Unlike the Manuscripts in original Alan Wake, Alan Wake American Nightmare manuscript locations are easier to find. They show up as a question mark on your mini-map and give a bright glow making them easier to spot even from the far.
These are 53 manuscripts scattered through Alan Wake: American Nightmare, and finding them all will unlock ‘One Day I’ll Buy a Stapler’ achievement. Furthermore, you just need to pick these manuscripts, you don’t have to read them.
These manuscripts will unlock weapon boxes within the game and in arcade mode so they are always worth picking up.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 1, Act 1 – The Mechanic
Manuscript 1: Alan Wake, the Writer
You will find a gun and the torch at the beginning and the page can be found right after the first two takens.
Manuscript 2: The Splitter
Get on the back of the last truck on the right, and look for the page on the rock.
Manuscript 3: Pages & Instincts
Head towards the gas pumps. When you get closer to the fences, look around them and you will find the page.
Manuscript 4: The Devil is in the Details
Now head towards the yellow jeep and the railway. The page is on the right fence past the rails.
Manuscript 5: Rewriting Reality
Head right towards the far oil pumps and the page is on the rocks near the fence.
Manuscript 6: Hunting Mr. Scratch
Head towards the Diner in the motel. There is a big oil rig in the way, where you will find the page.
Manuscript 7: Too Many Legs
Head to the backyard of the diner and you will find the page in left side of the building.
Manuscript 8: The Satellite
Talk to the Emma in the garage and she will give you the page.
Manuscript 9: The Twisted Mirror
The page is in the motel room, next to the radio on the yard.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 1, Act 2 – The Mechanic
Manuscript 10: The Specter
The page is right in front of you in the canyons.
Manuscript 11: The Appearance of Mr. Scratch
After the narrow corridor, the page will be under the shack on your right.
Manuscript 12: My best friend
Before arriving the motel, there is a shack with a truck and the page is at the left side of the shack.
Manuscript 13: Emma Sloan
Head towards the diner and the page is right on the table as you enter.
Manuscript 14: Night Springs
The page is on the front part of the dismantled bus near the gas pump.
Manuscript 15: Night Springs Arizona
Head to the railroad and look around the fences. The manuscript is down there on the fence.
Manuscript 16: Wake’s Friend
Head to the room facing the road with the ice machine nearby. You will find the page there.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 1, Act 3 – Resolved Motel
Manuscript 17: Old Gods of Asgard
Look for the piece of wood after encountering an enemy. It is on your left.
Manuscript 18: Barry & the Old Gods
Reach the diner and the oil rig turns right again and reach the gate uphill. The page will be there on the pole.
Manuscript 19: Old Gods in the Studio
The page is right down the huge Motel sign when you get back to the Motel.
Manuscript 20: The Giant
Walk up the stairs to get to the pool. The page is there on a table.
Manuscript 21: Emma & Mr. Scratch
This is the last page of chapter 1 and Act 3 both, which can be found by the caravan.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 2, Act 1 – The Scientist
Manuscript 1: Success
When you enter the gate, look at the front of the fire truck.
Manuscript 2: The Genesis of Mr. Scratch
Get to the Deliveries Building and page is on the left, in front of the door.
Manuscript 3: The Spiders
Follow the road to the entrance and you will see a white container. The page is on its left.
Manuscript 4: Fighting the Taken
Get to the small parking lot and the page will be on the concrete traffic signal.
Manuscript 5: Pressure
Get back to the main entrance of observatory and look on the rock in the left.
Manuscript 6: New Reality, Fragment 1
Just follow the objectives and the story of this one.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 2, Act 2 – Progress
Manuscript 7: Dr. Meadows
Get past the gate on the left and you will see 3 cylinders. The page is behind them.
Manuscript 8: Cosmological Truths
Head to the Deliveries Building and the page will be on the same wooden box on your right.
Manuscript 9: The Darkness
Follow the path to the car. You will notice the page on the edge past the broken fence.
Manuscript 10: The Nature of Stories
Reach the entrance and you will see a truck. The page is inside of that.
Manuscript 11: The Taken
Proceed to the right side of the entrance and you will find the page on some boxes.
Manuscript 12: Lost in the Dark Place
Get to the smaller observatory building and you will find the page beyond the pipes.
Manuscript 13: New Reality, Fragment 2
Just like before, follow the given objectives.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 2, Act 3 – Completed
Manuscript 14: Everything is as Real as Everything Else
Head to the smaller observatory and the page is right before its parking lot.
Manuscript 15: Dr. Meadows & Mr. Scratch
Head to the Deliveries Building and you will find the page behind the sign.
Manuscript 16: New Reality
At the motel yard, you will find Emma in the garage; she will hand over the page.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 3, Act 1 – The Curator
Manuscript 1: The Grenadier
Reach the main theater sign and the page is right on its feet.
Manuscript 2: Bright Falls
The page is in the dumpster of the building which is appointed as your objective.
Manuscript 3: A Car in Flight
Head to the large parking zone and follow the short wall outside it. You will see the page soon on the rock ahead.
Manuscript 4: What Really Matters?
You will notice an orange wrecked car with flashing lights and opened trunk. The page is inside the trunk.
Manuscript 5: Alice
Reach the backyard and the page is right there is the shack.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 3, Act 2 – Relapse
Manuscript 6: The Dangers of Creation
Before entering the building, look for the page in the left of the stairs.
Manuscript 7: Equilibrium
Walk to the Souvenir’s shop and turn left towards the wooden panoramic valley railing. The page is right there.
Manuscript 8: The Doppel Ganger
Get down to the parking zone and you will find the page at the theater screen’s feet.
Manuscript 9: The Plan
Head South of the small concrete building and you will see a horde of rocks. The page is right there on the rocks.
Manuscript 10: Mr. Scratch’s Trap
Head South-west towards the windmill and you will find the page right there near the shacks.
Manuscript 11: Survival in the Dark Place
Head left in the generator’s building and you will find the page on a table once you get the way to turn right.
Manuscript 12: Serena Valdivia
Turn right once you get inside the building and you will find the page.
Manuscripts Locations Chapter 3, Act 3 – United
Manuscript 13: Serena & Mr. Scratch
The manuscript is past the parking lot on a rock.
Manuscript 14: Focusing the Beam
The page is next to the TV in the safe haven by the small building.
Manuscript 15: Alice’s Film
Turn left towards the yellow car with the flashing headlights and go west past it. You will find the page on a rock there.
Manuscript 16: The Clothes
Get outside the Drive-in and past the ticket booths. Turn right, go ahead and you will find the page on a cactus on your right
