You hear stories about software that is incredibly powerful (like how it helps writers with their research, spiders the internet for every available word, and feeds you actual sentence fragments for writing). Unfortunately, most of us don’t benefit from these most useful pieces of software. I’ve cobbled together my own top tools for helping writers. Some of these are especially useful if you own an iPhone or iPad, but most people use computers. “The Best Software for Writers” is divided into several sub-categories—each with links below to more information.
As a writer, you’d be surprised how far the search for software has come. What was once impossible to find is now available. No one says writing is easy, but the pursuit of your writing goals amazes me of what can be accomplished with there are some great tools on the market today. These are the best programs which I’ve tested for writers.
Open Office
You may know of this software, you may not. Essentially, it’s a free version of a word processor much like Word or Pages. If you don’t have Word on your computer and can’t afford to buy it, this is a great alternative that’ll get the job done.
Here’s what this book writing software looks like:
The capabilities are pretty limited with Open Office but if you really only need the basics and don’t want to spend any money, this is the perfect writing software for you.
Book Writing Software Cost: Free
Grammarly
If you haven’t heard of this editing software, you’ve been living under a rock. It has taken over as one of the most versatile simple editing softwares and for a good reason.
We have a Grammarly review that covers all the features and functions but essentially, this is a browser extension you can download and it automatically corrects your grammar and spelling in whichever online medium you’re writing on.
This writing software is perfect if you need to brush up on your grammar or are looking for an easy way to sound professional in written emails as well.
Book Writing Software Cost: Free with upgrade options
Scrivener
Scrivener is a decent novel writing software that simplifies writing and organizing your novel, its chapters, and your ideas. It works on both mobile and desktop making it easier for you to access your manuscript from multiple devices.
Scrivener Features
Here is an overview of the core Scrivener features:
- A word processor designed specifically for writers
- Distraction-free writing mode
- Corkboard for managing your ideas and novel elements
- Outliner tool and templates to choose from
- Set up writing goals and monitor progress
- Autosave feature
Scrivener Pricing
Scrivener for desktop is priced at $49 (either Mac or Windows) and the iOS app is priced at $19.99. There isn’t any online version available.
Key Takeaways
Scrivener is a nice novel writing software, but it doesn’t work on Android devices and doesn’t have any online version. You’ll have to keep your device with you all the time.
ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is a grammar, style, and readability checking software that helps you edit the content of your novel and make it reader-friendly. It improves your writing to a great extent with its amazing and helpful features.
ProWritingAid Features
Here is what ProWritingAid offers you:
- Simple user-interface with powerful features
- Over 20 detailed writing reports for improvement
- Auto-suggestion feature that highlights grammar and style issues as you write
- Find and fix style issues automatically with a single click
- Use the most appropriate words by selecting the best synonym from the list
- It integrates with several leading tools and apps e.g. Microsoft Word, Medium, Gmail, and others
- It has a browser extension, Microsoft Word add-on, desktop app, and an online version.
ProWritingAid Pricing
ProWritingAid has flexible pricing. You can pay monthly ($20 per month) or a one-time payment of $224.25. You get 25% off if you switch to yearly payment ($59.25 per year).
Key Takeaways
ProWritingAid is a handy cross-device novel writing tool that lets you write better and quickly hassle-free. You can improve your writing style, grammar, and readability with ProWritingAid. However, the interface is a bit slow and there is no library of documents either.
yWriter
yWriter is a word processor designed and developed by Simon Haynes who is a full-time novelist. He developed this novel writing software to help the novelist break their novel into sections and chapters, and to make it easier for them to organize and manage their novel.
yWriter Features
Here is what yWriter has to offer you with:
- A simple user-interface that doesn’t need any training
- Organize your novel and work on multiple novels simultaneously
- Add scenes, chapters, items, characters, etc. in your novel and organize them easily
- Progress tracker with the word count for each file in your project
- Storyboard view of your work
- Drag-and-drop chapters, scenes, and characters for arrangement and re-ordering
- Autosave and automatic backup
- Autonumbering of the chapters
- It has desktop software for Mac, Windows, and Linux and mobile app for iOS and Android
- Automatic software updates.
yWriter Pricing
yWriter is free to use. However, registering your account donates $11.95 or $24.95 to the developer. It isn’t compulsory though.
Key Takeaways
yWriter offers you multiple features to organize and manage your novel, sections, scenes, and chapters. The features are, however, basic and don’t offer something out of the box.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a simpler version of Microsoft Word. It’s a barebones, simple word processor that does not offer much regarding formatting and outlining. While it is simple, it is quite a capable word processor for those writers looking for free writing software. Its features offer that it can share files and content and communicate via comments too. You can even access previous versions of your work to review all the changes that have been made to your book file.
However, if you want to use Google Docs as your main writing software, you’ll want to make sure you enable Google Docs for offline use so you can still write without internet access.
Conclusion
Writers often remark that they wish their writing was better. If you want to be a better writer, then the best software for writers is Basis Writer. Basis Writer can help you organize and improve your work flow! If you’re a writer looking for helpful software, take a look at this software for writers post.