How to choose the most suitable program / software for your writing - PART TWO
- bkntouris
- Aug 1, 2023
- 14 min read
Today, I will cover some more writing programs / apps that might not be as known as those I wrote about in part one. I have to admit I had only heard about three of the below-
mentioned until I decided to do some more research on all options available to writers.
11. yWriter
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Designed by a writer Simon Hayes (AKA Spacejock) for writers, yWriter is a word processor that encourages writers to write scenes, not chapters — since scenes are smaller and more manageable. Also, you can input data into multiple fields concerning each scene and chapter. This provides authors with a wealth of raw data they can analyze at any time.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
yWriter has a user-friendly interface, so almost anyone with no experience can easily use this app. It features a straightforward user interface that is easy to use, to create scenes and chapters and inserting content into them. It also offers areas to save the setting and character information. It makes it easy for you to start your work once you download and install it. yWriter provides users with a good number of fields to write any additional detail at any time. There are various fields for each scene and chapter where to type more info when you want to. It also gives you the ability to add descriptions for the locations and the character appearing in each scene.
PROS:
Free: It can be downloaded and used without spending a penny. yWriter has no ads, and doesn't download annoying, sometimes dangerous software from outside sources. Simon Hayes suggested users to donate $24.95 or $11.95 to support him and give you some extra benefits. If you donate $24.95, you’ll get a discount on his ebook services, as well as manuscript evaluation.
Focus: Your novel's planning and writing are the main focuses of the interface, designed to aid in material creation and get a general idea about how you want your novel to look like. This interface is definitely helpful when it comes to planning out your characters and chapters. The StoryBoard in yWriter shows your chapters and scenes in graphs. It also shows where each character is present in your chapters and scenes.
Can Run on Windows, iOS, and Android.
CONS:
Interface Flaws: While yWriter makes it easy for you to create chapters and scenes, you can only work on each scene separately. Additionally, the interface shows your scenes’ text, but editing the text from there is not possible. The only way to do that is to edit them through a new editing window that you open from a section, which can be annoying. yWriter is a database tool with tabs, whereas other apps like Scrivener have a more word processor-like interface. yWriter does not originally provide you with a place to write—it only shows you a list of your chapters. characters, scenes, locations, and notes, which are all listed under separate tabs in a pane. There are only empty spaces in front of you when you start writing, which is not the most user-friendly feature in yWriter since it makes it harder for users to figure out the way to start their project.
Too basic, Yet Too Complicated: The windows of the character and scene details include options that help you keep track of many details. The majority of writers would only fill out the ‘Scene title’, ‘Viewpoint’, and ‘Status’. But filling out this big amount of info can be time-consuming and not worth it. The outlining feature in yWriter is quite basic. You need to use a certain syntax to write the text. It will be shown in graphs when you click on ‘Preview’. Finally, yWriter only offers outlining for scenes and chapters.
PRICE:
For Windows/macOS: Free
Android: $3.99
iOS: $4.99
12. ULYSSES
HOW DOES IT WORK:
Ulysses is a simple, clean, yet customizable app for writing longer projects. Your work syncs automatically between your devices, or you can choose to store work locally.
Unfortunately, Ulysses works only on Apple products.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
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.
PROS:
Clean Interface for Distraction-free Writing: Ulysses is lauded for its sleek, clean, "distraction-free" interface. Some reviewers claim that this writing app gives you just the right amount of customization options in terms of appearance — without offering so many options that it tempts you away from the actual goal of writing.
Drag and Drop Functionality Concerning Scenes and Chapters (The Library): You can reorder sheets, move sheets between groups, drop images and text into the editor.
Ability to Add Filters to Scenes and Chapters: You can create a filter group in Ulysses that collects together all scenes from a single point of view at once, which lets me see each side of the story in isolation from the other. This is great for managing plot lines, tracking character progression, and more.
Export to PDF, DOCX, HTML, or EPUB With Ease.
CONS:
Only Available on Apple Devices (macOS and iOS).
Only Yearly or Monthly Subscription Model Available: There is no one-time option, which might make constant payments a nuisance.
No Built-in Templates: Although you can find some online, it could take you a while to get the one most suitable for you.
Steep learning curve.
Does Not Assist With Character Development or Plot.
PRICE:
Monthly: $5.99month
Yearly: $49.99/year ($4.17/month)
13. VELLUM
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Vellum is a professional book writing software famous for its aesthetics. Vellum has beautiful eBook templates and is a highly intuitive software, meaning, you will always love its suggestions. Other features include style formatting, note-making, chapter management, etc.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
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, which lets you see how each formatting change or book edit you make will appear on Kindle, Fire, iPhone, Nook, and other eReaders.
PROS:
Allows You to Design & Format a Book: Vellum has a variety of styles to choose from
Easy Import Capabilities: You can write your book using another software and still use the app, which is particularly useful for all authors who decide to self-publish.
Allows Preview of Print or E-books: This means you can see what your book will look like, and is somethig doesn't appear right, you can go back to correct it.
Easy export.
Free Version Available: Although the price is steep, you can use its free version until you’re ready to publish, and you get a money-back satisfaction guarantee for 30 days after your purchase.
CONS:
Expensive: Vellum is way more pricey compared to the other smilar tools
Available Only for Mac.
PRICE:
Vellum Ebooks (allows for unlimited ebook generation, but no print editions): $199.99.
Vellum Press (allows for unlimited ebook and printed book generation): $249.99.
14. FOCUS WRITER
HOW DOES IT WORK?
FocusWriter is a free book writing software released by Gott Code. Like a few other word processors on this list, FocusWriter is focused on offering a distraction-free writing environment.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
The most notable feature is the big, calming (customizable) background image that sits behind your wall of text. You can move your mouse to make the toolbar or your word count goal appear. But if you’re typing, all you see is what you’re writing. Also, depending on what gets you in the right frame of mind, this app lets you turn on typewriter sound effects or mostly invisible timers.
PROS:
Minimalistic UI: You can only see this clean, white page that doesn’t feature any buttons or tabs. Moreover, full-screen mode hides even the clock of your PC so you can deeply focus on your work. This software has a super customizable environment, as well as several capabilities that normally a standard writing tool offers, but with none of the distraction sources.
The Toolbar: It only appears when you hover over it, which makes for an uncluttered screen.
Helpful Writing Features: You’ll find almost all of the writing tools expected from a standard writing app at the top of your screen. But FocusWriter does not make them visible before hovering over it with your cursor. You get to use all of the writing features you want without being visible until you need them to be, which gives you the clean writing environment you need to focus on your work. Additionally, all of the paragraphs and sentences you write can be grayed out.
CONS:
Only Works in Fullscreen.
Simple: There are missing features many authors consider necessary.
Flaws in the UI: FocusWriter assumes that some writers would like to write several headings using one size, which is normally not the case. After typing one heading line, your text doesn’t automatically reverse to normal. While FocusWriter provides you with the basic feature to help you format your text, it still doesn’t offer other features like bullet points and numeric lists. It would be much more helpful if FocusWriter provide and support them, even if it’s possible for you to enter things manually.
Poor Export: You cannot export to EPUB, MOBI, or PDF.
PRICE:
FocusWriter is FREE and has no premium version. Donations are welcome and encouraged.
15. FAST PENCIL
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
FastPencil is essentially Google Docs: an online platform that cannot be downloaded and is therefore only usable if you have WiFi. However, its nonexistent price tag more-or-less makes up for the inconvenience of not being able to work on planes, outdoors, etc.
FastPencil’s simple, streamlined interface allows users to set up a writing project, invite collaborators, and communicate entirely through the app if they wish. Two people can also upload mutually accessible “Assets” for reference during the writing process, and devise “Tasks” for each other to complete
PROS:
It’s an All-in-one Software: 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. 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.
Fairly Easy to Learn How to Use: The software is pretty user-friendly, so it's easy to get started with.
Special Features are included: There is a large variety. Yuo can preview how your book will look live, or make use of the chat tool, which makes collaboration with other writers and/or editors easy.
CONS:
This could be a bit disturbing, although it appears this is largely a problem related to publishing a book with them. I am not entirely sure about what happened to the platform, so I'd advise caution. Please read more here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fastpencil-campbell#reviews
PRICE:
Free
Personal: $45.67 per year (or $4.95 monthly)
Professional: $138 per year ($14.95 monthly)
16. MILANOTE
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Milanote is a super-versatile app that allows you to organize your research, ideas, characters and outline in one single place. Its visual workspace lets you clearly connect your thoughts, create mind maps, and develop moodboards. And for those who really struggle to get started, Milanote's amazingly detailed templates.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Milanote is ideal for the initial planning stages of your novel. Not to mention it's incredibly easy-to-use, so authors can concentrate on the important stuff — their writing — rather than trying to figure out all the complexities of the app.
PROS:
Excellent Organization Tool: With Milanote, you can organize notes all in one place
Excellent Note-taking Features: Milanote gives you a variety of tools and types of materials that you can put on your boards. Images and PDFs, text boxes and preformatted text, like bullet lists and check mark boxes for to-do lists. There's a neat one that's a color swatch. It's a little card containing whatever color you choose, and the alpha-numberic hex value shows up automatically beneath it. If you paste a URL onto the page, Milanote gives you a preview of the page with an image when available and a few lines of text. You can add emoji, arrows, comments, and more. There is also a 'drawer' off to the right of your board where you can keep materials, such as images, until you figure out where to put them.
Real-time Team Collaboration: You can share any board by entering a collaborator's email address or copying a link and deciding whether the person should have read-only or editing privileges. When another person with editing privileges joins your board and begins making changes while you're still viewing and editing the board, you see the objects they select highlighted and marked with their initials. It's similar to the way real-time collaboration looks in Google apps.
Flexible Drag and Drop.
CONS:
Missing Features: Milanote doesn't have a few features that seem apt, based on its creative bent. Support for handwriting and sketching seems like it should be included, but it's not—nor is there a version history of your boards or notes, something creative types could certainly use. The app is missing a few other features that are becoming commonplace in other note-taking apps, such as mobile scanning for documents and email forwarding (meaning you can send an email to a special address to have the content of the message saved as a new note). Milanote also lacks tags.
Limited Export Options: PDF, PNG image, Word file, or plain text.
Available Only on Mac and the Web.
PRICE:
Basic: Free
Premium (per person): $9.99/ month billed annually or $12.50 billed monthly.
17. BIBISCO
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The creator of Bibisco, Italy’s Andrea Feccomandi, believes that character-driven novels are superior to plot-driven novels. (It’s actually a preference, not so much a fact, but we’ll let it slide.)
Feccomandi developed Bibisco word processing software program to focus on character creation. Bibisco helps you create every aspect of every important character in your story — from physical traits to personality and emotional state. What’s truly unique is the interview-style prompts that bibisco uses to extract information from your protagonist, antagonist, and everyone in between.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
If you find most desktop writing programs overwhelming, then Bibisco's minimalist interface might just solve your problems. This is especially true if you're a plotter rather than a pantser, as Bibisco is that rare breed of free story planning software, with plenty of virtual outlines and notecards to help you out. With the free “Community” version of Bibisco, you can navigate among six different screens to organize and expand upon the elements of your novel. The architecture screen (above) is perhaps the most unique part of this software, with notecards for your premise, setting, and fabula. Here you can create narrative threads and articulate how they connect to one another, then flesh them out using your “scene” notecards.
PROS:
All-in-one Project Management: Bibisco acts as a word processor, organizer, and a creativity guide all at the same time. For Outliners, Bibisco allows creativity in your organization. You can interview your characters, create a timeline of events, and track your chapters in one place. Drag-and-drop is also available.
Creative Tools: You will find loads of tools that will help you flesh out characters, places, items, and events in your story world.
Character-focused: As mentioned above, you can really flesh out your characters by using this software.
Distraction-free: Like some other programs, Bibisco had a mode that immerses you in your story
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
CONS:
Limited Formatting Options.
Not Available for Android or iOS / No Mobile App: This means that if you’re going on vacation with your tablet or cell phone, you won’t be able to use this product. The workaround for this is to keep your novel in Google Docs and update Bibisco with C/P from Google Docs. This gives you all the benefits of Bibisco once you get back home or back to your office while still letting you work on your novel while traveling or away from home.
Updates: Open-source software is still receiving updates (be sure to save often, even with the autosave feature)
PRICE:
Community Edition: Free
Supporters Edition: $47
18. DABBLE
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
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.
PROS:
Cloud-based with Automatic Save Across All Your Devices: This means you won't have to worry about hitting that 'save' button each time you make progress in your writing, and if you run out of power and your computer switches off, your progress won't be lost
Built-in Dictation: This is such a great feature for those who think better on their feet or are simply uncomfortable spending long hours sitting in a chair.
Easy File Inserting: 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.
Automatic Focus Mode: Simply start typing and everything else fades away.
Easy Collaboration: 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.
CONS:
Subscription-based Service: This means not all features are available on all plans (though you can get lifetime access to all features for a one-time payment)
Expensive: Lifetime access cost is high
Basic Formatting.
PRICE:
Subscription plans range from $10/month to $20/month.
Lifetime access cost is $499; 14-day free trial
19. Novlr
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Novlr is a simple word processor with just a few added perks. The Novlr Proof Reader (grammar and spell check) is on par with Grammarly, which is amazing — a lot better than Google Docs or MS Word. And Novlr offers in-app writing courses to help get the most out of its features. It doesn’t come with story templates like other premium word processors. And its formatting options are surprisingly limited.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
When it comes to writing apps that really push you to improve, Novlr is pretty effective. In terms of actual writing, Novlr features a clean word processor which users can customize as they please. For example, there's “Evening” mode for those who prefer a darker color scheme, and “Focus Mode” to help with concentration. Making even the smallest formatting change, such as font size, will automatically update the entire text — convenient for writers who like to keep their aesthetics fresh.
Then when it's time to edit, the Proof Reader function at the bottom of the screen offers suggestions re: punctuation, adverb use, passive voice, and more. And for authors hoping to boost their productivity as well as their prose, a quick trip to the Dashboard reveals tons of useful features: a place to set your writing goals, an analytics tab for progress, and so on.
PROS:
Author Conducive Writing System: As expected, the writing environment is the core offering in the Novlr app. It’s a minimalist, aesthetically pleasing interface. It has a distraction-free mode, and also offers different color settings depending upon the time of day you're writing at. This helps to prevent eye strain.
Helps Plan Your Writing: Novlr allows you to quickly and easily organize your writing by breaking it down into chapters and allowing you to keep notes on aspects such as characters and plot in their own special sections.
Track Your Writing Stats. One of the coolest things about Novlr is how it keeps track of your stats. You can easily see your writing streak, how many words you write on average, and even the days and times you are most productive.
Motivational Goals. If you need a little extra help to stay motivated, Novlr has got your back. You can set a writing target, and see your progress towards it. The app also has subtle motivational nudges built in, such as encouragement to stay on track, and positive feedback messages when you hit your milestones.
Style Help. Novlr includes some pretty cool features, such as a grammar checker, style suggestions, and even the ability to reach out to collaborators such as proofreaders and book editors within the app.
Easy To Export Your Book. You can quickly publish to various ebook formats from within the Novlr environment, and you can also sync up with cloud storage systems such as Google Drive and Dropbox.
CONS:
Limited Formatting options: There are very few, including for front matter and back matter and print-friendly formatting.
Limited Analytics Tab: It only gives stats for today, this month, and this year
No Collaborative Editing: For authors who want to share their work with others without exporting, this might be a problem.
Lack of Features: Although Novlr definitely has enough for most writers, it doesn’t do absolutely everything other tools do. Therefore, be sure to check carefully whether its features match all your requirements before hitting purchase.
PRICE:
Monthly: $10
Yearly: $100
They also offer a 2-week trial for free — no credit card required
20. Squibler
HOW DOES IT WORK:
Squibler is another ‘all-in-one’ writer’s lounge. It has various tools like Book writing software, Novel writing software, Screenplay writing software, etc, to make every type of writer check out Squibler at least once.
For more information, click HERE:
HANDY FEATURES:
Squibler has several appealing features such as a clean organizational system, writing templates, and more. It is built more as a project management system, meaning it's ideal for authors who work on big interconnected stories together. You can also use it to write virtually any kind of written material, from technical writing to novels to a screenplay.
PROS:
Great Organizational Features: Efficiency plays a major role in this application, the whole design is to make you write faster. It lets you manage your documents, scenes, and ideas even if they do not fit your timeline or plot.
Variety of Templates: It has a lot of writing templates for all sorts of writing types and styles.
Exporting: It exports to any file format that you need
CONS:
Expensive.
No Focus Mode: There's no distraction-free mode or dark mode. There is also no change of themes.
No advanced formatting features.
PRICE:
Forever Free
Pro: $20 per month, billed annually. (They currently have a promo for $16 per month).
PART THREE, INCLUDING OPTIONS FOR SCREENWRITING AND SOME OTHER TOOLS, COMING UP AUGUST 8th.
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