TheNextBigWriter Premium → Writing software
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Hello, I just joined the new site last night and I am looking forward to workshopping some writing ideas I’ve been knocking around for a while. I’m curious, does anyone here use any book writing software or could you recommend something? Right now I am using Evernote because I have it and I’m familiar with it, but I’m not sure its the best option for writing a novel. I also don’t want to sink a lot of money into software coming out of the gate. Thanks in advance 
Welcome to the site--it's a good place to be with plenty of helpful people. I can't help you much with your request as I use Microsoft Word for my manuscripts, but someone will undoubtedly have a suggestion or two for you.
Welcome to TNBW. I use ProWritingAid as my editing software after a rough draft and edit with Word (or Open Office Writer on LINUX). It is a subwcription service, but I highly recoommmend it. There is a free version, but if you want all the features, buy the subscription. There isa desktop/laptop application as well as a web-based version so you can edit anywhere you want as long as you have Internet capability. I used it while on cruises.
PWA will run over 20 checks on your manuscript from Grammar to Style and offer pointers along the way.
Here's the URL: https://prowritingaid.com/
Bill
Scrivener is great. And I think you can try it for 30 days for free. (25 times? - I can't remember exactly what the offer was. It's been too long.) Good luck.
Try yWriter6, it's quite useful and it's 100% for free (you may decide to make a contribution, but it's not mandatory to get the software).
Kiss
Gacela
I've been on the same search for a program. I think the one Debbie recommended, Scrivener, is still the tried and tested app with the most and most useful features. I'm not a computer person though, so it's a little too much and a little too intimidating. The layout isn't intuitive or aesthetically great. But if you're looking for functionality, Scrivener does all the things.
If you have a Mac, Vellum does most everything Scrivener does in a more intuitive, aesthetically pleasing way.
WordPerfect does a lot of what the above two do, but since it's not specifically for book writing, it can be a pain to find youtube tutorials on what you're looking for.
If you have any kind of ADD, dyslexia, dysgraphia or just trouble focusing, IA Writer looks to be a great program. It has several features like "focus mode" that look to be based on dyslexia research I've seen. Very minimalist, useful features, not exactly aesthetically great. I might still switch to this for the focus mode, it looks like a great program. https://ia.net/writer
Currently I'm trying Shaxpir. It has a free 30 day trial for the pro version and I think I'm likely to stick to it. It doesn't have a lot of features, the search feature is not great and I have to C&P my chapters into Word (and match formatting) before C&Ping them here, but other than that, it works for me. It's the most aesthetically pleasing of the programs I've seen (I like the default, but there are several themes to choose from if you want something akin to Reddit's dark mode). It keeps things in book format while you're writing and has your folders and chapters on the sidebar constantly, which is really all I wanted. An added bonus for me is that it doesn't spellcheck unless you want it too. I really hate Word telling me what to do with its squiggles. I'm sure there's a way to turn it off, but I'm computer lazy. If a feature isn't intuitive, I don't like going out to hunt for it. Though if you need a spellchecker... well you might want to skip Shaxpir. A brief test showed its internal dictionary to be not very inclusive. It told me "curtly" wasn't a word. So there's that. Granted, Word's isn't great either. I'm unsure why they don't just check these internal dictionaries against Webster and Oxford to make sure they've got the most of everything. Anyway, all I wanted/needed was an intuitive, aesthetically pleasing way to get organized as opposed to having 5+ Word windows open constantly. This is effortless organization, but if you're looking for more, you'll be disappointed.
The conclusion is, it really depends on what you're looking for.
I use MS Office (Word and Excel) to manage my writing, backups, notes, research, and a "names" bible (in Excel). If you don't have MS Office, I believe Open Office is either free or inexpensive. If you plan to eventually work with a professional editor (whether for self-publishing or otherwise), many of them use MS Office. Others here on the site use WordPerfect and Open Office and are published authors, so MS Office is not absolutely required.
Scrivener is loaded with features (too many, I think) and helps you structure all of the elements that go into writing a book and exporting the finished manuscript, all for about $40 or $50. Although it allows you to create a virtually unlimited number of "named" entities (people, places, and things), I find my spreadsheet format preferable as it allows me to scan a lot of information very quickly (e.g., to make sure I haven't reused a character name before or to see the age, height, weight, hair color, etc. of all of my characters at a glance). There are YouTube videos that demo Scrivener, in case you want to see it before starting a trial.
Although Microsoft prefers you to buy MS Office using a subscription (so they make more money long term), I went for an one-time purchase in 2007 and again in 2019. The only reason I upgraded is because Microsoft finally stopped providing security patches for Office 2007. That works out to about $15 for every year I used it (the home version).
Agreed, Dirk. It's got its weird thingies, but overall Word is the best. Besides, I never encountered an agent who wants anything else but .doc or .docx manuscripts.
As the cheapest person alive, and a newbie, I write in LibreOffice, an open source suite including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation + other stuff I don’t do. It saves in .docx formats plus a bunch of others including .html, and never gives me any formatting issues. Interface is very much like Word suite. And it’s free free free!
Having just read a comparison of OpenOffice and LibreOffice, I agree with Elspeth. LibreOffice is easier to use for those familiar with MS Office and supports more of the newer file formats. And both run on Windows, Macs, and Linux. Just be aware that file formats may not be 100% compatible with MS Office, although as close to perfect as you can probably get from a competing product.
Please don't rely on auto-writing apps and tools. Google knows well and considers it spam content. Key fobs are also simple to incorporate into an active security system I saw yesterday.
I have Grammarly. It's ok but I've not used it on everything I've written. I prefer software+people, translate that to mean Grammarly+tNBW. I really value the input that I've been given on this site. And I'm beginning to understand the value of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). Therefore, the equation will probably become software+people+CMOS. Thanks for all your help.
George FLC
I tested either Grammarly or ProWritingAid and threw in a whole bunch of erroneous commas, and the software didn't flag most of them.
I tested either Grammarly or ProWritingAid and threw in a whole bunch of erroneous commas, and the software didn't flag most of them.
Ahh, but perhaps "erroneous" is in the eye of the beholder OR the interpreter. Take care. Vern
I tested either Grammarly or ProWritingAid and threw in a whole bunch of erroneous commas, and the software didn't flag most of them.
A couple of years ago, I bought a lifetime license for ProWritingAid (desktop) and you're right, it doesn't flag many misplaced commas. However, it will do well in noting places where they need to be and you've forgotten to put one. I also like all the checks you can run on your work. Some are fairly esoteric, but others I can't do without. I especially like the "overused words" category.
Bill
I've tried many sites including Scrivner (which I found impossible to learn), ProWriting Aid (which is good but I canceled since I won't use it much until my manuscript is finished), and also AutoCrit and Grammarly. I just found I was spending too much money using so many websites since I couldn't pick just one. LOL. Right now I use Microsoft Word, it is inexpensive and user-friendly. I use the free version of Grammarly since it's $30 to join. I stopped AutoCrit and ProWriting Aid since they were about the same.
So there you have it. Pick one and enjoy.
KL
We're thrilled to have you here and excited about the ideas you're eager to bring to life. As for book writing software, you're on the right track with seeking something that could potentially simplify your writing process.
Evernote is a decent option, especially for capturing ideas and notes, but for a more comprehensive solution for a novel, you might want to explore different options. Before investing in any software, a thorough search online is advisable to compare features, pricing, and user reviews. It's essential to find something that aligns well with your writing process and fits within your budget.
Google Docs is a good starting point, particularly because it's free and allows you to access your work from any device with an internet connection. For organization and structuring, Scrivener is a popular choice among writers, though it is a paid service. However, it offers a free trial so you can see if it suits your needs before buying.
Another tool worth looking into is yWriter, a free program specifically designed for novel writing. It helps you break your novel into chapters and scenes, making it easier to manage.
Reedsy is another option. It's an online tool that's free to use and provides a clean, distraction-free writing interface. Plus, it automatically formats your work for ebook publication, which is a nice bonus if you plan on self-publishing.
Remember, it's about what works for you. Each of these tools has its strengths, so your personal writing style will determine which one is the best fit. Happy writing!
I've used the free software from LibreOffice for my writing sessions. They produce even more software in their suite than Microsoft -- and it's free. Word files will interact nicely with LO Writer, and you can save back into Word format. I picked this because all my laptops and two of my desktops run Linux, and Microsoft won't run on Linux (except under Wine, which is a very poor substitute). When I self-publish, I use KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) which will accept an ODT (LibreOffice format) file for input.
As I said before, PWA works just fine for me.
Bill
Do like me: Nice writing pad, nice fountain pen, nice coffee (Peet's) made in a French press, nice cigarette (Gitanes), rifle through your notes, tune out Trump, pet the cat sitting right next to you.
Do like me: Nice writing pad, nice fountain pen, nice coffee (Peet's) made in a French press, nice cigarette (Gitanes), rifle through your notes, tune out Trump, pet the cat sitting right next to you.
Sounds like Mark Twain, who said, “I get up in the morning, make a pot of coffee, light a huge cigar, sit down and just start lying.”
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TheNextBigWriter Premium → Writing software
