diff --git a/src/app/workspace.rs b/src/app/workspace.rs
index 26c0773..3f53614 100644
--- a/src/app/workspace.rs
+++ b/src/app/workspace.rs
@@ -313,6 +313,27 @@ impl App {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    /// Whether `path` sits inside a folder configured to be left out of
+    /// export (`export_exclude_folders`), matched leniently at any depth —
+    /// e.g. a "Misc Scenes" dumping ground for scenes not yet placed in the
+    /// book. Unlike `hidden_folders`, this doesn't affect the file panel,
+    /// word counts or any other view: the folder stays fully visible and
+    /// editable, just left out of the exported document.
+    fn is_export_excluded(&self, path: &str) -> bool {
+        order::is_within_any(path, &self.config.export_exclude_folders)
+    }
+
+    /// The manuscript's files that actually belong in an export, in order,
+    /// paired with a fresh contiguous chapter index — so excluded files leave
+    /// no gaps in the chapter numbering.
+    pub(super) fn exported_files(&self) -> Vec<(usize, &String)> {
+        self.files
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|path| self.is_manuscript(path) && !self.is_export_excluded(path))
+            .enumerate()
+            .collect()
+    }
+
     /// Read every file and return its current on-disk word count.
     pub(super) fn snapshot_counts(&self) -> HashMap<String, usize> {
         self.files
@@ -1014,7 +1035,7 @@ impl App {
     fn collect_chapters(&self) -> Vec<Chapter> {
         let marker = self.config.draft_marker.clone();
         let pad_width = self.index_pad_width();
-        self.manuscript_files()
+        self.exported_files()
             .into_iter()
             .map(|(i, name)| {
                 let raw = std::fs::read_to_string(self.path_for(name)).unwrap_or_default();
@@ -1060,7 +1081,7 @@ impl App {
     /// below the draft marker is the Fountain.
     fn collect_bodies(&self) -> Vec<String> {
         let marker = self.config.draft_marker.clone();
-        self.manuscript_files()
+        self.exported_files()
             .into_iter()
             .map(|(_, name)| {
                 let raw = std::fs::read_to_string(self.path_for(name)).unwrap_or_default();
@@ -1123,7 +1144,7 @@ impl App {
         let marker = self.config.draft_marker.clone();
         let pad_width = self.index_pad_width();
         let mut chapters = Vec::new();
-        for (i, name) in self.manuscript_files() {
+        for (i, name) in self.exported_files() {
             let raw = std::fs::read_to_string(self.path_for(name)).unwrap_or_default();
             // Strip comments + the editorial header, and lift out any
             // `# Title:` / `# Slug:` metadata.
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index c2da6bd..1cc4b36 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// what the project already has, so `10-Archive` is found and reused.
     #[serde(default = "default_archive_folder")]
     pub archive_folder: String,
+    /// Folders left out of every export (ODT, master, screenplay) but not
+    /// otherwise hidden — still visible, editable and counted everywhere
+    /// else. Matched leniently at any depth inside the manuscript folder,
+    /// the same way `hidden_folders` matches. For scenes that are written
+    /// but not yet placed in the book.
+    #[serde(default = "default_export_exclude_folders")]
+    pub export_exclude_folders: Vec<String>,
     /// Manuscript title written into exported documents. Blank falls back to the
     /// project folder's name.
     #[serde(default)]
@@ -243,6 +250,12 @@ pub fn default_archive_folder() -> String {
     "10-Archive".to_string()
 }
 
+/// Folders excluded from export by default: the snowflake layout's dumping
+/// ground for scenes that are written but not yet placed in the book.
+pub fn default_export_exclude_folders() -> Vec<String> {
+    vec!["Misc Scenes".to_string()]
+}
+
 /// Default parent directory for new projects.
 pub fn default_projects_dir() -> PathBuf {
     dirs::document_dir().unwrap_or_else(|| {
@@ -352,6 +365,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             gitea_use_ssh: default_gitea_use_ssh(),
             hidden_folders: default_hidden_folders(),
             archive_folder: default_archive_folder(),
+            export_exclude_folders: default_export_exclude_folders(),
             manuscript_title: String::new(),
             manuscript_author: String::new(),
             manuscript_contact: String::new(),
@@ -621,6 +635,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(cfg.sprint_minutes, 25);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn config_without_the_export_exclude_field_still_loads() {
+        let old = r####"{
+            "workspace": "/home/writer/Manuscript",
+            "export_path": "/home/writer/Manuscript/book.odt"
+        }"####;
+        let cfg: Config = serde_json::from_str(old).expect("old config must still parse");
+        assert_eq!(cfg.export_exclude_folders, vec!["Misc Scenes".to_string()]);
+    }
+
     /// An explicit opt-out must survive a reload, the same way `gitea_use_ssh`
     /// being turned off has to (both default to `true`).
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/order.rs b/src/order.rs
index 23784a5..05e867c 100644
--- a/src/order.rs
+++ b/src/order.rs
@@ -146,6 +146,17 @@ pub fn is_within(path: &str, dir: &str) -> bool {
     dir.is_empty() || path.starts_with(dir) && path[dir.len()..].starts_with('/')
 }
 
+/// Whether `path` sits inside a folder named like one of `names`, matched
+/// leniently by [`dir_matches`], at *any* depth — not just as a direct
+/// child. Used for folders (like a "Misc Scenes" dumping ground) that can
+/// live nested anywhere under the manuscript folder.
+pub fn is_within_any(path: &str, names: &[String]) -> bool {
+    path.split('/')
+        .rev()
+        .skip(1) // the file name itself
+        .any(|component| names.iter().any(|n| dir_matches(component, n)))
+}
+
 /// Turn text typed into the new-file or rename box into a safe workspace-relative
 /// markdown path. `\\` becomes `/`, blank components and `.`/`..` are dropped so
 /// nothing can point outside the workspace, and a `.md` extension is ensured.
@@ -592,6 +603,31 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(dir_matches("2061", "2061"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn is_within_any_matches_at_any_depth() {
+        let names = vec!["Misc Scenes".to_string()];
+        assert!(is_within_any(
+            "05-First Draft/Misc Scenes/scene01.md",
+            &names
+        ));
+        // Nested deeper than a direct child still counts.
+        assert!(is_within_any(
+            "05-First Draft/Misc Scenes/sub/scene01.md",
+            &names
+        ));
+        // Matched leniently, same as `dir_matches`.
+        assert!(is_within_any("Misc Scenes/scene01.md", &names));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_within_any_does_not_match_the_file_itself_or_unrelated_folders() {
+        let names = vec!["Misc Scenes".to_string()];
+        // A file merely *named* "Misc Scenes.md" is not a folder match.
+        assert!(!is_within_any("05-First Draft/Misc Scenes.md", &names));
+        assert!(!is_within_any("05-First Draft/ch-01.md", &names));
+        assert!(!is_within_any("scene01.md", &names));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn hidden_folders_are_kept_out_of_the_scan() {
         let ws = scratch(