Scrivener's compile feature turns your manuscript into a formatted document ready for agents, publishers, or self-publishing platforms

Scrivener stores your novel as separate documents inside a project file, not as one continuous manuscript. When you finish writing, you use the Compile feature to merge all those pieces into a single formatted file — a Word document, PDF, or ebook format — with consistent fonts, spacing, chapter breaks, and page numbering. This is where Scrivener's organizational structure becomes practical: you can compile the same manuscript into different formats for different purposes without touching the original files.

The process has three main steps: organizing your manuscript structure so Scrivener knows where chapters begin and end, choosing your compile format, and adjusting settings for fonts, margins, and spacing. Most writers spend 20 to 45 minutes on their first compile; later ones take less time because you save your settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Scrivener's Compile feature converts your manuscript into a single formatted document by merging all your separate scene and chapter files.
  • You must assign document types (like "Chapter Heading" or "Scene") to your manuscript structure before compiling, so Scrivener knows where to add page breaks and formatting.
  • Built-in compile formats exist for common publishing routes — agents, self-publishing paperback, ebook — so you do not start from blank settings.
  • You can compile the same manuscript into multiple formats at once, so you can generate a Word version for agents and a PDF for yourself in one operation.

Set up your manuscript structure before you compile

Open your Scrivener project and look at the Binder on the left side — the list of all your documents. Your manuscript needs a clear hierarchy: a folder for each chapter, with scene documents inside it, or individual chapter documents if you write chapters as single files. Scrivener does not care which structure you use, but it needs to recognize where chapters begin so it can add page breaks and chapter numbers.

Click on your first chapter folder or document. In the Inspector panel on the right, find the Type field (it may say "Folder" or "Text"). Change it to "Chapter Heading" or "Chapter" — the exact name depends on your template, but look for something with "Chapter" in it. Do this for every chapter in your manuscript. If you have scene documents inside chapter folders, leave those as "Text" or "Scene" type. Scrivener uses these type assignments to know where to insert page breaks and explore different formatting to chapter titles versus body text.

If your manuscript has a title page, dedication, or foreword, create those as separate documents at the top of your Binder and assign them appropriate types like "Front Matter" or "Title Page". This tells Scrivener not to number them as chapters.

Open the Compile dialog and choose a format

Go to File menu, then click Compile. A large dialog opens showing compile format options on the left. Scrivener includes built-in formats for common publishing routes: "Novel - Standard Manuscript" for agents, "Novel - Ebook" for Amazon or other platforms, and "Novel - Print" for self-published paperbacks. Choose the one closest to your goal.

The dialog shows a preview of what your compiled document will look like. On the right side, you see tabs for different settings: Contents (which documents to include), Formatting (fonts and spacing), Page Settings (margins and page size), and Separators (what goes between chapters). Most of the time, the built-in format handles these correctly, and you only need to adjust them if you have specific requirements — like a particular font for an agent submission or specific margins for a print book.

Before you click Compile, check the Contents tab to make sure every chapter and scene is listed and checked. If you have notes, research documents, or character sheets in your Binder, uncheck those so they do not appear in your final manuscript.

Adjust formatting for your publishing route

Click the Formatting tab. You see a list of document types on the left (Chapter Heading, Text, Scene, etc.) and formatting options on the right. For a manuscript going to an agent, use a standard font like Times New Roman or Courier New, 12-point size, double-spaced. Click on "Text" in the list, then adjust the spacing and font in the preview area. Most agents specify these requirements in their submission guidelines, so match what they ask for.

For an ebook, fonts matter less because readers choose their own font on their device, but you still set a base font here. For a print book, you may want a smaller font (11-point) and single spacing to save pages. The Page Settings tab controls margins — agents usually want 1-inch margins all around, while print books vary by publisher.

The Separators tab controls what appears between chapters. Most novels have a page break before each chapter, sometimes with a blank line or a decorative symbol. The built-in formats include sensible defaults, so only change this if you want something specific.

Choose your output file format and compile

At the bottom of the Compile dialog, you see a dropdown menu labeled Format As. Your options are usually Word (.docx), PDF, RTF (rich text format), or ebook formats like EPUB or MOBI. For agent submissions, use Word format — agents expect to receive .docx files they can edit. For self-publishing on Amazon, use EPUB or MOBI. For your own reference or to send to beta readers, PDF works well.

You can compile to multiple formats in one operation. Click the dropdown, select Word, then click Compile. Scrivener asks where to save the file. Give it a clear name like "MyNovel_AgentSubmission.docx" or "MyNovel_Final.pdf". After it finishes, go back to the Compile dialog, change the format to PDF, and compile again to the same folder. Both files are now ready.

If you are self-publishing through a platform like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, check their formatting requirements before you compile. Some platforms have specific templates or settings you need to use. Amazon KDP, for example, accepts Word or EPUB files, but the margins and font sizes affect how the book looks in print.

Check your compiled document and fix common issues

Open the compiled file in Word, Adobe Reader, or your ebook reader. Read through the first chapter and the last chapter to spot problems. Common issues include: chapter numbers appearing when they should not, inconsistent spacing between paragraphs, scene breaks (like three asterisks) appearing in the wrong place, or headers and footers showing up unexpectedly.

Most of these problems come from document type assignments in the Binder. If a chapter title is formatted as body text instead of "Chapter Heading", it will not get the special formatting Scrivener applies to chapter titles. Go back to your Scrivener project, fix the type assignment, and compile again. You can compile as many times as you need — Scrivener does not change your original manuscript files.

If you need to make small edits to the compiled document — fixing a typo, adjusting spacing, or changing a word — do it in the compiled file, not in Scrivener. If you make changes in Scrivener and compile again, those edits to the compiled file will be lost. Keep the compiled file separate from your Scrivener project.

Save your compile settings for next time

After you get the formatting right, save your settings so you do not have to adjust them again. At the top of the Compile dialog, you see a dropdown that says something like "Novel - Standard Manuscript". Click the small gear icon next to it and select Save as New Format. Give it a name like "My Agent Submission" or "My Print Book". The next time you compile, this format appears in the list, and all your font, spacing, and margin choices are already set.

If you work on multiple novels, you can use the same saved format for each one. Scrivener stores these formats in your user settings, so they are available in any Scrivener project you open.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my chapter titles are not formatting correctly?

Check that your chapter title documents are assigned the "Chapter Heading" type in the Inspector. If they are assigned as "Text" or "Folder", Scrivener treats them like body text and does not explore chapter formatting. Change the type, then compile again.

Can I compile just part of my manuscript?

Yes. In the Contents tab of the Compile dialog, uncheck any chapters or scenes you want to exclude. This is useful for sending a sample to beta readers or testing your formatting on a few chapters before compiling the whole book.

How do I add page numbers to my compiled document?

Page numbers are usually added in the compiled file, not in Scrivener. Open your compiled Word document, go to Insert menu, click Page Numbers, and choose where you want them. For ebooks, page numbers are not necessary because readers do not see page breaks.

What is the difference between compiling to Word and PDF?

Word files can be edited after compilation, so agents and publishers prefer them. PDFs are locked and look the same on every device, so they are better for sharing a final version that should not be changed. Use Word for submissions, PDF for your own records.

Do I need to compile my manuscript every time I write a new scene?

No. Compile only when you are ready to share your manuscript or submit it somewhere. While you are writing, keep working in Scrivener. Compile at the end of each draft, or whenever you need a formatted version for a specific purpose.