Best book writing software for the day I finally start my novel
“This year,” I said, “Will be the year I finally, FINALLY, start to write my magnum opus!”
Anyway, I’ve been reciting that sentence on 1st January at 12:01 am for the last ten years. And, so far…crickets…
Now look, it’s not laziness. It’s confidence and a lack of hours in the day. Mostly. Between work deadlines, study deadlines, and the extremely important binge-watching of crime documentaries on Netflix, there isn’t an awful lot of time left.
Don’t side-eye me like that
I am going to do it. The first, most important step I took this year was NOT to recite that sentence on the stroke of midnight, New Year’s Day. I’m calling that a win…and hopefully it’ll spur me on to actually get on and write instead of merely hinting at it.
I turned to the GPT Productivity tool finder for a helping hand, and asked it to supply me with some ace ideas for genuinely helpful tools that could help me in my quest to write the next NYT bestseller.
Don’t get stuck for inspo, ask for help
It’s OK to have an idea and get writer’s block. It happens to us all, and for those times, a little helper never comes amiss. Sudowrite is a great tool.
It understands how to structure a story, develop characters, and pace a plot. If I get stuck on how to start a chapter, the Write feature generates options based on my style, or, if I’ve written myself into a corner, the Brainstorm section suggests ways forward that fit my story.
Find a clutter-free word processor to assist
Once I get going with a storyline and theme, Ulysees is my word processor of choice (it generally is anyway). With its simple, uncluttered interface, it’s a joy to sit and type unhindered, letting the words flow freely. I genuinely rate it not just for personal writing, but also for all my work and academic needs.
You’ll need something to manage the magnum opus
Scrivener is a real go-to book writing software for best-selling novelists, screenwriters, and non-fiction writers. But it’s more than a word processor; it’s a complete manuscript management system.
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It can be a little intimidating to beginners at first. But once I understood the structure, my work there became easier.
I’ll be able to see my entire book at a glance, rearrange chapters by dragging cards, jump between scenes without having to scroll through a lengthy document, and save all my research in the same project file.
My only gripe is the price — it’s quite ‘spenny, and there’s a steeper learning curve with it.
Get writing this year, and let your creativity shine
If you’ve got the idea and the will to make it work, go for it. The apps I’ve tried out are a great way to help you get started and help you on the way to writing the next (possible) best seller.
A great, simple word processor like Ulysees helps me write with no distractions, and getting a little help with AI tools for editing and refining can make all the difference between good writing and fabulous prose.
Make this your writing year — go for it!
More top tips on writing from me?
Want some more top tips from me on ways to get the most out of your working day, so you can write without distraction? I’ve got some blog posts to help out:
- Ways to stay focused while working
- My piece on AI prompts to help with writing
