I know that several of you use Scrivener to write long form novels, but did you know that Scrivener can also help you plot out a real time word count goals?
First, if you do not use Scrivener, it is well worth the $49 for the program. I have been using it for a year and it has more than helped me stay on track with my deadlines. If you do not have it, I highly recommend it. After you have downloaded Scrivener, it is easy to import Word documents right into the program and then divide it up into sections for a more versatile writing experience.
Go to Project –> Show Project Targets to produce a cool project word count progress bar that is fully editable. It tells you how many words you need to write per day to finish by your deadline, adapting even if you do not complete daily goals. For NaNoWriMo, set the due date at a date that you can comfortably have time for editing and then set the word count at 50,000.
Scrivener also automatically formats your document to meet NaNoWriMo standards. Select File –> Compile and then when the Compile screen pops up, next to Format As, click on the pull down window and select NaNoWriMo (obfuscated) to create a file formatted for the NaNoWriMo submission guidelines.
Writing Is Hard Work 
I love Scrivener, but posts like this get me tetchy as they’re obviously for the Mac version and I want to jump up and down and shake Scrivener and ask when are they going to do these cool little extras for the PC people?
That’s a good point. The Mac version is in many ways superior to the PC version.
Hi Roger! Just wanted to let you know that I’m an avid Scrivener user and connected to your blog through their Facebook link to this article. I’ve been browsing your blog this morning and enjoyed it so much I went ahead and bought the first book of This Broken Earth. Unfortunately, due to grad school my recreational reading time is limited, but I hope to get to it in the near future. Thanks!
Cool! Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the book. Please write a review when you finish.
On the Format As pull down window, you have to click Manage Compile Format Presets and select NaNoWriMo (obfuscated) on that list. Otherwise, it won’t show in the Format list. 🙂
Scrivener is also 20% off for all participants, and 50% off for all winners of NaNoWriMo…the codes are good until December 7 here: http://nanowrimo.org/en/offers