Looking to take your writing game to the next level? You might need to get some primo software to assist. But what are the best book writing software? And what makes a software rank among the elite?
This list will be comprised of specially designed programs that all writers can utilize. So while, I’d love to include a program such as Vellum on here… It’s only available for Mac users. Each one of these will be compatible with both Windows and Mac. Furthermore, some of these will also have iOS and Android applications.
Spoiler alert: Atticus is by far the best writing software on this list. While there are other tools on this list that serve separate functions, Atticus is specifically for writing, and it does so amazingly. Get it here.
And without further ado, let’s jump right in!
The Best Book Writing Software for Authors
Here are the best tools for writers:
- Atticus–Best Overall Software
- Scrivener–Runner Up
- Google Docs–Best Word Processor
- ProWritingAid–Best Editing Tool
- Hemingway App–Best Lightweight Tool
- Publisher Rocket–Best Book Marketing Tool
- Canva–Best Book Cover Design Tool
- Dropbox–Best Document Sharing Platform
Now, I can honestly say I use each and every single one of these programs. And many of these I use every single day. They’re not super-specialty tools that are great for just particular occasions. These are real powerhouse tools that you’ll grow to rely on time and time again. And here’s the best…
Many of these are free or have free versions available! But not everything in life is free. And some of these do come at a well-worth it cost.
If you do intend on purchasing some of these, you can do so through one of my links. And while some of these links will be affiliate links, they won’t cost you any extra at all to use. They just help keep my teapot abrewin’ so I can keep bringing you worth-while content.
Reviews of the Best Book Writing Software
With all the preamble out of the way, let’s dive into my thoughts on each one of the tools I’ve mentioned. Most of these are writing products, but there are a few tools that I include for other important services that are EQUALLY important for writers (i.e. such as Publisher Rocket for marketing).
Atticus–The Best Overall Tool
Let me spill the tea on Atticus, the software that’s got me all kinds of excited. I was so excited when I heard about it, because it’s a game changer! This bad boy is your one-stop-shop for writing, editing, and formatting your literary masterpieces. Skeptical? I was too, but hear me out.
The Good Stuff
- Writing AND Formatting: Atticus is not just a writing program, it’s also a formatting program, so you no longer have to keep going back and forth between different programs, increasing the liklihood of human error. It’s all-in-one, baby!
- Cross-Platform Magic: Unlike other programs like it (looking at you Vellum), Atticus is available on all other platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
- Affordable AF: $147 for a lifetime account, friends. No sneaky subscription fees. And guess what? Free updates for life!
- Feature Fiesta: From a robust theme generator to goal-setting options to endnotes/footnotes to box set options, Atticus is like the Swiss Army knife for authors. It even has reusable elements, which is really handy for those “Also by” pages that I don’t have to build out every time now. Create an author bio once, use it forever.
So, Is Atticus Worth the Hype?
In a word: Absolutely. It’s like having a writing assistant, a formatter, and a motivational coach all rolled into one. So, if you’re still on the fence, just take the plunge. You won’t regret it!
Scrivener–Runner Up
Before Atticus came around, Scrivener was my go-to. It’s a fantastic and inexpensive way to write books (although it’s mostly limited to just writing). Scrivener takes a corkboard approach to your story–both figuratively and literally.
Every great story normally comes from good planning and direction. And that’s what Scrivener aims to provide. At heart, Scrivener is a word processing software, but it’s all the extra stuff it can do that really makes it special. The software takes on the role of planner and project manager allowing you to finish your work with ease. This is done through the use of templates, virtual corkboard organization, formatting tools, and much more.
It does have a pretty steep learning curve though. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be spitting out drafts faster than a pitching machine at your local batting cage.
Google Docs–Best Free Writing Tool
Look, I get it. You’ve been using Word since the beginning of time. Trust me, I’ve been where you are. At one time, Word was really the only game in town, and we had no choice but to be good little puppets and follow along. But that time has long since passed. There are other options now, and the best among them is Google Docs.
(Shh…it’s a sneak peek into the inner machinations of NerdyBookGirl. If you want the full article, check this link here.)
The first thing you’ll really notice about Google Docs is just how intuitive and simple it is. You know how in Word you gotta jump from menu to menu just to insert a hyperlink or media file? Or how the spacing formats are never as clearly defined as you want them? This is a non-issue with Google Docs. It’s all right there in front of you for ease of operations. And if you are required to write on both Word and Google Docs for different publications, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.
Another element that makes Google Docs super amazing is just how easy it is to share and collaborate. Just send your co-author or editor a permission-granted link, and they can go in and make edits straight away. And, perhaps, the most exciting feature is how boss the autosave function is. You can literally type a single letter and it will immediately save. There’s no need for special file names or properly closing down the program. If your computer crashes, you will lose NOTHING. And it’s absolutely free to use as well with no hidden charges, fees, or subscriptions!
ProWritingAid–Best Editing Software
When it comes to book writing (or any writing for that matter), you need to pay close attention to your editing. And the best book writing software to help you do that is ProWritingAid. Now, by no means does this take the place of an actual human editor. But it does make your life and that of your editor that much easier. And ProWritingAid is much, much more than a simple spell/grammar checker. It’s a full-blown writing coach at your immediate disposal.
ProWritingAid doesn’t just tell you that there’s an error and what the solution is. That’s just so basic. PWA actually tells you what the error is, why it’s wrong, an how to avoid it in the future. Oh yeah, and it provides a solution. And it does all of this in real time. But what about those intentional errors or informal slang? Fuggedaboutit. You can actually have PWA examine your writing from different stylistic tones. From informal blog writing to highly technical research papers…PWA’s got you covered.
However, the best part of PWA is the reports. The software provides you with 20+ reports on different areas of your writing in order to really bring out the best in your musings. And you can avail of much this completely free! Just head over to their in-browser web interface and get started right away. Of course, the free platform is relatively limited. You’ve only got 500 words. But if you’re writing short-form such as emails or quick blogs… It’s amazing! They also provide plagiarism checks if needed; however, those do come at an additional fee.
Hemingway App–Best Lightweight Style Tool
Are you smarter than a 5th Grader? Probably so. But do you really want to read at a higher level than that? You might think you do, but science says otherwise. The best engagement from readers comes from simpler writing. And that might be because you’re really not alienating anyone. Anybody can pick up your work, read it, and actually understand it. This can lead to some great repeat readers and accelerated growth within your fanbase. And the Hemingway App can help you do just this.
The Hemingway App is a free web tool that will give you a reading level grade for your writing in a quick, easy-to-use manner. All you have to do is copy and paste your text into the web editor. And the app will instantly give you a readout of three very important criteria:
- Use of Adverbs
- Difficult or Very Hard to Read Sentences
- Reading Level
Not only is this app super-lightweight, it’s also absolutely free. Seriously, if you’re not using this app, you could be missing out on some great info.
Publisher Rocket–Best Book Marketing Software
For those of you who’ve read through this blog, you’ll already know my feelings on Publisher Rocket. It’s hands-down the absolute best book marketing tool on the market today. And here’s why.
The biggest retailer of books anywhere in the world is Amazon. And if you can master the art of self-publishing on Amazon, you can compete with bestsellers and become one yourself. But… there’s a lot to it besides just popping a book on the site. You’ll hear people say that a good book sells because of good writing.
That’s not true at all. A book sells because of how you market it. Good writing is not going to sell your book when no one has read it.
However, there’s a lot of research and work needed to get your book visible on Amazon. You’ll need to spend countless hours researching the right keywords to assign to your book, what category you have the best chance of succeeding in, how you’ll far against your competition, and even how to properly set up paid advertisement on Amazon through AMS ads. It’s no easy task.
But Publisher Rocket makes it simpler. Want to know the best keywords for your book? Or categories? Simply type your topic into the program and boom! You’re presented with hundreds if not thousands of viable keyword choices. And as far as categories go, Publisher Rocket can help you navigate through all +11,000 categories and their associated strings. And Publisher Rocket is the only book marketing software available that has an actual tool to help you find specialized AMS keywords.
The software does come at a price however. It’s a one-time fee of $97. And I know that can be a little steep for some. But it’s a one-time fee and you’ll receive all future upgrades for free. I’ve personally used Rocket for a few years now and haven’t a clue on how I survived without it before. It helped me to achieve my coveted Bestseller ribbon and no doubt can help you to get yours.
Canva–Best Book Cover Design Tool
Out of all of the programs on this list, I find myself using Canva the most. It’s one of the absolute best graphic design tools you’ll see anywhere. While it’s not the most involved (like Photoshop), it’s a design software for the common people that super simple to understand. And it’s absolutely great for putting together your book cover.
And it doesn’t take long to get started. All you need to do is to head over to their website, create an account, and get creating! You can either choose from a pre-made template or designate your own custom dimensions. Canva also gives you the ability to upload your own images and build out your database for a better creation experience.
There are a few features that are locked behind a paywall. However, the cost of Canva Pro is right around $12/month, so it’s pretty affordable–especially if you’re going to be doing a lot of graphic design.
Dropbox–Best Document Sharing Platform
If you’re working with a team, whether it be another author, illustrator, editor, or marketer, you’re going to need to devise a system that helps each and everyone of you to communicate. It can often become very confusing as to what file is where and who has what information. But that issue can easily be resolved with Dropbox.
Dropbox is an online storage facility where you can coordinate your workflow. Designate folders for unfinished work, final drafts, media files, and more. You can even assign team members to specific folders as long as they have Dropbox as well.
It can be a super useful tool for just getting everything in one spot.
Any Other Best Book Writing Software Missing?
Welp, these are what I think are some of the best book writing software around. They’re super useful, and you’ll find some of these to become an everyday tool. And in all reality, they’re not even too expensive. Yes, some cost a minimal fee. But if time is money… a tool like Publisher Rocket more than pays for itself after doing just one keyword search.
But what do you think? Are there any must-have tools for authors?
Let me know down in the comments below what setup you’re using!
Cheers,
