mind. But, looking at this app, it seems a little overwhelming. 'Where to start' has always been the problem for me. This app adds the question 'where to start with this app?' But I think I'll download it and have a go.

They have an excellent 500 pages manual for you to read. Start on page 1 and work your way through.

 

[Spectrum]

This is a really great app on the Mac. I thoroughly recommend it for anyone needing to write multi-section documents. I use it to draft sections of manuscripts, and more recently as a lab journal. So much more flexible/useful and faster than something like Word for this task. It is really flexible and scaleable. Bringing synching with iOS can only be good news to increase the ability to make edits and to increase market exposure and development of this great little app!

 

[ctg7w6]

Instant purchase. Been waiting years. Wrote my masters thesis on the Mac version. Will use it on my PhD dissertation in the future. Amazing product.

 

[goomba478]

I'd love to write a book and have a few concepts in mind. But, looking at this app, it seems a little overwhelming. 'Where to start' has always been the problem for me. This app adds the question 'where to start with this app?' But I think I'll download it and have a go.

You may want to look into Ulysses (they have an iPhone/iPad version too). For me it's perfect for writing my book(s). Good luck!