Collaborative writing allows you to collaborate with other authors and team members. Instead of writing an entire story or letter letter by yourself, you can share your words with other people. When each writer contributes their part, you get a perfect finished product. The problem is getting people together and putting their ideas and respective thoughts together into one workable paragraph or document. This requires team management skills that not all writers have. WordPress can help you collaborate with other authors by giving you several tools that will allow your team to get the job done effeciently and quickly, while still leaving everyone happy and satisfied with the end result (and not wanting to break out in a massive argument).
In my work as a Content Manager, I have been approached with the request to review so many different writing tools. Some of my experiences have been great. Others have been less so. In this article, my attempts to simplify the process of choosing so that you don’t end up feeling like you’ve purchased a bag of potatoes and may or may not end up tasty potatoe at all — we’re talking about writing tools and their respective value and function here — and how to create engaging and valuable content, which is what we’re all about at…”
Best Collaborative Writing Tools
1. Google Docs
There’s a reason Google’s G Suite of productivity tools has nearly two billion monthly users: It’s a free set of apps, it’s automatically connected to each and every Google account, and it’s a breeze to use.
Google Docs, the suite’s writing tool, is loaded with features that make collaboration a seamless process. The tool excels at simultaneous access, allowing collaborators to work on a document at the same time while being able to see the changes that everyone else is making. Even better, changes you make to a document are saved automatically, so you never need to worry about losing work.
Other laudable features of Google Docs include easy commenting and a handy “suggested edits” mode that can help you spot possible corrections and improvements. Google Docs also provides an item-by-item revision history that lets you know when each change was made and by whom.
2. Draft
Draft is another standout writing tool that allows multiple collaborators to edit a document at the same time. Like Google Docs, the product is free, but the workflow for processing changes is a bit different.
Changes aren’t reflected in the text of the document immediately; instead, an updated version of the document is created whenever someone’s changes are accepted. While this process makes it easier to track and understand a document’s version history, it runs the risk of creating bottlenecks since only the document’s original author can accept or reject changes.
Draft makes it easy to import and add images to your documents, and it offers a number of export options beyond the standard text and HTML formats. You can download your document as a Microsoft Word file, you can save it as a Google Doc, or you can even download it in Markdown format for easy styling.
3. Etherpad
If you’d prefer to host a collaborative writing tool yourself instead of relying on servers in the cloud, Etherpad might be the right choice for you.
This open-source tool allows writers and editors to collaborate in real time. Each person working on a document is assigned a specific color, and their changes are highlighted in that color. That means when multiple collaborators are working on a document at the same time, it’s easy to see who’s doing what.
The design of Ethernet’s interface is relatively basic compared to other tools, and the app has fewer formatting features and a limited ability to include certain items like footnotes. However, it’s a solid choice for collaborators who prefer a streamlined interface free of distractions.
4. Microsoft Word Online
Microsoft Word has been the go-to writing and editing tool for decades, but only in recent years has Microsoft’s free suite of web-based apps given Google’s G Suite a run for its money.
Microsoft Word Online offers many of the same features and benefits as Google Docs, but there are a few compelling reasons to choose Microsoft’s product over Google’s:
- Office compatibility: If you use the Office desktop apps regularly, Microsoft Word Online makes it easy to edit documents when you’re away from your regular computer.
- “To do” comments: Word Online provides a checkbox with comments that can be checked off when the required action has been taken.
- Group chats: If more than one person is editing a Word Online document, you can click the Skype button to start up a group chat. Even if you’re not actively working on the document, you can join the chat using Skype from your browser or phone.
While Microsoft Word Online definitely doesn’t contain the full set of features available in the desktop version of the product, its functionality is quite robust for an online writing app. As an added bonus, you can share this tool with others even if they don’t currently have a Microsoft account.
5. Quip
Quip is more than just an online word processing app—it’s a whole content management platform for teams.
The tool offers some innovative features not found in traditional writing apps. For example, a side panel that’s visible while editing a document shows a continuous stream of comments and revisions to the document. This stream makes it easy to stay on top of recent changes and know who made those changes.
The Quip platform also allows users to add GIFs and emojis to comments, and team members have the ability to “like” comments. These features add a bit of fun to the collaboration process and encourage communication. In addition to in-document comments, Quip offers chat-room functionality, so team members can discuss their work within the platform instead of switching to Slack or another messaging tool.
#6 Zoho Docs: Best Collaborative Writing App for Business Organization
Zoho Docs is a comprehensive online document management system that helps users to create, edit, share, store, and collaborate on various documents.
The app comes with two unique features—document storage and management, and document editing and collaboration.
Feel free to save anything from documents to music and videos and access them from anywhere. View over 160 file types and enjoy uninterrupted syncing of office files simply by using the drag and drop feature in the app.
The user-friendly file management system helps you to import docs from Dropbox and Google Drive. You can edit live documents using the built-in office suite and share them with anyone within/outside your company.
If you work as a team that requires a professional office management system and real-time collaborations, go for Zoho Docs.
You can enjoy a free trial for 15 days and continue to use the free plan with limited features. There are also standard paid monthly plans which could be chosen based on your needs.
Pros
- Virtual Drive
- Syncing From Desktop App
- Setup and Admin Control
- Virtual Collaboration
- Free Forever Plan
Cons
- The Platform Looks Very Basic
Conclusion
Collaborative writing software is the future of work for many professionals. Whether you use Microsoft Word or LibreOffice, here are some great collaborative writing tools that will help you get the most out of your content creation process