Exporting Manuscripts

Export your manuscript in your chosen format. The wizard covers what to include, how it looks, and where to save it, with a live preview: a small sample that updates as you choose.

Opening the Export Wizard

In Manuscript Mode, click the Export button (an upward arrow) at the top of the page. If your window is narrow, click the three-dots icon (⋮) at the top-right and choose Export.

Choosing What to Export

• If you're viewing the full manuscript: choose which chapters to include.
• If you're inside a chapter or scene: choose what to export, from scene to whole manuscript.

Selecting Chapters

Pick which chapters to include; all are selected by default, showing title, word count, and a running total. In a Series, this lists only the current Book, exported separately as "Book N of <Series Name>".

Choosing a Format

• Word Document (.docx): opens in Word, Google Docs, and book formatting apps; the most versatile format for submissions.
• EPUB: the e-book format for Apple Books and most e-readers.
• PDF: draft-quality, read-only document for review.
• Markdown: plain text with formatting kept as simple symbols, like *italic* and **bold**.
• Plain Text: no formatting; works with any text editor.
• Rich Text (.rtf): for older word processors, or when a publisher or contest asks for .rtf files.
• Exporting to Scrivener: a Scrivener 3 project folder; chapters become folders, scenes become documents.
• Standard Submission Format: a Word document already set up the way literary agents expect: Times New Roman, double spacing, and a running header.

Formatting Options

A Scrivener Project export replaces most of this section with a short note: fonts, spacing, and the title page are set in Scrivener's Compile, leaving only Paragraph style (under Typography), since that decides each scene's first-line indent.

Title Page

Check Include title page, then set up:

• Title: defaults to your book's name.
• Subtitle: add one, then use Print subtitle on title page to include it.
• Author: your byline name (Penpoint remembers it).
• Show word count: prints your approximate word count, rounded to the nearest thousand.
• Contact Info: optional, for agent or contest submissions: a Contact name (your legal name, if different from your pen name; defaults to your Author name if blank, and vice versa) and a Contact block for address, phone, or email.

Title, subtitle, author, and contact details are shared by every format.

Running Header

For Word and Standard Submission Format exports, Add a running header prints your surname, a short title, and page number on every page but the title page. Header title and Your surname default to your title page's title and author name if blank.

Chapter Headings

Turn on Include chapter headers for a heading at each chapter's start, with three parts: Include "Chapter N" numbers, Include chapter titles (off leaves a bare "Chapter 1" with no title), and Include chapter subtitles.

Scene Breaks

Turn on "Include scene breaks" for a separator between scenes, with five styles:

• Spaced asterisks: * * *
• Standard manuscript: #
• Compact asterisks: ***
• Horizontal line: ---
• Blank line only: just extra space between scenes

Typography

• Font: "Match my writing font" follows your writing font. Word, Rich Text, and Standard Submission Format can pick Times New Roman, Georgia, or Courier New; PDF and EPUB always use your writing font. Markdown and Plain Text carry none: the opening app decides.
• Line spacing: Single, 1.5 lines, or Double (Word, PDF, Rich Text, and Standard Submission Format).
• Paragraph style: Indented (book style) or Spaced (digital).

Page Setup

For Word, PDF, Rich Text, and Standard Submission Format exports, choose a Paper size: Letter (8.5" x 11"), A4, or Trade (6" x 9"). Expand Margins & Indent to set margins. If Paragraph style is Indented, you can set First-line indent to Compact (0.25") or Standard manuscript (0.5").

Reset formatting to defaults, near the bottom, puts every setting and show/hide switch back to that format's defaults, without clearing anything you've typed or changing your paper size.

Reviewing and Exporting

Click "Export" (labeled with your format, like "Export DOCX") to save the file. Penpoint suggests a filename from your book, chapter, or scene title; if it exists, your save dialog asks before overwriting. Then click "Show in Folder" ("Open Folder" for Scrivener), or "Done" to close the wizard.