Jul 02, 2019 Writing a book requires something major. It requires the right attitude, a powerful book idea, some solid writing prompts, and the best writing software out there. (Not to mention a bulletproof roadmap to writing a bestselling book). And we know which writing software is best for you – and more importantly, why it matters. 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. Scrivener has so many useful features, there’s almost too many to list. Mike Sussman, Writer-Producer.
MasterWriter software is my preferred choice as a writer. In fact, without MasterWriter, my career as a writer would never have gotten started. The reason: MasterWriter developed and refined a product that has simplified and stream-lined the process of writing and given me all the tools I need to be successful as a writer. We love writing. That's why we're here. Literature & Latte was born out of a desire for tools that embrace the creativity of all forms of composition. We make software we love to use—Scrivener, hugely popular among authors of all stripes, and Scapple, crafted for freeform note-taking.
Writing a book is hard. I’ve written seven 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 this easier.”
Bad news/good news: writing a book will always be hard, and the best piece of writing software in the world won’t write your book for you. But the good news is there is book writing software that can make the process a little easier.
In this post, we will cover the ten best pieces of software for writing a book and look at the pros and cons of each.
FREE eBOOK: Every professional has a set of tools at their disposal that not only makes their job possible, but makes them better at doing it. 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 this free 22-page eBook, 7 Tools to Help You Write a Novel. You can download it for free here. Enjoy!
Worst Pieces of Software for Writing a Book
First, though, let’s cover software you should avoid, at least while you’re writing a 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.
The 10 Best Pieces of Book Writing Software
No piece of writing software will write your book for you, but these ten will help. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
1. Google Sheets (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 seventh book, I realize that I’m using spreadsheets almost daily.
Spreadsheets allow you to get a sense of the elements of your book at a glance, and when you’re working on a 300-page document, distilling it down to useable information becomes very necessary.
You might use spreadsheets for:
Google Sheets is perfect for this because it’s free and you can quickly share your documents with your writing partners, editors, or beta readers to get feedback. Microsoft Excel is another great option, but for writers, I suggest Google Sheets.
Cost: Free!
Where to find it?Get started with Google Sheets here
2. Scrivener (Word Processor)
Scrivener is the premier book writing software. It is made by writers for writers. Scrivener’s “binder” view allows you to break up your book into chapters and sections and easily reorganize it. 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. Plus, it allows you to format for publishing (e.g. on Amazon or Barnes & Noble).
There are some problems with Scrivener. 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. But it more than makes up for that by being so helpful in the early stages of the writing process.
In fact, 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 to save yourself time as you learn how to use it for your creative writing, you can get Scrivener Superpowers here. The next edition comes out on Tuesday!
Cost: $49 for Mac, $45 for Windows
Where to find it: Get started with Scrivener here
You can get a copy of Scrivener here, or learn more about how to use the software with one of these resources:
3. Freedom (Productivity App)
One question writers always ask me is, “How can I stay focused enough to finish what I write?” Label templates for mac.
I have too many thoughts on this for this article, but as far as writing software to encourage focus, I recommend Freedom.
Freedom allows you to block your biggest distractions online, 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.
Cost: $29 / year for Pro version, which I use and recommend (Free trial available)
Where to find it:Get started with Freedom here
4. Google Docs (Word Processor)
While Scrivener is the best book writing software, once you get to editing and getting feedback, it begins to fall short.
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That’s why Google Docs has become my second go-to piece of book writing software. It’s free, very easy to use, and requires no backups since everything is in the cloud.
Best of all are its collaboration abilities, which allow you to invite your editor to the document and then watch as he or she makes changes, tracked in suggestion mode, and leave comments on your story (see screenshot below).
Cost: Free!
Where to find it: Get started with Google Docs here
5. Vellum (Book Formatting/Word Processor)
If you want to turn your book into an eBook, it’s not that hard. Scrivener, Word, Pages, they all can make eBooks. But that doesn’t mean they’ll look good. In fact, it takes a lot of skill and effort to make an eBook look good on any of those word processors. That’s why I love Vellum so much.
Vellum makes beautiful eBooks.
Vellum picks up where Scrivener, Word, and Pages leave off, giving you a tool to make great looking eBooks every time.
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.
It also has stripped-down, option-based formatting, which is perfect for designing eBooks.
I really love this app!
UPDATE: Vellum recently expanded into formatting for paperback books! I haven’t tried it yet but it looks awesome!
Cost: $199 for eBook generation, $249 for Paperback Formatting
Where to find it: Get started with Vellum here
6. 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.
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.”
Cost: $69 / year from Amazon (includes Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)
Where to find it: You can get Microsoft Word here
7. Ulysses (Word Processor)
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 come up with an idea while I’m walking, type it up on my phone, and then want 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 Ulysses comes in.
Ulysses is a word processor for Mac that allows you to sync between all your devices, so you have what you need wherever you are. Scrivener recently released their iOS app which allows you to do this as well, but the process is clunky and requires you to purchase both the desktop and iOS apps. Ulysses’ sync makes the process much more seamless.
Like Scrivener, it has a binder-like sidebar that allows you to move documents around. https://gigtree281.weebly.com/blog/keynote-for-mac. Ulysses is not designed specifically for books so it takes a little configuring to make it work for you, but once you have it set up the way you want it’s very intuitive.
And while I hate Markdown, I actually like the paired-down formatting options Ulysses gives. Overall, I’m not going to convert from Scrivener to Ulysses any time soon, but I think it’s a great option for most writers.
Cost: $45
Where to find it: App store, or here (Mac only)
8. Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheets)
As Jeff Elkins says in his review of Microsoft Excel, it’s great, but “it’s a little like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight. You will need only a small fraction of its capability.”
If you have Excel and love it, great. Otherwise, use Google Sheets, especially if you’re sharing your sheet with a collaborator or editor.
Cost: $69 / year from Amazon (includes Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)
Where to find it: You can get Microsoft Word here
9. Grammarly (Grammar/Spell Check)
“Can book writing software replace an editor?” asks Sue Weems in her review of Grammarly. “Nope. But it can help you improve your grammar and readability.”
If you struggle with grammar, sentence structure, spelling, or even writing style, Grammarly can help. It goes far beyond your built-in spell-check.
You should still learn grammar skills, but Grammarly 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, $139 a year, gives you additional support on sentence structure, style, and vocabulary.
Learn more about how writers can get the most out of Grammarly here.
Cost: Free! (Premium version is $139 / year)
Script Writing Software For Mac Free
Where to find it: Get started with Grammarly here
10. Hemingway App (Grammar/Style Checker)
Most writers think their sentences are easier to read than they are. You think you’re coming across clearly, that your writing makes sense, but then someone reads it and comes away with something totally different.
Hemingway App helps with that.
Hemingway App is a free website that checks readability. You can copy and paste your writing into the website’s input box. Then it will grade your writing based on your used of adverbs, passive voice, and sentences as units.
Hemingway App is useful, but even the best book writing software can’t replace a good editor.
Cost: Free!
Where to find it: Try out Hemingway App here
The 7 Tools Every Writer Needs
Every professional has a set of tools at their disposal that not only makes their job possible, but makes them better at doing it. 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 free 22-page eBook, 7 Tools to Help You Write a Novel. In this short guide, we’ll cover some of the basic tools that form the foundation of a writing life.
You can download it for free here. Enjoy!
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.
You don’t need book writing software to write a great story. Book writing software can make the process a little faster or easier, but the truth is great stories will always exist, no matter what kind of software we have.
The only three things essential to writing a great book:
That’s all you need. Do you want to write your book? If you do, then do it. Write it. Nothing is stopping you except Download simcity buildit for pc. you. So go get writing.
What pieces of book writing software do you use? Let us know in the comments.
PRACTICE
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 comments. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!
Joe Bunting is an author and the founder of The Write Practice. He is the author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller Let's Write a Short Story! You can follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).
Whether you would like to make music for fun or would like to be a professional songwriter, a good songwriting software can help you in creating beautiful music. You don’t need to have a band, as these applications have features that could give you background accompaniment. With this, you can create songs at the comforts of your home and while on the road. Some of these programs are available for free, while others need to be purchased.
10. Easy Songwriter
Easy Songwriter is an easy to use program that helps in the step-by-step creation of your song. Whether you are a professional or a beginner, this would be useful for you. Mac eyeshadow palette for brown eyes. If you do not have a band or you don’t know how to play an instrument, you can still compose your own song. Demo tracks can be created as if you’re on a music studio. It offers several features including multi-track recorder, reverb special effects, change tempo, channel mixer and track synchronizer. If there is a part of the song that you wish to change, this can be easily done with this program. You can edit a specific part until you are happy with the result.
Writing Software For Macbook Air9. Virtual Music Composer
Virtual Music Composer is a free software that you can install on computers running Windows 7, XP, Vista and 2000. It creates a new music depending on the choices you make. Choose the key signatures, scales, motif modes and phase modes and wait for the application to compose a new theme for you. You can get inspiration from the new music it creates, which can help you in composing your own song. You don’t have to be a computer wizard to use this as it has a simple and user friendly interface.
8. ChordPulse
With 102 music styles, 16 chord types and more features that can help you in songwriting, as well as practicing, this is one of the finest programs that music lovers can use. A 14 day free trial is available. Once the free trial is over, you can continue using the application by purchasing it for $24.95. Create music or practice even without a backup band as it offers full accompaniment, chords only background, as well as drum machine. Some of the features that you can enjoy are changing of song key, tempo and chords, optional fade out, repeat specific parts, master tune and backing music export to midi file.
Best Writing Software For Mac Free7. Ableton Suite
This is one of the best applications that you can try. This is perfect not only for songwriters but for everyone that needs to create or modify music like DJs and beat creators. It has tons of features that even professionals would find amazing. Some of its fantastic features include 1,600 expressive sounds, new effect racks, sounds objects lite, construction kits, thousands of presets and song templates. You can also take advantage of its MIDI modulation section, extract groove patterns, endless overdubs, first loop sync, overdrive, limiter, crossfades, multi-track recording and built-in software instruments.
6. Chord Miner
If you love playing the guitar and you would like to compose your own music with it, Chord Miner is a useful application for you. Get access to more than 7000 chords, including chords of popular songs. If you are curious about the chords used on a specific song, you can search its long list of chords to find what you are looking for. You can get inspiration from these songs. You can also rearrange the chords or make your own interpretation using the application.
5. Song Bank
No, this is not the bank that you go to if you want to deposit or withdraw some money. Song Bank is a free application from Nickersoft Corporation that lets you save, organize, enhance, as well as create digital copies of songs you make. Add more information to your songs including the album title, inspiration and instruments used on the songs. You can also add artwork from the album that they belong to. It also comes with a built in rhyming dictionary that you can use for finding words that rhyme with specific words on your lyrics. Songs can then be easily shared or exported on e-mail or other sites.
4. 4 Chord Songs
This is another free songwriting application, which was developed by Flextron Bt. Experiment and get inspiration for your new music by selecting 4 chords and choosing your preferences on various settings including the music style and accompanying instruments like piano, guitar, bass and drums. There are also preset chords that you can try. There are 50 music styles to select from such as jazz, pop, Latin and swing. The program is compatible with computers running Windows 7, Vista and XP.
3. Lyricist
This is one of the ultimate songwriting applications that you can use. It combines all the features you need in a songwriting program including song database, editing features and dictionary for rhyming words. There is no need to use different applications as Lyricist offers everything you need. Get this application for $54.95 and enjoy creating and experimenting new songs. It comes with 4,080 guitar chord symbols that you can easily insert on your music. Format the text of your lyrics based on your own preference. Each time you write new songs, the lyrics will have the same format. Organize your songs by placing them in the album that they belong to. This makes searching easier. Furthermore, you can open an album to have access to all the songs under it. It also offers a feature to copyright your songs online.
2. Masterwriter
This is a dictionary software that is a useful tool for songwriters, as well as poets. You can get this program for $199. Well known musicians and songwriters like David Foster and Rob Thomas use Masterwriter in writing their songs. One of the most important components of a great song are its lyrics. With this application, you’ll never find yourself running out of the right words to add on your song.
1. TuneSmith
This is a free application that is available for computers running Mac OS X 10.6 and later. Write and edit songs easily with its lyrics editor. Manage songwriting and song information including copyrights and cover artists. Purchase the Rhyme Genie plug-in to make songwriting even more convenient.
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