Are you tired of scrolling through endless documents trying to find that one scene you need to move? Struggling to see the big picture of your novel, screenplay, or article? Scrivener 3’s Corkboard View is your solution. It’s a visual organizer (like a storyboard) that lets you see your entire project at a glance and rearrange scenes with simple drag-and-drop.
In this comprehensive video tutorial, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Scrivener’s Corkboard View.
What is Scrivener’s Corkboard View?
The Corkboard View transforms your writing project into a visual representation using virtual index cards. Each scene, chapter, or section appears as an individual card that you can move, edit, and organize. Think of it as having a giant bulletin board where you can pin up and shuffle around index cards representing each part of your story (which some of us used to do!).
How to Access the Corkboard View
Getting started with the Corkboard View is simple:
- Click on a folder in the Binder (the left-hand sidebar of Scrivener), like a chapter, for example
- Look for the Corkboard View button at the top center of your screen—it looks like a group of index cards
- Click the button (it’s positioned next to the Scrivenings and Outliner view buttons)
The moment you click that button, your subdocuments will transform into virtual index cards, each displaying the document title and an optional synopsis.
Understanding Your Index Cards
Once you’re in Corkboard View, you’ll see that each card contains:
- Title: The name of your scene or document
- Synopsis: An optional summary of that scene, spread, or section
These cards are just a different way to view your content. You’re not changing the actual writing itself. Think of them as digital index cards that give you a bird’s-eye view of your project structure.
Editing Your Cards
Making changes to your cards is intuitive:
- Click the card title to rename it
- Click the synopsis area to add or edit your scene summary
- Alternatively, use the Inspector panel (blue “i” on the right side) to make edits
Learn about card editing (1:43)
Rearranging Scenes Like a Pro
Here’s where the Corkboard View is super helpful. Need to move a scene from the middle of your chapter to the beginning? No problem:
- Click and hold the card you want to move
- Drag it to its new position
- Drop it where you want it to go
The change happens instantly, not only in the Corkboard View but also in your Binder and actual manuscript. No more cutting and pasting paragraphs in your word processor!
Watch the drag-and-drop magic (2:22)
Pro Tip: Skip the Chapter Folders (At Least Initially)
Here’s a tip to make the Corkboard work more like a storyboard. Consider working without chapter folders during your initial writing and planning phases.
When your scenes, spreads, or article sections are nested inside chapter folders, those folders show up in the Corkboard view. I find that super annoying! But if you keep all your scenes directly in the main draft folder, you can:
- See your entire project on one corkboard
- Easily rearrange scenes across what will eventually become different chapters
- Get a better sense of your story’s overall flow and pacing, especially the timing of key plot points.
You can always organize scenes into chapter folders later when your structure is finalized.
See this organizational strategy (3:33)
Adding and Deleting Scene Cards
Managing your scene cards is straightforward:
To Add a New Scene Card:
- Click the + button in the bottom toolbar of the editor pane, or
- Right-click in the Corkboard area and choose “Add New Text” (or left-click for Mac)
To Delete a Scene Card:
- Right-click the card and select “Move to Trash” (or left-click for Mac)
- Drag the card directly to the Trash in your Binder
Customizing Your Corkboard Layout
Want to optimize your Corkboard View for your specific writing method? Scrivener offers plenty of customization options:
- Click the small grid icon in the lower-right corner of the Corkboard
- Adjust card size: Choose from different index card dimensions (3×5, 6×4, etc.)
- Change spacing: Increase or decrease the gaps between cards
- Set cards per row: Perfect for plotting methods like Save the Cat’s 40-card structure (4 rows of 10 cards each)
These customization options let you tailor the Corkboard to match your preferred plotting and planning methods.
Explore customization options (5:57)
Using the Inspector Panel for Detailed Scene Notes
The Inspector panel (the blue “i” icon in the top-right corner) gives you even more control over your scene organization:
- Detailed scene notes that don’t appear on the card itself
- Additional metadata for each scene
- Image attachments for visual references
- Status and label settings for color-coding your scenes
Click on any card, then use the Inspector to add comprehensive notes that will follow that scene whether you’re in Corkboard View or the regular editor.
Discover Inspector features (6:27)
Why Writers Love the Corkboard View
The Corkboard View can be really helpful as you try to get a handle on your story organization and flow. It helps you:
- Visualizes story structure at a glance
- Eliminates the need for cutting and pasting text
- Prevents you from losing your place during major reorganizations
- Works for any writing project: novels, screenplays, articles, picture books
Getting Started Today
Ready to transform your writing organization? Here’s your action plan:
- Open your current Scrivener project
- Click on your main draft folder
- Switch to Corkboard View
- Add synopses to your existing scenes
- Experiment with rearranging a few cards
- Watch the full tutorial for visual guidance
What’s Next?
Once you’ve mastered the Corkboard View, consider exploring Scrivener’s Outliner View for tracking progress and deadlines, or dive deeper into the Inspector panel’s advanced features for even more organizational power.
Watch the complete tutorial to see all these features in action, and don’t forget to subscribe for more Scrivener tips and tutorials.
Have you tried Scrivener’s Corkboard View? Share your experience and favorite organizational tips in the comments below!
