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Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The Best Novel Writing Software of 2023 (+ 5 Free Programs)

So, you’ve just started writing a novel — which means you’re figuring things out as you go. You probably have a flock of Google Docs to wrangle, you’re always scribbling on napkins, and you have no idea where anything is. Know what you need? Some good ol’ fashioned (well, more like new-fashioned) novel writing software.

Luckily for you, we’ve come up with this list of the best, most affordable pieces of novel writing software in 2023. All of these will help you stay organized and inspire you to keep writing until the very last page! You can jump to each review using the ToC on your left, but here's a quick rundown of these writing programs and how much they cost:

If you want to cut straight to the chase and find out which is the right writing app for you, we recommend taking this quick 30-second quiz.

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Otherwise, let's head for the reviews! In the spirit of thriftiness, we're starting with your free options.

Reedsy Book Editor

💰 Price tag: Free software ✅ Features: Format as you write, track changes, export files that are ready for instant distribution, choose between “classic” and “romance” themes

Though modesty should forbid us from crowing about the Reedsy Book Editor ( RBE ), we've seen first-hand how this writing app has totally changed how many authors write and publish their novels. While some writers like programs brimming with bells and whistles (tools to research, structure, and outline your book) and others prefer software that's free from those distractions, the Reedsy Book Editor offers a happy medium between these poles.

Definitely more than a blank piece of paper, the RBE's functions are super user-friendly and geared toward a single goal: creating a beautiful book. This is a production tool that typesets as you write , turning your manuscript into a fully-formatted book or ebook that can compete with traditionally published, professionally formatted books.

In "Writing Mode," you can insert chapter breaks, scene breaks, images, and endnotes. It comes with a spell-checker that offers an automatic proof as you write — and a goal reminder system that you can toggle on if you find that you're falling behind on your writing schedule! You can view previous versions of your manuscript, in case you removed a passage you now want to re-add. When you've completed your book on the RBE (congratulations!), you can export a distribution-ready EPUB or PDF file.

Learn more about using the Reedsy Book Editor 📖

💰 Price tag: Free software ✅ Features: Easily navigable dashboard, drag-and-drop chapters, collaborative editing, multiple layout preview options, publication setup

FastPencil is essentially Google Docs for the professional (or aspiring) author. This online platform cannot be downloaded and is therefore only usable if you have WiFi. However, its nonexistent price tag more-or-less makes up for the inconvenience of not being able to work on planes, outdoors, etc.

FastPencil’s simple, streamlined interface allows users to set up a writing project, invite collaborators, and communicate entirely through the app if they wish. Two people can also upload mutually accessible “Assets” for reference during the writing process, and devise “Tasks” for each other to complete. Remember PalmPilots and other personal digital assistants? FastPencil is like a 21st-century, writing-oriented version of that.

Once your book is done, you can preview it with distinct layout templates for different genres — such as “Business,” “Memoir,” and “Dragon” (designed for YA fiction). These templates are pretty basic, but they'll give you a solid idea of what your published book will look like.

Finally, you can export your manuscript under “Publication Setup.”

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💰 Price tag: Free software (Community Edition) ✅ Features: Overview screen for story “architecture,” separate section to construct characters, scene-by-scene word processing, distribution analysis for each story element

If you find most desktop writing programs unwieldy and overwhelming, then the minimalist interface of Bibisco might just solve all your problems. This is especially true if you're a plotter rather than a pantser , as Bibisco is that rare breed of free story planning software, with plenty of virtual outlines and notecards to help you out.

With the free “Community” version of Bibisco, you can navigate among six different screens to organize and expand upon the elements of your novel. The architecture screen (above) is perhaps the most unique part of this software, with notecards for your premise, setting, and fabula. Here you can create narrative threads and articulate how they connect to one another, then flesh them out using your “scene” notecards.

Indeed, the name of Bibisco's game is breaking down your work into bite-sized, manageable pieces. Of course, this approach may make it difficult to envision your manuscript as a whole , especially as you can only write scene-by-scene — a feature which may frustrate users who are accustomed to writing in one long, all-inclusive document.

Still, Bibisco is a good choice for any author who's tired of busy interfaces and wants to prioritize productivity. And if that sounds like you, don't miss out on this next piece of book writing software ...

💰 Price tag: free “basic” plan, $9.99/month for “premium,” $14.99/month for “business" ✅ Features: writing templates, web clipper function for easily storing research, the ability to sync across multiple devices

If only the process of writing a book involved just sitting down and going . Although sure, to an extent, this may be true. But most of us need to find the right way to capture and organize our ideas before our fingers start flying over the keyboard — or risk running out of steam. Evernote is great for the writer who needs to declutter a space (or their mind) before they can make real headway on a project.

Some of their great organizational features include their writing templates — some of which are user-created, and others are created by Evernote themselves. If you spot a chapter outline, a storyboard template, or character development profile you enjoy, you can save it and come back to it each time. The web clipper function is also popular amongst writers — especially for genres like sci-fi or historical — as you can use the clipper to save pertinent facts or articles you come across online, and save them right into your Evernote folders.

At its core, Evernote excels as a brainstorming tool. This is why its syncing ability is also key — if you're out and about, you can drop ideas into your Evernote app and continue working on them at a later point.

FocusWriter

💰 Price tag: Free software (you can tip, though!) ✅ Features: A beautiful blank page for you to write your novel

FocusWriter isn’t novel-specific software per se, but it will help you rocket-boost your productivity. And of course, it's completely, permanently free — no limited-time trial, no payment with a warranty, no “premium upgrade” — so you may as well try it out!

This software is exactly what it sounds like: it helps you laser-focus your efforts onto writing , and nothing else. You can still format your manuscript and check your word count and daily writing goals via offscreen tools, but the default state is simply a blank page. You can also use full-screen mode so the only thing you see is the page in front of you — just like writing IRL.

For authors who struggle to concentrate on their work more than anything else, FocusWriter is a dream come true. You might also consider combining it with app-blocking software, like the next entry on this list, to achieve maximum productivity.

And that rounds off our section on free writing software! Now let's get into your options for paid programs.

💰 Price tag: $6.99/month or $20/year, free 7-session trial ✅ Features: Website and app blocking, advance block scheduling, customizable block lists and whitelisting, optional “Locked Mode,” session history, syncing across devices

Writers who procrastinate uncontrollably, get ready for a game-changer: Freedom. This is by far our favorite time management software due to the crisp user interface, the thoughtfully designed features, and the crucial fact that it works — unlike that fickle mistress, human willpower.

Freedom allows you to block specific apps, sites, or the entire Web for any amount of time. You can schedule your blocks in advance and sync across all your devices, so you can't have a last-minute, Netflix-based change of heart. And if you're prone to mid-work moments of weakness, simply put Freedom in Locked Mode! This completely prevents you from disabling it until that time is up.

Yes, Freedom might be a difficult adjustment for someone unaccustomed to any kind of discipline, self-imposed or otherwise — but hey, we're writers. We all need a little tough love sometimes to get us going. In that sense, there's no novel writing software more effective than Freedom.

💰 Price tag: $44.99 license fee, free 30-day trial ✅ Features: Corkboard planner with virtual index cards, planning templates, integrated outlining system, customizable full-screen interface, split-screen function, import and export capabilities

Scrivener is one of the most storied (no pun intended) programs in use today. It markets itself as a “typewriter, ring-binder, and scrapbook all in one,” and comprises tons of helpful features . But perhaps Scrivener’s greatest benefit is the freedom it enables: with so many sections that you can arrange to your heart’s desire, the program lets you write however works best for you.

With Scrivener, you can do as much or as little planning as you want, so you don’t feel pressured to stay within certain constraints. You can shuffle your notes, outlines, and even chapters around wherever you need. It also has one of the most generous trial periods on offer — you can use it free for 30 days, but they don’t have to be consecutive. (When you do decide to pull the trigger, make sure to apply a discount !)

The only potential catch with Scrivener is that some authors might find it a little too liberating. It doesn’t provide much novel-specific instruction, as some other programs do. But it’s still an excellent organizational tool with a great interface. Whether or not you choose Scrivener just depends on how much guidance you feel you need.

💰 Price tag: $12.50/month or $119.88/year, free “basic” plan ✅ Features: Easy drag-and-drop interface, flexible notes board, "moodboard" for inspiration, web clipper to save research and inspiration from the Internet

As all authors know, writing isn't always linear, because thinking itself isn't linear. Too often, straight-laced writing apps can't match up to the messy, chaotic, and wonderful way in which writers brainstorm and develop their stories — especially when they're just starting to take shape.

That's where this software comes in! Milanote is a super-versatile app that allows you to organize your research, ideas, characters and outline in one single place. Its visual workspace lets you clearly connect your thoughts, create mind maps, and develop moodboards. And for those who really struggle to get started, Milanote's amazingly detailed templates (see above) could be just what you need to hit the ground running.

In other words, Milanote is ideal for the initial planning stages of your novel. Not to mention it's incredibly easy-to-use, so authors can concentrate on the important stuff — their writing — rather than trying to figure out all the complexities of the app.

💰 Price tag: $10/month or $100/year, free two-week trial ✅ Features: Flexible word processing, mechanical and stylistic notes, goal-setting and progress tracking, learning courses

When it comes to writing apps that really push you to improve, Novlr is pretty darn effective. A relative newcomer to the novel writing software scene, Novlr has been climbing the ranks since 2017, with constant improvements being made based on user feedback.

In terms of actual writing, Novlr features a clean word processor which users can customize as they please. For example, there's “Evening” mode for those who prefer a darker color scheme, and “Focus Mode” to help with concentration. Making even the smallest formatting change, such as font size, will automatically update the entire text — convenient for writers who like to keep their aesthetics fresh.

Then when it's time to edit, the Proof Reader function at the bottom of the screen offers suggestions re: punctuation, adverb use, passive voice, and more. And for authors hoping to boost their productivity as well as their prose, a quick trip to the Dashboard reveals tons of useful features: a place to set your writing goals, an analytics tab for progress, and so on.

The one thing Novlr noticeably lacks is templates for story elements like plot, characters, etc. This may be a dealbreaker for writers who require (or simply prefer) that kind of structural guidance. But for seasoned writers looking for a sophisticated, web-based writing tool — and who don't mind paying for access to it — Novlr could be just the program for you.

Or you can check out the Reedsy Book Editor — a sophisticated, web-based tool that's 100% FREE (and not just for two weeks, either).

💰 Price tag: $59.95 license fee, free demo (doesn’t save your work) ✅ Features: Chapter outlines, element sheets, editing tools including readability score and repetition finder, prompts and other tools for story inspiration

WriteItNow ’s no-frills design facilitates that all-too-elusive endeavor for authors: to simply write . Its interface is pretty basic, with a planning toolbar and a sidebar to keep track of the actual writing. But don’t let its minimalism deceive you: WriteItNow also offers a variety of unique resources, especially for editing your manuscript.

After you’ve written a chapter or two with WriteItNow, not only can you check things like spelling and word count, you can also run editorial “Critiques” via the Editor Tools tab. The program will point out any repetitive phrases, unnecessary “padding” words, and even clichés you might have used — helping you polish your writing in the same way a professional copy editor might.

Another one-of-a-kind feature in WriteItNow is the “Create Idea” function. You can select a character and type of idea — in a maneuver reminiscent of choosing personality traits on The Sims — and the program will spit out creative prompts for you to integrate!

This program may seem a bit on the pricey side, but the license fee does cover both Mac and PC. In any case, WriteItNow absolutely lives up to its name in terms of helping writers get their work done. (And as every veteran writer knows, you can’t put a price on that.)

For book formatting software, check out this post on Vellum .

💰 Price tag: $10/month for the “basic” plan, $30/month for “professional,” $80/month for “elite,” or $1 for a two-week trial ✅ Features: “Professional” plan entails genre filtering, an array of editing options for pacing, dialogue, “strong writing,” word choice, repetition, and direct comparisons to bestselling works

While other pieces of novel-writing software help you organize, develop, and even self-edit your story, they don’t include the in-depth editorial functions that AutoCrit does. This is the program to use if you already have a decent draft ready to edit. (Or if you’re a micromanaging kind of writer who likes to edit meticulously as you go.)

AutoCrit tests your work for all the factors above, and even individual elements within those factors. So for example, after selecting “word choice” as your focus area, AutoCrit allows you to narrow it down even more. Do you want to check for generic-sounding descriptions? Improve your sentence starters? Work on personal phrases? You can achieve all that and more with AutoCrit.

The program also boasts an appealing modern interface, and decent prices considering the range of editing possibilities. Some writers might be reluctant to shell out for an editing program — but those writers probably don't know how hard it is to self-edit . When you think of it that way, AutoCrit is an amazing service: it helps you edit your manuscript with the perspective of a professional, all by yourself.

💰 Price tag: $5.99/month or $49.99/year ($4.17/month) ✅ Features: Typewriter mode, themeable editor, distraction-free interface, ability to set writing goals, ability to sync between multiple devices.

Ulysses is lauded for its sleek, clean, "distraction-free" interface. Some reviewers claim that this writing app gives you just the right amount of customization options in terms of appearance — without offering so many different options that it tempts you away from the actual goal of writing.

It does, of course, offer up a number of different functions that will appeal to authors. For instance, you can set daily writing goals , and even keep tabs on your progress so you can see when there are dips or spikes in your productivity. You can also organize your file into various groupings — for instance, you can just have one group called 'Works in Progress,' or you can set multiple subgroups like 'Characters Names' within 'Fantasy Novel Ideas' within 'Works in Progress,' etc., etc.

At the end of the day, Ulysses is something of a digital typewriter. You will find various features that may help you along the way, but the software is built such that when you arrive to it, you get to work right away.

Remember...

No novel writing software is actually magic — that is, none of it is going to write your book for you. But with the right tools to lend you some focus, structure, and a dash of inspiration, you might just be able to get ‘er done all by yourself. 🙌

[updated: 08/10/2020 UTC]

Iain Wood says:

06/03/2019 – 14:51

You missed out wavemaker.. Https://wavemaker.co.uk

Comments are currently closed.

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You were made to create. Dabble was made to help you.

Don't let your word processor drag your process down.

Ironically enough, traditional word processors weren’t designed for writers. Dabble’s book-writing software was developed for writers, by a writer.

Avoid plot twists with online/offline backup.

We love a good horror story, but our software for book writing ensures you don’t experience one. Cloud and local storage work double-duty to make sure you never lose a word.

Rely on your writing tool.

We believe that an app for writing a book should be fully equipped to support you at every stage of the writing process – from plotting storylines and character development to your daily word count.

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Backup and sync to the cloud, seamlessly.

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Dabble is the best app for writing a book. Here’s why writers of all genres rely on Dabble to bring their story to life:

" I wanted to thank you again for providing the interface and functionality I wanted. Scrivener was too complex and syncing was fraught with peril. Novlr lost my stories. " Lorene

" i just want you to know how awesome i think dabble is. this is a really worthwhile app for any writer and while it is geared towards the novel would be useful for any long form writing. this is a fantastic product." jessica, "i just want to let you guys know that i am in love with my experience with dabble. i look forward to writing just to see my stuff laid out in front of me." anna, "dabble remains my new favorite thing. i spent last night trying out every browser-based novel-writing tool in existence. and i'm back here with dabble this morning. :)" doug, "so far it has been wonderful it motivates me to take things one step at a time with creating my first novel" mariah, "i love what you are doing and have already signed up to continue past the free trial. this product gives me so much flexibility and peace of mind. just knowing if my computer goes belly up that my work is safe is an enormous thing. so thank you and i can't wait for the goal tracker" terri, ready to dabble.

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The Best Novel Writing Software in 2023: A Comparison of Ten of the Most Popular Apps

There are many ways to write a novel – and I’m not talking planners and pantsers right now.

I’m talking about how you get the actual novel from your head and onto a sheet of paper (even if that’s a digital sheet of paper).

Some people swear by old school pen and paper, writing everything out longhand.

Others insist that all you need is Word.

But increasingly, writers are turning to specialised tools to help them write novels more efficiently and effectively, and in most cases, that means novel writing software.

‘Novel writing software’ is a bit of a nebulous term, and there are many aspects of novel writing that software could help with, for example:

To achieve these goals, many writers use software that isn’t necessarily designed for novel writing.

For example, Word isn’t designed specifically for novel writing, any more than a sheet of paper is created for writing a novel on. It can be used for non-fiction, recipes, shopping lists, essays – anything with words.

Nonetheless, it meets the vast majority of the requirements of writing a novel.

Likewise, other authors use productivity software such as Trello or Evernote to keep track of various details of their novels, such as subplot details, sections that need re-editing, historical research etc.

But in this article, we’re going to focus on comparing ten of the top programs which are purpose built for novelists. Designed with novel writing in mind from day one. All the programs detailed below include a word processor, as this is a basic minimum for writing a novel. Most have some features to help with plotting. Many of them have dedicated features for character development, goal setting and word count tracking. A few of them even include integrated guides to writing your first novel.

We’ll look at the strengths and weaknesses of each, taking into account how writers’ needs differ and making suggestions as to which software might be best for your specific requirements as a writer, including: budget; approach to writing (do you prefer to do a lot of planning or very little); platform (PC, Mac or Web-Based); collaboration requirements (many writers work together on the same novel, or others may wish to share their manuscript with their editor); mental processing style (e.g. visual, freeform, very structured, how much aesthetics matters); and whether the writer is looking for novel writing craft assistance as well as databases and tools.

The 10 Best Novel Writing Software Apps

The novel factory.

It will come as little surprise that we think the Novel Factory is the best writing software. That’s because we’ve spent the last ten years trying to work out what makes novel writing software great, and then building it.

Nonetheless, we are aware that writers’ needs vary, and that there are apps out there that are more established or have a different focus or a development team with different areas of expertise.

So we have genuinely done our best in this review to give an honest rundown of some of the best novel writing software options, analysing their strengths and weaknesses. But we’ll start with the one we know best.

The main strengths of Novel Factory are its intuitive, clean design and the wealth and detail of the novel writing resources.

As well as providing a word processor, features for creating plots and managing subplots, and areas for keeping notes on characters, locations and items – the software integrates what some have described as ‘an MA in writing’.

As well as the Roadmap, which is a step-by-step guide to writing a novel, it includes detailed character development questionnaires, world building guides and plot templates based on popular genres.

So it’s not just the car, but the engine and map as well.

The software has a section for setting your writing targets, and then automatically updates colour-coded graphs so you can track your progress towards them.

It also autosaves your manuscript and has version history, so you can access previous drafts of your writing.

And as the data is centrally stored, it’s easy for writers to collaborate on a single novel, always able to access the latest changes.

If we have to focus on the weaknesses of the Novel Factory, then we have to admit it’s not the cheapest option out there. Writers on a tight budget may not be able to stretch to $7.50 per month. We hate the idea of anyone being priced out, so we do run promos a few times a year which bring the price down, and we offer educational discounts and occasionally free licences on a hardship basis (get in touch with us for more info).

Is the Novel Factory the best novel writing software for me?

The Novel Factory is perfect for new writers, who want to learn their craft while writing their first novel.

It’s great for planners, who want to use established structures to make their story skeleton bullet-proof and develop complex characters with desires, flaws and internal conflicts.

It’s the right fit if you want somewhere to keep track of all supporting data, as well as writing the novel itself, and if you want options to work Online and Offline, as it suits you.

It’s good for visual learners, who appreciate being able to add a lot of images, who like to see how different aspects of the novel link together and who like everything clearly categorised and aesthetically appealing.

It’s less useful for writers who want something more freeform, or something where they can set up and rearrange the categories themselves. And discovery writers may prefer something a bit more streamlined and simple, as they may not need the additional sections for supporting data.

Click here to find out more about the features included in the Novel Factory 3.0, or click here for a free 30 day trial .

No novel writing software list would be complete without Scrivener – the Goliath of the writing software world.

Scrivener was one of the first apps to appear on the market, and is by far the most well-known program today.

The main strengths of Scrivener are its flexibility and richness of features. It has had a long time to mature, and take into account feedback from its huge community, so it is packed full of features, from index cards to name generators. It offers goal tracking, word counts and places to keep your notes.

Plus, because the community is so huge, you can take advantage of freely shared resources, such as character and plot templates.

Scrivener is very reasonably priced at £47, and is available for Mac, PC and even IOS (though the licences for each of these are sold separately), though there isn’t a web-based version.

The widely accepted main weakness of Scrivener is the other side of the coin of its strength – it’s complexity.

The ‘steep learning curve’ is cited by many as a real issue, and while there are dozens of courses to help you get to grips with the intricacies of the program, people who are trying to write a novel are usually already struggling to find enough time just to write their manuscript. And it’s quite a big ask to require someone to invest dozens of hours learning a program before they’re even sure it’s the right one for them.

Is Scrivener the best creative writing software for me?

Scrivener is a great app, with tons of fantastic features, and there’s a reason it’s used by so many writers.

As they state on their website, they, ‘won’t tell you how to write’, so this it’s best suited to an experienced novelist who has time to learn the features and work out how to use them to plan and write their novel.

It offers a lot of flexibility and customisation so, you can use the tools in lots of different ways, to suit your style.

But for a newer novelist, who is just learning their craft and might want a little more guidance, it can be a bit overwhelming, while not offering guidance on how to actually write a novel.

And having so many choices can also lead to decision paralysis, or not really knowing the best way to proceed, so it probably won’t suit people who are less comfortable with advanced technology and customisation.

Click here to find out more about Scrivener and get a free trial.

YWriter is another veteran piece of software which is widely respected and loved.

YWriter contains all the key features you’d expect from novel writing software, including clearly defined places to keep track of your characters , locations, scenes, chapters and somewhere to write your novel.

A big strength is that it allows you to link everything together and handily cross-reference, and it has lots of tools to keep track of your word counts and progress.

The main weakness of yWriter is that it’s not clear where to start when you first open it, and the word processor takes a while to find. Also, some sections of the interface are a bit primitive, requiring you to enter code syntax, rather than offering a proper graphic user interface where you can simply, click, drag and drop.

The characters, locations and tools tabs are all fairly straightforward, but the interface is all table-based, which can get a bit monotonous. While you can add images to characters, locations and items, they’re not displayed in the main interface for quick reference.

Like Scrivener, it doesn’t give you any guidance on how to actually write a novel.

Is yWriter the best free novel writing software for me?

While yWriter isn’t the most intuitive software to use, or the most fully featured, it has one major advantage which, for many writers, will rocket it above all the competitors.

That is that it is completely free.

For a free product, yWriter is quite phenomenal and it is extremely generous of the developer to give away such a great app with no charge at all. Of course, you can donate to help support future development, but even the suggested donations are only up to $24.95 as a one off.

So if you are looking for dedicated software to keep track of the key aspects of your novel but you’re on a tight budget, then yWriter is a fantastic option.

Click here to find out more about yWriter.

Fictionary is an online creative writing software that approaches the process from a different point of view. Instead of starting with an idea and helping the writer grow it into a full novel, Fictionary has a stronger focus on improving your manuscript after you’ve written it.

The main strength of Fictionary is its analytical capabilities once you import your manuscript. It can help you get an overarching view of your story arc.

It has an attractive interface and a sidebar with lots of useful prompts to help you think about various aspects of each scene.

The ‘Plot’ section of the sidebar gives useful prompts to encourage you to consider the type, role and goals of each scene.

Likewise, the ‘settings’ section offers useful prompts to help you think not only about the practical details of your setting, but also how it impacts the story.

The main weakness of Fictionary is that the data is only as good as what you enter, and the analysis relies a lot on your own understanding of story and character.

It offers a lot of numerical analysis and helps you identify tangible things such as chapters or scenes which are excessively long, or which contain excessive numbers of characters, but whether those things are actually an issue or not depends a lot on context and your own choices, and at the end of the day, the quality of a novel can’t be boiled down to statistics.

Also, everything is viewed by scenes, so you can’t get much of an overview of your plot, apart from the quite limited Story Arc.

Also, like Novlr, it doesn’t have much support for plot structure development or developing your characters, which isn’t that surprising, since its focus is on after you’ve written the novel. You can enter your characters, but the data is limited to name and whether that character is POV. You can’t add any further information, or images. You can add information about locations to each scene, but there’s no database of locations that stands alone.

It’s also the most expensive option on our list, at $20 per month or $200 per year.

Is Fictionary the best novel editing software for me?

Fictionary is useful if you’ve already written a manuscript and you want to analyse it to find out where the inconsistencies or weak areas are.

It’s great if you love obsessing over data, and it can help you think about aspects of scenes to make them stronger and more compelling.

It’s not very useful for new novelists who want to learn how to write their first novel, or for planners who are looking for tools to structure, outline and develop characters before writing their novel.

Click here to find out more about Fictionary and get a free trial.

Atticus is a newcomer to the market, created by established self-publishing marketing guru, Dave Chesson.

The key unique strength of Atticus is its formatting and publishing functions. As a self-published author, Dave rightly recognised that there were few options on the market that allowed you to easily ready your manuscript for self-publishing – and even fewer if you weren’t on a Mac.

Atticus allows you to easily select between various formatting styles, and export your novel to a ready-to-go ebook format for all the major self-publishing platforms.

In conjunction with that, Atticus includes dedicated spaces for front matter and back matter, and it allows you to set writing goals, and even select which days of the week you plan to write, which is a nice touch.

It works in a browser, and you can also download apps for Windows and Mac, making it one of the most cross-platform options out there.

It’s got a slick, attractive, highly intuitive interface. It even features a cute cartoon dog – what’s not to like?

The weakness of Atticus compared to other novel writing software, is that it doesn’t offer any areas for keeping track of characters or locations, managing your plot. Of course if you don’t need those features, then that’s not a problem at all.

It also doesn’t get into the business of teaching you how to write a novel, so if you’re a beginner looking for more craft guidance, you’ll need to find that info somewhere else.

It doesn’t offer any free trial, which could be quite off-putting to some people, and the price isn’t that cheap, at $147, though that is a one-off cost. Asking people to pay that much without having been able to poke at the software first demands quite a lot of trust, though there is a no-quibble 30 day money back guarantee.

Is Atticus the best novel formatting software for me?

Atticus is almost certainly the best option for actively self-publishing authors who have a reasonable budget available and prefer to just get on with writing their novels without doing a lot of additional work creating character profiles, locations sheets or planning documents.

It offers a clean interface for writing, and easy formatting and publishing to all the major platforms, something very few of the other options offer.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for more comprehensive novel writing software which includes features and functions to help you keep track of characters, manage your plot and subplots and give novel writing advice, then Atticus is not that sort of one-stop-shop.

Click here to check out Atticus.

Write It Now

Write it Now is a desktop based novel writing software app available for both Windows and Mac, with a wide range of features, but quite a cluttered, dated interface.

The main strength of Write It Now is the wide range of features it includes.

As well as having sections to keep your characters, locations, events, props, notes and research, it has some cool tools which are rare in other programs, such as character relationship charts.

There are some prompts and guidance with regards to characters, such as including their birth and death date, and their relationship to other characters, but ‘personality’ is limited to sliders on different personality traits, such as ‘health’ or ‘aggression’.

Another strength is that it includes places for front and back matter, and offers a wide range of export options.

By far the biggest weakness of the software is its interface. Balance, style and consistency are lacking and it’s cluttered with fussy icons. And while at the top level the sections are quite intuitive, many of the buttons within the sections are quite confusing and it’s unclear what the intent behind them is, even after you’ve clicked them.

Finally, it doesn’t appear to offer many overview options, so apart from the tree list on the left hand side, you can’t view all of your characters at a glance. There also doesn’t seem to be a way to get an overview of your plot structure.

Is Write It Now the best novel planning software for me?

Write It Now is good for writers who are comfortable with technology and like to have lots of detailed features and functions, and who want to be able to drill down into lots of detail, and customise the software to suit themselves. And who aren’t that fussed about aesthetics.

It’s also a good option for users who prefer Desktop software, as many of the novel writing apps out there now are solely web-based.

It’s not good for people who value an aesthetically pleasing, intuitive interface. It’s also not good for people who want to keep things simple.

It doesn’t include any guidance on how to write a novel, so it’s less useful for new novel writers.

Click here to check out Write It Now.

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a super-simple, free app to help writers focus and avoid distractions.

It’s biggest strength is exactly what it says – its focus. Its main objective is to minimise distractions, so you can get on with writing your novel.

It also has some customisation options, so you can change the background image to something you like and it’s available in multiple languages.

Its weakness is that it doesn’t offer anything else.

There is nowhere to keep track of any supporting information, such as that of characters, locations, items, research or notes. Of course, it doesn’t intend to offer those things, but if you want them – that’s a problem.

There’s no support on how to write a novel, and despite its simplicity, the interface still manages to look slightly dated.

Is FocusWriter the best novel writing software for me?

FocusWriter is perfect for authors who just want to get on and write a manuscript and not faff around with lots of planning and research. So it’s far better suited to discovery writers, rather than planners.

People who like to have a completely clear desk, and who find clutter impacts on their train of thought, will find FocusWriter the perfect solution.

If you’re looking for a more fully featured program, which will help keep track of supporting information, as well as the manuscript itself, then this is not the app for you.

Likewise, if you’re a new writer who wants a program that integrates guidance, templates and novel writing advice, then this is not a good option.

Click here to download FocusWriter.

Bibisco is a desktop based app with a clean, uncluttered layout and a good range of features.

It’s main strengths are the simplicity of its interface and the fact it has sections for all the major aspects of novel writing.

It’s nicely laid out, with the option to add images to things such as characters and locations. It has graphs to visualise things such as chapter lengths and character and object distribution. Another great feature is the character relationships tool.

It includes quite a few character development prompts, though how you fill them in is a little confusing at first, and it’s not possible to easily see all the information at a glance, you have to keep clicking to drill down, and then clicking to go back up to the top level again.

Another nice touch is the popup help boxes that appear as you move through the app, giving you extra hints and tips without making you grind to a halt to complete a lengthy tutorial.

The biggest weaknesses of the software are the fact that it has no free trial, and the lack of clear flow of overarching structure to the software.

This is one of the only programs that doesn’t offer a free trial. The price is very low (only $18, though you can pay more if you feel inclined to), so you could just take a punt on it, but it seems a big ask to require people to fork out before they’ve ever had a chance to take it for a test drive and see if it suits them.

The other issue is that it’s not always clear the best way to use the software. For many this is fine, as they’ll use it how they please – but if you’re looking for something that will guide you through the novel writing process, you’ll be disappointed.

Is Bibisco the best novel writing software for me?

If you’re looking for a low-cost desktop app to keep track of key information relating to your novel, then Bibisco is a great choice. It has a nice clean interface, contains all the key sections you could require with a few nice extras, and is very modestly priced.

However, if you’re a discovery writer who just wants to get writing, it’s unlikely to suit you, as the emphasis is on supporting data, rather than the manuscript. It actually takes a while to find the word processor.

And if you’re a planner looking for a way to shuffle around plot points and get a bird’s eye view of your structure, Bibisco doesn’t provide that.

It also isn’t designed for new writers who are looking for guidance on how to actually write their novel, as it doesn’t contain that sort of information.

Click here to find out more about Bibisco.

Wavemaker is a smart novel writing app which contains a range of useful features for novelists.

Like yWriter, it is a labour of love by a single developer who wanted to create software for his own writing, and like yWriter it is also available for free, with a gentle encouragement for you to donate money so he can spend more time on it.

It’s a progressive web app, which means it runs in a browser, but continues to work if you go offline, syncing as soon as it gets a connection back.

Our favourite Wavemaker strengths are its range of elegant planning features and its beautiful interface.

Wavemaker contains several different ways to plan your novel and gather your notes, each slightly different to take into account different ways of processing information, but allowing you to drag and drop items, and link ideas and notes in different ways.

It includes tagging, which can be very useful for cross-referencing and sorting, and it has a sidebar so you can view some of your notes while writing your manuscript.

It is very clean and pleasing to look at, and using the tools is very intuitive.

The main weakness of Wavemaker is that while it is a great selection of tools, they don’t integrate in any coherent way. You can’t enter info in one and then view it in one of the other sections to get a different perspective. There’s no flow, where you start in one section, then when that’s complete, move to the next. Then again, the freeform way will work better for many people.

Also, the tools mostly stop at the top level functionality, so they do what they say, but there’s not a lot more below the surface.

It doesn’t have any novel writing teaching resources, so people who are looking to write their first novel will need to find that information somewhere else, and there’s little in the way of prompts, to show you how to develop characters or settings, or structure a plot.

Is Wavemaker the best free novel writing software for me?

Wavemaker is great if you want a flexible, intuitive and aesthetically pleasing toolbox for working out the plot of your novel.

It will also be good for discovery writers who want a clean interface which works online and offline.

It’s less useful for new writers who are looking for writing craft guidance, or for those who like to see how all their data links together across the different sections.

Click here to check out Wavemaker.

Novlr is a web-based novel writing app with a beautiful interface, a bunch of great features and plenty of resources to help teach you how to write a novel.

One of the biggest strengths of Novlr is how attractive and pleasing it is to look at, with its slick layout. For some people, this may be considered unimportant compared to the features available, but for many of us a clear, uncluttered interface helps our thoughts flow more clearly.

It also offers spelling and grammar suggestions, in the same way Word does, which not many novel writing apps do.

It autosaves and creates a version history, which gives great peace of mind.

It includes word count info and even motivational messages when you achieve your goals.

One of its weaknesses is the price – it is among the higher priced apps at $100 per year.

Another potential weakness (though could be a strength, depending on your point of view), is that it doesn’t have any features relating to characters, plotting or locations. The focus of Novlr is solely on the manuscript, so any related research or development you want to do has to be done elsewhere.

Is Novlr the right story writing software for me?

Novlr is perfect for discovery writers (also known as pantsers), with its beautiful, clean interface, proofreading tools and version history.

It’s also good for new writers as, like the Novel Factory, it has an integrated course to help you write your novel.

It’s not so useful for writers who are looking for a more all round software, which will give them somewhere to keep track of their cast of characters, offer plotting tools and world building resources.

Click here to find out more about Novlr and get a free trial.

In summary – what is the best novel writing software for you? Our top three recommendations, for planners, pantsers, and those on a budget.

As we’ve seen, if you’re looking for novel writing software, you’re spoiled for choice. You can find software that will take care of all your supporting novel data, such as characters and locations, or you can find absolute minimalist apps to help you avoid distractions.

There is software that teaches you how to write a novel, and there’s software that gives you imaginative ways to view your data, such as index cards, mind maps and relationship charts.

Some of the software is perfect for discovery writers, while others are a dream come true for planners.

Some are aesthetically pleasing and calming to look at and use, while others prioritise highly customisable detail.

The right software for you will depend on your personal preferences and priorities, but here’s a summary of our top three favourites, for the most diverse requirements:

Here are our top recommendations:

Whatever your needs, we hope you find the tool that’s a perfect partner for your novel writing future!

If you’d like a free trial of the Novel Factory to see if it really lives up to what we say, you can do so here.

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Ten Helpful Fantasy Writing Tools For New Paranormal Authors

Are you ready to start writing a fantasy novel? Well, nothing is stopping you with these free fantasy writing tools.

It is a fantastic writing genre because you can let your imagination run totally free.

Another good reason is that fantasy stories are very popular with readers, especially young adults.

If you are eager and ready to go, you will need some apps to help you. Here are some of the essential fantasy writing tools to help you write an epic fantasy.

Creating your fantasy world

World-building is at the essence of fantasy literature. It applies to all fantasy genres, including sci-fi, paranormal, and urban fantasy.

Very often, world-building is at the heart of a book series. So getting it right is crucial.

You can read well-known authors of fantasy books. Try Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Jonathan Strange to see how they do it.

You need to create a fictional world that is realistic, believable, and at the same time, logical.

When you create your characters, they will need to fit within the context, geography, and culture.

Your imagination is at the heart of writing a fantasy novel.

But you have to bring all your ideas together to create a fantasy story that readers will find believable.

The best way to collect your ideas, and find new ones, is to use the best writing tools you can find.

Luckily for you, most of them are free.

10 Fantasy writing tools

1. your writing software.

The very first thing you should do is forget about using a word processor like Microsoft Word.

It is not up to all the tasks you will need to work with when you write your fantasy book.

You need to keep track of events, facts, relationships, locations, and the profiles of your characters .

This is why you should consider using one of the many free book writing software programs that you can find now.

You can look at LivingWriter, Shaxpir, yWriter, or the Reedsy book editor, which are free to use.

Or you might consider Scrivener.

It is not free but is one of the most popular programs for authors.

These programs and online apps will give you many more writing tools than what a word processor can offer you.

All of them will help you write a better story.

A mind mapping tool is a terrific way to bring your ideas together when you are outlining your story.

Coggle is the perfect tool for this and has a free version that works perfectly for authors.

You get three private diagrams with the free version, and you can download them in pdf or an image.

3. Deviant Art

When you want to visualize your fantasy world, Deviant Art is the perfect site for you.

You can search for images from thousands of talented artists.

There is a special section for characters and settings. It is perfect for writers to browse through fictional worlds and paranormal characters.

As a bonus, you might also find an artist who can help you design your book cover.

4. World Building

World Anvil is a great site and free resource for fantasy and paranormal authors.

With the free version, you get 25 world-building templates to get you started on your new fantasy novel.

It covers so many facets, including maps, buildings, languages, spells, and myths & legends.

The interactive maps are one of the most popular features of the site.

Take a look and see if it’s the perfect fit for you and your writing.

5. Pomodoro Timers

When you write, there will be times when the words fail to arrive.

It’s not necessarily writer’s block . It could be that you are tired and have been pushing yourself too hard.

A lot of writers use Pomodoro Timers to help overcome the problem.

With this app, you can set your writing time with breaks to keep yourself fresh and improve your writing productivity.

6. Plot Generator

If you are stumped for ideas for your plot, an online generation can sometimes help.

One of the best is the Reedsy Plot Generator . It claims to have one million plot combinations, so you should have no trouble finding one that suits you.

Then you can modify or change the idea to suit your story and your fantasy world.

You can also find a book title and character name generator from the same site.

7. Reverse Dictionary

Sometimes, you know you need a better word to express yourself perfectly. You can try a thesaurus, and even then, often, it doesn’t help you.

Well, you can try a reverse dictionary .

All you need to do is enter a phrase, and it will give you a lot of word suggestions.

It’s a handy little tool. You supply the definition, and the app gives you lots of words you can use.

8. Hemingway

Yes, it’s an app every writer uses. So it’s not going to help your fantasy creation.

But it will help you tidy up your writing as you go.

The Hemingway app is not suitable for a long manuscript. But it is extremely useful for doing a quick check of your daily writing output.

All you need to do is paste your text.

The app will immediately highlight your passive voice sentences and any overuse of adverbs. Then you can quickly correct your drafts.

9. Cliché Finder

Every writer falls into the trap of using overused expressions.

Cliché Finder can help you avoid the trap. It can quickly locate redundant expressions in your text.

Then you can get on with re-writing some expressions to improve your text.

It’s not fancy, but it does exactly what it says it can do.

10. Checking your manuscript

Writing a book is one thing.

But making sure that your writing is up to standard before you publish is another thing altogether.

The best way to polish your writing is to use a top-quality online writing checker.

From my experience, the best tool to use is Prowritingaid .

The one significant advantage for fantasy authors is that it has a custom dictionary.

This is a must for fantasy writing because you can add your specialized vocabulary for your places and character names.

There is a free version. But the modestly priced premium version comes with over twenty reports. With these, you can analyze your writing in so many ways.

You might not write the next Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, or Harry Potter.

But you have so many fantasy writing tools available now to help you write a fantasy novel.

Above all else, it will be your imagination that wins the day.

Fantasy writing is special.

But it is the one genre of fiction that needs an incredible amount of detail and planning.

When you read Patrick Rothfuss, Susanna Clarke, or Brandon Sanderson, you will know how much attention to detail you need.

The fantasy writing tools and apps in this article will help you.

But at the end of the day, it is about what is in your mind.

Then it is a matter of how you can find the right words to tell your story to readers.

Derek Haines

A Cambridge CELTA English teacher and author with a passion for writing and all forms of publishing. My days are spent writing and blogging, as well as testing and taming new technology.

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Love and lust, driven by ai, painlessly construct unique stories, thrilling tales, seductive romances, or just fool around. anything goes, what even is novelai.

NovelAI is a monthly subscription service for AI-assisted authorship, storytelling, virtual companionship, or simply a GPT powered sandbox for your imagination.

Our Artificial Intelligence algorithms create human-like writing based on your own, enabling anyone, regardless of ability, to produce quality literature. We offer unprecedented levels of freedom with our Natural Language Processing playground by using our own AI models, trained on real literature. The AI seamlessly adapts to your input, maintaining your perspective and style.

Visualize your favorite characters with Image Generation.

Use powerful image models to depict characters and moments from your stories, with the leading anime art ai and other ai models..

With a glazed stare, you watch and ponder what you see in the orb: random images from all around the world. You gaze into the globe and contemplate what these images mean to you. A forest, an ocean, a desert, a mountain range... you spend countless hours staring at the image, pondering its meaning.

> You sigh and rest your weary eyes for a moment, " Mayhaps a break is in order. "

The images in this orb are so strange and foreign that you can ' t help but feel a sense of awe at their beauty. Their colors and shapes speak to your soul and leave you feeling peaceful and refreshed. Your thoughts wander. What wonders await you when you look deeper?

Begin your (text) adventure here.

Open-ended not quite your style enable the text adventure module., customize the editor how you like., design this space for yourself with our theme editor. freely edit fonts, sizes, and the color scheme at any time., take your writing anywhere., whether you’re at home or on the go, novelai is always accessible to write something new., secure your writing., no one except you will be able to read your stories. every story stored on our servers is encrypted with xsalsa20 ., steer the ai down a new path., using ai modules, you can draw upon specific themes, replicate famous writers, or even train one with your own data., expand your story’s potential., our service keeps up to 2048 tokens of memory, in non-nerd speak, the ai remembers a lot., tweak the ai’s output the way you like it., take control of the ai with a plethora of options. keep things consistent, or maybe go a little more random., continue your old legacies here., import from aidcat or aidwi and revive those stories with a place to stay here., take control of your world., the lorebook is the place to keep track of your world and make sure that the ai obeys its rules., don’t just take our word for it..

Novel writing software for crafting your best stories

Manuscripts: the all-in-one novel writing toolkit.

World Anvil’s novel writing software is the very best place to keep everything together! During your novel writing process you can reference your whole world, and even edit it, from a single, sleek interface. Whether it’s fantasy novel writing, science fiction stories, historical fiction or any other rich setting, World Anvil is the very best novel writing toolset for you!

Novel planning has never been easier...

If you’re a novel planner or plotter, you’re going to love World Anvil’s novel planning world flow! Easily reference your plot as you write, and then track synopsis and plot beats as you expand. It’s easy to drag and drop scenes and chapters to reorder later, and we have more novel planning software coming soon too!

Showcase of World Anvil’s novel planning software features in their story writing toolset

Organise your characters, plots, timelines, and more!

All your story and novel world building more beautifully organized - does it sound like a dream? World Anvil is the perfect novel organizer software, allowing you to organize and search your world bible or series bible in moments! Quickly create, organize and edit your characters, countries, plots, family trees and timelines with World Anvil, and never lose a thing!

Publish your work for the world to see!

Ready to build an audience for your work? World Anvil’s advanced privacy settings allow you to make things private or public - OR something in between! You can keep all your first drafts and secret notes hidden, but show off the main things to hook new readers and keep your audience engaged! You can even reward superfans and customers with extra content. Learn more about our Marketing and Publication features here!

Examples of professional writers and authors who use world anvil to market their novels and books, and make money from writing using World Anvil!

Learn more about the Manuscripts novel writing software in our Quick Guide

Novel writing is just one aspect of the ever-expanding World Anvil toolset...

Our advanced novel writing software is just one of the features of World Anvil! Why not check out our worldbuilding templates , our interactive maps or our options for monetizing your writing, and boosting your creative career?

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World Anvil is the ULTIMATE writing toolset created for authors of all types of fiction

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BUILD YOUR WORLD

Build the complete, living world behind your writing! Track everything from character motivations and subplots to timelines and geography, and keep everything private whilst you work. Reference your world bible whenever you want to write or get inspired!

SHOWCASE YOUR IDEAS

Raise hype for your next release to boost its success! Your fans will be thrilled to explore the world you've created! You can share stunning character profiles, maps and timelines, and invite your fans to comment and get involved while they wait for the next installment!

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JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join a community of over 750,000 worldbuilders and solve problems together! Make friends with like-minded writers, and get inspired by author's interviews, community and competitions!

3 Best Worldbuilding Apps for RPG Gamers and Fantasy Writers

Whether you’re writing a fantasy novel or creating a role-playing game, worldbuilding can be overwhelming. It’s easy to think of cool ideas, but remembering them, exploring them, and tying them together can be a challenge. Luckily, there are tons of apps that can help you build amazing fantasy worlds for whatever purpose you need.

I’ve selected three of my favorite programs that will help whether you are a writer, a gamer, or both!

1. World Anvil

2. campfire, 3. one stop for writers.

World Anvil is an all-rounder, catering to tabletop gamers, writers, and other creators alike. This app is nothing short of impressive. If you plan on having lots of details, World Anvil is a great choice.

The program features templates for over 25 worldbuilding features, including religions, races and ethnicities, mythologies, spells, and even vehicles. The interactive maps are one of the coolest features, so you can say goodbye to your poorly drawn, handwritten maps on scratch paper. (Or is that just me?) There are interactive timelines and family trees, and all of these are linkable.

They have also added a manuscript feature for writing a novel or game campaigns. And they are set up to help you monetize your worldbuilding if game creation is a field you want to break into. What I love most about World Anvil is how professional it looks. It turns your own world into something that looks as nice as the D&D Player’s Handbook .

Janet and Dimitris from World Anvil joined us for ProWritingAid’s Fantasy Writer’s Week, where they took us on a full walkthrough of the software. You can catch the replay below:

There are four tiers, including a free tier. All the pricing options for the higher tiers are paid annually, but they are very affordable compared to other writing programs. If you’re a serious, detailed worldbuilder, check out World Anvil.

I’ll admit I was skeptical about Campfire’s app. The “pay for what you need” model had me unsure about the value. But I’m now using it, loving it, and spending less per month than any other writing program I’ve tried.

Campfire currently features seventeen modules and catalogues. These include a manuscript module, as well as maps, timelines, relationships, cultures, religions, species, and more. There is a limited free tier, or you can buy the modules monthly, annually, or lifetime. You buy only what you need. Right now, I’m working on historical fiction, so I don’t need modules like species or magic.

It's really affordable with the a la carte model. Each module ranges in price from $2.50 to $15 a year, with lifetime modules ranging from $7.50 to $45. If you choose a monthly payment option, some modules are as cheap as 25 cents a month!

Campfire is a powerful tool that is highly customizable. I can attest that they have great customer service if you have an issue. It’s a beautiful interface, and you can add as much or as little detail to each entry as you want. The character module even has a stats section if RPGs are your niche! The timeline feature is useful for plotting, and allows you to see what happens when in your novel at a glance.

However, there is a very steep learning curve. If you’ve got the time and the motivation, I think it’s a great platform.

Campfire’s focus is worldbuilding, so the manuscript function might not be the best option for novelists right now. I’m excited to see how it evolves as the company grows. Campfire now has three aspects to their company. Campfire Write is where you can find all those modules and catalogues. Campfire Learn is a hub full of educational resources for gamemasters and writers alike. Campfire Explore now allows you to share all or parts of your world and build a following. You’ll create a homepage and pick what you want to share with the world.

If I ever stop singing the praises of Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s writing app , there’s a good chance I’ve been bodysnatched. This is the one program I think every writer needs because you get access to all of the writing thesauruses. But what if you’re a gamemaster? Is it still worth it? I think it is.

The Worldbuilding Survey has templates for everything from solar systems and planets to villages and magical objects. Each template comes with a list of questions, and you can answer as many or as few as you want. You can also add your own questions to further customize your world. One Stop also features a simple timeline that you can use for plotting, historical events in your world, or any other way you want to use it.

The interface is fun and fully interactive. The screenshot below shows the idea generator—you open a drawer for a new prompt:

The Character Builder allows you to create a highly detailed profile of your characters, but you can also make it as simplistic as you want. You can upload photos of your characters, as well. Once you have your character built, you can download their profile as a PDF to have a character sheet right in front of you.

One Stop for Writers has a simple interface. If you don’t need as many visual aids like maps or family trees, it’s a great option. It’s also the app with the lowest learning curve. You can subscribe on a monthly, six-month, or yearly basis. For a more detailed review of the app, check out my blog post from last year.

What are your favorite worldbuilding apps? Let us know in the comments below.

Do you want to know how to build a world your readers won’t forget? Download this free book now:

World-Building 101: How to Construct an Unforgettable World for your Fantasy or Sci-Fi Story!

This guide is for all the writers out there who want to construct an unforgettable world that your readers can’t help but get lost in, learn how to invent species, gods, monsters, and more in our immersive guide..

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Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Krystal N. Craiker

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound. Check out [her website](https://krystalncraiker.com) or follow her on Instagram: @krystalncraikerauthor.

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Overwhelmed by book editing fictionary can help.

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I'm a writer just like you. I created Fictionary to solve my biggest writing challenge: how to edit my first draft and make sure I had a story readers would love.

Using my computer mathematics degree along with my experience as a bestselling author and years working as a professional editor, I developed the story editing software I wish I'd had.

Fictionary helps you write a great story, finish your novel, and get it into the hands of readers. I'll be with you all the way.

How does it work?

Easily upload your manuscript and let Fictionary go to work analyzing your story. A variety of visualizations will help you understand what's working and what needs more attention.

Then it's up to you. Get to work improving every scene using the 38 Fictionary Story Elements as your guide.

When your edit is complete, you'll have a powerful story ready to export and share with the world.

Cast of Characters

Fictionary automatically identifies your character names, links characters to scenes, and shows you where and when each character appears in your story. You’ll know immediately if your protagonist is getting enough page time.

Fictionary automatically creates your story arc by analyzing yout text for key plot points. This allows you to compare your structure and pacing to that of successful commercial fiction.

The story arc has been around for over 2,000 years. It’s a proven form that keeps readers engaged, but it’s not about being formulaic: the story and the imagination behind it are unique to you. A powerful story contains key plot events. To create a story readers love, these events must happen at the right time.

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Your Story Map captures every Story Element in one place. Use it to see common problem areas such as story flow, empty stages, POV goals, lack of tension and conflict, or confusing timelines.

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An Uncertain Faith

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Fictionary Author Success Stories

A comb of wishes is a beguiling fantasy novel that will engage, inspire and challenge its readers. - bookpage starred review.

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Book Writing Software (2023): Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers

by Joe Bunting | 20 comments

Writing a book is hard. I've written fifteen books and at some point during each one I had the thought, “There has to be a tool, a piece of book writing software, that would make it easier to reach my writing goals.”

Book Writing Software - Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers

The good news is there is book writing software that can make the writing process and meeting your daily goals easier!

(The better news is that once you've found the right software, we have the best resources to help you finish your book, like this book idea worksheet , which will get you started on your book in just a few minutes. Get your free copy here. )

In this article, we will cover the ten best pieces of software for writing a book and look at the pros and cons of each. Click the links below to get our review on the best writing software.

Best Writing Software: Contents

Worst Pieces of Software for Writing a Book

Before we discuss writing software that will help you write a beautiful book, it's important to understand (and eliminate) what will hurt your writing progress. At least while you're writing a book:

Video Games. Especially World of Warcraft (always, always, always!) but also Solitaire, Sudoku, Angry Birds, Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, and Wild Rift/League of Legends.

Set aside time for your writing every day and then stay focused. If you need a game, make writing your daily word count your game. If you want more “likes” on social media, imagine how great getting five-star reviews on your book will be.

If you need to check your bank balance several times a day, think about what your bank balance will be when you stop checking it constantly, finish your book, and become a successful author. Now let's talk about some book software for authors that can help you with your book writing process.

The 10 Best Pieces of Book Writing Software

First, there is no such thing as the perfect book writing software. No amount of key features or book writing templates or editing features will write a book for you. Still, these ten book writing software options can help. Take a look at the pros and cons of each:

1. Scrivener (Word Processor)

Scrivener is the premier book writing app made by writers for writers. Scrivener's “binder” view allows you to break up your book into chapters and sections and easily reorganize it with drag and drop interface.

You can also get a high-level view of your book using the corkboard and outliner modes, allowing you to view book chapters, sections, or individual scenes as index cards. Project targets let you create word count goals and then track your progress daily. Its composition mode can help you stay focused by removing all the clutter.

Scrivener has formatting features for publishing (e.g. on Amazon or Barnes & Noble), as well as basic features for distraction-free writing, and has templates for novels, nonfiction books, screenplays, and more.

You can read our full Scrivener review here .

To be fair, Scrivener also has its weaknesses. Formatting is more complicated than it needs to be and collaborating isn't easy, meaning it loses its effectiveness as soon as you bring on an editor (we recommend Google Docs for collaborating).

You can sync with your iPhone/iPad, but only through Dropbox, making it not as easy as it should be. It also has something of a learning curve, especially for its advanced features. But it more than makes up for that by being so helpful in the early stages of the writing process. Again, here are the pros and cons for Scrivener.

Pros of Scrivener:

Cons of Scrivener:

We believe in Scrivener so much, we published a book about how creative writers can write more faster using it. It’s called Scrivener Superpowers . If you’re using Scrivener or want a tutorial to save yourself time as you learn how to use it for your creative writing, you can get Scrivener Superpowers here . You can also learn more about how to use the software with one of these resources:

Cost: $49 for Windows, Mac

2. Google Docs (Word Processing)

While Scrivener is the best book writing software, once you get to editing and getting feedback, it begins to fall short. That's why Google Docs has become my second go-to piece of book writing software.

It's free, very easy to use, and requires no backups since everything is in the cloud.

Best of all are its collaboration abilities, which allow you to invite your editor to the document and then watch as they make changes, which are tracked in suggestion mode, and leave comments on your story (see screenshot below).

Google Sheets Editing: Best Book Writing Software

Cons of Google Docs:

Cost: Free!

3. Dabble (Word Processor)

Dabble Review: Best book writing software

Dabble has a plot grid that allows you to easily see a macro view of your story. You can rearrange as needed, find plot holes easily, and make notes on each plot point as detailed as you like.

Collaboration is easy. You simply add a co-author and they will be sent an invitation. They must also have a subscription or they will only be able to read the document.

You can insert images in any scene or note, or add title images to chapters or full page images within or between chapters. You can even set cover art for the manuscript.

Focus mode in Dabble is automatic. Simply start typing and everything else fades away. No need to worry about saving every few minutes either. Dabble is cloud-based and automatically saves as you go. You can access your manuscripts everywhere: in your browser, on your phone, or in the desktop app. As your writing, you can make notes and comments. Don’t want to type? You can dictate. And when you’re done writing, there’s a Read to Me feature that reads your manuscript to you!

Pros of Dabble:

Cons of Dabble:

Cost: Subscription plans range from $10/month to $20/month; Lifetime access cost is $499; 14-day free trial

4. Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheet)

If you’d told me when I was first trying to become a writer that one of my most-used tools in my book writing software toolkit would be a spreadsheet, I would have told you I didn't major in English to have to use a spreadsheet.

But now, as I'm finishing my fifteenth book, I realize that I use spreadsheets almost daily. Spreadsheets allow you to get a sense of the elements of your book at a glance, and when you're working on a 300-page document, distilling it down to useable information becomes very necessary.

You might use spreadsheets for:

Google Sheets is perfect for this because it's free and you can quickly share your documents with your writing partners, editors, or beta readers to get feedback. Microsoft Excel is another great option, but is a bit behind in the collaboration functions.

Pros of Google Sheets:

Cons of Google Sheets:

Cost for Google Sheets: Free!

If you have Excel already and love it, great. Cost for Microsoft Word: $69 / year (includes Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)

5. Vellum (Book Formatting/Word Processing)

If you want to turn your book into an eBook, it's not that hard. Scrivener, Word, Pages, they all can format eBooks and print books. But that doesn't mean they'll look good. In fact, it takes a lot of skill and effort to format a printed book that looks good on any of those word processors.

That's why I love Vellum so much.

Vellum makes beautiful books.

Vellum picks up where Scrivener, Word, and Pages leave off, giving you a tool to make great looking eBooks and print books, usually in under an hour. The most important part of this is the previewer (see the image below), which lets you see how each formatting change or book edit you make will appear on Kindle, Fire, iPhone, Nook, and other eReaders.

Vellum Previewer: Best Book Writing Software

It also has stripped-down, option-based formatting, which is perfect for designing both eBooks and print books. I really love this writing app!

Pros of Vellum:

Cons of Vellum:

Cost: $199 for eBook generation; $249 for paperback formatting

6. ProWritingAid (Grammar/Spell Check)

Can a grammar checker replace an editor?

Definitely not. But if you ask Alice Sudlow, our in-house editor, she'll tell you, “If you don’t have access to an editor (or if you do, but you don’t want to hire them to edit your emails or Facebook posts), software that performs grammar checks like ProWritingAid is an accessible, affordable alternative.”

If you struggle with grammar mistakes, sentence structure, spelling, or even writing style, ProWritingAid can help. It goes far beyond your built-in spellcheck. You should still learn grammar skills, but ProWritingAid can help you start to see the patterns and grow as a writer. There's a free version that's very good. It can even be installed into your browser or Word processor, so you can check your grammar wherever you write. The paid version, just $60 a year (less than half of what Grammarly costs), gives you additional support on sentence structure, style, and vocabulary. Learn more about how writers can get the most out of ProWritingAid here . Pros of ProWritingAid:

Cons of ProWritingAid:

Cost: Free! (Premium version is $60/year)

7. Publisher Rocket (Book Marketing App)

How do you know if your book will sell? Wouldn't it be nice to know if there is a market for your book before you start writing? How do you find the most readers on Amazon for your published book? For all of these questions, Publisher Rocket has an answer.

Read our full Publisher Rocket review here .

Publisher Rocket a book marketing research tool that helps you understand what readers actually want and how to connect with them with your books. Here are some things you can discover in Publisher Rocket:

Pros of Publisher Rocket:

Cons of Publisher Rocket:

Limited to book marketing

8. Atticus (Book Formatting/Word Processing)

Once you've written your book, how do you turn it into something people can actually read ? If you're self-publishing, you need a tool like Atticus.

Atticus is a book formatting and word processing tool that allows you to take your manuscript and quickly and easily format it for publishing, including print and eBook formats.

But Atticus is more that just a formatter. It's an all-in-one solution for writers, giving you the organization features of Scrivener, the cloud collaboration features of Google Docs, and the book formatting abilities of Vellum. Yes, that's just as cool as it sounds!

It also works on all platforms, whether you're working on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, or even Linux. While I still love and use Vellum (see below), the benefit of Atticus is that it works for everyone, not just Mac users. Learn more about Atticus in my full review. Pros of Atticus:

Cost: $147

9. Freedom (Productivity App)

One question writers always ask me is, “How can I stay focused enough to finish what I write?” I have too many thoughts on that for this article, but as far as using writing software to encourage focus goes, I recommend Freedom. It's my favorite writing tool for a distraction-free writing experience.

Freedom allows you to enter focus mode, blocking your biggest distractions, including both websites and mobile apps, for a set period of time. So when you mindlessly escape your book to scroll through Facebook, you'll find the site won't load.

You can also schedule recurring sessions, so that at a scheduled time (e.g. Mondays from 6 am to 10 am), you won’t be able to access the sites on your blocklist, even if you try.

There are other apps like this that we've written about before, notably Self-Control for Mac and StayFocused for Windows. But Freedom goes further, allowing you to block sites on both your computer and your phone, and enabling recurring sessions.

You can learn more about how writers can get the most out of Freedom on our review here .

Pros of Freedom:

Cons of Freedom:

Cost: $29 / year for Pro version, which I use and recommend (there's also a free trial available)

10. Microsoft Word (Word Processor)

Again: no piece of book writing software is going to write your book for you. If you're looking for the next “shiny new toy” to help you write your book, it might be an excuse to avoid doing the hard work of writing.

Most of us learned how to use computers by using Microsoft Word, or a program like it. Word gets the job done. Sure, Scrivener is a little better for books, but I wrote my first book on Word and it's fine.

I wrote a long review of the pros and cons of using Word to write books —the main problem is that as your document grows, it becomes more and more difficult to work with, whereas with Scrivener, it becomes easier—but the point is, if Word is what you have, don't let that stop you from finishing your book.

You don't need a fancy tool to plan a book in the early stages, like if you draft a character description for your protagonist, or in the editing stages, like if you want to make comments on scene details.

As Jeff Elkins said in his review of Word , “If you aren’t already putting in the hard work to be the kind of writer you want to be, it doesn’t matter what new writing software you invest in. It is not going to help.”

Pros of Word:

Cons of Word:

Cost: $69 / year from Amazon (includes Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)

Note: Another word processor we can't recommend is yWriter, which while it has a cult following and was designed by a fellow novelist, seems to be out of development and has no support for Mac/OSX.

BONUS #1: Google Drive OR Dropbox (Cloud Backup)

There's nothing worse that finishing a great writing session and going to save your work, then your computer crashes and you discover you've lost your best writing. It's enough to send any writer into the throes of grief and depression. There's a simple solution, though: save a copy of ALL your writing to the cloud using Google Drive, Dropbox, or BOTH.

Here's my process: I have all my Scrivener book files saved on a folder on Google Drive on my computer. Then, Scrivener automatically backs up every few minutes to a Dropbox folder. That way, I know I will always have the document I need, no matter what happens. Best of all, both of these apps have free plans, making it extremely foolish NOT to use them.

Pros of Drive:

Cons of Drive:

Cost: Free with Paid options

BONUS #2: iOS Notes OR Evernote OR Ulysses OR Bear (Note Taking)

When I'm writing for a long time, I like to get up and go for a walk. Sometimes, I wish I could continue writing while I walk. Other times, I find myself brainstorming ideas while I'm not at my computer, typing it up on my phone, and then wanting to easily move what I wrote to my laptop without having to go through the hassle of emailing it back and forth to myself.

That's where note taking apps like Ulysses and Evernote come in.

iOS Notes, Ulysses , Evernote , and Bear are note taking apps that allow you to sync between all your devices, so you have what you need wherever you are, ideal for jotting down ideas or thinking through your book while you're out and about.

While Scrivener recently released an iOS app which allows you to sync between devices, their process is clunky and requires you to purchase both the mobile and desktop apps. These note taking apps make the process much more seamless.

Like Scrivener, they all have a binder-like sidebar that allows you to move documents around. None of them are designed specifically for books, so they may take a little configuring to make it work for you, but once you have one set up the way you want, it's very intuitive.

And while I hate Markdown, a markup language that allows you to format your text, I actually like the paired-down formatting options Ulysses and Bear give, especially for brainstorming. Overall, I wouldn't convert from Scrivener to any of these apps, but as supplements, they work great.

Pros of Evernote:

Cons of Evernote:

iOS Notes Cost: Free with any iOS device

Get the app here »

Evernote Cost: Free with Paid options

Ulysses Cost: $45 Note: Ulysses is only available for Mac, either in the App Store or from their website.

Bear Cost: $1.49 monthly / $14.99 yearly Note: Bear is also only available for Mac, either in the App Store or from their website.

Bonus #3: Hemingway App (Style Checker)

Most writers think their sentences are easier to read than they are. You think you're coming across clearly, that your writing makes sense, but then someone reads it and comes away with something totally different. Hemingway App helps with that.

Hemingway App is a free website that checks readability. You can copy and paste your writing into the website's input box. Then it will grade your writing based on your used of adverbs , passive voice , and sentences as units . Hemingway App is useful, but even the best book writing software can’t replace a good editor.

Pros of Hemingway:

Fast, easy style advice

Cons of Hemingway:

Cost: Free!

Try out Hemingway App here »

All the Book Writing Software

The 30+ tools every writer needs.

30 Tools to Write, Publish, and Market Your Book

Writing is no different, and while the right software is important, it's just one of the many tools you need as a writer.

That's why we published a list of all of our favorite tools for everything related to being a writer.

You can download our tools for writers guide for free here .

The Most Essential Book Writing Software

Imagine it's three thousand years ago.

You're sitting around a campfire with some of your family and friends, tired from the day's work. You begin to tell a story. It's one you've told before, told a hundred times. You can see faces around the fire, the children with their eyes wide, the men and women who have heard the story before but still enjoy it because it brings meaning to their lives.

Storytellers—writers—have existed since the beginning of humanity. They didn’t always have book writing software. They didn't have the printing press or the internet. They didn't always even have the alphabet to write their stories down. Instead, storytellers had their imaginations, their voices, and a rapt audience. Y

ou don’t need book writing software to write a great story. Book writing software can make the process a little faster or easier, but the truth is great stories will always exist, no matter what kind of software we have.

The only three things essential to writing a great book:

That’s all you need. Do you want to write your book? If you do, then do it. Write it. Nothing is stopping you except you. So go get writing.

What pieces of book writing software do you use? Let us know in the comments .

The world is full of powerful software to help you write your book. In the end, though, all these tools are just that—tools. The stories you imagine and your discipline to put the words on the page are far more important.

So for this practice, set aside all the fancy software. Eliminate all the bells and whistles and open up your computer's native text editor (TextEdit for Mac or Notepad for Windows).

Take fifteen minutes to write without any distractions.

Continue your work in progress, or start a new story based on this prompt: A student discovers one of their teachers is not what they appear to be.

When you're done, share your writing practice in practice box below. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers in the comments !

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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Best Novel Writing Software

Squibler enables you to write, plot, organize and publish your story. Create a story that captivates readers.

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With Squibler, everything you need to draft, revise and finalize your writing project is in one place.

Edit your next novel with just a few clicks.

Squibler’s Editor mode simplifies the writing process, with advanced features to propel your book from concept to draft as quickly as possible. With goal-setting functionality, Squibler helps you stay on track and focused on your book writing endeavors.

Visualize your novel using the Corkboard View.

Squibler’s Corkboard mode allows you to create, modify and visualize sections of your book, use drag and drop simplicity.

Monitor and track the progress of your novel using List View.

With Squibler’s List View, you can set or refine chapter titles and synopsis, create new sections, change targeted words, monitor progress and track character development via element tracking. It’s your list, redefined.

Save time with better novel writing tools.

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Used by the world`s most innovative teams, writers, and ideators.

It makes it easy to break down my stories into chapters, scenes, and everything in between.

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I love the fact that I can view all the details to my characters and settings without opening another document.

Amelia B. Romance Author

The best design I found for an editor that balances simplicity with the ability to get the work done.

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Write anything. Publish anywhere.

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15 Best Book Writing Software Tools (2023 Guide)

BY Charity Jerop | Sep 10, 2020 | Writing , Reviews

On the hunt for the best book writing software for you?

Writing software can be hard to come by, especially since what might work best for you, doesn't necessarily work for someone else and vice versa.

Some might argue that the medium is not the issue – they'll tell you don't worry about fancy writing software, just start writing.

And while that may be true for some, in our experience with helping thousands of authors write and self-publish a book, we've found that every author has a tool that helps them organize their writing, and increase their productivity.

Software specifically designed to write a book can make your writing process more organized, efficient, and focused, ultimately allowing you to write your book faster .

We've compiled the best free writing software for beginners, but there are some paid tools included here that require some learning, too.

In this article, we’ll not only take a detailed look at the free writing software tools available to authors, but we’ll cover some paid tools, as well.

Here is the best book writing software:

Free Writing Software

Paid Writing Software

What is book writing software?

Book writing software is a program designed to streamline the book writing process using technology on a computer or other device. It is mainly a word processor with added benefits specifically for authors and novelists, such as book organization tools, story development features, and more.

There are many options for free book writing software, as well as paid writing software for all budgets and price points. Depending on your own needs as an author and writer, there are many book writing software to choose from.

Maybe you’re a writer that’s just getting started on how to write a book . Or maybe you’re a seasoned writer that’s researching how to become an author and you’re ready to commit to your practice with the best book writing software available.

No matter what type of writer you are, there is software designed to streamline your writing process. It’s just a matter of finding the perfect one to fit your needs!

Do you really need software to write a book?

We know what you’re thinking. All that’s needed to write is pen and paper.

In simple terms, yes – you don’t need a fancy writing tool to actually write. In fact, humans have been expressing their creativity and ideas through writing using the most basic tools available for centuries.

But every writer needs a medium, which is the tool that you use to write on or with. The efficiency and ease-of-use of the medium can affect the writer’s productivity.

Think about how easy a typewriter or keyboard makes it to type a 50,000 word novel; now, imagine having to write that many words by carving it on stone. See how the medium can affect your productivity as a writer?

Technology has made the writing process easier – there’s no doubt about that. But is writing software necessary?

I posed this exact question to a group of writers to see if they really use software. Based on their feedback, it’s clear that writers like you value these programs. Every writer has their preferred book writing software, and some use multiple writing software programs.

Take a look at some of the responses:

Best Writing Software User Feedback Screenshot

That's just a quick look at how many real-life writers actually use book writing software to improve their efficiency and organization.

So, the next time you're in need of gifts for writers , consider buying them a subscription to their favorite book writing software!

The pros to using book writing software

Of course you can write using whatever tools are available to you, but there are some important reasons to consider using special software for writing a book.

Writing is already hard – why make it even more difficult by not utilizing the tools that were designed to make the process easier?

When you make technology work for you and not against you, great things can come out of it – like that book you’ve been meaning to write!

Here are the main reasons to use book writing software:

1. Your book files are organized in one place. No need to have each book chapter file saved in various places throughout your desktop. Keep it clean and organized with book writing software. With most tools, you can even access files from anywhere, making it easy to pick up where you left off no matter where you are, or what time of day it is.

2. Special built-in features designed to make your writing life easier . The best writing software programs have built-in features that can prevent a ton of issues. For example, you can check for spelling and grammar mistakes on-the-go, which cuts down your editing time. Or use features like a plagiarism checker , which automatically highlights sections in your text that need citation.

3. The auto save feature will automatically save your work as you type. Losing your unsaved work due to unavoidable circumstances (like your power going out) is a thing of the past! Auto-save is a lifesaver when it comes to ensuring your book progress is continuously updated.

4. Prevent distractions so you can focus on writing. Some book writing tools have features to block you from unnecessary distractions. This ultimately helps you get done with your book in the shortest time possible, and helps you create a productive writing space .

5. Create a productive writing process. Once you learn the ins and outs of your book writing software, you’ll feel comfortable making it part of your writing process . Chances are, you won’t want to write without it!

Now that you know why it’s important to give book writing software a shot, let’s dive start with the free book writing software available. Then, we’ll move on to book writing software tools that offer paid versions.

As we go through the list, it is important for you to consider certain factors when choosing which writing tool is best for you.

There isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to writing. What works for one author, might not work for another author.

How to decide which book writing software is best for you:

Free book writing software for beginners

Before we dive in to the best paid book writing software, let’s take a look at some of the free options available to beginner writers.

We always recommend taking advantage of some of the free tools out there, so that you can get a feel for what you want to invest in. There are plenty of free book writing software for beginners to choose from, so try a few (or all!).

These free book writing tools have the basic essentials to provide you with the features you need, so that you can have more time for writing .

1 – Zoho Writer

Writer by Zoho , also known as Zoho Writer, is an online word processor that comes with special features to help you write from anywhere and at any time you want to. It is a cloud software, which means you can access it on all of your devices, no matter where you are.

Even better, Zoho has different templates for you to choose from, depending on what it is you need to write.

Benefits to using Zoho Writer as a free book writing software for beginners:

1 – It’s readily available . You do not need to sign up or log in to be able to use it. And to add, Zoho Writer is user-friendly and if you are part of a team of writers, you can work together and share the documents with each other using the share button at the top right corner.

Zoho Writing Software For Books Screenshot

2 – You can write offline, without internet access. To add, despite this software being on online writing tool, you can still write your way offline and have you're work synced to your account.

3 – You can use it across all devices. You can also use this book writing software across all the devices be it your phone, Tablet, or a PC. No need to worry about accessing your manuscript from the wrong device

2 – LibreOffice

Developed by the Document Foundation, LibreOffice is open source software that prides itself on being a free office suite. While it boasts other programs for spreadsheets and charts, Write is the name of its free word processor.

Benefits to using LibreOffice Writer as a free book writing software for beginners:

1 – It’s a robust one-stop-shop for writers. And it’s similar to Microsoft Word (which we’ll cover in our paid writing software section).

2 – It’s an effective word processing tool with helpful features for authors. It wasn’t only created for writers, but can be used by anyone who needs a word processor. At its core, it can be used as a powerful book writing software for authors. The autocorrect and spell checker tools allows you to catch grammar and spelling mistakes in the fly. It also supports other languages no need to worry if you want to write your book in your native language.

3 – It provides useful templates. LibreOffice includes readily available templates to choose from, that are properly formatted to meet your needs. All you need to do is add your text! Whether you want to write your resume, brochures, letters or your book, these templates can save you time and come in handy for clean, crisp formatting.

3 – Google Docs

Google Docs is by far the most common and widely used writing software, and this list of free book writing software tools wouldn’t be complete without mentioning it.

Google Docs is a word processing tool that comes with your Google account. If you have a Gmail account then you already have access to Google Docs.

Benefits to using Google Docs as a free book writing software for beginners:

1 – You can write and access it from anywhere. Like Zoho Writer, it’s a cloud platform, which means you can write anytime inspiration strikes. You can also use this book writing software when you’re offline and don’t have access to WiFi or internet.

Screenshot Of Google Docs Writing Software

2 – Your work is autosaved. Each time you key a letter, your Google Doc will save your progress. No need to worry about clicking the “save” button every time you add a new page in your book! You can also view revision history, in case you accidentally delete or change something that you want to restore.

3 – It’s easy to collaborate with a team, another writer, or an editor . Additional features streamline the collaboration process, such as sharing your work with others. Be it your co-author , editor, you are a click away. You can also use the track changes feature for the editing process, so you can see exactly what your editor has changed.

Note: A major downside to using Google Docs as your book writing software is that it does not support heavy formatting and outlining . Therefore, writing an entire book on this platform can be a bit challenging, but you can still use it for short stories , articles and note-keeping.

4 – FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a “simple, distraction-free writing environment.” If you struggle to stay focused and on task during your writing sessions, FocusWriter may be the solution for you.

Benefits to using FocusWriter as your free book writing software:

1 – Designed to be distraction-free. Like its name suggests, FocusWriter helps you zero in on your project by eliminating anything that could produce a distraction within the program with its hide-away interface.

2 – Timers and alarms. This is for my writers who love to write in sprints. Structure your writing sessions by planning and timing how long you'll write.

3 – Auto-save function. If you're a writer who struggles to remember saving your own work, FocusWriter has you covered with their auto-saves.

5 – Evernote

Evernote has both a free, and paid version. You can use the free version as a word processor and note-taking software, or pay for the premium version if you want extra perks.

While Evernote isn't designed specifically for books, the tool's organization makes it a feasible option as a book writing software.

Benefits to using Evernote as your free book writing software:

1 – Streamlines note-taking process. At it's core, Evernote is a writing software that's designed to make note-taking easy and efficient. This makes it a useful book writing software because the same note-taking organization principles can be integrated into the process of writing a book .

2 – Versatility makes for easy customization. While Evernote isn't designed for just authors and novelists, the versatility it brings to users with multiple uses for the program come in handy, especially for those writing a book. The ability to create notebooks, tags, and sort information, as well as robust AI-suggested content means that this book writing software is a power-house for personalization. With enough tweaks and adaptability, Evernote is a super versatile program that you can adjust to fit your needs best.

3 – A hub for your book research and inspiration. Anyone who is in the process of writing a book knows how often a random surge of inspiration, or piece of research , hits us as we write. Evernote is perfect for housing all of our inspirational quotes or research, without derailing our book writing efforts altogether.

Best paid book writing software

Now that we’ve covered the top free book writing software tools available, let’s move on to the paid book writing software.

If you're concerned about investing in a paid book writing software, then do as much research as you can on the product before you buy it. Also, consider the costs of your initial investment – will it pay for itself when you start earning book profits ?

6 – NovelPad

NovelPad is a novel-writing software developed for the way writers write.

Unlike other book writing software on the market that requires you to download a program to your computer, NovelPad can be accessed on any device with web access. If you want to try it out before committing, take advantage of the company's offer (not always running) of a 14-day free trial (no credit card required) .

Benefits to using NovelPad as your book writing software:

1 – Use it on any device, online or off . NovelPad is browser-based, so you can open your projects on any device. They also have offline mode, if you'd like to limit distractions by disabling web connection, or if you're writing on the go.

2 – Minimal, distraction-free design. The layout is simplistic and minimal, with limited distractions. The NovelPad team has stated that they only include features when and where writers require them, which leads to an incredibly intuitive, easy-to-use system.

3 – Chapters page . A popular NovelPad feature is the ability to have a bird's eye view of your entire project. You can use scene descriptions, color labels, and other organizational tools to know at a glance what's happening in each scene, then simply click and drag to reorder them. This is a big time save for longer projects!

4 – Customizable word count goal and tracker . Trying to hit a specific writing goal ? NovelPad has you covered. Instead of tracking your word count goal externally through a spreadsheet or other means, NovelPad allows you to set goals and tracks them for you. Set vacations and sprints, customize which days you'd like to write more or less, and let NovelPad do the math for you.

5 – ProWritingAid is included. That's right! Get a streamlined drafting software and stellar grammar check with one subscription.

7 – Ulysses

Ulysses is also another full-fledged book writing software specifically designed for Mac users. Whether you are a Sci-Fi writer or learning how to publish an eBook writer, Ulysses is an all in one software that allows you to focus on your main business – writing.

Ulysses Writing Software Focus And Productivity Features Screenshot

Benefits to using Ulysses Writer as your book writing software:

1 – Minimalist interface. Getting distracted while writing can hurt the flow of your creative juices pretty bad. Ulysses comes with a minimalistic interface to help you stay focused and productive.

2 – The customizable editor comes with special perks. You can choose to switch to typewriter mode. You can attach additional information from images, pdf, keywords, notes, and anything in between.

3 – You can publish directly to WordPress and Medium. Instead of having to copy and paste all of your text from your writing software into a website, you can simply publish directly to the site. This is especially helpful for authors that blog.

4 – You can share your writing in any file format you want. No more complicated conversion processes to be done outside of the book writing software!

Note : Ulysses is only available on Apple products at the time of writing.

Price: You have to pay for a subscription for you to enjoy its awesomeness.

8 – Hemingway App

Have you heard of Hemingway App yet? If you have, then chances are you know either love it or hate it. As the name suggests, Hemingway is a word processing app that is simple and easy to use, but is very visual.

Benefits to using Hemingway App as your book writing software:

1 – It comes with advanced editing and revising tools like the spell and grammar checker to help you come up with the finest writing piece. It uses different colors to highlight sentences/words that need restructuring.

2 – There is a helpful sidebar display that shows things like the readability level of your writing, as well as your overall word count.

3 – It has a free editor. Even if you don’t want to pay for the subscription, you can still use the free editing tool!

Note: We’ve all been advised to not edit as we write, especially when during the book writing process. Since Hemingway draws a lot of visual attention to errors, this could slow your writing down if you’re one to get distracted easily!

9 – Scrivener

Almost every modern book writer out there (regardless of the genre) swears by this powerful book writing software.

It's jam packed with features and tools to help you organize and write your book, but there is a learning curve to be aware of.

If you want to try Scrivener out, plan to take some tutorials before investing in this program to determine if it's really right for you.

And this is likely because Scrivener was specifically designed for writers.

Benefits to using Scrivener as your book writing software:

1 – Scrivener boasts a user-friendly drag and drops features available on its user interface. The outliner tool helps you work on your book while having an overview of what your chapter, a page or even the whole book would look like.

2 – Includes research tools for easy reference. The snapshot tool allows you to take snapshots that you want to view and reference later, without losing your train of thought.

3 – You can set writing targets. Setting targets can really boost your productivity game as a book writer. Scrivener has a target setting tool to help you set your own targets and work towards achieving them.

4 – Customizable organization with the binder tool. If you are the type of writer who likes working on an organized and well-planned piece, then Scrivener is your perfect match. The binder tool allows organizing your manuscript in files, sub-files, sub-sub- files and so on.

Note: While Scrivener is a super robust software for writing a book, you’ll most likely have to watch a few tutorials to learn how to master it. Check out our full review of Scrivener if you want a detailed look at what it does.

Price: The cost to purchase Scrivener varies depending on your device.

10 – FastPencil

This is also another writing software that can take your writing game a notch higher. With FastPencil , you can draft, edit, publish, and even sell your book through some of the best booksellers in the industry.

Benefits to using FastPencil as your book writing software:

1 – It’s an all in one software. Just like we mentioned above, you can use this writing software to not only write your book, but it also can include editing, publishing, and marketing services – depending on your needs and budget.

2 – It’s fairly easy to learn how to use. The software is pretty user-friendly, and there isn’t a high learning curve when you’re figuring out how it works.

3 – You can use it to write your book in an organized manner. Because it is designed specifically for book writers, there are tools to help you section off chapters.

4 – A variety of special features are included, such as being able to preview how your book will look live. Another handy tool is the chat tool, which makes collaboration with other writers and/or editors easy.

Price: FastPencil is available for free if you only want to use it as a word processing tool, but you can pay for access to more advanced features, as seen below:

11 – Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is one of the most common, and widely used word processors out there, because it’s pretty much the oldest one.

But even today, it remains a top contender as the book writing software preference for many authors.

Benefits to using Microsoft Word as your book writing software:

1 – It’s very user-friendly and many writers already have experience using it, whether they learned it in school or at work. While it’s an older program and has been updated numerous times, its function remains the same overall.

2 – The simple visual interface can create a distraction-free writing space. Other than the top toolbar, the rest of the window is reserved as your page, with ample room for your text.

3 – You can create and use templates. Because it’s so versatile, Word has many options for customizing the functions to meet your needs as you write your book. For example, you can use headers to create chapters or sections of your book.

Price: If your device doesn’t already include access to Microsoft Word, you can buy it; the price will vary depending on your needs and which package you want.

Bonus Writing Software Tools To Help You Write Your Book

We’ve covered eleven of the best free and paid writing softwares available for aspiring authors. But wait – there’s more!

While the last two writing tools we mention aren’t exactly word processing software programs, they are tools many authors find helpful to use in their writing practice.

12 – Grammarly

Grammarly is not just a writing tool but also an AI-powered program to help you write a clean, crisp book that’s free from common errors, such as grammar and spelling.

There is a free version available, but the paid version offers more advanced features like the plagiarism checker tool.

You can even add Grammarly as a Chrome Extension, so it can edit and revise any writing you do – from emails, to social media posts, and more!

13 – Freedom

When you’re writing from a computer or laptop, it’s easy to get distracted with the internet just one tab away – distracting you from your work , and preventing your book from actually getting written. This is where Freedom comes in.

Freedom helps you stay focused by blocking sites on the internet that might shift your attention.

14 – ProWritingAid

We cover all the nuts and bolts of this writing tool in our complete ProWritingAid review .

But for a quick summary, ProWritingAid is a tool that can be used with many book writing software programs, and is a robust tool that checks grammar, spelling, edits style, and offers a number of writing improvement insights based on AI-powered reports.

If you're looking for a tool to pair with your book writing software of choice, and are dedicated to improving your writing quality and style, then ProWritingAid will offer more than any standard spellchecker can.

Get ProWritingAid here .

15 – FocusWriter

A word processor that touts “distraction-free” features, this simple book writing software is designed to keep writer's focus on their writing.

Although it's not as high-tech as some of the other writing programs available, it's not meant to be. FocusWriter uses a hide-away interface with a customizable environment and autosave. It's not fancy, but it is useful! And really, the fancy programs are usually the ones that we get sidetracked with due to shiny object syndrome.

Download FocusWriter here.

So there you have it! The best writing software programs you can choose from to streamline your writing process, improve productivity, and get your book written faster.

Researching the different writing software and tools can be overwhelming, but remember: it’s important to pick programs that work for you.

What works for one writer, may not work for you! If you start using one software, then discover that it’s not right for you – that’s okay. You don’t have to commit to one writing tool if it’s hindering your productivity.

Once you find the perfect book writing software for YOU, the rest will fall in line.

What's your favorite book writing software?

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In a surprising development, Scribe Media, a company known for its book writing and publishing services, has ceased operations. This abrupt shutdown has left both clients and employees in a state of shock, raising numerous questions about the unexpected circumstances...

NOVEL WRITING SOFTWARE FOR AUTHORS

Do you have an idea but don't know where to start , did you begin to write but now you have the writer's block , are your characters flat and lifeless, are you spending a lot of time trying to organize your book's data scattered in multiple documents, are you struggling to set your writing goals and track your progress, with bibisco novel writing software , you can organize your work and finish your story it's the perfect tool to help you design, plan and write with confidence., what is bibisco, a comprehensive toolkit for writing your novel..

bibisco is the perfect companion for your novel writing journey .

bibisco provides all the features and tools you need to draft, refine, and share your story with ease.

With its distraction-free editor, comprehensive novel analysis, and world-building features, you can create a captivating story from start to finish.

All That You Need

Organize chapters and scenes, manage revisions, export novel in pdf, docx, epub. Write with a fully-featured text editor in distraction-free mode.

Organize Your Ideas

Create a novel structure, and define the premise, fabula, and narrative strands. Use mind maps to determine relations between story elements.

World-building

Design characters, locations, objects and setting for your story. Attach their images and keep an eye on them while writing.

Use bibisco’s world-building tool to bring your characters, locations and story’s setting to life and create an immersive experience for readers .

Timeline & Novel Analysis

Visualize your story in a timeline . Analyze chapters' length, the use of points of view, time and locations in which characters appear.

Writing Goals

Set your words goal, your words per day goal, and your deadline. Track the progress of your work over time.

Multiplatform & Multilanguage

bibisco is a desktop application available for Linux, macOS and Windows, in 15 languages .

It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does. William Faulkner

FOCUS ON CHARACTERS

Character development.

Novels only work if their characters are believable . Characters are believable when you can understand the complexity of their human nature : qualities, defects, and contradictions.

And a believable and effective character arc , the change or growth a character experiences throughout the story, makes a novel unforgettable.

bibisco is the writing software that assists authors in creating characters that readers will love.

bibisco is a novel writing software focused on characters

INSPIRATION IS NOT ENOUGH

Novel blueprint.

The idea of the novelist who writes guided only by the sacred fire of inspiration is quite naive.

Writing a novel is like building a house . Words are bricks, but putting one brick after another is not enough. If you build a house without a blueprint, it's bound to collapse.

bibisco gives you all the tools you need to be the architect and the carpenter of your novel.

Inspiration alone is not enough. You need to work. Paulo Coelho

Organization is the key to writing a successful book. Outline your plot, create character profiles, and keep track of all your research. J.K. Rowling

USER-FRIENDLY

Simplicity first.

A novel is a complex artwork, so writing software doesn’t have to be complicated.

With bibisco, you get all that a writer needs to write a novel without any steep learning curves .

Craft your characters, define the setting, design the plot, set your writing goals, organize chapters and more—all from one user-friendly platform .

Focus on grasping the structure of your novel, not the writing program you are using!

Get bibisco and Start Your Story!

We are not a big company. bibisco is an independent project made with love for writers to help them to write beautiful novels.

But also bibisco needs help. Become a supporter and get some special features !

Did you know?

More than 100,000 writers already downloaded bibisco!

bibisco has more than 1,000 ratings on Gumroad, with an average 4.5/5 stars!

Supporters Edition

bibisco is distributed by Gumroad, a trusted e-commerce platform located in USA.

bibisco has 2 versions: Community and Supporters

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the official bibisco documentation.

The bibisco official documentation is here .

Is there an official bibisco tutorial?

Yes. If you want to know all the features and the philosophy of bibisco, watch the bibisco official tutorial presented by its author, Andrea Feccomandi.

How do I install bibisco?

If you want to know how to install bibisco read here .

How do I update bibisco?

If you want to know how to update bibisco read here .

How do I upgrade bibisco from Community to Supporters Edition?

First things first. Projects created with bibisco Community Edition are fully compatible with projects created with bibisco Supporters Edition. If you want to know how to upgrade from Community Edition to Supporters Edition read here .

What are the operating systems supported by bibisco?

bibisco is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux. Only versions for 64bit architectures are available. If you're not sure that bibisco will work on your operating system, first try bibisco Community Edition.

What is the latest version of bibisco?

The latest version of bibisco is 3.0.2, take a look at release notes .

Under which license is bibisco released?

bibisco is licensed under the terms of GNU GPL License . But... can you sell free software? Read here .

Can I use bibisco on multiple computers?

Yes, you can.

Do I need different licences for each operating system?

No, you don't.

In which languages is bibisco available?

bibisco is available in Czech, Dutch, French, German, English, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian.

Is bibisco an Artificial Intelligence tool?

No. bibisco is not an Artificial Intelligence tool that will write the novel for you. bibisco will provide you with all the tools that can help you, but you will create the story with your work and talent.

Does bibisco impose a rigid way of working?

No. bibisco doesn't impose a particular way of working but instead provides a toolbox for writers to use in the way that best helps them create their stories.

What can I use to buy Bibisco Supporters Edition?

You can use Paypal or your credit card.

Does bibisco have a refund policy?

Yes. If you're not completely satisfied, bibisco Supporters Edition has a 30 days money-back guarantee; write to [email protected] and ask for a refund.

bibisco is a novel writing software written by Andrea Feccomandi

I'm Andrea Feccomandi, from Bologna, Italy.

Curious to know how the project idea came about? Take a look at the FOSDEM17 bibisco introduction!

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[VIDEO] Les Créateurs de Mondes, "Écrire votre roman / scénario avec Bibisco" , 17/12/2021

[VIDEO] Robert G. Forge, "Tout savoir sur Bibisco, logiciel d'écriture" , 16/11/2020

Apkmonk Blog, "Bibisco Review – Free Novel-Writing Software Features, Pros, and Cons" , 20/09/2022

Free Apps For Me, "Bibisco Software Review" , 20/09/2021

David Thompson (iTechPost.com), "How Bibisco Opens Up a New World for Aspiring Writers?" , 13/09/2021

Eric Griffith (PC Magazine UK), "The Best Free Software of 2020" , 02/07/2020

IT Michael (slbuddy.com), "Bibisco: Best Free Novel Writing Software to Create Your Story" , 05/06/2020

Matias Benítez (neoteo.com), "Bibisco: Completo software para escritores de novelas" , 24/10/2020

ShiwangiPeswani (TheWindowsClub), "Bibisco is a free Novel writing software for Windows PC" , 29/12/2020

Ruth Holloway (opensource.com), "Got the writing bug? An introduction to bibisco" , 16/06/2016

Alis Green, "Bibisco: uma ferramenta para escritores" , 20/07/2020

mittelrhein-text, "Einen Roman schreiben: 9 gute Gründe für die Autorensoftware Bibisco" , 23/05/2020

The Best Writing App for Authors and Screenwriters

Start your book, plot your screenplay, write your papers, organize your manuscripts, and export it for publishing - all in one place.

No Credit Card Required

LivingWriter provided just the right amount of guidance to keep me focused and in the zone when crafting the manuscript for my book. The tracking and stats were helpful and encouraging. I'm looking forward to finishing my series...

Eric Jason Martin - Author of the New Arcadia Series

Leaving your word processor in the dust

Organizing made simple.

Simple drag and drop organization for all your chapters, subchapters and elements.

Smart Text / Elements

LivingWriter stores your elements and suggests them as you type.

Plot Easier With Outlines

Organize your manuscript with time-tested outlines used by best-selling authors.

Organize and Plot Your Manuscripts Easily

Spend less time organizing and planning. Spend more time growing your ideas into books.

Drag and Drop

Order and reorder your chapters and elements without the hassle of copying and pasting.

On Screen Sidebar

Jot down your chapter notes quickly on the sidebar. Everything on one screen means never leaving your manuscript.

Get a god's-eye view of your writing. Intuitively drag and drop to plot and rearrange your manuscript.

Plot Quickly with Time-Tested Manuscript Outlines

We don't believe in reinventing the wheel, but we're fans of greasing it a bit. You can now use the same outlines used in world famous stories and movies right in LivingWriter. We'll lead you through each step with detailed.

No other writing app out there will do that for you.

The outlines include, the Three Act Structure, 27 Beat Chapter Plotting, The Hero's Journey, Dan Harmon's Story Circle, and many more!

No more moving files and text around to organize your manuscripts.

With the board feature, you get an intuitive, modern way to view your manuscript. Simply drag and drop anything inside the board to rearrange your book, change up your plot or just marvel at how much you've written so far.

Embracing the Dark Side

LivingWriter comes in both light and dark modes. You can easily switch between them with one click. This will come in handy when you're on a writing binge at night and your eyes start to hurt. You can keep using the best writing app in the world straight through to sunrise.

Smart Text and Auto-suggest

Store all your elements and LivingWriter will make them work for you. As you type a character name, location, etc. our editor will auto-suggest your elements. Clicking on your elements will allow you to quickly access notes and other info for each element.

You won't find this in any other fiction writing app!

Intuitive Writing Goals

Writing goals helps you create a vision for your manuscripts.

Visually seeing your goals will make a difference in your writing pace. There's no novel writing software that shows you your goals as beautifully as we do. Goals and deadlines can be motivating!

Chapter Goals

Manuscript goals, cloud based so your creativity doesn't have to stop.

Many writing apps out there don't link to the cloud, so you're stuck working on just one device.

But we know that writing novels online, and on any device is the future.

LivingWriter doesn't lock your imagination to one place. With completely iOS/Android apps completely synced, write wherever and whenever.

No need to hit " Save "

Even if your laptop decides to have a meltdown, rest assured that your work is safe

LivingWriter automatically saves every letter you type. Writing software that's cloud-based is the future!

Your work gets saved constantly, safely, into our Amazon Cloud Infrastructure and then we back it up for you every 10 minutes.

Get it all out there or Share it in pieces

You're midway through your thrilling murder mystery, but you get the feeling it's not suspenseful enough. Don't worry. LivingWriter is the only novel writing software with easy sharing and co-authoring features.

No Lagging , No Matter The Length

Other writing programs weren't meant to hold your 100,000 word masterpiece. You’d have to split your book up into separate docs to keep it from loading forever. With LivingWriter, each chapter and subchapter is self-contained, meaning a speedy load of your whole manuscript every time.

Seamless Imports Of Your Existing Work

Wrote half of your book already?

All good. Import your existing manuscripts from other programs with a couple of clicks, and see how much easier it is to finish your second half on LivingWriter.

If you're coming from other writing apps like Scrivener, don't worry. You'll be able to pick up on LivingWriter right where you left off.

You’ve Found The Best Writing App !

Your work is safe.

LivingWriter works on an infinitely scalable Amazon AWS structure. No downtime or data loss ever. We’re constantly backing up your data and holding to the industry standards of data security. This is online writing software done right.

Amazing Customer Service

Our staff are dedicated to improving your writing experience. Get in touch with us 24-7 to let us know how we can make your life easier. There is no online writing platform that caters to you like we do.

Constantly Evolving

We've got a roadmap, but we're also always implementing new features suggested directly by our loyal writers. We're dedicated to your success. Our goal is to be the best writing app for you.

Our Writers Love

LivingWriter feels like the iPhone of writing tools.

Casey Kerbs , Author of How To Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind

Writing software for fiction, non-fiction and beyond!

The best writing app for fiction

Most of our writers are spinning up fantasy, romance and science fiction stories. We've made it easy to get all your creativity and fictional elements into LivingWriter. No writing app does this better than we do.

The best writing app for non-fiction

When it comes to non-fiction we have templates for memoirs, biographies, self-help books and more. We've already had six (that we know about) self-help books published after being written on our platform!

Best writing app for world-builders

No other writing app or novel plotting software gives you the freedom that LivingWriter does. With our smart elements, beautiful board and intuitive organization, you can have your entire world built before putting down your first word.

Try Free For 14 Days

LivingWriter is free to start, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

IMAGES

How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Gets Read in 8 Steps [+Template
Novel Writing Software
How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Gets Read in 8 Steps [+Template
How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Gets Read in 8 Steps [+Template
10 Best Novel Writing Software Online in 2020
Novel Writing Software: 16 Best Novel Writing Software For Authors

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COMMENTS

Campfire
Fantasy Writing Software Software designed for fantasy writers, by fantasy writers. Organize the Adventure with Modules Create epic magic systems Design a magic system with the Magic Module, then use its guidebook to create potions, poultices, spells, prayers, enchantments, and whatever else you can imagine!
Novel Writing Software: 16 Best Novel Writing Software For Authors
#1 - AutoCrit AutoCrit is an automated editing tool aimed at fiction authors. The software works by analyzing real bestselling novels of different genres to come up with guidelines on aspects such as pacing, the number of adverbs, and if your word choices are cliched or not.
The Best Novel Writing Software of 2023 (+ 5 Free Programs)
Scrivener (story planning and word processor) — $44.99 Milanote (story planning and organizational tool) — $12.50/month Novlr (word processor and grammar/style editor) — $10/month WriteItNow (chapter planning and word processor) — $59.95 AutoCrit (advanced editing program) — $10/month Ulysses (story planning and word processor) — $5.99/month
Dabble Book Writing Software
Dabble Book Writing Software — Dabble Fiction writing, for real people. Write anywhere, anytime Online and offline Always autosaved Easily organized Focus mode and goal tracking Like Scrivener. Minus the Learning Curve. Start writing for free no credit card required See our best features Words written in Dabble: 1,377,179 Today 1,931,477,112
The Best Novel Writing Software in 2023 (Reviewed by a Novelist)
10 Mar 2022 Tools There are many ways to write a novel - and I'm not talking planners and pantsers right now. I'm talking about how you get the actual novel from your head and onto a sheet of paper (even if that's a digital sheet of paper). Some people swear by old school pen and paper, writing everything out longhand.
The Reedsy Book Editor: A FREE Online Writing Tool
The Reedsy Book Editor is a free online writing tool allowing any author to format and create professional ePub and print-ready files in seconds. The @ReedsyHQ Book Editor allows you to write, format, edit and export - for free! reedsy. Connect. reedsy marketplace. Assemble a team of pros.
10 Fantasy Writing Tools For New Paranormal Authors
1. Your writing software 2. Coggle 3. Deviant Art 4. World Building 5. Pomodoro Timers 6. Plot Generator 7. Reverse Dictionary 8. Hemingway 9. Cliché Finder 10. Checking your manuscript Summary Creating your fantasy world World-building is at the essence of fantasy literature.
NovelAI
NovelAI is a monthly subscription service for AI-assisted authorship, storytelling, virtual companionship, or simply a GPT powered sandbox for your imagination. Our Artificial Intelligence algorithms create human-like writing based on your own, enabling anyone, regardless of ability, to produce quality literature.
Novel Writing Software
Novel writing software for crafting your best stories Quick Guide to Manuscripts - the integrated Novel Writing Software on World Anvil! Watch on
3 Best Worldbuilding Apps for Your RPG or Fantasy Novel
1. World Anvil 2. Campfire 3. One Stop for Writers 1. World Anvil World Anvil is an all-rounder, catering to tabletop gamers, writers, and other creators alike. This app is nothing short of impressive. If you plan on having lots of details, World Anvil is a great choice.
Fictionary
Fictionary is for creative writers looking to improve the plot, characters, and settings of their stories. Our book editing software will help you enhance your story by automatically creating powerful visuals of your story arc, scenes and POVs. Then we'll guide you through your edit using the 38 Fictionary story elements, including hooks ...
Book Writing Software (2023): Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers
Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel Vellum ProWritingAid Publisher Rocket Atticus Freedom Microsoft Word Bonus: Note Taking Apps Bonus: Google Drive OR Dropbox Worst Pieces of Software for Writing a Book
AutoCrit: The #1 Choice for Fantasy Writers
Designed to take its editorial cues from the best fantasy novels, AutoCrit helps you craft writing worthy of legend. Whether you're looking at the genre as a whole, or for author specific comparisons, AutoCrit will tailor its recommendations to your needs - helping you to dodge cheesy cliches, compare your work against the best, and remove ...
Best Novel Writing Software in 2023
Save time with better novel writing tools. Squibler solves problems common and unique to every document. These are just a few. Track goals. Set chapter goals, daily goals and visualize your progress using our progress bar. With goal-setting functionality, you can manage milestones for your book.
15 Best Book Writing Software Tools (2023 Guide)
Book writing software is a program designed to streamline the book writing process using technology on a computer or other device. It is mainly a word processor with added benefits specifically for authors and novelists, such as book organization tools, story development features, and more.
bibisco: Best Novel Writing Software for Writers
bibisco is the perfect companion for your novel writing journey. bibisco provides all the features and tools you need to draft, refine, and share your story with ease. With its distraction-free editor, comprehensive novel analysis, and world-building features, you can create a captivating story from start to finish. WATCH VIDEO.
Plottr
Plottr is a visual outlining tool built for published and aspiring writers of all kinds - novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, academics, journalists, writing students, and beyond. Whether you're an outlining pro or your journey is just beginning, Plottr can help you visually (and creatively) build a plan to write your book!
The Best Novel Writing Software: Tools Every Fiction Writer Should Use
1. Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is one of the oldest word processors out there, and it is still widely used for writing books. Word has a lot of features to offer, and with a new suite of productivity features added regularly, this software makes writing more accessible to the average writer.
LivingWriter
LivingWriter is the only novel writing software with easy sharing and co-authoring features. With one click of a button share your whole book or individual chapters with your friends or an editor. Your notes for your chapters and elements can be shared as well. Share your manuscript for just viewing or allow editing.
12 Best Novel Writing Software to Help Write Your Dream Book [2023]
Writers frequently need help with laborious formatting. Novel writing software enables authors to spend more time and flexibility on story crafting by assisting them with the necessary formatting. These tools also provide you with effective and practical tools that may keep you on track and organized as you write.