Ebook Writing Software program (2021): High 10 Software program for Authors
Writing a book is difficult. I've written seven books and at one point I thought with each of them: "There has to be a tool, a software for writing books that will make it easier for me to achieve my writing goals."
Bad news / good news: Writing a book will always be difficult, and the best writing software in the world won't write your book for you. But the good news is that there is book writing software out there that can make the process a little easier.
In this post, we're going to cover the ten best pieces of software for writing a book and explore the pros and cons of each program.
Click the links below for our review on the best writing software.
Worst software for writing a book
Before we dive into writing software to help you write, it is important to understand (and eliminate) what is interfering with your writing progress.
At least while you're writing a book:
- Video games. Especially World of Warcraft (always always always!), But also Solitaire, Sudoku, Angry Birds and for me at the moment Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes.
- Facebook, Twitter, and other social media software. Do I really have to say more? Fortunately, there is book writing software to avoid this very distracting software (see Freedom below).
- Other productive software not directly related to your writing. Yes, it is good to reconcile your bank account in Quickbooks or make sure you are up to date on your Calendar app. However, responsible, well-intentioned work can easily be an excuse for a quick distraction that becomes a major distraction while writing your book.
Take time to write every day and then stay focused!
If you need a game, writing your everyday word should be your game.
If you want more "likes" on social media, just imagine how great it will be to get five-star reviews for your book.
If you have to check your bank balance several times a day, consider how much your bank balance will be if you stop checking it all the time, getting your book finished and becoming a successful author.
The 10 best book writing software
No writing software will write your book for you, but these ten will help. Let's look at the pros and cons of each.
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Find the writing software that works for you – but remember, no tool will write your book for you.
1. Scrivener (word processor)
Scrivener is the premier book writing app made by writers for writers.
Scrivener's "Folder" view allows you to split your book into chapters and sections, and easily reorganize it using drag and drop.
You can also get a general view of your book using the whiteboard and outliner modes, so you can view chapters, sections or individual scenes as flashcards.
Project goals allow you to create word count goals and then track your progress on a daily basis. Composition mode can help you stay focused by clearing out any clutter.
Scrivener offers formatting functions for publications (e.g. at Amazon or Barnes & Noble) as well as functions for distraction-free writing and templates for novels, non-fiction, scripts and more.
You can read our full Scrivener review here.
There are a few issues with Scrivener.
Formatting is more complicated than necessary, and collaboration isn't easy. This means that as soon as you turn on an editor, it loses its effectiveness (we recommend Google Docs for collaboration).
You can sync with your iPhone / iPad but only through Dropbox, which doesn't make it as easy as it should be. It also has a bit of a learning curve, especially for its advanced features. But it more than makes up for it in being so helpful in the early stages of the writing process.
Again, here are the pros and cons for scriveners.
Benefits of Scrivener:
- Easily manage a large book writing project (or script) in the folder view
- Get an overview of the structure of your book with the help of pinboard and outliner views
- Manage your writing productivity with project goals and deadlines
- iPhone and iPad app
Disadvantages of Scrivener:
- Formatting can be too complicated
- Learning curve
- Syncing with Dropbox is not always easy
- No Android app
We believe in Scrivener so much that we published a book on how creative writers can use it to write faster. It's called Scrivener Superpowers. If you're using Scrivener or need a tutorial to save time as you learn how to use it for your creative writing, you can get Scrivener Superpowers here.
Costs: $ 49 for Mac and Windows
You can get a copy of Scrivener here or learn more about using the software with one of the following resources:
2. Google Docs (word processing)
Scrivener may be the best book writing software ever, but once you start editing and getting feedback it gets too short.
Because of this, Google Docs is my second stop for book writing. It's free, very easy to use, and doesn't require any backups as everything is in the cloud.
Best of all, the collaborative ability that lets you invite your editor to the document and then watch them make changes, track them in suggestion mode, and leave comments on your story (see image below).
Benefits of Google Docs::
- Real-time collaboration with editors, beta readers, or other writers
- Proposal mode
- Free!
Cons of Google Docs::
- No organization functions for large documents
- No productivity features
- An internet connection is usually required for offline mode
costs: Free!
3. Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet)
If you had told me the first time I tried to become a writer that one of my most common tools in my software toolkit for writing books was a spreadsheet, I would have told you that I don't have to major in English a spreadsheet.
But now, as I finish my fifteenth book, I find that I use spreadsheets almost every day.
Spreadsheets can help you see the elements of your book at a glance. When you are working on a 300 page document, it is very important to reduce it to useful information.
You can 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 for feedback. Microsoft Excel is another great option, but it falls a little behind when it comes to collaboration features.
Benefits of Google Sheets::
- Real-time collaboration with editors, beta readers, or other writers
- Fast
- Free!
Cons of Google Sheets::
- Managing spreadsheets from other sources (such as Excel) can be cumbersome and time-consuming
- An internet connection is usually required for offline mode
Google Sheets costs: Free!
If you already have Excel and love it, great.
Microsoft Word costs: $ 69 / year (including Word, Powerpoint, Outlook and other Microsoft software)
4. Parchment (book formatting / word processing)
If you want to turn your book into an eBook, it's not that difficult. Scrivener, Word, Pages, all can format eBooks and print books. But that doesn't mean they'll look good.
In fact, it takes a great deal of skill and effort to format a printed book that looks good on one of these word processors. That's why I love parchment so much.
Parchment makes beautiful books.
Parchment picks up where Scrivener, Word, and Pages leave off, giving you a tool that can help you create great-looking eBooks and print books in under an hour.
The most important part of this is the Previewer (pictured below) which allows you to see how any formatting change or book edit you've made will appear on Kindle, Fire, iPhone, Nook, and other e-readers.
It also has stripped-down, optional formatting that is perfect for designing eBooks and printed books.
I really love this writing app!
Benefits of parchment::
- Simple and intuitive
- Format a manuscript for print and e-book in under an hour
- Nice styling
Disadvantages of parchment::
- Limited styles
- Relative expensive
Costs: $ 199 for creating eBooks, $ 249 for formatting paperback books
5. ProWritingAid (grammar / spell checker)
Can a grammar check replace an editor?
Definitely not. However, if you ask Alice Sudlow, our in-house editor, she will tell you, “If you don't have access to an editor (or if you do but you don't want to hire her to take care of your emails or Facebook posts edit), grammar checker software like ProWritingAid is an accessible, affordable alternative.
If you have problems with grammar, sentence structure, spelling, or even writing style, ProwritingAid can help. It goes way beyond your built-in spell checker.
You should still be learning grammar, but ProWritingAid can help you spot the patterns and grow as a writer.
There is a free version that is very good. It can even be installed in your browser or word processor so that you can check your grammar anywhere you write. The paid version, just $ 60 a year (less than half the cost of grammar), gives you extra assistance with sentence structure, style, and vocabulary.
Learn more about how writers can get the most out of ProWritingAid here.
Advantages of ProWritingAid::
- Copy your book quickly
- Better suggestions for creative writers than other grammar checkers
- Less expensive than some grammar checkers
Disadvantages of ProWritingAid::
- Sometimes gives suggestions that are incorrect or incoherent
- The user interface is a little less intuitive
costs: Free! (Premium version costs $ 60 per year)
6. Publisher Rocket (book marketing app)
How do you know if your book will sell? Wouldn't it be nice to know if there is a market for your book before you start writing? How do you find the most readers on Amazon for your published book?
Publisher Rocket has an answer to all of these questions.
Read our full Publisher Rocket review here.
Publisher Rocket is a book marketing research tool that helps you understand what readers actually want and how to connect with your books. Here are some things to discover in Publisher Rocket:
- What phrases are Amazon buyers actually looking for?
- The psychology of how readers buy books.
- How much money readers spend on specific niches and topics.
- How much money do certain books make per month (e.g. books that may compete with yours)?
I have personally used Publisher Rocket to help make mid-list books # 1 best seller status on Amazon. It's an amazing tool, perfect for anyone working on a book.
Advantages of Publisher Rocket::
- Find out how much other books in your genre are making
- Get metrics on how to become a # 1 best seller
- Excellent learning resources and support
Disadvantages of Publisher Rocket::
- Learning curve
- Limited to book marketing
costs: $ 99
7. Evernote OR Ulysses OR Bear (take notes)
When I write for a long time, I like to get up and go for a walk. Sometimes I wish I could keep writing while I walk. Other times I find myself coming up with ideas while away from my computer, typing them in on my phone and then just want to move what I've written on my laptop without the hassle of emailing Shipping back and forth to have to myself.
This is where note-taking apps like Ulysses and Evernote come in.
Ulysses, Evernote, and bear are note taking apps that allow you to sync between all of your devices so you have what you need wherever you go. Ideal for jotting down ideas or thinking through your book while you're on the go.
While Scrivener recently released an iOS app that lets you sync between devices, its process is cumbersome and requires purchasing both the mobile and desktop apps. These note taking apps make the process a lot more seamless.
Like Scrivener, they all have a binder-like sidebar that you can use to move documents around. Neither of them are specifically designed for books, so some configuration may be required to make them work for you. However, once you've set it up the way you want it to be, it's very intuitive.
And while I hate Markdown, I like the paired formatting options that Ulysses and Bear offer, especially for brainstorming. Overall, I wouldn't convert from Scrivener to either of these apps, but they work great as a complement.
Benefits of Evernote:
- Sync notes between devices
- Write as you go
- Capture ideas
Cons of Evernote:
- Free plan is limited
- Gets clunky as you get more notes
- Better to jot down than to manage a large writing project
Evernote costs: Free with paid options
Ulysses expense: $ 45
bear cost: $ 1.49 monthly / $ 14.99 annually
8. Freedom (productivity app)
One question authors always ask me is, "How can I stay focused enough to finish what I'm writing?"
I've got too much thought on it for this article, but for writing focus-enhancing software, I recommend Freedom.
Freedom lets you switch to focus mode and block your biggest distractions, including websites and mobile apps, for a set period of time. So if you mindlessly escaped your book to scroll through Facebook, the website won't load.
You can also schedule recurring sessions so that at a set time (e.g. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays) you won't be able to access the websites on your blacklist even if you try.
There are other apps like this that we've written about, particularly Self-Control for Mac and StayFocused for Windows. Freedom goes even further, however, and allows you to block websites on both your computer and phone and allow recurring sessions.
Check out our review to learn more about how writers can get the most out of Freedom.
Advantages of freedom:
- Focus on your writing without the distraction
- Plan the focus mode in advance
Disadvantages of freedom:
- It can be difficult to get it working with mobile devices
- You can find ways to work around it if you make the effort
Costs: $ 29 / year for the Pro version that I use and recommend (free trial available)
9. Microsoft Word (word processor)
Again, no book writing software will write your book for you. If you're looking for the next "shiny new toy" to help you write your book, this might be an excuse to avoid the hard work of writing.
Most of us have learned how to use computers with Microsoft Word or a similar program. Word does the job. 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 harder to work with, while Scrivener makes it easier. But the point is, if you have Word, don't let that stop you from finishing your book.
Jeff Elkins said in his review of Word, “Unless you already put the hard work into being the kind of writer you want to be, it doesn't matter what new writing software you invest in. It doesn't help. "
Advantages of the word:
- Ubiquitous: Most people are familiar with / own Word
- Universal file types
Cons of the word:
- Not designed for organizing and managing large writing projects like books
- Can load slowly as the book grows
- No real-time collaboration like Google Docs
costs: $ 69 / year from Amazon (including Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)
NOTE: Another word processor we cannot recommend is yWriter, which while having a cult following and designed by another novelist, is under development and does not support Mac / OSX.
10. Hemingway App (Style Checker)
Most writers think their sentences are easier to read than they are. You think you can get across that your writing makes sense, but then someone reads it and gets away with something completely different.
Hemingway App helps with this.
The Hemingway App is a free website that checks readability. You can copy your text and paste it into the input field on the website. Your writing will then be rated based on the use of adverbs, passive voice and sentences as units.
The Hemingway app is useful, but even the best book-writing software cannot replace a good editor.
Benefits of Hemingway:
- Quick and easy style advice
- Free!
Hemingway Cons:
- Slightly arbitrary advice
- Hemingway himself would fail
costs: Free!
Where to find it: Try the Hemingway app here
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The only thing you have to write is a desire to tell your story. Will you tell us yours
BONUS: Google Drive OR Dropbox (Cloud Backup)
There's nothing worse than finishing up a great writing session, saving your job, then your computer crashes and you find out that you've lost your best writing.
It is enough to send any writer into sadness and depression.
However, there is a simple solution: save a copy of ALL your texts to the cloud using Google Drive, Dropbox, or BOTH.
Here is my process: I have all of my Scrivener book files saved in a folder on Google Drive on my computer. Then Scrivener automatically backs up to a Dropbox folder every few minutes. That way, I know that no matter what, I'll always have the document I need.
Best of all, both apps have free plans which makes it extremely stupid NOT to use them.
Advantages of drive:
- Universal cloud backup
- Automatically synchronized
- Free or cheap
Disadvantages of the drive:
- Setup is a little tricky the first time
- You may want to lose your writing when your computer crashes
costs: Free with paid options
Where to find them: Sign in to Google Drive / Sign in to Dropbox
All the book writing software
The 30+ tools every author needs
Every professional has a set of tools that not only make their job possible, but also improve 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've published a list of all of our favorite tools for anything related to writing.
You can download our guide to tools for authors here for free. Enjoy!
The main software for writing books
Imagine it was three thousand years ago. You are sitting around the campfire with some of your family members and friends and are tired from the day's work. You start telling a story. It's one you've told a hundred times before. You can see faces by the fire, the big-eyed children, the men and women who have heard the story before but still enjoy it because it gives meaning to their lives.
Storytellers – writers – have existed since the dawn of mankind. They didn't always have software for writing books. They didn't have the press or the internet. They didn't always have the alphabet to write their stories down.
Instead, storytellers had their imaginations, their voices, and an enthusiastic 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 that no matter what kind of software we have, there will always be great stories.
The only three things that are important to writing a great book:
- Your imagination
- Your words
- The desire to tell your story
That's all you need. Would you like to write your book? If you do that, do it. Write it. Nothing stops you but you. So go write.
What book writing software do you use? Let us know in the comments.
WORK OUT
The world is full of powerful software to help you write your book. In the end, all of these tools are just that – tools. The stories you envision and your discipline in getting the words on the page are far more important.
Set all the fancy software aside for this exercise. Get rid of all the bells and whistles and open your computer's native text editor (TextEdit for Mac or Notepad for Windows). Take fifteen minutes to write without the distraction. Continue your ongoing work or start a new story based on this prompt:
A student discovers that one of his teachers is not what he appears to be.
When you're done, share your writing practice in the comments. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your co-writers!
Joe Bunting
