Have you been thinking of a great idea for a novel, but haven’t gotten around to writing yet? writing a book can be incredibly challenging. get started, then staying motivated isn’t always easy. Writer’s block sets in, procrastination takes over, and we let our fear of failure keep us from moving forward.
Fortunately, there are some amazing tools out there to overcome these hurdles, including a new generation of book-writing apps.
You are reading: Apps for making books
how can an app help me write a book?
There is a seemingly endless variety of book writing apps, each helping you solve a different writing problem.
write
Many book writing apps are designed with the physical process of writing in mind. While many writers are perfectly content with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other standard word processors, these applications offer a more substantial alternative.
provide tools specifically designed to write a book. for example, drag and drop chapter and scene options and character profile tabs.
some even offer features that allow you to compare sections of your current manuscript with previous versions of your work.
editing
then there are a lot of editing apps out there that go way beyond your standard spell checker.
They help you with all aspects of the editing process, from checking sentence structure and grammar to improving the tone and flow of your writing and checking for plagiarism.
goal setting and focus
Some apps aimed at writers also focus on time management and goal setting. When you’re in the process of writing a book, it’s very easy to get derailed and let your writing practice slip.
These apps are specifically designed to help you stay on track and focused, so you can achieve your book writing goals.
In this blog post, we’ll review the best apps for writing a book in 2022. So if you’re a writer who needs a little extra help (who doesn’t?), keep reading; these apps can help you take your writing to the next level.
best apps to write a book
#1. scribe
scrivener is one of the best writing apps out there right now. it works for all kinds of writing, from something as small as an email, to an entire screenplay or a novel. but it’s these types of long-form writing where this app really shines.
When you log in to scrivener, you’ll first choose a template that suits your project (for example, a fiction or non-fiction book). you can start typing right in the interface or import your text from somewhere else.
The sidebar on the left of the screen has tabs for a variety of items to help you organize your writing. The best part is that you can customize these tabs to show exactly what you need and leave out everything you don’t.
There is an endless variety of useful tools to choose from. there are tabs for individual scenes within your book chapters, as well as character tabs to help with individual character building throughout the story. there’s also a handy research tracking tool to keep your research focused and applicable.
If you struggle with organization and value attention to detail, scrivener could be a great help when you’re writing a book.
works on: mac, ios and windows.
cost: free for the first 30 days, after which there is a one-time license fee of $40.84
advantages:
- perfect for writing long books
- customize the interface for your specific needs
- one time fee instead of a monthly subscription
cons:
- takes a while to learn
- if you work between 2 different operating systems (for example, a work laptop and a home laptop), it can be difficult to transfer work between them .
#2. ywriter
for writers using a windows operating system, ywriter is a fantastic application that works in the same way as scrivener.
When you’re writing a book, the sheer number of words you have to write before you can be overwhelming. ywriter helps you break your writing into scenes or sections, making the whole process feel more manageable.
You can set goals and targets for yourself, such as a daily word count, and also track your character development and narrative arc using the storyboard tool.
ywriter has a large selection of useful features and is reassuringly easy to use, even for new writers and people who aren’t particularly tech-savvy.
Unlike scrivener, there’s no option for story templates, but other than that, this free app really does its thing and is a great way to keep up with your writing.
See Also: 10 Best Books on How to be Funny in any Situation – MyReadingWorld
works on: windows
cost: free
advantages:
- breaks writing down into manageable sections
- great for setting goals
- free
cons:
- no story template options
- currently only available on windows operating systems.
#3. I’m a writer
iawriter is another application aimed explicitly at writers of books and other long forms. it’s great for people who hate clutter and don’t want to spend a lot of time learning how a new app works before they start using it.
The user interface is refreshingly elegant and simple, yet still offers plenty of tools to help you organize your writing.
There is a syntax highlighting system that can select various parts of speech, such as adjectives or nouns, etc. this is great for the editing process.
You can also break your book into manageable chapters and break them into smaller sections, which helps keep the writing process from feeling overwhelming.
There’s also a handy dark mode to preserve battery life and give your eyes a break after a long day staring at a screen.
works on: mac, ios and windows
cost: free for android users. $8.99 for ipad and iphone, $19.99 for windows and $29.99 for mac
advantages:
- simple and easy to use
- sleek and neat design
- dark mode for tired eyes and battery saving
cons:
- no automatic storage
- more expensive for mac users
#4. ulysses
ulysses is another of the best in the world of writing applications. it is comparable to scrivener, but with some important key differences.
while scrivener takes a bit longer to learn the interface, ulysses is much easier to use. many features offer short tutorials to make it easy to get familiar with the various writing tools.
Another key difference in ulysess is the use of the “markdown” format. For those of you uninitiated, this is a simple text language that makes writing and editing online much easier. it’s quick to learn, and once you get the hang of it, it will save you time in the long run.
This app also has all the standard writing app features you’d expect, including organization tools like keyword tags, daily and weekly progress trackers, and word counters and daily stats.
works on: ios and mac
cost: free trial, followed by $5.99 per month or $49.99 per year
advantages:
- quick and easy to get started
- markdown formatting simplifies the user experience
cons:
- Currently not available on windows or android operating systems.
#5. rush book editor
reedsy book editor is one of the easiest to use writing apps available right now. the interface is incredibly elegant and there is no clutter to deal with; just a super simple and minimal design that allows you to focus on one thing; typing.
This book editor has great potential, especially when it comes to formatting your work. you can insert images within the body text, drag and drop chapters and scenes, and create a polished, professional front and back cover.
It’s also particularly useful if you’re writing an e-book. you can format and export your work to a file that can be uploaded instantly and is ready to send to a publisher or print-on-demand service. in fact, this is the perfect tool for anyone planning to self-publish their work.
Another standout feature is the ability to compare your current draft with previous versions, so you can review contrasting versions in real time.
See Also: The Best Books on Oscar Wilde – Five Books Expert Recommendations
works on: web only
cost: free
advantages:
- sleek and neat interface
- great for formatting to editor-ready levels
- free
cons:
- web-only program means you will need an active internet connection to use reedsy.
#6. grammatically
Even if you’re new to writing apps, you’ve probably heard of grammarly. this extremely popular grammar tool is used by writers all over the world. From something as short and simple as an email to full-length novels and screenplays, grammarly is a powerful editing tool.
grammarly has a surprising amount of features for a free app, but it’s the spell checker and grammar editor that writers tend to use the most.
Spelling errors, incorrect grammar, and sentence structure are highlighted on screen, with helpful suggestions for replacing words and phrases. the checker also explains exactly why the highlighted text is wrong, so you can gain some extra grammar insights along the way.
grammarly premium allows you to set specific goals for your writing when using the paid version of the app. tell your audience grammatically, the desired tone and level of formality and it will parse your text based on these markers. it also assesses how clear and easy to understand your text is, and rates its delivery and reader engagement levels.
While grammarly doesn’t provide all of the additional book writing features found in some of the other apps on our list, it is a great additional tool for editing your work. it’s also very useful to keep it installed on your device for writing emails and other short-form documents.
works on: the web and most major browser extensions
cost: basic grammar is free. the grammar premium costs $29.95 per month, $59.95 per quarter, or $139.95 per year. keep an eye out for regular subscription discount offers.
advantages:
- easy to use
- improves spelling and grammar
- punctuates your text in multiple markers
cons:
- the web-only program means you will need a strong internet connection to use grammarly
- no additional tools for writing books
#7. natural reader
Before you send your book to a publisher, you’ll want to do a thorough editing yourself.
A great way to approach the final editing process is to read the text out loud. While this is a great way to check your text for sentence structure, flow, and readability, it can often miss key issues.
That’s where naturalreader comes in. This editing app acts as a text-to-speech reader that reads the book back to you.
You can choose from a variety of voices and adjust the reading speed as you wish. As the human voice reads your work to you, the text is highlighted at the bottom of the screen so you can follow along and point out any errors.
While running an entire novel through naturalreader can be a lengthy task, it can be a great way to check shorter sections or check your daily writing for issues with sentence structure and flow.
works on: mac, windows and web
cost: the basic version is free. one-time premium packages range from $99.50 to $199.50
advantages:
- reads you your own text
- gives your eyes a break from staring at the screen
- free package available
cons:
- the premium version is more expensive than many other apps on our list
conclusion
While authors of yesteryear had to go it alone, in 2022 there’s a whole new world of apps that can help you when you’re writing a book.
From basic spelling and grammar checkers to intricate book writing assistants that keep you focused, organized and motivated; there is a book writing app to help make the process much easier.
Don’t let writer’s block and procrastination get in your way. try these book writing apps today and see how it improves your writing and concentration.