Best Software for Authors? Here's Why I Use Scrivener to Write My Romcom
I’ve been writing for a long time. I was an avid reader at a young age, and I loved everything about language and stories—the way they could transport you to another world, make you laugh or cry, teach you new things, and let you escape your own life—at least for a little while. I was that kid sneaking paperbacks under the duvet at night with a flashlight, and scribbling ideas for stories in the margins of my notebooks.
Over the years, writing became more than just a hobby—it became my actual job, but not in the way I would have hoped. Somehow, I stopped writing stories and instead started writing corporate speeches, intranet stories, and press releases.
But since I quit my job to move countries (that’s a whole other story), I’ve started writing stories again. I’ve joined writing groups, entered short-story writing competitions and flash fiction events, and even sat down and wrote my first literary fiction in four months (that’s now in my drawer).
Now I’m working on romantic comedies—stories full of awkward moments, big feelings, and unexpected happily-ever-afters. And while the writing process is never as tidy as I’d like it to be, I’ve finally found a system that keeps me organized, inspired, and (mostly) sane.
That system is Scrivener.
When I finally committed to writing novels, I didn’t just need a place to type. I needed a place to think, organize, and occasionally rearrange scenes. I wanted somewhere to hold the characters, the chaos, the jokes I’d forget if I didn’t write them down immediately—and Scrivener turned out to be exactly that place.
So if you’re wondering how Scrivener works, and why I like it so much) here’s a peek at how I use it to wrangle my story into something coherent—and fun.
Scrivener is a writing software built for writers who may, or may not, write in linearly. Unlike a traditional word processor, where everything sits in one long document, Scrivener lets you break your writing into scenes, chapters, character notes, research files, and more—all within one organized workspace.
On the left side of the screen is your “binder”—a collapsible list where you can see every chapter and scene. Each one is its own file, so you can drag, drop, rename, re-order, or hide things as needed. Each scene appears on a virtual index card you can shuffle visually on one page. Writing a romantic comedy requires juggling tone, structure, timing, and tension—and Scrivener gives me space to do all of that without losing my mind (or my plot). In a romcom, timing is everything. It’s perfect for figuring out pacing or fixing a troublesome middle.
Scrivener also lets you create folders for anything. I keep a folder of character sketches, dialogue snippets, and even screenshots of outfits, vibes, and Pinterest boards that inspire me.
Before making big changes, I can also take a snapshot of the current scene. It’s like time-travel for your writing. You can always go back if your “brilliant rewrite” turns out to be chaos without clicking “un-do” about a thousand times.
When I’m ready to share or revise, I use Compile to export everything into a clean Word or PDF document. You can format it for editors, beta readers, or even Kindle. Is it confusing at first? A little. But once you figure it out, it works really well.
Scrivener won’t write your romcom for you. But it will give you a clear, flexible space to bring your own chaotic, charming, heartfelt story to life.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “Wait, didn’t I already write this scene?” or “Where did I put that brilliant line of dialogue?”—Scrivener might just be your new best friend.
Happy writing!
— Tracy
