My New Setup: How I Write On-The Go

And how to sync Scrivener between devices.

I bought a new iPad. Not for Netflix. Not for Pinterest.

This one was purely for writing—specifically, to make the most of small pockets of time as I return to working full-time and commuting. Think: train rides, coffee shop breaks, waiting-room moments. With the right setup, I figured I could sneak in a chapter or two where I’d usually just scroll or play Bubble Cloud.

Of course, there was a lot of research involved and a learning curve.

First, why an iPad?

I already write using Scrivener on my laptop and I love it, but my laptop is large and heavy—it’s five-years old and has a 15-inch monitor. It also sports a dying battery and is from Australia so has the wrong plug-shape which means I need an adaptor for it. But it still works remarkably well for a geriatric computer—it’s just not portable.

So the goal was to find a lightweight, portable device I could toss into my bag that also allowed me to sync my work-in-progress across all devices and allow me to expand my creative space from the table at home to… well, anywhere.

I was excited to read that you can sync projects in Scrivener across devices, and that this was possible between Windows and iOS, too, which really broadened my options to include all laptops and a variety of tablets, too.

After spending hours doing research online and even visiting BestBuy, then factoring size, weight, functionality, and pricing options, I finally settled on an Apple iPad. An iPad paired with a magic keyboard (great for lap typing) was a clear winner, so I took the plunge.

Things to know from a budget perspective

First tip from the budget perspective is…

1. Don’t be too cheap. I tried this—I really did. I thought… I don’t need anything new or fancy. I will be perfectly happy with a little 11-inch or 12-inch used laptop from Amazon or Bestbuy. All I need to be able to do on it is use a browser and install Scrivener. So I purchased a used laptop on Amazon for $200, but the laptop that arrived had already been formatted and the environment to reformat it was missing—highly suspicious! I returned it. Then I bought a used laptop from BestBuy at around the same price—same thing. If you can’t reformat a Windows-based laptop, I really don’t think you should continue to use it.

2. If you’re buying new, tablets can be a great option. For some reason, before doing the research, I thought laptops would be cheaper than a tablet but I was wrong. This is because most new laptops have more built-in memory and faster processers—which you don’t need if all you’re doing is writing. My recommendation is to go for the tablet.

3. Scrivener is not free across multiple devices. You have to pay for both versions separately. That’s right—the desktop version (Mac or Windows) and the iOS app are separate purchases. But once you’ve paid, you own the software—no subscriptions required. And honestly? Worth every penny.

4. Remember to take advantage of discounts. If you’re in school or an educator or education-adjacent in some way, Apple offers education pricing on iPads, Macs, and accessories. Just check Apple’s education store in your region.

The Sync Setup

Scrivener’s sync system is a little old-school, but it actually works beautifully if you set it up right. Here's what I did:

1. Use Dropbox.
   Scrivener doesn’t play nicely with iCloud or Google Drive. You need Dropbox installed on both your desktop and your iPad.

2. Create a dedicated Dropbox folder.
   On your computer, you must move your Scrivener projects into:
   Dropbox > Apps > Scrivener

   If you do this, the Scrivener app that you install on your iPad will actually find it and load it into the app, ready for use.

3. Let Dropbox fully sync before switching devices.
   This step is crucial—don’t switch between iPad and laptop until Dropbox says everything is synced. Otherwise, conflicts can happen. I also strongly recommend (as I’ve read in every online article), it’s best practice to actually close down Scrivener on one device before you open it on another just in case.

4. Connect Dropbox on your iPad.
   In the Scrivener app, just login to your Dropbox account. Everything else just works. That’s it!

Once I had everything set up, the sync worked remarkably well. I’ve switched between my laptop and iPad multiple times now, and it’s been seamless.

Writing with Scrivener on iPad

Scrivener on iPad is surprisingly powerful. It has everything I need, including chapter navigation, word count goals, notes and metadata, full-screen writing mode and, as I like it, minimal distractions with a very basic user interface.

I’ve written while commuting, while waiting for appointments, and even while standing in line (please don’t judge me). Having Scrivener on my iPad makes me feel like I’ve recaptured time I used to waste.

As someone who is currently going through a busy period in my life (parents, children, spouse, work, and more), and yet someone who enjoys writing and has writing-related goals I want to achieve, I highly recommend it!

Final Thoughts

Writing on the go wasn’t part of the original plan, but life happens! You never know when that job is going to come your way. Having a portable, synced writing setup has turned out to be a huge creative boost.

So yes, you’ll need to spend time doing your research on your preferred portable device, pay for both Scrivener versions, use Dropbox, spend time setting everything up and learning how to use Scrivener on a new operating system… but once it’s in place? It just works.

If you're trying to fit writing into a busy schedule or hoping to write more consistently, I highly recommend it.

Let me know if you’ve tried writing on the go, or if you’ve found other tools you love. I’m always up for more author hacks.

—Tracy
www.tracywrightbooks.com