Best Book Writing Software for Authors!

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by CJ McDaniel // December 19  

Do authors need book writing software? Writing a book is one of the hardest crafts out there. Aside from making a clear book layout, honing your plot, and creating impressive book characters, factors such as distractions, disorganized files, and an inadequate word processor can make the task even more challenging. Creating your book isn’t merely jotting down words on a page; it’s a combination of your skill, creative flair, and dedication to write. But with the struggle of writing, is there a way to make it easier?

Apparently, there is. With the power of the web, there are a number of available writing software for authors that make it easier for you to focus on writing.

Although these book writing software and tools can’t and won’t do the writing for you, they certainly take a slight load off your shoulders to make the whole process a bit easier to bear.

PROS OF USING BOOK WRITING SOFTWARE

Distraction-free writing- Procrastination: we’ve all done it! Whether it’s because our word processor is distracting or because we always have the urge to check our social media accounts, we’ve all been in that unproductive hole.

By using a writing software, however, you become distraction-free. Either by providing you a blank slate of paper to avoid unwanted options or by blocking your access to several websites, these kinds of tools have the features that’ll make you more productive.

Be organized (and stay that way!)- When you set off to start writing, it can be a pretty daunting task to keep track of everything. Writing software allows you to become more efficient by keeping everything in check.

They can organize the notes of your characters, schedule a time when you should be working, keep some snippets of dialogue and prose, etc.

Maintain a structure- When you’ve got a web of plots in your story, it’s easy even for you to get lost. Using writing software allows you to stick close to your structured plot, all while still allowing you creative freedom.

There are even some online tools that suggest what direction to go next if you’re feeling stuck!

Review, Proofread, and Edit quickly- Although you have your real-life editor to check your draft before it gets published, it pays to polish your work even before sending it in. Using writing software that’s specifically designed to test your grammar, spelling, and choice of words will surely be a big help.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A WRITING SOFTWARE

There are thousands of writing software and publishing tools on the web. Some are even identical that it’s hard to keep track which is which.

Choosing the best writing software for you as an individual writer is crucial, as these tools will be significant factors to your ladder to success.

Be consistent in using the writing software that you like, so you won’t have to go to the trouble of finding a new tool and app now and then. It’s a waste of time when you should be focusing on writing your work.

Still, trying out different writing software is the key to finding the ones that you are comfortable with. To better help you with your decision, as yourself these questions:

  1. Does the software have access to text formatting?
  2. Are there any available templates?
  3. If yes, how extensive are their template options?
  4. If the software isn’t free, how much does it cost?
  5. Is the whole program of the software relatively easy to use?
  6. Are there any extra features that make it unique?
  7. Are you comfortable with the writing experience on its interface?
  8. What sort of audience does the software cater to?
  9. Are your files accessible wherever you are in the world?
  10. Is it easy to collaborate with other team members?
  11. When the time to publish arises, are there any distribution capabilities?

Those are just some of the fundamental questions a good writing software should answer yes to. So save that checklist and go hunt for your perfect writing software.

TOP WRITING SOFTWARE AUTHORS SHOULD TRY OUT

Writing Software for Authors #1: Grammarly

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As a writer, nothing sinks your credibility lower than a simple grammatical mistake. That’s why it’s non-negotiable to check and proofread your work every time you’re done writing.

Nobody’s perfect. Even native English speakers commit minor mistakes sometimes. That’s why proofreading software such as Grammarly is highly useful.

It’s one of the most popular proofreading software out there, and rightly so. Grammarly’s features are worth your monthly subscription, with its spelling and grammar-checking abilities, its built-in plagiarism checker, and its feature where every mistake is corrected in real-time.

Grammarly utilizes the Internet, so it’s up-to-date with current slang and jargon that you might misspell. You can also set your writing goals with this tool, so the app can understand what kind of audience you’re going for.

Writing Software for Authors #2: Typing Speed Test

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As writers, we often set goals for ourselves for the number of words we would like to write a day. It’s a fact that the slower you type, the less you will be able to write in the same amount of time.

Our Free Typing Speed test allows you to measure how many words you can type in a minute. It also has a feature where all your errors are counted and indicated. The built-in timer measures the amount of time you worked on the typing test, so you have a clear idea of how much time you spent working on the program.

Writing Software for Authors #3:  FocusWriter

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FocusWriter is a handy little software that is perfect for writers who have a hard time keeping away from small or big distractions.

There is a lot of distraction-free writing software on the web, but what sets FocusWriter apart is that it’s not just your typical all-white screen and a blinking cursor app.

Anyone can actually edit the “writing environment” to their preference, which is really cool because not all writers thrive in just a blank white screen.

There are several themes available when you open the app. If you don’t like a themed interface, you can just edit the font, text size, margins, font color, and much more until you find something you’re comfortable with.

Additionally, you can also track your progress and customize the way the text appears on the screen. And the best thing is—it’s free!

Writing Software for Authors #4:  Scrivener

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Scrivener is arguably one of the best writing software out there. For all avenues of writing, it remains one of the best-loved tools that authors use.

Although it has all the other bells and whistles that are available as extra features, it still has the ease-of-use that most authors look for.

However, the main selling point of Scrivner is how it keeps your materials organized all in one place. The webpages you’ve gathered from your research, the images you need, and your notes are displayed alongside each other.

They also have a multitude of options where you can customize your digital workspace—especially if you’d like to have multiple  programs open.

This writing software is perfect for working on more than one project at a time. It’s also a novelist favorite, as they can easily brainstorm, layout, and organize their thoughts easily without getting everything jumbled.

Writing Software for Authors #5:   Freedom

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The biggest roadblock we encounter whenever we write is the constant distraction, especially those websites we frequently visit. Whenever we mindlessly escape our current writing task to “check” something on the Internet, we end up spending hours on there, having accomplished nothing.

Freedom, the writing software designed to block out your biggest distractions online, makes sure that you are focusing on your writing. Whenever you try to access a website on your blocklist, it won’t load—and it syncs with your phone as well!

There’s also a recurring session, so you’ll have a timeline on when you should be working.

Some might shake their heads over these features, but distraction is the number one enemy of productivity. Sometimes, going into this kind of extent is what some writers need to actually get some work done without being sidetracked by common distractions.

Writing Software for Authors #6:   Freemind

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Freemind is the perfect writing software if you want to beat writer’s block and organize your ideas simultaneously. Writing isn’t just about the words on your screen; it’s also about mapping your ideas and laying them out correctly.

Let your imagination run wild and let Freemind do all the work. Whether you’re plotting up your next cliffhanger or a thread the character’s development, you can record everything in one tidy space.

Freemind is also used by several business sectors aside from writing. Its cross-platform compatibility, streamlined idea organization solution, and the fact that it’s FREE makes it a must-have for every organization that requires an open-source mind-mapping application.

Writing Software for Authors #7:  WriteItNow

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Writing software’s ease-of-use is an essential feature that most writers are looking for. However, notwithstanding its convenience, it must also hold water in terms of the other elements. WriteItNow combines two: the added extra features and the easy-to-use interface.

Like a majority of the writing software in the market, they have the standard organizational feature that keeps track of your work.

WriteitNow also has a selling point that’s amiss among its competitors: a very detailed character builder. You can set their attributes, traits, behaviors, and even keep track of the events in your story that they’re involved in.

You can also organize, connect, and create all of your other writing elements with ease with this tool. WriteItNow’s intuitive features and modern interface is also popular with novelists, blog writers, and students alike.

Writing Software for Authors #8: Sigil

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For those who are adapting to the digital landscaping of publishing, they may be more comfortable working on ebooks. Publishing an ebook, on the other hand, also has its own set of difficulties when it comes to writing it.

There are a bunch of writing software out there that offers a myriad of tools for writers, but only a few cater specifically to e-book writers. Sigil is currently the most reliable option for beginners and proficient ebook writers alike.

Sigil allows its users to format and code their own e-books. Users can also import HTML files, images, and graphs to your book, and Sigil will clean up any errors.

Its generation tool and TOC creation is also a bonus, as well as the mend and prettify feature.

While Sigil has a lot of impressive selling points, it’s not exactly for every writer out there since it doesn’t offer many features for the actual ‘writing’ part. But for ebook writers who just want a simple ebook coding and editing software, Sigil is the way to go.

Writing Software for Authors #9: Fast Pencil’s Book Writer

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FastPencil Book Writer is a unique writing software that has a different take on the whole “helping you out” thing. They also have the author’s marketing strategy in mind.

They automatically post to your social media accounts whenever you start or finish your project. This helps in seeding your book and building anticipation amongst your fan base.

Aside from that, the software is excellent for when you’re working collaboratively, either with your co-author or editor. You can easily invite those you want to collaborate with, and you can instantly work on a project together.

Fast Pencil is also known for its publishing platform. As soon as you finish writing your book, you can automatically convert your draft to the latest eBook format and instantaneously preview your page design!

Writing Software for Authors #10:  Ommwriter

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It’s no surprise that Ommwriter is a favorite among authors that depend on reliable writing tools and apps. Although it’s not at par with the features of others in terms of organization and character building, it does offer its own unique take—it has music!

Well, not just any kind of music, but ones that will actually motivate you to keep writing.

Ommwriter’s goal is simple: to eradicate all distractions from your mind so you can comfortably concentrate. And if you’re a hundred percent in the zone, that makes your productivity blow up!

Together with its simple interface, you can also set the background of calming music or even the sound of keyboards tapping. This software is excellent if you’re stuck in writer’s block as it has been proven that those moderate levels of noise can actually increase productivity.

Do you have any other essential writing software or tool that gives you the productivity boost? Share it with us in the comments below!

About the Author

CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!