The Write Practice

Book Writing Software (2024): Top 10 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

  • Google Docs
  • Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel
  • ProWritingAid
  • Publisher Rocket
  • Microsoft Word
  • Bonus: Note Taking Apps
  • Bonus: Google Drive OR Dropbox

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.

No World of Warcraft for Writers

  • Facebook, TikTok, and Other Social Media Software.  Do I really need to say more? Fortunately there's a piece of book writing software for avoiding this very distracting software (see Freedom below). You can't write a book if you spend you writing time publishing social media posts.
  • Other Productive Software Not Directly Associated With Your Writing.  Yes, it's good to reconcile your bank account on Quickbooks or make sure you're up to date on your calendar app, but responsible, well-meaning work can easily be an excuse for a quick distraction that turns into a major distraction from writing your book.

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 Deadline Week 3

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:

  • Easily manage a large book writing project (or screenplay) in the binder view
  • Get a high-level view of your book's structure using corkboard and outliner views
  • Manage your writing productivity with project targets and deadlines
  • iPhone and iPad app

Cons of Scrivener: 

  • Formatting can be overly complicated
  • Learning curve
  • ​Syncing with Dropbox isn't always easy
  • No Android app

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:

  • Scrivener Superpowers  by M.G. Herron
  • 3 Reasons I Love Scrivener
  • Microsoft Word vs. Scrivener

Cost: $59.99 for Windows, Mac

Scrivener  is the premier book writing app made by writers  for  writers. It's powerful set of tools allow you to write, organize, edit, and publish books.

  • Easily manage writing projects
  • Made by writers for writers
  • Corkboard and outliner views
  • Project targets and deadlines
  • iPhone and iPad app
  • Complicated formatting
  • Steep learning curve
  • ​Syncing isn't always easy

Scrivener

2. Dabble (Word Processor)

Similar to Scrivener, Dabble is a word processor that gives you the power to organize and rearrange scenes and chapters using drag and drop, manage your word count goals to keep to a deadline, and plot like a pro. (Screenshots seen here are in the optional dark mode.)

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. 

Dabble Review: Best book writing software

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 you're 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!

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

Dabble is a word processor designed specifically for books. It gives you the power to organize and rearrange scenes and chapters using drag and drop, manage your word count goals to keep to a deadline, and plot like a pro. 

  • Easy Learning Curve
  • Streamlined collaboration
  • Cloud-based syncing
  • Built-in Dictation
  • Easy Exporting
  • Word count targets and deadlines
  • Plotting tool
  • Subscription service
  • Lifetime access cost is high
  • Only simple formatting options

Dabble

3. Google Docs (Word Processing)

While Scrivener and Dabble are a great book  writing  software, once you get to editing and getting feedback, it begins to fall short. That's why Google Docs has become my go-to piece of book writing software for collaborating with editors, beta readers, and other writers.

It's free, 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

I also like the outline feature in the left sidebar. You can display it by clicking View > Show Outline. Then format the chapters and main sections of your manuscript as headings to make them appear in the document. You can then easily visualize and even click through your book to navigate it. This feature isn't as useful as Scrivener and Dabble's binder, but it makes navigating your book much easier.

While not the best for brainstorming, writing, or organizing your book, Google Docs, the free word processor available in Google Drive, is the single best word processor for collaborating with co-writers, beta readers, or editors.

  • Real-time collaboration with editors, beta readers, or other writers
  • Suggestion mode
  • Outline View
  • Few large-document organization features
  • No productivity features
  • Usually requires an internet connection

Google Docs

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:

  • Character tracking
  • Breakdown of scenes
  • A Foolscap/Beat sheet

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 Excel lacks the real-time editing with other users and is overall lacking in the collaboration functions. Still, if you already have Excel, it's a great way to quickly get started plotting your book or managing your project.

Google Sheets

  • Real-time Collaboration : Work with editors, beta readers, or co-authors in real-time.
  • Speed : It's fast and responsive, which is useful for quickly developing an outline or managing a project.
  • Cost-effective : It's so cost-effective it's free!
  • Handling External Spreadsheets : Managing spreadsheets from other sources like Excel can be annoying.
  • Internet Dependency : Although there's an offline mode, the overall experience is better with an internet connection.

Microsoft Excel

  • Familiar : If you already own or have used Microsoft Office, it should be familiar to you.
  • Advanced Feature : Excel is slightly more powerful than Google Sheets (although for most writing related tasks, you will likely not need advanced features).
  • Offline Access : Unlike Google Sheets, Excel doesn't require an internet connection, which is handy for working on-the-go.
  • Cost : Unlike Google Sheets which is free, Excel comes with a cost as part of the Microsoft 365 Office Suite.
  • Collaboration : Although Excel has collaborative features, they're more streamlined in Google Sheets.

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: Top Book Writing Software

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!

Vellum is a book formatting tool to quickly and easily create beautiful eBooks and print books, often within an hour. It features a book previewer which allows you to see how your book will look on various eReaders and in print, and offers a simplified, option-based formatting to format beautiful books faster.

  • Ease of Use: Easy to navigate and use, even for inexperienced writers.
  • Quick Formatting: The simplified, option-based formatting lets you create books in as little as an hour.
  • High-Quality Aesthetics: Delivers visually beautiful books.
  • Book Previewer Tool: View how your book will appear on various eReaders as you work.
  • Platform Limitation: Restricted to Mac users.
  • Style Restrictions: Limited design and styling options can be a drawback for some.
  • Cost: Higher price point compared to some other formatting software.

Vellum

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 $96 a year with our discount link (33 percent less than Grammarly ‘s price), gives you additional support on sentence structure, style, and vocabulary. Learn more about how writers can get the most out of ProWritingAid here .

ProWritingAid

  • Grammar and Style Correction: Gives "as-you-type" grammar corrections as well as comprehensive style analysis to help you write clearer, more engaging prose.
  • Writing Insights: You can learn a lot about your writing style with their detailed reports on readability, sentence structure, and more.
  • Integration: You can integrate it with nearly any other writing tool or word processor..
  • Subscription Cost: While more affordable than other options, there is a subscription cost for for full access.
  • Overwhelming Feedback: Not all the feedback is useful, and without knowledge of the book writing process, you may get distracted by the amount of feedback.
  • Internet Requirement: You must have an internet connection for most types of feedback.

Grammarly

  • Easy to Use: User-friendly design (slightly more easy to use than ProWritingAid in my opinion).
  • Spell-Check and Grammar Check: Detailed spelling and grammar check functionality.
  • Goal-Setting Feature: It can help you tailor suggestions based on writing goals.
  • Broad Integration: Works with many platforms (the Google Docs integration isn't very good though).
  • Cost: While the free plan is robust, the premium plan is more expensive compared to ProWritingAid.
  • Google Docs Integration: Lacks a fully functional integration.
  • Big Picture Feedback: Does not provide as much overarching edits and style-based feedback as ProWritingAid.

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 .

best novel writing software 2021

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:

  • What phrases Amazon buyers are actually searching for.
  • The psychology of how readers choose to buy books.
  • How much money readers are spending on certain niches and topics.
  • How much money specific books are making per month (for example, books that might be competing with yours).

I've personally used Publisher Rocket to take mid-list books to #1 bestseller status on Amazon. It's an amazing tool, perfect for anyone working on a book.

We also like KD Spy, another Amazon research tool (check out our review here ). You can compare and contrast the two tools below:

Publisher Rocket

  • Target Popular Keywords: Helps writers find specific phrases readers are using on Amazon to discover books.
  • Market Understanding: Offers a clear view of what books are competing with yours (and how many sales they make, historically).
  • Category Identification: Find the most relevant Amazon categories for your book.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on both PCs and Macs.
  • Learning Curve: May require some time and education to fully utilize all features.
  • Cost: One-time purchase required.
  • Amazon-Centric: Tailored for Amazon, may not be as effective for other platforms.

KDSpy

  • Amazon Category Research : Analyze Amazon book categories to understand competition and profitability.
  • Keyword Tools : Provides niche and seed keywords to help in market understanding.
  • Competition Snapshot : Ability to get an overview of your competitors.
  • Traffic Light System : Visual cues to understand keyword difficulty and category competitiveness.
  • Limited Keyword Data : Doesn't provide Amazon search numbers.
  • Browser Extension : Limited to browser usage, not a standalone software.
  • Basic Keyword Tools: Keyword functionalities are quite basic compared to Publisher Rocket.
  • Dependent on Amazon : Insights are tailored for Amazon, may not apply to other platforms.

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!

Atticus Home Screen

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.

  • All-in-One Solution : Combines writing and formatting capabilities seamlessly.
  • Multi-Platform Availability : Available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
  • Cost-Effective : Priced lower than some competitors like Vellum while offering similar capabilities

Cons: 

  • Learning Curve : While intuitive, mastering advanced features may require some time.
  • New Software : Being relatively new, it might have fewer features compared to established software, with some desired features planned for future updates.
  • Crude Formatting : Out of the box formatting options aren't as refined as Vellum and will require more tweaking.

Atticus is a complete book writing and formatting tool that merges the capabilities of an online word processor with plug-and-play book formatting features. It can function as a one-stop solution for authors, with collaboration tools between authors, editors, and book designers, to take your book from idea to finished, publishable product.

Atticus

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 .

Freedom is a productivity app that can help writers in stay focused by blocking distracting websites and mobile apps for a designated period or during specific schedules, like during your morning writing time.

  • Distraction Blocking : Helps you concentrate on writing by blocking distractions.
  • Scheduled Focus Sessions : Schedule your focus mode in advance for recurring undistracted writing sessions.
  • Mobile Device Syncing : Getting it working with mobile devices can be a bit challenging.
  • Bypass Possibility : It's possible to find ways around its blockers if one tries hard enough.

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.”

Microsoft Word is the industry standard word processing software. While limited in its features for writing books, it provides a familiar platform for writers to create, share, and review their work.

  • Familiar Interface : Known and used by many, making collaboration easier.
  • Extensive Features : Provides a wide range of writing and formatting tools.
  • Cost : Requires a subscription to Microsoft 365.
  • Lack of Book Writing Features : Despite its extensive feature set, it lacks specialized tools for book writing included with applications like Scrivener or Dabble.
  • Lack of Real-Time Collaboration : While it offers some collaboration features, it falls short in real-time collaborative editing compared to some cloud-native applications like Google Docs.

Cost: $69 / year with Microsoft 365 (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:

  • Universal cloud backup
  • Automatically syncs
  • Free or inexpensive

Cons of Drive:

  • Setup is a bit tricky the first time
  • Maybe you WANT to lose your writing when your computer crashes

Cost: Free with Paid options

Sign up for Google Drive here »

Sign up for Dropbox here »

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.

Ulysses Book Writing Software

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:

  • Sync notes between devices
  • Write as you go
  • Capture ideas

Cons of Evernote:

  • Free plan is limited
  • Becomes clunky as you get more notes
  • Better for note taking than managing a large writing project

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 (sometimes called Hemingway Editor) helps with that.

Hemingway App Purple Prose

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:

  • Somewhat arbitrary advice
  • Hemingway himself would fail

Cost: Free!

Try out Hemingway App here »

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:

  • Your imagination
  • A desire to tell your story

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 the Pro Practice Workshop . And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

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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).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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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 .

Scrivener Novel Writing Software

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.

best novel writing software 2021

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 Novel Editing Software

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 Novel Writing Software

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

WriteItNow Novel Writing Software

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

Focus Writer Novel Writing App

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 Novel Writing Software

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.

Wavemaler Novel Writing Software

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 Novel Writing Software

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. You may also want to consider using Papertyper, a free AI essay writer tool that can help you organize your thoughts and ideas. This is also worth your attention.

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:

  • Best all round novel writing software: The Novel Factory
  • Best minimalist writing software: FocusWriter
  • Best free novel writing software: Wavemaker

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

Unlock your writing potential

If you liked this article by the Novel Factory, then why not try the Novel Factory app for writers?

It includes:

  • Plot Templates
  • Character Questionnaires
  • Writing Guides
  • Drag & Drop Plotting Tools
  • World Building resources
  • Much, much more

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Best Book Writing Software: Top Tools for Writing a Novel

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Hannah Yang

book writing software

Table of Contents

10 top features to look for in book writing software, best book writing software for writers.

I’ve been on an epic quest for the last few years to find the perfect book writing software. 

By now, I’ve tried well over a dozen different novel writing apps . My writing friends laugh and urge me to commit. But I want the best book writing software possible.

One person’s perfect writing app might be another person’s technology nightmare, so I’ve rounded up several options for you to choose from. I’ve also outlined the features I look for when choosing a great book writing app.

What makes a book writing software great? It needs to check several boxes. Here are the ten criteria I consider when choosing a novel app.

1. Online and Offline Capabilities

Sometimes, you need to write on a browser. Other times, you may want to write in a cabin in the woods. A great writing app will allow you to do both.

An app that only has an offline desktop version for one or two devices won’t help you if you’re writing at a library or borrowing a computer. On the other hand, apps that only work with an internet connection will leave you frustrated when the network is down or you’re writing on a cruise ship with a drink in your hand.

So, look for a book writing program that has online and offline capabilities.

You can also look for apps that have mobile versions. This way, you can add a scene on the go with your phone or tablet, and it will sync the next time you’re on your computer.

best novel writing software 2021

Be confident about grammar

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

2. Easy Organization

What makes a book writing software different from a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs?

You need the ability to quickly organize your scenes and chapters so you can navigate through your manuscript and easily format for a query or for publishing. You can also write nonlinearly if you prefer to skip scenes while you draft.

Sometimes, you may need to add a chapter or scene between two existing chapters, or you might need to move a scene to a different chapter altogether. Great book writing applications will have a drag-and-drop feature for rearranging your scenes.

3. Multiple Functions

The more your writing app can do, the better value it is. The writing process has several steps: notes and research, plotting, writing, editing, and formatting. Look for an app that can help you with multiple steps of the writing process.

The closer you can get to a one-stop program, the better. It will save you time, headaches, and money. 

4. Affordable

Writing isn’t a particularly lucrative career. Finding a book writing software that won’t break the bank is essential—at least until you strike it big on the bestseller list. 

Pick a book software that’s well within your budget. And here’s a tip: if you sell books, you can also write off the cost as a business expense on your taxes.

5. Security

A few years ago, I was using a great novel writing software that no longer exists. It was a new, small startup. The servers crashed for five days, and customer support said they didn’t know if they could recover all the data they lost—e.g., everyone’s stories.

Thankfully, they did, but I jumped ship to find a more secure company. (And I back up my work more frequently.)

Look for an app that will protect your writing and your data. After all, these companies will have your email address, credit card info, and billing address. Companies that have SOC2 and/or GDPR compliance are among the most reliable.

top book writing software features

6. Great Customer Support

With any luck, you won’t ever have to contact customer service. But sometimes things happen, or you just need a little help understanding the product. Check out reviews to see people’s feedback about the software’s customer support. 

7. Customizable

Every writer has a different writing process. A great writing app will easily adapt to your needs. This might mean specific character templates, a variety of plotting tools, or different interfaces. Maybe you prefer a focus mode or a dark mode, or you want to upload your own outline template.

Keep in mind that often, the more customizable a book writing software is, the higher the learning curve. Consider how much customization you actually want and need so you don’t get overwhelmed.

8. Word Count and Goal Tracking

Setting word count goals is an excellent way to keep yourself motivated. You might even participate in a word count challenge like NaNoWriMo! Or maybe you’re a person who would prefer to write every day without setting a minimum word count.

Not every app allows you to set writing goals or track your progress. If you enjoy seeing how often or how much you’ve written, look for this feature when selecting a novel writing software.

9. Writing Resources

The best writing software isn't one that just lets you write—it also teaches you how to write. Look for a book writing software that has excellent learning resources.

Most apps offer a blog, but some aren't as robust as others. Great software may also include embedded videos, plot templates, and more. Many apps offer webinars and online conferences too.

You want the most value for your money, so be sure to explore the writing resources offered by the software before committing

10. Shareable

A great book writing software will also have methods for sharing with critique partners, beta readers, and editors. Shareability might look like easy exporting to Google Docs or just a public view link. You may prefer a collaboration feature that allows in-line comments directly in the app.

Some writers might want to publish through an app to build an audience. Some book writing software tools include a Wattpad-like platform where readers can read your novel online. This is a great option for authors who don't want to traditionally publish or monetize their novel.

top book writing software features

Now you know what to look for, let's check out some of the best book writing software on the market. This list includes both free writing software and paid. Some of the paid book writing software includes limited free versions as well.

1. ProWritingAid

Of course, we're pretty certain ProWritingAid is the best writing software out there. Many people think of ProWritingAid as just a grammar checker, but we're actually so much more.

ProWritingAid offers detailed in-line comments on your writing. This includes style feedback, pacing suggestions, sensory notes, and more. You can customize your writing goals based on genre. We even offer rephrasing suggestions for when you can't figure out how to make that pesky line sound better.

The premium version lets you compare your writing against the style of dozens of bestselling authors. You can get most of our other features on the free version, but you're limited to 500 words at a time.

You can absolutely write a novel in ProWritingAid. You can create multiple documents and folders on our web editor. Or you can integrate ProWritingAid with Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Scrivener, or just about any other website or app.

We also offer robust writing resources. Our blog has in-depth articles on every aspect of the writing process. We also have in-tool articles, videos, and quizzes. And we have incredible online conferences featuring popular bestselling authors.

2. Campfire

Campfire is one of the most in-depth world-building and book writing software out there. It's highly customizable, which means it comes with a learning curve. But if you want a visually pleasing, personalized writing app, it's worth the time to learn.

Campfire comprises several modules for aspects of plotting and world-building. They include things like timelines, maps, religious systems, characters, magic systems, and more. These are all easy to link together in a dynamic world bible.

Recently, they've built up their manuscript module so you can write directly in the app (and export for formatting and publishing). Their mobile app keeps getting better with each update.

One of the best aspects of Campfire is their flexible pricing. You pay for what you need: if all your characters are human, for example, you don't have to buy the species module. Then you can purchase each module monthly, yearly, or for a lifetime. This ends up saving you money.

3. One Stop for Writers

One Stop for Writers is a web app with a treasure trove of resources and tools specifically designed for novelists.

It includes templates and worksheets that can help you develop every aspect of your story. You can create realistic and well-rounded characters with the Character Builder, design fantasy worlds with the World-Building Surveys, and so much more.

There's also a Story Map you can use to develop your plot structure. You can choose one of three arcs to work with: the change arc, the static arc, or the failed arc. Then, you can see the beats you need to include in your story in order to create a satisfying plot.

Their descriptive database gives you access to countless ideas for descriptions, such as emotions, weather, themes and symbols, textures, occupations, and more.

One Stop for Writers requires a monthly or annual subscription, but if you're not ready to invest in a subscription, you can sign up for a two-week free trial first.

7 best book writing softwares

4. Scrivener

Scrivener is one of the most useful tools for organizing large, ambitious book projects.

Novels are long and require a lot of organization. You have to keep track of all your different characters, settings, and subplots, and that's before you even start drafting.

Scrivener is a word processing tool that's specifically designed to make writing a book as easy as possible. It organizes all of your writing in a "binder" so you can easily drag and drop scenes and chapters into new locations.

You can also toggle between multiple different views in Scrivener, which is incredibly useful when you're moving between ideation, drafting, and revising. For example, in the corkboard mode, you can see a bird's-eye view of your book as index cards on a corkboard. There's also an outline mode, where you can see your book as a written outline.

Scrivener also helps you track your progress on your novel by letting you set targets so you can make sure you're hitting your deadlines.

There's no free version of Scrivener, but you can buy a license with a small upfront fee, and after that, you can use it for a lifetime.

5. LivingWriter

LivingWriter is a word processor that makes it easy for you to organize your novel and organize it chapter by chapter, similar to Scrivener.

Where LivingWriter shines is in its unique features to help novelists. It makes it easy for you to make a glossary of characters, locations, plot points, and other elements so you can easily refer back to them. The app will even give you a list of the words you've made up for your novel so you can autofill them easily.

LivingWriter also provides several basic templates to give you a starting point if you're not sure where to begin. You can use plot structures, like the hero's journey, to start planning out your novel.

One additional benefit of LivingWriter is that it's a cloud-based app that automatically backs up your project to the cloud using Amazon Cloud Services. If you've ever had your laptop crash without saving your work, you know what a lifesaver it can be to not have to worry about backups.

The drawback to LivingWriter is that it requires an ongoing subscription, which makes it less cost-friendly than Scrivener if you plan to use it for more than a few months. You can try the two-week free trial first if you want to see how it works.

Dabble is a writing software that's sometimes referred to as "Scrivener without the learning curve."

It offers similar organizational features to Scrivener. For example, it makes it easy for you to organize your book into chapters. It also lets you use "cards" to keep track of your plot points in the Plot section.

Like many other writing software options, it also lets you set goals and timelines to keep track of your progress. It also has a focus mode that helps you write without distractions.

The downside is that its features aren't quite as powerful as Scrivener's. You also can't export books in special formats, which means you'll have to use a separate formatting tool to make sure your manuscript is ready for publication.

Dabble offers three subscription tiers that give you access to different features depending on how much you pay. You might be able to find cheaper options if you're simply looking for a great novel writing software.

7. NovelPad

NovelPad is a word processing tool that's specifically designed for novelists.

NovelPad lets you organize your book in a clear and efficient way. You can color code your scenes to help you visually keep track of which ones you're drafting, editing, or planning.

One feature NovelPad offers that I haven't seen anywhere else is the character tracking feature, which lets you easily see all the sections in your book that include a specific character. If you want to make sure all your major characters are getting equal page time, or if you want to check for consistency in a single character's actions, this feature makes that easy.

It's a subscription-based software that only works in a web browser, so this might not be the tool for you if you prefer to write offline in a desktop app.

8. Fictionary StoryTeller

Fictionary Story Editing Software is a must-have for authors looking to improve their story editing skills. The software’s systematic approach to developmental editing guides you through an evaluation of your manuscript's structure, character, and plot progression so you can make it as powerful as possible for your reader. 

The Story Arc feature automatically visualises your narrative structure, allowing you to identify instances where your pacing may lose your reader. 

The Story Map feature offers a comprehensive overview of your story, highlighting common problem areas such as story flow, character developments, revelations, tension gaps, or confusing timelines. No more sticky notes or massive spreadsheets to keep track of everything. 

The Synopsis Generator helps you harness your manuscript's pivotal scenes, crafting a synopsis that encapsulates key story elements and the central conflict.

In addition to the software, the Fictionary Team of Certified StoryCoach Editors offers a comprehensive program of training and support to help writers get their manuscripts publish-ready. 

Fictionary StoryTeller is an indispensable tool for authors who want to make sure their story is tight, engaging, and unputdownable. 

Conclusion on Book Writing Software

There you have it—our picks for the best book writing software options on the market.

No two writers have the exact same process, so the writing tools that I love using might not be the same ones that work best for you. The best way to figure out your favorite book software is by experimenting on your own.

So, try some of these options out, and see if they can help you take your novel to the next level.

Good luck, and happy writing!

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Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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No matter what you write, Scrivener brings together all of your notes, research and writing so that it's always at hand.

For writing. And writing. And writing.

Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. Scrivener won't tell you how to write—it simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing.

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Whether you plan or plunge, Scrivener works your way: hammer out every last detail before typing a word, or carve out a draft and restructure later. Or mix your methods and do a bit of both. In Scrivener, everything you write is integrated into an easy-to-use project outline. So working with an overview of your manuscript is only ever a click away, and turning Chapter Four into Chapter One is as simple as drag and drop.

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Research within reach

Need to refer to research? In Scrivener, your background material is always at hand, and you can open it right next to your work. Write a description based on a photograph. Transcribe an interview. Take notes about a PDF file or web page. Or check for consistency by referencing an earlier chapter alongside the one in progress.

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Getting it out there

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I genuinely think this is the biggest software advance for writers since the word processor. Michael Marshall Smith , NYT best-selling author.
Scrivener gives you the freedom to make a mess, the confidence to know you’ll clean it up, and the semantic relationships to tie it all together in whatever way makes the most sense to you. Merlin Mann , indie writer, speaker, and broadcaster.
If there was a list of the top five greatest apps of all time in the Mac App Store, it would start with Scrivener and then there would be four other things. Andy Ihnatko , technology columnist.
As a writer's application, Scrivener is damn near perfect; it means outlines, treatments and then first drafts can be put together in the same application. Neil Cross , author and screenwriter.
Scrivener is worth every penny: quite simply, it’s the best writers tool there is. Zoe Margolis , best-selling author.
Scrivener is the biggest leap forward in writing software since the venerable days of WordPerfect, and believe me, I’ve tried them all. Antony Johnston , comics writer and novelist.
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I'd thought it was yet another hobby app at first but this is genuinely for working writers with real deadlines and monster workloads. Karen Traviss , #1 NYT best-selling author.

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Home / Book Writing / The Best Software to Plot or Outline Your Book

The Best Software to Plot or Outline Your Book

Writing a book , fiction or nonfiction, isn’t easy, and planning what you want to write before you start can help you write faster and get books to market sooner. That’s why we personally tested four of the best pieces of story outline software on the market—tools and apps that can help you outline your books and even write them .

In this review, we'll be breaking down each of the products according to who they're best suited for—with an overview of their features and prices.

And we’ll be deciding which story software is the best for different types of writers, whether they’re fiction writers or non-fiction writers.

In this article, you will find our picks for:

  • The best outline software overalls
  • The best outline software for nonfiction authors
  • Other great options you might want to check out

Table of contents

  • #1. My Favorite Outline Software: Plottr
  • #2. My Second Favorite: Plot Factory
  • #3. The Novel Factory
  • #4. Best Nonfiction Outline: Scrivener
  • Put Plotting Into Practice

Just so you know–there will be affiliate links in this article. It helps me keep the coffee fund topped up, but it doesn't detract from the quality of the software we're about to discuss. What you're going to get is an unbiased view of the different software and who they're best suited to. So… let's check them out!

#1 . My Favorite Outline Software: Plottr

Plottr is a versatile software that allows you to visually plan your books . It's simple and easy to use, and it cuts out the trouble of a steep learning curve that's so often present when it comes to working with new applications. Here's a summary of what it has to offer:

  • Downloadable software that's always available, online or offline
  • Highly customizable plotting
  • Ease of use
  • An amazing character creation tool
  • Plot templates
  • Character templates
  • Drag and drop features for organizing plots and subplots
  • Different timeline and outline views
  • Tag and character filtering
  • Multiple views
  • Customizable series pages
  • Syncs with online version through Plottr Pro

Plottr's no-frills approach makes it a great application for authors looking to up their productivity, which is one of the reasons why it's my favorite.

Not only is it simple and easy to navigate, it also does just about everything you would need, especially when writing fiction.

Plottr Summary

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of Plottr and figure out if it's the right tool for you.

Plottr Pros

  • Easy to use–a guided tour
  • Highly customizable
  • Character and plot templates
  • Lifetime pricing available

Plottr Cons

  • No space for writing the actual draft
  • World-building and tagging could be better

Pricing: 30-Day Free Trial // Windows and Mac Version–$25-$65 per year // Lifetime Version–$99

Want more information? Click here to read our full review of Plottr.

#2 . My Second Favorite: Plot Factory

This software is great for all fiction writers. This doesn't mean it trumps all the others. Just that it is a software that any author of fiction or nonfiction could use without missing out on too many features.

And while I wouldn't necessarily rank it above Plottr, it still has a lot of great features, and might work better for some writers.

Plot Factory is exactly what you think it is… a great place for you to craft your plots. It's an online software –subscription-based–that allows authors to create outlines from templates, create universes and characters , track their word count goals, and more. If you're looking for a piece of software that's not focused on one specific thing, but is a great all-rounder when it comes to planning a book , Plot Factory is the right software for you.

Here's what's on offer:

  • Outlining with set templates
  • An online experience that's smooth and streamlined
  • Distraction-free plotting
  • Plotting with your own templates or free-form
  • Character creation templates
  • Universe creation templates
  • A name generator
  • Word count tracking and statistics
  • Story sharing and narration
  • Story creation

Plot Factory is super easy to use for authors who are both fiction and nonfiction, and the plotting features are pretty cool. You can create multiple stories, export them, and use plot templates or create your own.

Plot Factory Summary

To figure out how versatile Plot Factory is for authors, and whether it's a good all-round solution for both fiction and nonfiction writers, let's take a look at where its strong and where its weak.

Plot Factory Pros

  • Amazing plot templates to use
  • Easy to upload your own template or free-form plot
  • Good character creation system

Plot Factory Cons

  • No downloadable software
  • Not as good when it comes to world-building
  • Not as guided as some other tools

Pricing: Basic–FREE // Hobbyist per month/year–$9/$90 // Enthusiast per month/year–$14/$140 // Novelist per month/year–$19/$190

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR KINDLEPRENEUR READERS… You can grab your subscription to Plot Factory now, and get 35% off for 12 months using the following discount code: kpnr-35

All you have to do is enter the coupon code on checkout.

Want more information? Click here to read our full review of Plot Factory.

#3 . The Novel Factory

Fiction authors need outlining software that either guides them through the plotting process or allows them to create plots on their own unhindered. While most of the outlining software on this list does exactly that, The Novel Factory is unique in that it has a serious compilation of guiding articles and videos to help authors plot.

The Novel Factory offers authors:

  • A guided plotting roadmap to help authors plot their novels
  • Plotting templates that are tailored toward specific genres or beats
  • The ability to upload outlining templates if you have one you already use
  • Freeform outlining utility–you can outline as you see fit in the software online
  • Character creation
  • World and object creation
  • An entire section to write all the drafts of your novel
  • Daily word count tracking statistics
  • Submissions tracker (if you're going the traditional route)
  • A light and dark mode to minimize strain on your eyes

In short, this software provides everything a budding (or experienced) fiction author might need to create their novel from start to finish, including useful tips on publishing traditionally and independently. It comes in both an online subscription and a desktop download format.

Here's an example of what it's like to outline with the Novel Factory…

The Novel Factory Summary

As you can see, it's easy to edit, change, move around, and create your outline using The Novel Factory. But surely, it can't all be good, right? No software is made perfect, so… what are the pros and cons of using The Novel Factory for outlining your work?

The Novel Factory Pros:

  • Provides a guided plan for authors to follow if they don't know how to plot
  • Plotting is fully customizable (drag, drop, create, use a template or don't)
  • You can write your entire story in the app and export it–your work is never held hostage by the app

The Novel Factory Cons:

  • Costlier than some of the other software on this list
  • The cost of the online app is directly related to how much storage you use
  • You have to have an internet connection to use the online software
  • The desktop software doesn't work on Macs

With all of this taken into consideration, it's no wonder this is the best software around for fiction authors. But how much does it cost?

Pricing: Basic Monthly–$7.50 // Standard Monthly–$20.00 // Premium Monthly–$60.00 with a discounted rate if you choose the yearly option.

Even better… The Novel Factory has offered a 20% discount to all Kindlepreneur customers. Simply use the coupon: KINDLEPRENEUR at check out to redeem your 20% off. (That means 20% off the monthly or yearly subscription!)

Want more information? Click here to read our full review of The Novel Factory.

#4 . Best Nonfiction Outline: Scrivener

Scrivener isn't just an outlining software… it's a way of life. But seriously, it's an amazing desktop application that helps authors organize their documents in one place. It's great for fiction and nonfiction authors, but we've chosen it for nonfiction outlining because of the ease of use with which an author can create an outline template.

Scrivener allows authors to:

  • Populate a template that’s already laid out for you
  • Create an entirely new template for your book and outline
  • Add or delete files and folders
  • Create your own character sketches or place sketches
  • Upload other author templates
  • Create collections of your work
  • Sync your work to your mobile
  • Write your entire book
  • Format it for publishing
  • View your story in three different modes
  • Split the screen as you write so you can work on one screen while viewing the other
  • Organize your work with a corkboard

Scrivener is incredibly versatile and that's precisely why it works for outlining nonfiction… and for writing it. In fact, I'd say you could use it for fiction too, as long as you have the right template available. Authors can fully customize their templates as they outline:

Scrivener Plotting Feature Summary

Scrivener is an incredibly versatile tool–it's no wonder it's so popular with independent authors. But can it be successfully used for plotting your work? And what are the pros and cons of doing so?

Scrivener Plotting Feature Pros

  • Fully customizable
  • Authors have complete control over how they plot or what they write
  • All documents and files are available on their computer at all times
  • A once-off purchase!

Scrivener Plotting Feature Cons

  • No plotting guidance provided for new authors
  • Steep learning curve when it comes to understanding how to use the software

Pricing: Windows Standard License–$49 // Mac Standard License–$49 // iOS Standard License–$19.99 // Mac and Windows License–$80

Want more information? Click here to read our full review of plotting inside Scrivener.

Formatting Has Never Been Easier

Write and format professional books with ease.  Never before has creating formatted books been easier.

If you are ready to jump into any of these tools and want to make sure you are plotting right, I recommend watching this mini masterclass by Jenna Moreci.

Jenna Moreci is a #1 bestselling author of dark fantasy, as well as a YouTube sensation with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. View more videos here .

Did We Miss Any Amazing Outlining Software?

These are the best story outline software applications we could find… But did we miss any in our search? Be sure to mention your favorites and your experiences on our contact page.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

Related Reviews

Autocrit review for 2024: read this before purchasing, the best writing apps (for mobile) every writer needs to use in 2024, plottr review [2024]: best plotting software, sell more books on amazon, how to title a book checklist.

Titling your book can be hard…really hard. As you go through choosing your book title, use this checklist as your guide and make sure you have a title that will sell!

37 thoughts on “ The Best Software to Plot or Outline Your Book ”

Dave, I’m confused. Why is there a yearly price and a lifetime price per year? Wouldn’t the lifetime price be a one-time fee because it’s for life?

Whoops…great catch. Fixed. It’s just $99 for life.

Great recap, Dave, thanks. I use Scrivener and Plottr, and am still trying to figure out how to make Plottr easier to use than just doing it in Scriv. My only comment is that I bristle at the generalized “Scrivener has a steep learning curve” idea. It has an easy-medium learning curve for the basics–anyone can get started writing and using the index cards and such right off the bat. It’s using the full capabilities of the program that is very steep. I even took a class on formatting and compiling and it’s still difficult–no wonder I jumped to Vellum as soon as I heard about it! But overall, just to write and edit, Scrivener isn’t hard.

True…but if you were to compare the ease of Vellum as to the ease of Scrivener, I’d say one is very easy to use, and the other…not so much. I think Scrivener made way too many things too difficult to do and so they get a mark for it. It’s got a lot of capabilities, but most of those extra parts are not very intuitive.

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The 15 Best Book Writing Software Tools

15 Best Book Writing Software Options in 2024

POSTED ON Feb 9, 2024

Charity Jerop

Written by Charity Jerop

On the hunt for the top book writing software? Writing software can be hard to come by, especially since what might work best for someone else won't work best for you. So what software should you use?

Some might argue that the medium is not the issue – they'll tell you not to worry about fancy writing software and 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 productivity.

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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 .

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. 

This 2024 Guide to Book Writing Software Will Cover:

What is book writing software.

Book writing software is a program designed to streamline the book writing process. It is essentially a word processor with added benefits specifically targeting 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 a writer, there are many options 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 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!

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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 the efficiency and ease of use of your medium can affect your writing productivity.

Think about how easy a typewriter or keyboard makes it to type a 50,000-word novel. Now, imagine having to carve that novel into stone. See how the medium can affect your productivity? 

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 programs, including the best mind mapping software for authors . Take a look at some of the responses: 

Survey Results Revealing The Most Popular Book Writing Software Programs Among Writers

That's just a tiny glimpse of how many real-life writers use book writing software regularly to improve their writing , 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 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 writing software:

  • 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.
  • They are designed to make writing 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.
  • Your work is saved automatically. Losing your unsaved work due to unavoidable circumstances (like your power going out) is a thing of the past! This is seriously a lifesaver.
  • They prevent distractions. 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 assists in creating a productive writing space .

Now that you understand why book writing software is important, how on earth do you pick one!?

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

  • Cost of the software. Think of your budget. Can you afford to invest in writing software, or do you need to rely on the free versions for now? 
  • Accessibility. Think of where you write. Do you need to be able to access your book manuscript from multiple devices (like a phone or tablet), or do you only write on one? 
  • Features. What features are important to you? Do you need spell checker, plagiarism checker, and productivity-improving features? 
  • User-friendliness. Are you tech-savvy, tech-challenged, or somewhere in the middle? Some programs require a steep learning curve, and others are great for beginners. 
  • Size of the software. Will the program take up a lot of space on your hard drive? 

With all those aspects to consider, let's take a look at the best free and paid book writing software options for authors.

Free book writing software for beginners

Before we dive into the best paid book writing software, let’s take a look at some of the free options.

We always recommend taking advantage of the free tools out there – so you can get a feel for what you want to invest in. 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:

  • It’s readily available . You do not need to sign up or log in to be able to use Zoho Writer. It is user-friendly, and if you are part of a team of writers, you can work together and share documents with each other easily.

best novel writing software 2021

  • You can write offline, without internet access.  Despite this software being an online writing tool, you can still write offline and have your work synced to your account.
  • You can use it across all devices. You can use this book writing software across phone, Tablet, or 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:

  • 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). 

Libreoffice Free Book Writing Software User Interface

  • 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. The autocorrect and spell checker tools allow you to catch grammar and spelling mistakes on the fly, and it even supports multiple languages!
  • It provides useful templates. LibreOffice includes readily available templates to choose from that are 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.

Related: Best Book Formatting Software

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:

  • You can write and access it from anywhere. Like Zoho Writer, Google Docs is a cloud platform, which means you can write anytime inspiration strikes. You can also use this book writing software when you’re offline.

Google Docs: A Software For Writing A Book

  • 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.
  • It’s easy to collaborate with a team, another writer, or an editor . Additional features streamline the collaboration process, be it your co-author or editor. 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 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.

Focuswriter User Interface: Writing A Book Software

Benefits of using FocusWriter as your free book writing software:

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

While Evernote isn't designed specifically for books, the tool's organization makes it a great option for writers.

Benefits to using Evernote as your free book writing software:

  • Streamlines note-taking process. At its 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 organizational principles can be integrated into the process of writing a book .
  • Easy customization. While Evernote isn't designed for just authors and novelists, the versatility it brings to users with multiple uses for the program comes 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 software is a powerhouse for personalization.
  • 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 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 writing software. Here are our favorites!:

6. NovelPad

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

Unlike other 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. That makes it one of the best writing apps for Android or iOS. 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 !

Benefits to using NovelPad as your book writing software:

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

Novelpad Book Writing Software User Interface

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

Price : Starting at just $5 a month

YouTube video

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

Ulysses Book Writing Software Focus And Productivity Page

Benefits to using Ulysses Writer as your book writing software:

  • Minimalist interface. Getting distracted while writing can hurt your workflow. Ulysses comes with a minimalistic interface to help you stay focused and productive.
  • The customizable editor comes with special perks. You can choose to switch to typewriter mode and can attach additional information from images, PDFs, keywords, notes, and anything in between.
  • You can publish directly to WordPress and Medium. Instead of having to copy and paste all of your work to your website, you can simply publish directly to the site. This is especially helpful for authors who blog.
  • You can share your writing in any file format you want. No more complicated conversion processes!

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

Price: $5.99 per month or $49.99 a year

8. Hemingway App

Have you heard of Hemingway App yet? If you have, then chances are you either love it or hate it. This software is great if you are a visual learner – just look at those colors!

Hemingway App For Authors User Interface

Benefits to using Hemingway App as your book writing software:

  • It comes with advanced editing and revising tools . The spell and grammar checker help you come up with top-quality work, and it uses different colors to highlight sentences/words that need restructuring.
  • There is a helpful sidebar display . The sidebar shows things like readability score and overall word count. 
  • 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! Price : $19.99

YouTube video

9. Scrivener

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

Scrivener: One Of The Best Free Software For Writing A Book

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

YouTube video

Benefits to using Scrivener as your book writing software:

  • Scrivener boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop feature. 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.
  • 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.
  • You can set writing targets. Scrivener has a target-setting tool to help you set your own targets and work towards achieving them.
  • 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: $49 for Mac or Windows (but they have student discounts) and $19.99 for the iOS version 

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:

  • It’s an all-in-one software. Just like we mentioned above, this software not only helps you write your book, but it also includes editing, publishing, and marketing services – depending on your needs and budget.
  • It’s fairly easy to learn how to use. The software is pretty user-friendly, so it's easy to get started with. 
  • 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.
  • A variety of special features are included. Preview how your book will look live, or make use of the chat tool, which makes collaboration with other writers and/or editors easy. 

Fastpencil Writing Software User Interface

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:

Fastpencil Pricing

11. Microsoft Word

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

But even today, Microsoft Word remains a preference for many authors. 

User Interface Of Microsoft Word: A Pioneer Book Writing Software

Benefits to using Microsoft Word as your book writing software:

  • It’s very user-friendly . 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 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 of Microsoft Word will vary depending on your needs and which package you want. 

Bonus software to help you write your book

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 grammar and spelling errors. 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! 

Grammarly Book Writing Software User Interface

13. Freedom

When you’re writing from a computer or laptop, it’s easy to get distracted with the internet just one tab away. This is where Freedom comes in. 

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

Freedom Free Writing Software Features

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 in conjunction with many writing programs , and is a robust tool that checks grammar, spelling, and writing 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 .

YouTube video

15. FocusWriter

A word processor that touts “distraction-free” features, this simple software is designed to keep your focus on your 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.

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 all the different writing tools and software options can be overwhelming, but remember: it’s important to pick programs that work for you. If you start using one software, and 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. 

best novel writing software 2021

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Best Writing Apps in 2024

Showing 127 writing apps that match your search.

OmniOutliner

OmniOutliner is a powerful tool for organizing (and reorganizing) information, so you can see the full picture and structure your information effortlessly.

Platforms: Mac, iPhone, iPad

Best for: Outlining, Essay, and Blog

Website: https://www.omnigroup.com/omnioutliner/

Base price:

Premium price:

★★★ Performance

★★★ Features

★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 3.2 ★ on the App Store

The only online writing and editing platform that guides your hand based on data from real, bestselling books, AutoCrit is built to match the genuine demands of publishing professionals and discerning readers.

Platforms: Online

Best for: Outlining, Drafting, Proofreading, Book, Story, and Free

Website: https://www.autocrit.com/

★★★★ Performance

★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.0 ★ on TechRadar

Campfire Write

Campfire is a versatile writing tool organized into modules, each one offering a different type of story element you can create. Keep track of each character's motives, history, eye color, and more. The Characters Module gives you an easy way to make quick notes or detailed character sheets about anyone in your story. Upload your map to the Maps Module, add pins to integrate it with the rest of your story, and nest other maps to keep things organized.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, Online, PC

Best for: Outlining, Drafting, Book, Story, and Free

Website: https://www.campfirewriting.com/

★★★★ Features

★★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.0 ★ on Reedsy

Simple. Effective. Personal. Keep life moments and ideas always with you. Diaro is here to help.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome

Best for: Note-taking, Journal, and Free

Website: https://diaroapp.com/

★★★★★ Performance

Also rated 4.6 ★ on Google Play

The only writing platform with unlimited potential through project management, collaboration, and publishing.

Platforms: Online, Chrome

Best for: Outlining, Drafting, Book, and Story

Website: https://www.squibler.io/

WPS Office is a lightweight, feature-rich comprehensive office suite with high compatibility. As a handy and professional office software, WPS Office allows you to edit files in Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and PDF to improve your work efficiency.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, Android, iPad, iPhone, PC

Best for: Drafting, Book, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Story, Blog, and Free

Website: https://www.wps.com/

Danger Notes

Don’t stop typing. If you do all your work will disappear and be gone forever. Danger Notes is the ultimate writing tool to help fight writer’s block. Whether you are writing a term paper, an essay, a book, your best-man speech, promising rap lyrics or just free writing, Danger Notes will help you fight writer’s block by forcing you to keep writing in order to save your progress from being deleted.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad

Best for: Note-taking, Book, Story, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Blog, and Free

Website: http://swivelapps.com/apps-by-david/dangernotes.html

Also rated 4.8 ★ on Capterra

Guided Essay Writer

Step-by-step guided essay-writing directions written by a college English professor and includes explanations and examples to help you write a college-level essay including the following: introduction paragraph, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph.

Best for: Outlining, Drafting, and Essay

Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guided-essay-writer/id11731...

★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 5.0 ★ on the App Store

Your thoughts in words. Say exactly what you mean through clear, compelling and authentic writing.

Best for: Editing, Proofreading, Blog, Essay, and Free

Website: https://www.wordtune.com/

Also rated 4.4 ★ on Capterra

Prompts for Writing

Open to write and follow the prompt suggestions, it's that easy. Good for poetry writing, journal writing, storytelling, narration, cinema, and more. All using a patented artificial intelligence technology.

Best for: Brainstorming, Story, Book, and Poetry

Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/creative-writing-prompts/id...

Also rated 4.6 ★ on the App Store

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Microsoft Word

Elevate your writing, create beautiful documents, and collaborate with others—anywhere, anytime.

Platforms: Online, Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Chrome, PC

Best for: Drafting, Essay, Journal, Book, Story, Poetry, and Blog

Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word

★★★★★ Features

Also rated 4.5 ★ on TechRadar

Grammar Lookup

Grammarlookup.com uses artificial intelligence to check grammar and punctuation mistakes in your writing, eliminate spelling errors and highlight 1000s of style issues to make your writing exceptional among other writers.

Best for: Editing, Proofreading, Essay, and Free

Website: https://www.grammarlookup.com/

Also rated 4.7 ★ on Capterra

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best novel writing software 2021

Why LivingWriter is the Best Writing App for Fantasy

dabble review

Five Top-Notch Writing Software for the Year 2022

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LivingWriter Review 2022

the best writing apps of 2021

The Best Writing Apps and Book Writing Software | 2023 Update

The Best Novel Writing Software of 2022

Long Story Short, the Best Writing Apps in 2023 are:

best novel writing software 2021

It’s not an easy thing sifting through writing apps and book writing software. Especially when reviewing something you’ll be using to write your novel, it requires some time investment!

To separate the useful from useless, I’ve had to spend quality time with them (and also pay for some of them). What I was looking for here is an app or software that helps you write easier and faster . Not just something that checks your spelling or turns off other apps to keep you focused. I’m talking about a full-scale word processor like Google Docs but is tailored towards writing something more than documents.

Something like your books or your screenplays.

We didn’t find many that we’d recommend. A lot of the ones on the market are mostly just software with very specific features, like distraction-free writing or grammar checking. Some of the newer ones are just plain bad and seem like rushed jobs.

With all the technology in the world, it’s about time technology helped us write!

Out of all the software we reviewed, we found four that we’d recommend as well as some honorable mentions.

LivingWriter – The Best Book Writing Software of 2023

the best writing app and book writing software of 2021

LivingWriter  is actually new to the scene (launched in 2018). It seems like they gathered all the best features of writing apps in the past and melded them all into one. One thing I have to point out right away about LivingWriter in comparison to other writing apps, it’s beautiful!

LivingWriter made it to the top of our list because it has all the features (and more) of Scrivener with a really modern and clean user interface. It also tops Scrivener in its ability to live edit (co-author) and share your stories with friends/editors and the fact that it’s a cloud-based application rather than a desktop one.

Their story elements are wonderful to work with, I love seeing my characters in their nice tidy place. The outlines and templates (some I knew, some I didn’t) work well right off the gate to get you started with your writing. I’ve been using a template to quickly plot out any ideas that might pop into my head.

LivingWriter is completely cloud based. Meaning your writing is saved constantly to the cloud (just like Google Docs). I’ve never had any issues with it losing my writing or stories (issues that I have definitely had with other writing apps in the past).

LivingWriter is not tailored for screenwriting , but it’s our top pick for novels, short stories, and honestly any other types of writing. It also works very well for organizing blog posts and other types of professional or schoolwork.

In 2020 they’ve also released an iOS and Android app so you can write on the go.

It’s easily the best writing app out there now. Try it out! It’s abundantly clear. Check out our full review here .

  • Sidebar separates your chapters, subchapters, and story elements
  • Drag and drop chapters and subchapters to reorganize
  • Easy access, organization, and detailing of all your story elements (characters, themes, locations, etc)
  • Detailing of story elements includes photos, description, notes, and history
  • Smart Text Feature that recognizes your story elements and auto-suggests them as you type. This also hyperlinks the word to pull up all your notes and descriptions of the story element. No other book writing software has this feature, by the way.
  • View and edit all of your notes and descriptions on the right sidebar
  • Option to collapse sidebar for a full-screen view
  • Import from Docx and Doc files
  • The option to view all of your scenes and chapters on a “virtual corkboard”
  • Pre loaded template of time tested novel writing outlines such as (Three Act Structure, 27 Beat Chapter Plotting, Dan Harmon’s Story Circle, etc) with easy guidance on how to fill them in with your ideas
  • Share the whole story or separate chapters
  • Live collaboration with anyone you share your story with
  • Auto save every keystroke to the cloud with exponential storage and backup
  • Revision history saved every few 10 minutes
  • Name each revision history
  • Export to Amazon manuscript templates, PDF, docx
  • The cleanest interface of all the writing apps with the most user-friendly (modern) UI UX design
  • Easy free trial and sign up process. There’s no downloading a program, you just sign in and start
  • Feature dense for writing books with smart text, outline templates, story elements, etc.
  • Cloud-based and autosave every keystroke
  • Easy live collaboration with anyone you share your story with
  • Companion apps for iOS and Android
  • Not tailored to screenwriting.

Click here to try LivingWriter

Free for 14 Days then $9.99/month 

Free 30 Day Trial

best novel writing software 2021

Scrivener  is similar to LivingWriter in terms of features, but there are a few major differences. Scrivener isn’t web or cloud based so you can’t access your work from just any device. You can only sync your files if you use a third-party storage service.

There’s also no co-author or editing capabilities with Scrivener.

The other reason we put Scrivener is number two instead of number one is because the interface is fairly confusing and outdated. it isn’t nearly as user friendly as LivingWriter. You would need to watch YouTube videos for instruction on how to utilize all the tools. There is a tutorial however it reads like a manuscript and is very long.

That being said, aside from LivingWriter, it does have a lot of great features and is still one of the best writing apps out there.

  • Separates scenes and chapters
  • Import from Word and OpenOffice documents, plain text files, Final Draft scripts, images, PDF documents, movies, sound files and web pages
  • The option to view all of your scenes and chapters on a “virtual corkboard”. You can rearrange them on a timeline as well
  • The outline shows chapters separate from subchapters
  • Drag and drop chapters and subchapters
  • Create your own templates, MLA, and APA, novel, a novel with parts, screenplay, documentary script, BBC taped drama
  • Scriptwriting formatting
  • View documents side by side
  • Full-screen writing mode
  • Set word or character targets
  • Export to Microsoft Word, RTF, PDR, OpenOffice, Epub, or Final Draft format.
  • Auto save into your individual program
  • Option to purchase a mobile version
  • Available for Windows and iOS
  • Many templates to choose from
  • Feature rich for writers of all types
  • Most used book writing software (due to how long it’s been around)
  • Outdated and somewhat confusing interface. Bigger learning curve than the rest.
  • You have to pay extra to update the software
  • If you want to download on Mac, PC, and your phone then you have to buy three different versions
  • No Android app
  • No collaboration features, such as co-authoring tools or the ability to share a file with someone and let them add comments or make suggestions
  • You can only sync your files if you use a third-party storage service, and only between devices that have the Scrivener app installed. If need to use someone else’s computer, you can’t access your work

Click here to try Scrivener

Final Draft

best novel writing software 2021

FinalDraft  is not our top pick overall for best writing apps because it has a very outdated and confusing interface. You really need to watch some videos to understand how to use the features. Plus, editing and co-writing is complicated and can only be done with other people who have purchased FinalDraft. I guess it’s a little unfair to list FinalDraft here in comparison with the other apps, it’s not necessarily book writing software but rather screenwriting software.

But, it  is  the top pick for serious screenwriters. I emphasize “serious” because it costs a whopping $250 and it’s incredibly packed with features that will only be needed if you’re writing a screenplay that’s actually being picked up.

  • Formatting tools specific to screenwriting
  • Auto suggest for dialogue
  • Navigator window for scenes, script notes, characters, and tags (script day, location, makeup, cast members, etc)
  • Script templates such as Cole Haag or Warner Brother, Dramatists Guild Musical template. Also for different graphic novels, half-hour sitcom, or one-hour TV drama
  • Story Map shows the length of your script in pages, as well as your current position among those pages
  • Beat board which is basically a virtual corkboard. You can drag these scene cards into the story map
  • Split screen views
  • Collaboration with others that own Final Draft
  • Auto save every 15 minutes
  • Revision history saved to a local folder on your computer
  • The most tools, options, and templates for screenwriters
  • Many view options
  • Auto draft only saves every 15 minutes, not every keystroke
  • The price is higher than all other apps
  • Very complicated to collaborate and all the collaborators must own a copy of Final Draft.
  • Not book writing software so not good for books at all.

Click here to try Final Draft

best novel writing software 2021

$59.99  only for Mac

The reason  Storyist  made number four on our best book writing software list is because it has more features than the other writing software that didn’t make the list. It has a lot of the same features as the top three, plus a nicer interface than Scrivener and FinalDraft. However, it doesn’t have as many useful features or as clean of an interface as our top picks for best writing apps, LivingWriter and Scrivener.

Storyist is a good option for screenwriters who aren’t looking to spend top dollar on FinalDraft. It doesn’t have as many features at all as FinalDraft but it has some good templates for screenwriting and is easier to use than Scrivener.

  • Folders for chapters and subchapters
  • Auto suggest for dialogue, scene introductions, locations, times, character names, and transitionsVirtual index cards for each scene
  • Story Sheets for storing information about plot, character, setting, etc.
  • Revision history every hour
  • Name revision history
  • Stylesheets for common manuscript and screenplay formats
  • Add photos to characters
  • Word count goals
  • Add edit and delete comments
  • Export to Blurb, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, as well as SCRIV (Scrivener), FDX and FCF (Final Draft)
  • A newer looking interface than Scrivener and FinalDraft, however not as clean or as user friendly as LivingWriter
  • Includes tools for storyboarding, outlining, character sheets. 
  • Supports importing and exporting many formats
  • Only for Mac and IOs. It does not have apps for Windows, Android, or the web. They need to increase their presence here. Book writing software in 2021 should account for all popular devices.
  • Additional cost for iPhone app
  • No co-authoring or editing capabilities
  • Smart text doesn’t link story elements to description and notes. It only autosuggests the word
  • Revision history is every hour instead every few minutes

Click here to try Storyist

In case you were curious, here’s a list of some of the other apps that we reviewed.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, LivingWriter is our top pick for writing books and other documents. Scrivener comes in second for writing books and screenplays. FinalDraft is the top pick for writing screenplays. Storyist is a less expensive but less feature dense option for FinalDraft.

Writing Apps That Didn’t Make The Cut

Ia writer : $29.99.

Very barebones. Just for distraction-free writing but not meant for outlining or story development. Distraction-free writing by itself doesn’t meet our criteria for the best writing app of 2020. Not what I would call book writing software, more like focused writing. Which is good for some, but completely useless for others.

Ulysses : $39.99 yearly

Mac only. Very similar to IA writer. There are not even visible options for changing how the text is styled. Just meant for distraction free writing with additional feature to publish to WordPress. Distraction free writing by itself doesn’t meet our criteria for the best writing app of 2020. Once again, not exactly book writing software but rather focused writing.

Microsoft Word : $129.99

If you’re going to spend 130 dollars then you might as well spend it on software that’s designed for writing a book or screenplay. Word processors can’t meet our criteria for the best writing app of 2020. Word processors are not book writing software, they weren’t built for the needs of a novelist.

Google Docs : Free

It’s free, and you can have people live edit your work. However, it doesn’t have any of the organizational tools or templates that come with software that’s designed for writing. Word processors can’t meet our criteria for the best writing app of 2020. As amazing as Google docs is, it’s still not good enough to be deemed book writing software. I’ve noticed that after say 50 or so pages, Google docs starts lagging quite a bit for me.

The Novel Writing Factory : $24.99

This is more for walking you through story development than writing. Story development is part of the software for apps like LivingWriter and Scrivener. This will help you get started on writing a book, but it’s once again not book writing software.

Campfire : $24.99-$49.99

Similar to The Novel Writing Factory, this is more for character development than anything else. Again, apps like LivingWriter and Scrivener have this built-in.

Evernote : $0-14.99/month

Just designed for note taking, but not a word processor. Word processors can’t meet our criteria for the best writing app of 2020. 

Reedsy : Free

This app is pretty much like Google Docs in that you can have others edit your text. The difference seems to be that you can export to ePub.

Plot Factory : $9-19/month

It has some decent outlining features, however this software is unfortunately not user friendly.

Ywriter : $11.95-24.95

Similar to Storyist or Scrivener in features but very unpleasant interface which looks like an excel sheet.

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The Best Writing Apps and AI Writing Software for 2021

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Want some Grammarly alternatives or a better way to do content writing, creative writing or copywriting? We went through our stack of productivity tools and picked the best writing apps for 2021, with some AI writing software included to help you fill out larger projects:

  • LivingWriter
  • ProWritingAid
  • Dragon Anywhere
  • Final Draft
  • FocusWriter
  • Reedsy Book Editor
  • Manuskript 
  • Natural Reader
  • PepperTypeAI
  • ConversionAI / Jarvis

The Best Writing Apps: Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway earned a silver Medal of Valor in Italy, accused of war crimes after leading armed troops despite being just a war correspondent, was allegedly a spy for the KGB and was involved in two airplane crashes in 2 days. Through all of this, he still had time to put out an impressive body of work. And he didn’t even have an essay help app like we do!

A tall order to compare yourself to Hemingway? Perhaps, but that shouldn’t stop you from boosting your own creative skills!

Hemingway’s legacy lives on in one of the best writing apps we used so far and we think it might help you too.

The Hemingway app will give you the tools to write fast, just like the legendary man itself, and has about as many features as Hemingway himself had jobs.

The Hemingway app overview on the official website is short and to the point, just like great writing in general. 

“The app highlights lengthy, complex sentences and common errors; if you see a yellow sentence, shorten or split it. If you see a red highlight, your sentence is so dense and complicated that your readers will get lost trying to follow its meandering, splitting logic — try editing this sentence to remove the red.

You can utilize a shorter word in place of a purple one. Mouse over them for hints.

Adverbs and weakening phrases are helpfully shown in blue. Get rid of them and pick words with force, perhaps.”

Like Grammarly and other style checkers, it gives you Readability ratings for multiple elements of your writing. It will catch on if you use too many adverbs, abuse passive voice, write convoluted sentences or use “lots words when few do trick.”

The Hemingway app is just $20 upfront for the app download (no subscription required) and it is hands-down the most useful writing app we tried in this price range. 

If you want a no-frills tool to improve your writing skills, whether you’re blogging or working on your thesis, give it a chance.

The Best Writing Apps: Scrivener

Scrivener is one of the oldest and best writing apps out there, offering a way to write large-scale pieces like a book or a thesis without losing track of your plan or outline. 

Ever had to copy-paste a huge block of text of more that 2000 words in Google Docs or Word? Then you know how much of a hassle rearranging a big project can be, particularly if you hadn’t previously formatted it with headings.

With Scrivener, a writing app designed specifically for big projects, you can simply drag and drop that chapter into a new folder. All the chapters or parts of your project are neatly organized on the left-hand side in a “binder”, where you can also drop research, website clippings and more, dragging and dropping them into their correct location.

Check on the right side of the app and you’ll find The Inspector, our favorite feature to organize our work. 

The Inspector lets you write a synopsis of what’s in the specific chapter or, if you’re in a hurry, can auto-detect and do it for you.

The Best Writing Apps: LivingWriter

LivingWriter is a great alternative to Scrivener, working pretty much the same way but with the added perk of being available in the browser.

If you were looking for a Google Docs alternative, LivingWriter is also a close match, with a similar layout that’s very intuitive and friendly to those just starting out with professional writing and editing apps. 

However, the functionalities are a lot more advanced than regular word processors. 

A handy tool for writers of fiction or other works with many characters is the “story elements”. Here you can add personal details about characters, map out their quirks, their relationships and even add pictures. 

If you’re just starting out with writing larger works, LivingWriter also has some great plot templates to help you achieve a better structure. 

For non-fiction, there are memoir, biography, self-help and book proposal templates. For non-fiction, you will find popular templates like Hero’s Journey, Dan Wells’ Seven-Point Story and the basic Three Act Structure, which can be applied to most plots or sub-plots. 

The app also has a few gamification features to keep you motivated while writing, letting you set goals for chapters or number of words. 

LivingWriter has a 2-week free trial to get started, then has a monthly subscription fee of around $10 (the price varies if you pay as you go or upfront for a year). 

The Best Writing Apps: Plottr

Plottr is another writing app you can use to finally get started on your novel. It’s available for download on both Windows and Mac. 

As its name says, this is more like outlining software rather than a regular writing app, but the suite has features to help you write both short and long-form content. 

You also have plot templates here, from the essential Hero’s Journey to the 8 Sequences Method or basic romance or adventure novel writing. 

The fun stuff begins if you are brave enough to start your own unique plot structure. 

You have a timeline on which to arrange your chapters and you can easily keep track of the main plot and subplots, making sure your story has an engaging rhythm. 

If you want to modify an act, simply drag and drop it in the place you need! 

If character writing is the bigger challenge you need help with, Plottr can help you keep track of character traits and quirks, so that their personality is in the front of your eyes when you’re writing their actions. You can add just short character bios or you can include their Myers-Briggs personality, cognitive distortions and even Enneagrams.

The Plottr trial is a generous 30-day opportunity to try it out before spending for a license, which is available as a “one year” or a “lifetime” purchase. It also has a mobile app but we haven’t tried that one and existing reviews are overwhelmingly negative. 

The Best Writing Apps: Campfire

Campfire the writing app (not to be confused with the productivity software that was bundled into the Basecamp suite) is yet another option to start world building for your next novel and keep track of every detail. 

Still, don’t look at Campfire as a word processor because it isn’t one. Rather, this app is more like a project management tool designed for novelists, especially scifi and fantasy ones, to help keep them organized and on-track.

Campfire Pro is on Steam too but the price is a bit higher than other similar apps. Expect to pay around $50 for the base software and another $20 or so for the DLC with worldbuilding tools. 

Campfire Blaze, the evolution of it, is in a beta program that gets bi-monthly updates. 

You can join it here and take advantage of the flexible pricing options, paying only for the features you need and use often.

The Best Writing Apps: Ulysses

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the best writing app for you might be Ulysses . This minimalist app reduces clutter almost completely, just like Hemingway for Windows. 

Ulysses is great on a MacBook or on an iPad with an added keyboard but, in a pinch, it works just as well on the iPhone’s smaller screen, with no need for keyboard attachments.

For an old-school, distraction-free writing project, switch to the typewriter mode. For late-night crunches before a deadline, Ulysses’ dark mode will keep your eyes rested.

It supports larger writing projects, with nesting groups to organize chapters. It can even help you compile your ebook for self-publishing, with a live preview to show you exactly how the final export will look.

Since it supports markups and has attachments for notes or PDFs, if you’re creating a SEO article you can include keywords and other resources for future edits.

The Best Writing Apps: ProWritingAid

If you’re already familiar with Grammarly and its proofreading capabilities, then ProWritingAid is the upgrade you should be looking for.

It doesn’t have a design as sleek but it’s still browser based and the functionality is a lot more extended. It goes beyond basic grammar checking and offers a good style editor. You can find word replacements to avoid repetitions or find stronger verbs, simplify phrasings for better readability, and even avoid cliches and redundancies.

The best part is that ProWritingAid doesn’t force you to use it alone. 

Instead, it has integrations with Google Docs, Microsoft Word and even Scrivener, so you can easily import, export and work on your piece from anywhere.

If you write short work under 500 words, like small blog posts or news updates, the free version of ProWritingAid is a good tool to ensure quality. 

If you’re looking for a writing app to help with longer content, you’ll need the paid ProWritingAid. It’s available either as pay-as-you-go for $20 per month, which is somewhat on the expensive side compared to the previous apps we talked about, or as a yearly, around $80 subscription.

The Best Writing Apps: Dragon Anywhere

This next writing app is a bit different from the pack – it focuses on speech, not editing.

Dragon Anywhere is a good text-to-speech reader which will help you fine-tune your dialogue and sentence structure. If you write video scripts or work in TV, Dragon Anywhere can help make the scripts you write for your hosts a lot more organic, organized and easy to pronounce. 

If you have an unusual accent or pronunciation, you can use the Train Words feature to help the software understand you better.

We also found it a very good way to proofread while working around the house. Just use text-to-speech while away from the desk and come back to work and edit whenever you hear a spelling mistake.

Indeed, the actual writing components of this app are somewhat rudimentary. You can edit and delete text but it’s little more than a note-taking app in this regard. Dragon Anywhere works best if you just use it as a dictation app and import the text into another editing app for final formatting.

The Best Writing Apps: Final Draft

Final Draft is another niche writing app, one designed exclusively for scriptwriters.

We love combining Dragon Anywhere with Final Draft whenever we have to do scripts for web shows and commercials, since this combo helps you write the most believable, natural dialogue. You dictate lines into Dragon Anywhere (and speaking them out loud does help you get a better flow and account for diction traps!), then import the notes into Final Draft for easy formatting into a well-structured script.

It will automatically compile a list of characters and scene locations, letting you insert them fast, without breaking your focus on dialogue.

To help you pace the story better, it has a Story Map and also features a Beat Board for arranging scenes.

However, Final Draft is one of the more expensive writing apps for iOS and Windows, so this is a professional tool. The writing app for iOS goes for just $10 but the iOS and Mac versions cost $249. Fortunately, they have a generous 60 day trial, so you can really put Final Draft to the test.

If you can’t justify the cost read on – we have some great (and free!) writing apps for Windows, Mac, browsers and everything in between.

Free Writing Apps: FocusWriter 

FocusWriter is a totally free writing app with most of the features you need to focus on your work.

It has a hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen, timers, alarms, daily goals, lots of customizable themes for inspiration or reducing eyestrain and even multi-document support.

While the interface itself is kind of dated, the features work just as great as most of the paid writing apps we tried.

FocusWriter is open-source software available on Windows and most Linux variants. If you like it, consider donating to the developers to support them in releasing more features. 

Free Writing Apps: Reedsy Book Editor

Ready to start e-publishing your novel? For new writers, keeping costs down is essential, so, for this, we recommend giving Reedsy Book Editor a spin.

This great free tool is not just a fantastic writing app to proofread and structure your book. It also lets you typeset like a professional and exports the book in publishing-ready PDF and ebook formats.

Just take a look at this demo and see for yourself!

Free Writing Apps: Manuskript 

Then, there’s Manuskript , one of our favorite open-source writing apps. It comes with all the formatting options you expect but also has plenty of tools to organize your work by chapters or scenes. The “story line” is basically a timeline where you can arrange your plot and work on story pacing.

Manuskript is a perfect tool for those writers who like to organize and plan everything before writing.

The snowflake method can help you grow your idea into a book, by leading you step by step and asking you questions to go deeper.

“While writing, keep track of notes about every character, plot, event, place in your story,” say the developers.

It’s also a great Linux alternative to Scrivener, so, if you use that operating system, download Manuskript and get writing! Since this is open-source software, also please consider donating if this tool was helpful to you.

Free Writing Apps: Natural Reader 

Do you read your work out loud often? Any great writer does this at least once after completing a draft, to see how the text flows, find disjointed sentences and fix dialogue.

To avoid our personal biases and frankly somewhat terrible diction, we love using the NaturalReader app to read our writing out loud. 

Natural Reader is pretty much the gold standard for AI voices. It has fantastic natural voices with various English accents, works on both Windows and Mac and accepts most document formats.

The free Natural Reader version has unlimited documents you can upload and has a Pronunciation Editor that lets you tweak nuances. There’s even a free widget that works on most websites and a browser-based version , so you can use it anywhere.

Natural Reader is also available with a one-time payment for a perpetual license, a rarity nowadays when it comes to software, and retails for $99.

Apps to Help Writing: Murf.AI

Another fantastic option for AI voices is Murf.AI , a subscription-based software with hundreds of options and a very impressive editor to boot.

The Murf.ai is an AI voice generator that can turn your copy into an incredibly lifelike voice-over – no one would be able to tell it’s a bot, not a person reading the script. It has templates for trailers, explainer videos, app walkthroughs and more. In the studio you simply paste your text or upload a document, then pick your favorite voice, the pitch, add emphasis where you want it and edit everything in real time.

murf.ai studio

The basic free Murf.ai account lets you try more than 100 voices to generate up to 10 minutes of voice-overs or transcriptions, then gives you a link to share your work with others. The paid plans start at $13 per month and offer unlimited downloads, commercial usage rights and access to 60 voices in 10 languages. Pretty nifty, right?

AI Writing Apps

You know how it is: sometimes you really need to find a way to boost your creative output, especially when you have a big project to turn in and a very tight deadline.

For SEO content pieces or short and actionable social media copy, AI writing apps can help you deliver more, in faster times.

Artificial intelligence-written content won’t replace actual live writers and can’t match their creativity but it does have its place in a writer’s arsenal.

For rephrasing, short news or longer SEO-optimized content pieces, there are a few AI Writing Apps that can save you some time to focus on more creative projects.

The Best AI Writing Apps: EssayBot

You know how it is: sometimes you just have to churn out some content.

For particularly boring, stuffer-type pieces, we tried EssayBot a few times and found this AI writing assistant very helpful.

Just give EssayBot a title, and it will help you find sources, help you paraphrase content and even include citations.

Our favorite part is definitely the prewritten first paragraph that EssayBot spits out as soon as you give it just a title.

We never actually went with it, and not just because it can be word-salad, but it did wonders to smash through our writer’s block. Once you see how EssayBot suggests you start your piece, you won’t be able to help yourself and will try to create something better!

The Best AI Writing Apps: PepperTypeAI

PepperType.AI works the same way but for the shorter pieces of content needed in your marketing campaigns.

Just in how many ways can you spin a message like “Buy Now”? Fortunately, PepperTypeAI has a lot of variations and can help you churn out ad copy quickly.

If you’re sick of writing for banners, social media ads on Google or Facebook or YouTube descriptions for webinars, give it a spin.

The Best AI Writing Apps: ConversionAI / Jarvis

Formerly known as ConversionAI , Jarvis is one of the better AI content generators we tried. It works just like the previous tool we recommended and spits out incredible ad copy variations.

You can take the easy route and let it create your marketing plan for the quarter, or you can use it to find inspiration whenever you’re too tired to write effective call-to-actions and social media copy.

When you’re struggling to hit word counts, Jarvis can also help with a sentence expander.

And lastly, we have an invaluable app to help you write better, for longer.

Do you tend to do research before writing a story but invariably end up on a random Wikipedia rabbit hole or procrastinating on social media?

The Best Writing Apps: Freedom

Then you need Freedom , probably the best writing app to eliminate distractions.

Freedom blocks any and all online distractions, from social media to games and even Wiki sites (for those prone to get lost in reading unrelated tidbits).

You have a simple interface to pick all the apps and websites you want to avoid when concentrating on your work.

The app works across devices on any OS, from Windows to Mac or Android. It lets you start sessions when you want, which is great for when you have a sudden request and a tight deadline, or lets you plan out sessions in advance, for when you’re trying to organize your workflow better.

The best part? It’s one of the cheapest productivity tools we’ve come across, at less than $2.50 per month.

Did we miss a good writing app or an AI writing tool? Drop us a line and we’ll try it and update this article accordingly. 

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Best novel writing software.

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How to Make $100K Per Month

7 Best Novel Writing Software 2024 (50 Story Planners Ranked)

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by Chris Von Wilpert, BBusMan • Last updated November 23, 2023

Expert Verified by Leandro Langeani, BBA

Disclosure:   We test and review software products based on an independent, multi-step rating methodology.  When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.  Read full disclosure and rating methodology .

Today there are 321 different novel writing software to help with your creative writing. We spent 95 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to write your novels.

What is the Best Novel Writing Software?

  • The Novel Factory — best of the best
  • Publisher Rocket — best for Amazon publishers
  • Plottr — best for plot planning
  • Scrivener — best bang for buck
  • Google Docs — best free option
  • ProWritingAid — best for novel editing
  • Atticus — best for self-publishers

1.   The Novel Factory

Our verdict — best of the best.

Price: Starts at $7.50/month

best novel writing software 2021

The Novel Factory is our favorite tool for novel writers. We think it’s the best of the best because it’s stupidly easy to use, saves a ton of time, and enables you to develop airtight plots.  

The Best Part:

There’s a tool for everything. The Novel Factory is full of tools that will make your work smarter, faster, and stronger, from “a to z” — from idea to publishing.

The Worst Part:

The desktop app falls a bit short, when compared to the cloud app. If you want to download and install the desktop version of The Novel Factory, you’ll need Windows. On a Mac, you’ll need to stick to the web version (which is awesome, by the way).

Get it if you want a writing tool that will enable you to materialize your ideas quicker and easier. 

I recommend you get started with the 30-day free trial, then get started on the Basic plan at $7.50/month.

(30-day free trial)

The Novel Factory is best for all kinds of fiction writers who want to get their novel idea out of their head, once and for all.

Top Features

  • It enables you to develop an airtight plot. The Novel Factory allows you to visually structure the plot, characters, locations, and more, so you’re always on top of your story.
  • It’s beginner friendly. Newbies will love the roadmap feature, which is a step-by-step guide to writing a novel, from the story premise, the final manuscript,  all the way through to the publishing.
  • DFY plot outlines. You get eight proven plot structures to build your story’s skeleton, in order to make the writing process way more efficient in writing your horror, romance, or detective noir story, for example.
  • In-depth character development. Create a character and get prompts which allow you to develop your characters’ motivations, archetype, physical descriptions, and much more.
  • Your seven year old could use it. The Novel Factory is so intuitive, you’ll probably learn your way around it the first time you open it — and their tutorials are a delight.

best novel writing software 2021

The Novel Factory offers three pricing plans:

  • Basic: $7.50/month for new writers, or experienced writers wanting to give it a shot.
  • Standard: $20/month for experienced writers to develop as many novels as they wish.
  • Premium: $60/month for writers who produce a massive amount of content.

Annual subscriptions provide a 17% discount.

Try The Novel Factory today with a free 30-day trial.

2. Publisher Rocket

Our verdict — best for amazon publishers.

Price:  $97

best novel writing software 2021

Selling books on Amazon with Publisher Rocket is almost like bringing a motorbike to a kid’s tricycle competition. Use it right, and you will sell more novels than the top sellers in your category.

  • Huge money & time saver. A few minutes of research now and then will give you deep, meaningful insight into what sells — genres, keywords, categories, title ideas… You give Amazon what Amazon wants, and it will give you buyers. You’d have to spend tons of time and money to gather all of the same insights by hand.
  • It takes some learning. Publisher Rocket’s got a somewhat steep learning curve. Commit to going through their tutorials to learn how to get value from the software, instead of trying to guess it, and you’ll do just fine.

Get it if you want to sell your self-published books on Amazon as ebooks, physical books, or audiobooks.

I recommend you try Publisher Rocket for 30 days, with a 100% money-back guarantee.

(30 day money-back guarantee)

Publisher Rocket is best for self-published novel writers who want to take advantage of Amazon’s colossal list of buyers.

  • It reads your reader’s minds. When you look at the hard data, like phrases Amazon shoppers are searching for, and how much they spend on which topics or genres, you get a much better shot at winning the “positioning” game. Use this information to craft your book title, tags, and descriptions, and Amazon will reward you with more shoppers.
  • Saves time and money. If you were to hire an agency to figure out all your “Amazon SEO”, you’d likely spend way more money than what you have to pay for Publisher Rocket… And there’s a chance said agency gets their intel from the same tool, anyway. A good 20 minutes of deep-dive research gives you a month’s worth of strategic information.
  • Publish your novel in the highest revenue potential category. Choosing the right book categories for your novel is like choosing which street to open a shop at. Positioning your book in the right categories and subcategories will put your story in front of more people… Then, you’ll use the power of Publisher Rocket to help you rank #1 (and you can even figure out which categories are more or less competitive).
  • Helps you spot book sale trends for your next novel. With a few clicks, you can figure out estimated book sales in all Amazon categories, and get a better understanding of what’s hot and what’s not. By understanding what genres people are buying, you can get your creative juices flowing in the right direction.
  • Incredible support. There are quite a few online reviews where users comment on how Publisher Rocket’s customer service is a superstar. They have a deep understanding of Amazon with their Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR), keywords, categories, and whatnot. They offer personalized advice and a ton of tutorials that will help anyone shoot their Amazon rankings up.

best novel writing software 2021

Publisher Rocket has a single pricing option:

Publisher Rocket: $97 one time, for a lifetime license.

Try Publisher Rocket today with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Our Verdict — Best For Plot Planning

Price:  Starts at $25

best novel writing software 2021

Plottr is a tool made for planners. If you’re a novel writer who likes to plan your stories before you ever sit down to start your actual writing sessions, Plottr will be your best friend.

  • Plottr enables you to write tight. We all have read novels that get lost in their own story plot. If you want to write an airtight novel plot, Plottr will allow you to be strategic with your writing, all the way through.
  • No writing capabilities. Plottr is only for planning and outlining. In order to write your draft, you’ll need a writing processor, like Scrivener or Word.

Get it if you want a tool that will enable you to create a strong, cohesive plot that will make your story stronger and believable.

I recommend you get started with the 14-day free trial, then get the annual or lifetime plan.

(14-day free trial)

Plottr is best for novel writers who want to have a clear overview of their plots, chapters, characters, and so on, before they ever start writing… It’s especially important for very intricate stories.

  • Visual timelines. Plottr makes it super simple to create visual timelines, allowing you to create interesting plots which can be reorganized with simple drag-and-drop actions. It’s almost like having a digital corkboard filled with your scenes, storylines, and chapters for you to play with.
  • It’s beginner friendly. If you’ve never outlined a plot before, Plottr’s got your back. Their templates are super helpful, so you’ll get the hang of strategizing your story that much faster. You get proven storytelling structures that will help you make your idea come to life.
  • Kickass tutorials. Plottr has an incredible collection of video tutorials that teach every little aspect of the software. The best part is, while they teach you how to use their software, they indirectly give you a “masterclass” on plotting and planning stories. Top notch. 
  • One-click export function. You can export your story and chapter outlines from Plottr to Word or Scrivener. Not only can you easily have all your development easily shared, but you can also use that for an extra layer of backup.
  • Character profiles. Hop into the characters tab and you can create in-depth character descriptions like a pro. You can add a name and a thumbnail, but the most useful part is that you can add trackable attributes, like flaws, backstories, personality traits, and so on. This will allow you to have an extra layer of consistency in your character development.

best novel writing software 2021

Plottr has six different pricing tiers:

  • Annual 1 Device: $25/year, for the basic version on one device. Use it forever + 1 year of updates.
  • Annual 3 Devices: $45/year, for the basic version on three devices. Use it forever + 1 year of updates.
  • Annual Pro: $79/year, with all the basic features plus cloud features and real time collaboration features on unlimited devices. Use it forever + 1 year of updates.
  • Lifetime 1 Device: $99 one time, for the basic version on one device. Use it forever with lifetime updates.
  • Lifetime 3 Devices: $149 one time, for the basic version on three devices. Use it forever with lifetime updates.
  • Lifetime Pro: $249 one time, with all basic features plus cloud features and real time collaboration features on unlimited devices. Use it forever with lifetime updates.

All paid plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try Plottr today with a free 14-day trial.

4. Scrivener

Our verdict — best bang for buck.

Price:  $49

best novel writing software 2021

Scrivener is one of our favorite writing tools for novel writers. You get features that help you every step of the way: researching, composing, writing, and editing your novels. No wonder it’s the tool of choice for renowned writers like J.K. Rowling, Steven Kotler, and Ryan Holiday, to name a few. Oh, and it works on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhones!

Tons of great tools. Scrivener is a toolbox, from start to finish for the whole writing process. From having all your research and notes handy, to advanced features like tagging, editing, composing, and writing, this tool delivers stellar value for its one-time price. 

One license per device. Maybe you’ve bought yourself a Windows license before, but needed to work from your iPhone one weekend? Too bad. You’ll need separate licenses for your desktop and mobile devices (there’s no online version, either).

Get it if you want a writing tool that will push you towards your daily novel writing goals.. 

I recommend you get started with the 30-day free trial period, then get both the mobile and desktop app paid versions.

Scrivener is best for creative writers who write in a non-linear fashion and would benefit from visualizing their novel structure.

  • Drag, drop, and organize. Scrivener allows you to break up your novel into chapters and sections. Once you hop into the “binder” view, you can move scenes and even entire chapters around with a simple drag-and-drop move. The “corkboard view” creates index cards as you add scenes and chapters to your novel, so when you move those index cards around, you also rearrange your entire story.
  • Visual feedback. When you’re writing an intricate story, it’s a great idea to be able to visually manage your narrative, in order to avoid plot holes. You could use color-coded note cards in order to make sure all your open loops are being closed, or that you recall a sub-plot at the right time, for example.
  • Work with templates. Scrivener offers a few different writing project templates, for different creative writing styles like fiction, non-fiction, and scriptwriting, to name a few. Then, you can create your own collection of presets to reuse on future books. Imagine you were working on a trilogy — Scrivener makes it easy to keep everything consistent, like fonts, printing standards, front and back matter, and so on.
  • Helps you to keep the pace. The “dialogue focus” is a key feature that lets you isolate one of the most important pieces of the novel writing process: Dialogues. This feature makes it a lot easier to keep your scenes dynamic and relevant, within the realm of your story. 
  • Quick and easy formatting. With the compile function, you can publish your drafts in the standard industry standards, or any format a publisher asks, without messing with your original work in the main project. You could change fonts, exclude the foreword, or even change the title of your book.

best novel writing software 2021

Scrivener offers six pricing plans:

  • macOS: $49 one time, for mac users.
  • macOS educational: $41.65 one time, for mac users who are students or academics.
  • Windows: $49 one time, for Windows users.
  • Windows educational: $41.65 one time, for Windows users who are students or academics.
  • iOS: $19.99 one time, for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch users.
  • Bundle: $80 one time, for both a macOS and a Windows license.

Try Scrivener today with a free 30-day trial.

Our Top Three Picks

Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:

Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:

Here are the top 50 novel writing tools we considered in this review:

  • The Novel Factory
  • Publisher Rocket
  • Google Docs
  • ProWritingAid
  • Living Writer
  • Hemingway App
  • Novlr 
  • Storyline Creator
  • Reedsy Book Editor
  • Writer’s Blocks
  • Ginger Grammar
  • FocusWriter
  • Microsoft Word
  • Libre Office
  • Apple Pages
  • Grammar Lookup
  • The Most Dangerous Writing App
  • NaturalReader
  • Kindle Create
  • Zoho Writer

The Bottom Line

Here are our top picks for the best novel writing software to try this year:

best novel writing software 2021

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Best Novel Writing Software

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A novelist is a weaver who skillfully intertwines storylines into an object of beauty. The reader is surprised and delighted: challenges are overcome, relationships develop, conflicts are worked through. The novelist creates believable characters who change and grow; they design compelling worlds to explore.

Writing a novel is a big job. According to  Manuscript Agency , they’re typically 60,000 to 100,000 words in length, maybe longer. The  Reedsy blog  estimates that it takes most authors six months to a year to complete a book, though that depends on how much research is required and how much time the novelist devotes to writing each day. It could even take years, according to  Kindlepreneur .

best novel writing software

Not everyone focuses on research. Some prefer to dive in and start typing, seeing where the story takes them. Others spend more time researching than writing. Tolkien famously mapped entire worlds and created new languages in the process of writing his fantasy series.

How do you keep such a gigantic undertaking organized? Dedicated writing software can make the task easier. The best tool for you depends on your experience and workflow. Would you appreciate tools to develop your novel’s background material? How about guidance in what to write, or help polish your writing so that it’s readable and engaging? Do you need a tool to output a high-quality printed or electronic book?

This article is a comprehensive look at the novel-writing tools available to you. Our two favorites?

Scrivener  is the Rolls Royce of writing apps. It includes the formatting features writers need—and then gets them out of the way when it’s time to write. It empowers you to outline your research and ideas, track word count goals and deadlines, rearrange your novel’s pieces, and compile the final result into a book.

Squibler , on the other hand, is much easier to learn and use. It’s designed to make writing easy. It’ll guide you through how to set up your project and what to write in each chapter. It helps you catch typos and identify where your writing is hard to read. It will also create an ebook at a click of the mouse.

While these two apps are the winners of our roundup, they’re not your only options. We’ll cover a range of alternatives, describing their strengths and weaknesses. Read on to discover which novel-writing app is the best for you.

Table of Contents

Why Trust Me for This Buying Guide

Writing the first draft, proofreading & revision, editing & publishing, best for experienced writers: scrivener, best for new writers: squibler.

  • LivingWriter
  • The Novel Factory

SmartEdit Writer

Reedsy book editor, manuscripts, does the software work on your computer or device, does the software offer features that help you focus on the writing task, does the software help you develop your novel’s backstory, does the software help you structure and rearrange your novel, does the software keep you on track, does the software help you proofread and revise your novel, does the software help with editing and publishing, feature summary, how much does the software cost.

My name is Adrian Try, and I’ve been a professional writer and editor for over a decade. I’ve tested and used countless writing apps, word processors, and text editors over those years.

I haven’t (yet) written a book or novel. However, I just checked my stats in Ulysses, the app where I’ve done most of my writing over the last five years. It tells me I’ve written enough text to fill seven novels. I use as many features as I can to structure and rearrange what I write, keep track of my words, and export them to useful formats.

But my favorite app might not be yours; writing for the web is certainly different than writing a novel. I kept that in mind when choosing our winners. The apps we include offer enough variety to appeal to a wide range of authors.

I also took the time to make this chart that summarizes the major features that each app offers. See the “How We Tested” section for more.

Novel-Writing-Software4

How the Right Software Can Help You Write a Novel

Writing a novel is a mammoth undertaking. The right writing app will split it into achievable pieces. The process involves a series of very different tasks, and there are apps out there to help with everything.

Writing the first draft of your novel is a huge job requiring months of typing, imagination, and wrestling. Many apps provide a distraction-free interface to help you focus on the creative process. Often, there’s also a dark mode that’s easier on your eyes, especially at night.

They will also help you create your novel’s backstory, identify and develop your characters and locations, think through plot points, and keep track of your ideas. They will split your novel into an outline of chapters and scenes, then let you rearrange them with ease.

You may have deadlines to meet and word count requirements for each chapter. A good writing app will keep track of this for you, notifying you when you meet your goals and warning you when you’re behind schedule. They’ll also give you a clear indication of how many words you need to write each day to finish on time.

As proud as you are of your first draft, it’s just the starting point—it’s you telling the story to yourself. To make your novel more compelling, you may need to rearrange its structure, add or subtract sections, and improve its wording. You should also fix any spelling and grammar errors.

Half of the apps we cover include tools that help you achieve these tasks. Alternatively, you can use third-party specialized software like these:

  • Grammarly Premium is an accurate and helpful spelling and grammar checker that will also improve your writing. We believe it’s the best grammar checker available.
  • ProWritingAid is a similar product that is also worth considering. It can create detailed reports that show you in detail how you can write better.
  • AutoCrit is designed for those who self-edit. It’s an editing platform for writers. The app uses artificial intelligence to offer step-by-step recommendations for improving your manuscript. After analyzing millions of published books, the software will show you how to best match the language for your genre and audience.

Novel-Writing-Software2

If you intend to work with a professional agency or editor, you’ll find that they have specific software requirements. Usually, they prefer Microsoft Word (or possibly Google Docs) because of the powerful track changes feature that shows you suggested edits and lets you act on them.

For that reason, many writing apps opt not to offer editing and collaboration features. In fact, just two of the apps in our roundup do. They’re good options if you plan to self-edit, along with AutoCrit.

However, most apps on our list allow you to create ebooks and print-ready PDFs. Some offer more control over their appearance than others, while others focus on ease of use. Some even help you sell and distribute your finished novel.

Best Novel Writing Software: The Winners

Here are our recommendations along with a quick review of each of them.

Scrivener 3 is “the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists.” It’s a full-featured writing app with a learning curve that runs on Mac, Windows, and iOS, and the best app overall for serious authors. Read our full Scrivener review .

$49 (Mac) or $45 (Windows) from the developer’s website (one-time fee). $44.99 from the Mac App Store. $19.99 (iOS) from the App Store.

Novel-Writing-Software3

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free, dark mode theme
  • Research: Freeform
  • Structure: Outliner, corkboard
  • Progress: Word count goals, deadline
  • Proofreading: Spell check, grammar check (Mac only)
  • Revision: No
  • Collaboration: No
  • Publishing: Powerful Compile feature

Like several other programs included in our roundup, Scrivener was developed by an author who couldn’t find a software tool that suited him. So he created the perfect writing tool for him—and possibly for you, too.

When you open the program, you’ll find a writing pane on the right. This is where you’ll spend the bulk of your time typing the content of your novel. On the left is an outline of your novel’s structure. This splits your writing project into manageable chunks that can be rearranged via drag-and-drop. The outliner can be viewed in more detail, including columns that display the status of each section.

Novel-Writing-Software6

At the bottom of the outline, you’ll find a Research section. This is where you can develop the background material of your novel. You can list and describe key characters and locations. You can store other ideas that come to you. This is all displayed in its own freeform outline, which you can organize in a way that makes sense to you.

Some authors might prefer an alternate app that offers more guidance, like prompting you to develop your characters by describing their history, personalities, and relationships. Storyist, Bibisco, Dabble, and Novlr all do this. Scrivener is also weak at proofreading, revision, and editing, which some other apps excel at.

The Corkboard is another way to get an overview of your novel. It displays each section on an index card along with a brief synopsis. Those cards can be reordered via drag-and-drop. Those cards can be reordered via drag-and-drop.

Novel-Writing-Software5

Scrivener allows you to set goals, such as the word count requirement for your novel (and even specific sections), as well as a deadline. This information can be tracked in a more detailed outline view.

Novel-Writing-Software8

Once your novel’s writing stage is complete, the app will create an ebook or print-ready PDF for you. The Compile feature offers a selection of layouts in a wide range of formats. Alternatively, you can export your novel as a DOCX file if you intend to work with a professional editor or agency.

Novel-Writing-Software7

Alternatives: Ulysses and Storyist are two alternate, powerful desktop apps that run on Mac and iOS. Manuskript and SmartEdit Writer are powerful free alternatives. If you prefer a writing app that guides you through the development of story elements, consider Storyist or Dabble .

Squibler is “a text editor that conforms to you” and “makes the writing process easy.” It’s a quality writing app that takes a very different approach to Scrivener:

  • It works online rather than being a standalone app
  • It offers a guided approach to writing your novel
  • It automatically suggests how you can improve your writing
  • It lets you collaborate with others

If Scrivener seems too hard to use or doesn’t fit your writing workflow, Squibler might be a better choice. This is especially true if you appreciate a less complex app, help with initial setup, and guidance through the writing process.

Sign up for a free 14-day trial on the official website (a credit card number is required), then pay $9.99/month for continued use.

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free
  • Research: Guided
  • Progress: Word count goals
  • Proofreading: Spelling and grammar check
  • Revision: Auto-suggested grammar improvements
  • Collaboration: Other writers but not editors
  • Publishing: Book formatting, export to PDF or Kindle

When starting a new project, you can select from several book templates, including general fiction, romance novel, children’s book, historical novel, fantasy fiction book, thriller novel, 30 chapter novel, mystery, and more. This will give you a head start by setting up chapters, metadata, and a daily writing goal.

Novel-Writing-Software10

Chapters are pre-filled with helpful information to guide you through building your novel. For example, in the 30-chapter novel template, Chapter 1 introduces the main character, and you’re given a list of questions that should be answered as you write.

Novel-Writing-Software9

With Squibler, the guidance you’re offered is right there in the text. Other apps do this in a separate reference section, where you individually develop each story element on index cards. If you prefer to jump right into typing your novel, this app may suit you better. Those who love planning would be better served by an app like Storyist, Bibisco, Dabble, or Novlr. Notes and comments can be left in the margin.

As you type, spelling and grammar errors are flagged, and suggestions for improving your writing are made. This feels very similar to Grammarly Premium.

Novel-Writing-Software13

A distraction-free mode is available. It simplifies the interface to promote focus. You can also enable dark mode, which is easier on the eyes.

Novel-Writing-Software11

You can invite team members to help with the novel, though each one will cost an additional $10 per month. You can designate each person to be either a member or administrator.

Novel-Writing-Software12

When your novel is complete, you can download it as a PDF, text file, Word file, or Kindle ebook. Unlike Scrivener, no formatting options are offered.

Novel-Writing-Software14

Alternatives: Novlr and Novelize are online writing apps with freeform reference sections. LivingWriter , Shaxpir, and The Novel Factory are online alternatives that offer guided development of story elements. Free online writing apps include Reedsy Book Editor, Wavemaker, and ApolloPad.

Best Novel Writing Software: The Competition

Here is a list of options that are also great for consideration.

Ulysses is “the Ultimate Writing App for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.” It’s my personal favorite writing app, though it’s not quite as powerful as Scrivener for writing novels. It runs on Mac and iOS.

Rather than working in an outline, each section of your novel is a sheet. These sheets can be grouped together and combined to export a complete ebook. Ulysses’ strength is its simplicity, including a distraction-free interface, the use of Markdown for formatting, and a single library of all your work.

I find it easier to focus when using Ulysses than any other writing app. Its writing goals keep track of your progress; an indicator turns green when each section meets the target. It will also let you know how much you need to write each day to meet your deadline. In the Ulysses vs Scrivener article, we compare it in detail with our winner.

Download it from the Mac App Store for a free trial, then subscribe for $5.99/month or $49.99/year.

Novel-Writing-Software15

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free, dark mode
  • Structure: Sheets and groups
  • Revision: Style check using the integrated LanguageTool Plus service
  • Publishing: Export to PDF, ePub

Storyist is “a powerful writing environment for novelists and screenwriters.” It runs on Mac and iOS and includes many of the same features as Scrivener. Storyist has two strengths that our winner doesn’t: it correctly formats screenplays, and it has a greater focus on guiding you through the research and planning stage of your novel.

The Storyboard displays index cards that give you an overview of your novel and shows each character’s photos. Story sheets are dedicated pages that let you develop a character, plot point, or scene.

Storyist also offers robust goal-tracking features. There’s also a Book Editor that lets you format the appearance of the final product. It’s not as flexible as Scrivener’s Compile feature. We also compare it in detail with Scrivener in a separate article: Scrivener vs Storyist .

Purchase for $59 from the official website (one-time fee) or download for free from the Mac App Store and choose the $59.99 in-app purchase. Also available for iOS and costs $19 from the App Store.

Novel-Writing-Software16

  • Structure: Outliner, storyboard
  • Publishing: Book editor

LivingWriter is “the #1 writing app for authors and novelists.” It’s an online app that guides you through the process of developing your story elements. An outliner helps you plan your chapters, a corkboard gives you an overview, and a sidebar lets you jot down notes.

Outline templates from successful stories and movies are included; Smart Text automatically types character and location names as you type. This feature also makes every story element a hyperlink that lets you quickly access your notes. Where was Frodo born? Just click on his name to find out.

Writing goals help you keep track of your progress. At any point, you can share what you’ve done so far with a friend or editor, giving them read-only access or letting them edit. They’ll even be able to see your notes and research.

Start your 30-day free trial at the official website (credit card required), then subscribe for $9.99/month or $96/year.

  • Proofreading: No
  • Collaboration: Other writers, editors
  • Publishing: Export to DOCX and PDF using Amazon manuscript formats

Novlr is “novel writing software built by writers for writers.” It’s an online app with an offline mode, and it’s the next best thing to Squibler.

It doesn’t guide you through developing your story elements but offers a free-form notes section to store your research. Like Squibler, it includes an advanced grammar checker that offers writing style suggestions. There are also short writing courses that take less than 10 minutes a day.

When you need help, Novlr can put you in touch with free and paid-for professionals who can proofreader, design, edit, and publish your novel. Alternatively, you can share it (read-only) with friends and editors.

Sign up for a 2-week free trial on the official website (no credit card required), then subscribe for $10/month or $100/year.

Novel-Writing-Software17

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free, night and evening mode
  • Structure: Navigation pane
  • Revision: Writing style suggestions
  • Collaboration: Read-only access for editors
  • Publishing: Export to ebook formats

Bibisco is “novel writing software that helps you to write your novel, in a simple way.” It’s available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Although a free version is available, serious writers should spend 23 euros on the Supporters edition (28 euros recommended).

This app will helpfully guide you through the process of creating the elements of your story. It enables you to create your world, interview your characters, and visualize their story in a timeline. Your novel is broken into chapters and scenes, which can be analyzed according to length, time, and location.

You can write in a distraction-free environment, set your own writing goals, and export your finished work in ePub format. In the Scrivener vs Bibisco article, we compare it in detail with Scrivener.

Download the free Community version from the official website, but serious writers should purchase the Supporters edition.

best novel writing software 2021

  • Focused writing: Yes
  • Structure: Corkboard, timeline
  • Revision: It manages scenes revision

Shaxpir is “software for storytellers” and works online, on Mac, and on Windows. William Shakespeare was famously inconsistent on how he spelled his surname, but this version is the most creative I’ve seen.

The software includes a manuscript builder that allows you to rearrange your novel using drag-and-drop. It also includes a world-building notebook that keeps track of your story elements—characters, places, and themes. You can add concept art, take notes in the margins, set goals, and track your progress.

Sign up for a free 30-day trial on the official website. Shaxpir 4: Everyone is free, but for everything you need to write a novel, you’ll need to subscribe to Shaxpir 4: Pro for $7.99/month.

Novel-Writing-Software19

  • Focused writing: Custom themes
  • Structure: Outliner
  • Progress: Word count tracking
  • Revision: Writing style check
  • Publishing: Export to ePub

Dabble is a cloud-based writing tool that operates both online and off. Versions are also available for Mac and Windows.

It aims to offer most of the functionality of our winner in an easier-to-use package. Overall, it succeeds. It lacks some of Scrivener’s more advanced features, but many authors who never felt at home with Scrivener found success with Dabble. For more details, refer to our comparison article of Dabble vs Scrivener .

Sign up for a free 14-day trial on the official website, then choose a plan to subscribe to. Basic $10/month, Standard $15/month, Premium $20/month. You can also purchase a lifetime license for $399.

Novel-Writing-Software20

  • Publishing: No

The Novel Factory is “the ultimate novel writing software.” You can use it online or download a Windows application. It focuses on planning your novel in advance—the research phase—so it’s a good fit for very organized authors. It lets you plan out sections, characters, locations, and items, offering a wide range of statistics on your progress.

Try the online or Windows version free for 30 days. Then purchase a Windows desktop license for $39.99 from the official website, or subscribe to the online version from $7.50/month.

Novel-Writing-Software21

  • Focused writing: No
  • Structure: Storyboard

Novelize helps you “focus on writing” and “finish your novel.” It’s an online tool developed by a family of writers. They’ve aimed to create a streamlined tool that won’t distract you from writing.

The app operates in three modes—outline, write, and organize. A grammar checker is omitted, though the software is compatible with Grammarly and ProWritingAid. A notebook is always available on the side, so you can keep track of your thoughts as you write.

Sign up for a free account and a 17-day trial on the official website (credit card required). Then, subscribe for $45/year.

  • Focused writing: Minimizes distractions, dark theme
  • Progress: No

Atticus is a newer tool, envisioned as the ultimate writing, formatting, and collaborating program for writers. If Scrivener, Google Docs, and Vellum all got together and had a baby, its name would be Atticus.

While not as complex as Scrivener, the layout is delightfully intuitive, and it provides advanced features when it comes to formatting. Once your book is written, all it takes is a few clicks of the button, and you can have a beautifully formatted eBook and PDF ready for publication. And the best part is that it runs on virtually all platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.

As a writing software, Atticus has everything an author might need. It’s got most of the text editing capability that you would expect from any word processor, but also adds writing goal features to track your word count and improve your habits.

It has a one-time cost of $147, and this covers all future upgrades which you will get at no extra cost.

best novel writing software 2021

  • Research: No
  • Revision: Coming Soon
  • Collaboration: Coming Soon
  • Publishing: Export to PDF, ePub, Docx

Free Alternatives

SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler) is “free software for novel and short story writers.” It started life as an add-on for Microsoft Word and is now a standalone Windows app that helps you plan, write, edit, and polish your novel.

Download for free from the official website. The Word add-on is still available for $77, and a Pro version of the add-on costs $139.

  • Focused writing: Dark theme
  • Progress: Daily word count
  • Proofreading: Spell check
  • Revision: SmartEdit helps improve your writing

Reedsy Book Editor is “a beautiful production tool that takes care of the formatting and conversion before you have even finished writing.” It takes you through the entire process of creating a novel, from writing to editing to typesetting. However, it lacks strong proofreading and revision tools, so self-editors will need to use third-party tools.

Get started by signing up for a free account on the official website.

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free, evening mode
  • Publishing: Typeset to PDF and ePub, sales and distribution

Manuskript is an “open-source tool for writers” that includes a helpful novel assistant that helps you grow your ideas and develop characters, plots, and a detailed universe. It offers many of the features of our winners, but is free and looks quite dated.

The app is free (open-source) and can be downloaded from the official website. If you’d like to support the app, you can contribute in various ways.

  • Structure: Outliner, corkboard, storyboard
  • Revision: Frequency analyzer
  • Publishing: Compile and export to PDF, ePub

Manuscripts is “a writing tool like nothing you have seen before” that lets you “plan, edit, and share your work.” It seems designed for academic documents, but it can be used to write novels as well.

Manuscripts is a free (open-source) Mac application and can be downloaded from the official website.

  • Progress: Word count
  • Publishing: Creates publication-ready manuscripts

Wavemaker is “novel writing software” in the form of a progressive web app that allows you to write online or off. It’s free, though you can optionally support the developer with a donation via PayPal or Patreon.

Access the software online from the official website and install it with the press of a button.

  • Structure: Outliner, corkboard, timeline, planning board, mind maps
  • Publishing: Export as ePub (experimental feature)

yWriter is “powerful novel-writing software” for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and was developed by a writer. The software and website look quite dated, and the database nature of this app requires some learning. For a detailed comparison with our winner, refer to our article Scrivener vs. yWriter .

Find and download the latest version for your operating system on the official website.

Novel-Writing-Software1

  • Progress: Word count, deadline
  • Publishing: Export to ePub and Kindle

ApolloPad is “a feature-packed online writing environment that will help you finish your novels, ebooks, and short stories.” It’s a web app with an offline mode and is free to use while in beta. It lets you add to-do items to your notes, develop characters, locations, and objects, and track your progress on a dashboard.

Register for a free account on the official website.

  • Focused writing: Distraction-free, dark themes
  • Structure: Outliner, corkboard, timeline
  • Publishing: Export to PDF and ePub

Best Novel Writing Software: How We Tested

Here are a few things that we take into consideration when evaluating the best software and apps for novel writing.

You obviously need to choose a program that runs on the computer or device you own. Some run in web browsers, while others are desktop or mobile apps developed for certain operating systems.

How do most writers procrastinate? By fiddling with the formatting of their text, they’ve already written instead of writing something new. Most writing apps offer a distraction-free mode that hides the toolbar and other windows from view. Many also offer a dark mode, which reduces strain on your eyes, especially at night.

These apps offer a distraction-free mode:

While these offer a dark mode or theme:

While some writers prefer to dive in and start typing, almost all writers can use somewhere to record their ideas and develop their thoughts. Your research shouldn’t count in your manuscript’s word count or be exported in the finished document.

Some writers prefer a freeform approach, developing ideas and structuring them as they like. Here are the apps that allow you to work that way:

Other writers appreciate more guidance. The app may offer specific areas to work on your characters, locations, and plot ideas. They may go even further by asking questions that prompt you to develop them more fully. Here are apps offering that extra support:

Most apps provide some way to get an overview of your novel and rearrange its pieces, such as an outline, corkboard, storyboard, or timeline. Some apps offer several.

Corkboard or index cards:

Storyboard:

  • Ulysses: Sheets and groups
  • Novlr: Navigation pane

Authors often need to work to a deadline and meet word count requirements. Here are the apps that let you set word count goals:

And these let you stay on top of your deadlines:

Apps that offer suggestions on how to improve your writing are helpful but rare. Here are those that help: Squibler: Auto-suggested grammar improvements

  • Ulysses: Style check using the integrated LanguageTool Plus service
  • Novlr: Writing style suggestions
  • Shaxpir: Writing style check

Are you writing as part of a team? Only two apps allow you to collaborate with other writers:

Just two allow you to collaborate with editors:

  • Novlr (read-only access)

Most offer some way of publishing your novel as an ebook or print-ready PDF:

  • Scrivener: Powerful Compile feature
  • Squibler: Book formatting, export to PDF or Kindle
  • Ulysses: Export to PDF, ePub
  • Storyist: Book editor
  • LivingWriter: Export to DOCX and PDF using Amazon manuscript formats
  • Novlr: Export to ebook formats
  • Bibisco: Export to PDF, ePub
  • Shaxpir: Export to ePub

This chart summarizes the major features that each app offers. Green means that it does the job well, orange that it is not as full-featured in that area, and red means that it lacks that feature entirely.

  • Focus: DF = distraction-free, DM = dark mode
  • Structure: O = outliner, C = corkboard, S = storyboard, T = timeline
  • Progress: W = word count goal, D = deadline
  • Proofreading: S = spelling check, G = grammar check
  • Collaboration: W = writers, E = editors

Most of the apps we cover are affordable. Many are subscription-based, but there are some quality programs you can purchase outright for a reasonably low price.

Purchase outright:

  • Bibisco: $17.50 (actually 15 euros)
  • The Novel Factory (for Windows): $39.99
  • Scrivener: $49 (Mac), $45 (Windows)
  • Storyist: $59
  • Dabble: $399 for a lifetime license

Subscription (per month):

  • Novelize: $3.75 (actually $45/year)
  • Ulysses: $5.99
  • The Novel Factory (online): $7.50
  • Shaxpir: $7.99 (free plan also available)
  • Squibler: $9.99
  • LivingWriter: $9.99
  • Dabble: $10 (Basic), $15 (Standard), $20 (Premium)

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Home » 10 Best Novel Writing Software Online in 2024 | Reviews and Pricing

10 Best Novel Writing Software Online in 2024 | Reviews and Pricing

10 Best Novel Writing Software Online in 2024 | Reviews and Pricing

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Are you interested in learning everything on how to write a novel ? Do you want to become the next bestselling author? Or self-publish a book? Then it’s time to write your novel with a novel software.

I am one of those writers who looks at the famous published authors and fantasize about having the same life. Their books in the flesh and on bookstore shelves. People falling in love with the world they have created.

I’ve realized to make it happen for yourself, you’ll need passion, suitable environment, resources, time, tools, and a lot of other things that will help you craft an amazing novel. Most importantly, you will need access to the best novel writing software.

A novel writing software will help you organize your research, create outline, develop characters, edit your manuscript, and help with publishing.

A great writing tool can help you become a better writer without any learning curve. It automates the process. It makes your life easier. It gives you time to focus on more strategic aspects of your creative writing that deserve your time.

But what novel writing tool is right for you? How do you find the one that will help you?

If you are not sure on where to begin, this article is for you. It covers 10 leading novel writing software in detail with their features, pros, cons, pricing details, and more.

By the time you finish reading this article, you will know what software you need and why. Trust me on this one.

1. Squibler: Best Novel Software for Speed and Simplicity

Novel Writing Software

As a new novel writer, you need two things: Simplicity and speed.

A simple yet effective book software will help you get used to using software for writing. Speed will make you write fast without losing focus.

Squibler is the best novel software that is simple and speedy at the same time that helps you complete your novel fast. It works for non-fiction books, too.

It’s free to use Squibler. Not sure if it is right for you? Give it a try.

The major features and benefits of using Squibler are discussed below.

Squibler allows you to take and store notes for your project.

Notes can be anything from random brainstorming to character sketches. Whatever it is you want to have around, it will be organized for you within your Squibler project. You can add tags to your notes for better organization and management.

Learning how to outline a novel with Squibler is easy. Whether you like to keep things minimal or go full detail, you can do it with Squibler. Organizing files in your project is fairly simple. They will be kept out of the way but will be easily accessible when needed.

Once the research and outlining are done, it’s time to write. This is where Squibler really shines.

It allows you to divide your chapters into different documents while keeping them together in your project. This allows you to move around and make changes as per need without ruining the sequence. There is no pressure to keep things in chronological order because you can just drag and drop to rearrange later. No scrolling, copying, or pasting is ever needed. 

You can also create separate documents for scenes. Scenes can be moved between chapters or they can be written but kept out of place for a while until you decide a suitable place for them.

Squibler’s entire design is centered on the idea of efficiency. The goal is to help you write faster .

I am sure you know how hard it is to write your first draft as a writer. It can sometimes take months or even years to get through it.

Squibler eliminates this challenge by making everything easier for you. With an efficient and user-friendly design, you can spend all your time on writing without worrying about the organization, management, editing, ordering, outlining, and research. Squibler handles everything for you.

Squibler Pricing

Squibler offers the following plans:

  • Free trial – enjoy the 14-day trial period which provides basic features (creating drafts, customizing templates, sharing options, etc) for free.
  • Squibler Pro (monthly plan) – use its advanced features by upgrading to Squibler Pro for $9.99 per month (billed monthly).

Claim your free trial today .

2. Scrivener: An All-Round Novel Writing Software

best novel writing software 2021

There is writing software for almost everything from the broadest of categories to the most specific tasks. If you are looking for a versatile and not a specific writing software like Squibler, Scrivener is your best bet.

Scrivener can do a lot of things and it has a special set of advantages for writers of long-form fiction. You can buy it at a one-time price of $45.

Is Scrivener really the best novel software for you? Let’s find out.

Organization

Scrivener is a master at keeping you organized.

If you work on multiple projects at a given time (I’m sure you do), you will love this tool. Each project will involve outlines, research, notes, brainstorming, etc. Scrivener keeps  all  files and documents associated with a project in the same folder. One place for everything.

This is sure to keep your “projects” file clean, lean, and organized.

Good novels require some level of research.

The level of research may vary, but you will definitely need to do research for your novel. Readers will relate better to your story when things are logical and believable. You need your readers to trust you if you want them to enjoy your novels. 

Scrivener gives you a space within your project for all your research, then let’s your organize it with cards. It is kept out of the way but still accessible. Each project has a “binder” which lays out all sections in an organized and easy to follow way. You can create multiple documents for different areas of research. 

Scrivener also allows you to import existing files for research and reference purposes. You can also keep track of links, images, and notes.

Once you know how to write a novel , the next thing that you should know is how to outline a novel . And that’s where Scrivener fits.

You can create and manage your novel outline hassle-free.

Everyone has a different outlining style so it can be hard to pinpoint a process that will work. If you don’t know what you like to do, you will just have to go through some trial and error. Regardless of how you end up doing your outline though, Scrivener is there to help.

Plain Outlines

Outlining becomes easy with Scrivener.

You can store your outline like research by using documents and keeping them under an “outline” section within the binder. If you like seeing things in list form, this will work best for you.

It is also helpful if you like to keep everything in one central place. You can create a new document for each chapter outline, or each character, whatever works for you.

best novel writing software 2021

It is a digital cork board that functions and appears much like a real cork board. You can pin virtual note cards to a screen that looks like a cork board.

Each note card is a small rectangle that has a scroll feature. This means you can include as much information as you want on one card while keeping it small and compact.

The cork board is great for those who are more visual. You can lay out your entire novel right in front of you with the cork board. A popular way to do this is to create a note card for each chapter and set them in proper order. They can be rearranged easily by dragging and dropping. 

You can create note cards for characters, scenes, settings – anything really. The cork board is extremely versatile and will suit the needs of almost everyone in one way or another.

Create Targets

Scrivener allows you to set goals and targets for writing your novel.

This is a great motivator for those who struggle with writer’s block or procrastination. There are two types of goals you can create with Scrivener:

1. Project Targets

This is a word count goal for your entire project. It is hard to know exactly how long a novel will turn out to be. But you can predict a general ballpark and set the goal.

For instance, 80,000 words is a common novel length. You can make a more educated guess if you already have a detailed outline created.

2. Session Targets

This is a small goal that you can set each time you sit down to write. Maybe you have a couple of hours and you want to bang out 1500 words. You can create a session target with that and Scrivener will start tracking you.

The targets are tracked in a small window that can be kept on the screen in a corner and out of the way. A progress bar will slowly start to fill up as you work. As you start to get closer to completion, the bar will go from red to green.

Watching your progress increase and seeing that bar go green is a satisfying reward for your efforts. It keeps you going if you get stuck or lost.

Novel Templates

There are several Scrivener templates available to choose from. A lot of these templates are created for novelists.

Scrivener comes loaded with a few basic templates. If you need more templates, you can download them free and upload them to your dashboard. There are tons of high-quality free templates available out there.

I have covered numerous Scrivener templates in this post.

A fully comprehensive template will have everything you need to write your novel seamlessly. Others will focus on one area. If you have a certain weakness that needs improvement, there is a template that will allow you to work on it while offering assistance. 

Here is a list of types of templates that you can choose from:

  • Story structure templates
  • Outlining templates
  • Plot Point templates
  • World building templates
  • Character sketching templates
  • Instructional templates
  • And many more

Scrivener Pricing

Here are the plans offered by Scrivener:

  • Free trial – you can download this version if you don’t have the license for Scrivener and use it for 30 days.
  • Full version – purchase the standard ($49) and educational license ($41) for your Mac and Windows. You can buy Scrivener for your iOS devices for $19.99.

You can also purchase discounted bundle plans for MacOS and Windows priced at $80.

3. Scapple: Novel Writing Software Aid for Brainstorming

best novel writing software 2021

Are you more interested in a book writing software with a narrower and focused approach that lets you brainstorm and manage your novel easily?

Scapple is the novel writing tool you need.

It is a special-purpose novel writing software that helps you brainstorm and manage your notes and ideas in a clean interface.

It comes with a free trial so you can try it for free. It will cost you $14.99 should you need to purchase its full version with all the features.

Are you a fan of mind maps? If so, you will love Scapple.

You can create mind maps easily with this amazing software that will help you write a novel and finish it quickly.

Scapple allows you to create digital mind maps and brainstorming notes. You can then store these notes on your computer to import elsewhere.

You can use mind maps to bring ideas and themes together in a cohesive way visually. It helps you get rid of the chaos during the ideation and process.

Here is an example of how your mind map will look like:

scapple mind map

Scapple is an easy-to-use tool. Once you open the program, you can click anywhere on the blank document to create a note. You can create unlimited notes and put them wherever you want.

Notes can be connected to each other by dragging them around. You can customize shape and structure of the notes easily.

No hiccups. It’s fun and interesting.

Scapple Pricing

Scapple offers the following plans:

  • Free trial – download Scapple for free and enjoy a 30-day free trial.
  • Paid version – buy the standard license ($18) and educational license ($14.40) for your MacOS and Windows systems. 

4. ProWritingAid: Novel Writing Software Aid for Editing

best novel writing software 2021

Knowing how to write a novel is one thing and having it edited is something else. You cannot go without editing your novel.

And when it comes to editing your novel, the best software is none other than ProWritingAid .

It is an editor that provides both grammar and style corrections and suggestions. It has a free version with limited features. You can only check 500 words at a time with the free version. This can be tedious and annoying if you are trying to edit a long project. The premium plan starts at $60 per year. You can get lifetime access for as low as $210.

Upgrading to the premium version has several additional benefits such as: 

  • A downloadable desktop app to work offline.
  • No word limit.
  • Real-time grammar and style checking.
  • Integrates with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Chrome, and Scrivener.
  • It provides 25 different writing reports on each piece of analyzed writing.

Writing Reports

This is one of the best features of ProWritingAid . It looks at your writing from 25 different perspectives which cover all styles of writing – including fiction . 

The reports you will get once your writing has been analyzed are discussed below.

1. Writing style : This will highlight instances of passive voice, adverbs, and repetition.

2. Grammar : Misuse of commas, sentence fragments, and incorrect use of tense are some of the grammar issues it will pick up.

3. Overused words : It finds words that are overused and ineffective.

4. Clichés and redundancies : Finds clichés within your text and suggests how they can be removed. Redundancies are things like “She clapped her hands.” The mention of hands is unnecessary as hands are (most likely) the only thing anyone would be clapping.

5. Sticky sentences : Identifies sentences that may feel or sound awkward due to unnecessary words. These sentences can interrupt the flow and make readers feel stuck.

6. Repeats : Highlights words or phrases that are used often throughout the text.

7. Sentence length : Gives you an overall view of how long your sentences are. This allows you to see where you might want to add some variety. Changing sentence length provide a good flow whereas multiple long or short sentences in a row can start to sound redundant and boring.

8. Pronouns : Gives you a pronoun percentage. Too many pronouns can make things feel repetitive.

9. Transitions : This gives you the percentage of sentences that contain a transition. ProWritingAid suggests that at least 25% of sentences should have them.

10. Consistency : Checks for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

11. Dialogue tags : Excessive use of dialogue tags can slow the pace of your story. ( Lucy shouted and Cassie said are examples of dialogue tags).

12. Readability : This report provides a score for your piece in 4 different ways based on certain guidelines. You can compare it to the specific guidelines and see how it stacks up.

13. Vague and abstract words : Identifies words that are abstract, vague, or otherwise ineffective. Depending on your intended audience, it may be better to stick to simpler words that are easily identified and understood by all.

14. Thesaurus : A report that will suggest possible replacement words – it is only programmed for shorter pieces, however.

15. Diction : Identifies complicated writing and suggests ways to fix it.

16. Alliteration : Alliteration is when multiple words in a row begin with the same letter. It can be effective in some instances but it should not be used excessively. This report highlights all uses of alliteration.

17. Homonyms : Checks for words like break and brake – they sound the same but actually spelled differently.

18. Corporate wording : Language that is complex and fancy. Too much of this can sound pretentious and unnecessary.

19. Complex words : It identifies words that contain three or more syllables. You can then decide if any should be simplified or replaced.

20. Eloquence : Identifies some stylistic techniques.

21. Combo : This simply allows you to pick which of the reports are most helpful and relevant to you so you can more easily use them.

22. House style : This is a feature that allows you to create your own rules within ProWritingAid. For example, you can tell it to check for a word you know you have a habit of overusing.

23. Plagiarism : Points out any duplicated material so you can change it or properly credit the information to the source.

This list of reports may seem long and tedious – and that’s because it is. However, if you take the time to pay proper attention to each one, it will benefit you in many ways. You will be able to optimize your novel and improve it to a great extent. 

If you make a habit of using and reading these reports, you will become a better writer. You will begin to take notice of the mistakes you make repeatedly. You will learn what makes your writing sound great and what makes it sound clunky.

Eventually, this will become second nature and you’ll be writing it correctly the first time around.

ProWritingAid Pricing

ProWritingAid has the following subscription offers:

  • Monthly – $20/ month
  • Yearly – $79/ year
  • Lifetime – $299 (one-time payment)

Monthly users can switch to yearly subscription and save 67%.

5. AutoCrit: Word Processor for Better Writing

best novel writing software 2021

AutoCrit is an incredibly useful editing software with a unique purpose. This novel writing software analyzes your for originality. It begin by checking for simple grammatical errors that are crucial for great writing: 

  • Vague dialogue
  • Weak sentences
  • Poor grammar

AutoCrit is special in the sense that it goes beyond these basics and focuses on the overall success of your book. It takes your genre into consideration and compares your work to that of professional authors who are already published. It tells you how to stack up while ensuring you aren’t copying anyone.

If you have a particular well-known author whose style you really enjoy and wish to emulate, AutoCrit will help you with this too. Select from a list of highly recognized authors and receive customized recommendations for your writing. 

This is an amazing tool if you’re pursuing self-publishing. Even if you’re interested in going the traditional route, it is still helpful as it shows you how your writing stacks up to the professionals.

AutoCrit Pricing

AutoCrit offers the following plans:

  • Free – don’t pay a dime to get access to the basic features.
  • Professional – $30/month
  • Annual Professional – $297/year

Join AutoCrit for free.

6. Evernote: Program for Note Taking

best novel writing software 2021

Do you like taking notes during the process? Do you like to keep things organized? If so, you need to use Evernote .

Evernote is an app to create, manage, and organize your notes across multiple devices.

It helps you take notes on the go. It is simple, feature-rich, easy-to-use, and an effective note taking app. 

You can keep multiple notes in a single notebook with Evernote. This is ideal for novelists as you can create multiple notebooks each for a different project. You can create a separate notebook for each novel that you are working on.

Evernote comes with a free version that allows you to create awesome notes but you can also subscribe to the premium for $9.99/month.

The notes you can create with Evernote have a lot of different options and capabilities. In addition to all the usual formatting options (font, bold, italics, bullet lists, etc.), a note can do a lot of cool things:

  • Include direct links to anywhere on the web.
  • Insert the entire webpage or sections of a webpage with the web clipper extension .
  • Tag notes for easy organization and searching.
  • Import content from Microsoft OneNote .
  • Export as HTML or webpage for use with other services and programs.
  • Attach files from your computer right into the note.
  • Print your note or convert it to PDF.
  • View note history.
  • Share a note with an individual or on social media

You can enjoy additional benefits if you upgrade to a paid plan: 

  • Monthly upload limit increase from 60MB to 10GB.
  • Maximum note size increase from 25MB to 200MB.
  • The of devices that can be used goes from 2 to unlimited.
  • Offline access is available on desktop and mobile (mobile not available with basic).
  • Increased customer support access through email and live chat.

Evernote Pricing

Evernote offers the following plans:

  • Basic – this is a free plan.
  • Premium – $7.99/ month with a free 30-day trial period.
  • Business – $14.99 per user per month with a free 30-day trial period.

Sign up for free .

7. Dramatica: Novel Writing Software for Character Development

best novel writing software 2021

Character development is a crucial element of any novel. Regardless of the story’s focus, characters are always important. It is generally recommended that you create your main character(s) well before you begin writing. Adding character sketch in the outline will help too.

But how you get better at character development? What software to use?

The simple answer is: Dramatica .

Dramatica is a novel writing software that focuses on characters and their development. It helps you stay consistent with your characters in terms of their personality, actions, and decisions. 

The software allows you to map out the narrative for each individual character with in-depth detail. You can plot their milestones and crucial moments and keep track of how they relate to the theme of your story. 

The idea is to let you create and follow your story from the perspective of your main character. These detailed but flexible character profiles help eliminate plot holes and inconsistencies as you are able to see the whole picture from all sides.

Dramatica doesn’t just help with character development and management rather it also suggests improvement based on your theme.

Perfect Your Structure

Dramatica has what they call a “Master Story Engine” which picks the exact structure of your story. This goes beyond the few basic or typical structures rather it is pulled from a database of over 30,000 unique variations of your story’s structure. Their algorithm can quickly identify what elements of the story and the structure are most important for the writer. 

Dramatica Pricing

Dramatica offers the following plans:

  • Dramatica Story Expert (for Mac) – starts at $139.95
  • Dramatica Pro (for PC) – starts at $119.95

Visit Dramatica for details. 

8. Microsoft Word

best novel writing software 2021

Microsoft Word  is a word processor that offers a suite of productivity features. Most writers are already familiar with this tool. That means the learning curve maybe non-existent for you.

In Word, you can use headers to organize your chapters and a navigation pane to go through them. Moreover, Microsoft Word offers many templates and basic grammar correction functionality. With the online version, you can collaborate with co-authors and editors, making this an exceptional tool to use for a novel.

Better yet, most writers and editors still prefer Microsoft Word. This means you’re more likely to find an editor who will want to work with you if you started your novel on the platform.

Microsoft Word Pricing

Here is the pricing list for Microsoft Office:

  • Family – $79.99/ year or $7.99/ month with a free 30-day trial period
  • Personal – $59.99/ year or $5.99/ month
  • Student – $119.99 one-time purchase.
  • Business – starting from $5 to $8.25 per user per month

9. Grammarly

best novel writing software 2021

Grammarly  is a grammar checker and one of the best programs for ensuring your grammar is mistake-free. It’s free to use with unlimited documents. It works through a Chrome extension that enables these corrections anywhere you write on the web whether that be on another platform like Squibler or Google Docs.

Grammarly Pricing

Grammarly offers the following plans:

  • Free – enjoy the basic features for free.
  • Premium – upgrade to the premium version for $29.95/ month (billed monthly), $19.98/ month (billed quarterly), and $11.66/ month (billed annually).

10. Ulysses

best novel writing software 2021

Ulysses is a Mac-based program and word processor available in the Mac OS and iOS app store. It syncs files to Apple’s iCloud, which means it works with a good part of Apple’s ecosystem.

Ulysses has one Library for all of your documents, full version history of revisions, and the ability to strip away menu options for distraction-free writing. Moreover, you can use Ulysses to export your work in Plain Text, PDF, HTML, Markdown, DOCX, and EPub.

The downside is there are no templates and collaboration features. As a result, many writers may favorite it for note taking over using it as a novel writing software.

Ulysses Pricing

Ulysses offers the following plans:

  • Student license – $10.99 for six months ($1.83/ month)
  • Monthly plan – $5.99/ month
  • Yearly plan – $49.99 ($4.17/ month)

Try Ulysses for free .

Choose the Best Novel Software Today

These are a list of the best novel writing software which are sure to help you write your first novel that readers will fall in love with.

It should be noted that a software or a book writing tool doesn’t write for you rather it helps you write better. The purpose of using these writing software and tools is to get organized, improve speed, and get things professionally done.

These tools simplify novel writing which is a complicated and complex task.

Download your favorite novel writing software form the list above, sign up for a free trial, explore their features, figure out how it will help you in the writing process, and if it turns out to be a decent match, switch to a premium plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of answers to the most common questions about novel writing software:

What is the best software for writing a novel?

The best novel writing software is Squibler. Squibler is a word processor with built in outlining and writing tools that are perfect for novel writers. It has the ability to compile all of your ideas into an easy-to-follow outline, which will help you stay on track as you write your book.

It also comes with other features like brainstorming templates, comprehensive formatting options, research panels, and more.

What is novel writing software?

Novel writing software helps writers organize their thoughts, structure their novel’s plot and chapters, keep track of timeframes, and edit drafts as well as publish it to an audience.

Do you need novel writing software?

That’s up to you. Some writers like the idea of outlining their novel in a long-form document before writing, while others prefer to just jump into it and write organically from there.

best novel writing software 2021

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    5.1.1 IA writer: $29.99 5.1.2 Ulysses: $39.99 yearly 5.1.3 Microsoft Word: $129.99 5.1.4 Google Docs: Free 5.1.5 The Novel Writing Factory: $24.99 5.1.6 Campfire: $24.99-$49.99 5.1.7 Evernote: $0-14.99/month 5.1.8 Reedsy: Free 5.1.9 Plot Factory: $9-19/month 5.1.10 Ywriter: $11.95-24.95 LivingWriter - The Best Book Writing Software of 2023

  17. The Best Writing Apps and AI Writing Software for 2021

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    What type of writer are you? Time-tested and proven story templates that will help you write quickly and deliver a better output. General Non Fiction Romance Novel Historical Novel Fantasy Fiction Book Elevate your novel writing with next-gen AI

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    The finest writing platform in the world, Squibler, makes it easier for novelists to write. It is an easy-to-use writing software that includes a simple yet excellent text editor and word processor. It offers more than 500 storyline ideas for novelists, as well as fully prepared templates and a plot generator.

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    1. Squibler 2. Scrivener 3. Novlr 4. Ulysses 5. Microsoft Word 6. Google Docs 7. Hemingway App 8. Grammarly 9. ProWritingAid 10. FastPencil 11. Write or Die 12. IA Writer

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    The Novel Factory — best of the best. Publisher Rocket — best for Amazon publishers. Plottr — best for plot planning. Scrivener — best bang for buck. Google Docs — best free option. ProWritingAid — best for novel editing. Atticus — best for self-publishers. 1.

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    Scapple is the novel writing tool you need. It is a special-purpose novel writing software that helps you brainstorm and manage your notes and ideas in a clean interface. It comes with a free trial so you can try it for free. It will cost you $14.99 should you need to purchase its full version with all the features.