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KARA BARBIERI (@PANDEAN)

Kara Barbieri is a twenty-two year old author with a love for the weird and mystic. Her debut novel, WHITE STAG, will be published by Wednesday Books/Macmillan in January 2019.

When I joined Wattpad, I gained a second family who were as passionate about reading and writing as I am.

ALI NOVAK (@FALLZSWIMMER)

Ali Novak is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's creative writing program. She started writing her debut novel My Life with the Walter Boys when she was only fifteen. Since then, her work has received more than 150 million hits online and My Life with the Walter Boys has been optioned for television by Komixx Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television.

Being a Wattpad Star is the foundation for everything I do as a writer, from the behind the scenes wrangling to the big, game-changing projects.

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The Wattpad Stars Program gave me opportunities I never thought possible. It connected me to a world that I had only imagined. I don’t know how else to say it. It changed my life!

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An online writing app for novelists and storytellers

Web-based writing.

Read, write, and edit from any computer any time. Your manuscripts are saved online so you always continue right where you left off, even from a different device.

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Revise and delete without fear. We keep loads of backups for weeks, months, and even years. No need to email yourself a copy just in case . . .

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Your manuscripts are encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption—the same level of encryption you use to access your bank account.

The Quill includes all the features you need plus a few you'll love. Save yourself time and effort while enjoying every minute of your storytelling. The Quill can even predict when you'll finish your novel so you can rest assured you'll meet your deadline.

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Create authentic, consistent characters with detailed profiles. Upload a reference photo and record details like age, hair color, personality, and secrets for each character. Never forget a character's eye color again.

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Dive into your writing using a modern, clean user-interface that shows you only what you need to see. Without messy distractions, you can focus on your manuscript and say good-bye to complicated software that only slows you down.

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Your manuscript is more than just words—it’s a work of art. Craft it using powerful tools including a full-manuscript search, notes attached to your text, categorized to do lists, drag & drop chapter re-ordering, word counts, smart quotes, auto-correct, folders for research and outtakes, and a built-in dictionary/thesaurus, all without leaving your manuscript.

Write and Format Stunning Books

Create professional print books and eBooks easily with the all-in-one book writing software.

Works on all platforms:

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What can atticus do for you.

Write your book in the only editor built by authors for authors.

Prepare your book for publishing with easy to use and customizable templates.

Write your book in the editor built for authors

Format Professional Books in Three Easy Steps

Seamlessly import your existing work.

Finished writing your book on another program, or want to start formatting previous works? No problem! Just import your work with a couple of clicks.

Then you can either keep writing, or begin turning your book into a beautifully formatted work of art.

Choose the look and feel of your book

Use one of our templates or design your own custom theme to create a unique look for your book.

• 17 templates
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See what your book will look like on different devices

Preview your book on a variety of devices to see what your book looks like before you publish.

Glowlight 3

Your export will work with ANY book market and platform

and more…

A Safe and Secure Place for Your Writing

Works online and offline.

Write from here, there or anywhere. Work online, offline, in a plane or on a train – Atticus works no matter where you are.

You own your data and we keep it safe

Atticus will automatically save your words as you write and will back it up on the cloud so you don’t have to worry.

Why Choose Atticus

We’re paws down the best companion for any author.

Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook

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$147 eBook and Print

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Whether you’re a fiction or non-fiction writer, Atticus was made with you in mind.

Works on any desktop or tablet device

We built Atticus as a Progressive Web App (PWA) which means it works on all devices with a browser, whether you’re online or not!

See what people are saying about Atticus

It’s a call worth answering..

Once upon a time, Luke Skywalker was just a farmer. Humble beginnings. Full of dreams. Then Frodo got called to carry the One Ring. Now Atticus rises, inviting authors to create and publish better-crafted books.

Jeremy Bursey Author

It’s an innovative breath of fresh air

Atticus is definitely the writing app to watch. It makes beautiful ebooks possible for everyone, and it’s an innovative breath of fresh air.

Michael La Ronn Author

One App To Rule Them All

After using Atticus to publish two books I realized how laborious my previous setup was. Atticus replaced all of the software packages I was using. With Atticus I can now write, format and export from one system.

Robb Wallace Author

Great For New Writers

I’m a new writer, and I love this program. It’s easy to use, and it’s fun. Not only that, but it’s also professional in appearance. They really have done a fantastic job, with this program. The support team is helpful and friendly.

Romantically Van Author

I’m really impressed!

My questions were answered promptly, factually, in great detail and in a friendly and encouraging manner. I find Atticus itself very appealing due to the intuitive way it works and the choices it gives.

Kay Von Randow Author

Five stars!

Atticus is easy to use and gives me so much time back by simplifying the formatting process for each new project. The team is super responsive for suggestions and troubleshooting and I’m really impressed with the end product.

Bee Murray Author

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Love it or your money back.

We’re so confident Atticus will help you save time on Book Formatting, that we’re willing to offer you a full 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee – no questions asked!

Try it for yourself, and if you don’t see the value it gives you in the first 30 days, just let us know and we’ll refund your money in full right on the spot. What do you have to lose?

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Save time on book formatting and get back to writing

We think authors should own their tools, so when you download Atticus, you own it. No forced subscriptions or compatibility concerns. Your work, your files, your app.

• Instant Access to Atticus – Format your book on any desktop device, with or without an internet connection.
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Can I use Atticus on both my PC and my Mac?

Great question! Yes – you can use Atticus anywhere that has a browser or a machine that is capable of downloading software, including not just PCs and Macs, but also your tablets and even smartphones.

You can also login to Atticus from any secure device, any time.

Is it an annual subscription or a one-time cost?

Atticus is a one-time purchase and will include all future updates at no additional cost!

Do I have to be a professional formatter to use Atticus, or even tech savvy?

You definitely don’t need to be a professional formatter or designer to use Atticus. Basic computer skills are all you need to get started, and our tutorials will walk you through the entire process of formatting your book. If you get stuck, you can always get in touch with our great customer success team for more personalized support.

Is there a limit to how many books (or pen names) I can format?

You can format as many books under as many pen names as you can write – there are no limits!

Can I create both eBook and Print books?

Yes, with Atticus you can use the same file to export to both ePub and PDF for your digital and print-ready books, or you can create duplicate versions of your book to make custom adjustments unique to each version.

Write and Format Unlimited Books and Ebooks For Only $147

Free Book Writing App |

Hermit is a secure, private book writing application for everybody who likes to write, from scribblers to aspiring authors.

Write better and faster!

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Hermit has been designed from the ground up to be fast and lightweight so that you can have a delightful writing experience. No more waiting 10 seconds every time you try to refresh the page.

Powerful Auto-Save

We’re no strangers to the frustration of random, unannounced browser and computer crashes. We’ve all been there. Combined with our auto-save feature, everything you type is automatically backed up on Hermit’s servers so you never lose any data.

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Hermit’s Library is the perfect place to share your writings publicly. People will be able to read them on their phones or computers in a beautiful, modern layout.

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Hermit users can vote for the texts they like to show appreciation and encourage budding authors. Gain exposure and grow your readership by publishing your writings.

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Need something easier on the eyes? Try our dark mode. Spice up your writing experience with some professional looking typography configurations.

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Fiction writing for real people.

• Plot (if you’re that kinda writer)
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Don't let your word processor drag your process down.

Ironically enough, traditional word processors weren’t designed for writers. Dabble’s book-writing software was developed for writers, by a writer.

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We love a good horror story, but our software for book writing ensures you don’t experience one. Cloud and local storage work double-duty to make sure you never lose a word.

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We believe that an app for writing a book should be fully equipped to support you at every stage of the writing process – from plotting storylines and character development to your daily word count.

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Drag and drop scenes and characters.

View story notes while you write.

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Dabble is the best app for writing a book. Here’s why writers of all genres rely on Dabble to bring their story to life:

" I wanted to thank you again for providing the interface and functionality I wanted. Scrivener was too complex and syncing was fraught with peril. Novlr lost my stories. " Lorene

" i just want you to know how awesome i think dabble is. this is a really worthwhile app for any writer and while it is geared towards the novel would be useful for any long form writing. this is a fantastic product." jessica, "i just want to let you guys know that i am in love with my experience with dabble. i look forward to writing just to see my stuff laid out in front of me." anna, "dabble remains my new favorite thing. i spent last night trying out every browser-based novel-writing tool in existence. and i'm back here with dabble this morning. :)" doug, "so far it has been wonderful it motivates me to take things one step at a time with creating my first novel" mariah, "i love what you are doing and have already signed up to continue past the free trial. this product gives me so much flexibility and peace of mind. just knowing if my computer goes belly up that my work is safe is an enormous thing. so thank you and i can't wait for the goal tracker" terri, ready to dabble.

Start writing now with a 14-day free trial that comes with access to all Premium features. Lifetime plans and student discounts available.

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Let your story unfold.

Our latest articles:.

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The 15 Best Book Writing Software Tools

Book Writing Programs: 18 Tools for Authors

POSTED ON Aug 9, 2022

Written by Hunter Freeman

Writing a book is one of the most complex projects any writer can pursue.

There are a lot of stages in the process of going from your initial idea to a published book. Keeping track of all the moving pieces, and making sure they are carried out the right way, is no small challenge. 

Thankfully, there are book writing programs available to make your life easier every step of the way. 

To help you decide on the right options for your book, we’ve gathered together some of the best programs. There is a mixture of paid and free tools for Mac, Windows, mobile devices, and the Cloud.

Are you ready to discover the best book writing programs for your next project?

This guide to book writing programs covers:

• Programs for book research
• Programs for planning
• Programs for book writing 
• Programs for editing and style  
• Programs for formatting and exporting
• Book Writing & Publishing Program

Programs for Book Research

Fiction and nonfiction books alike require careful research to give readers everything they are looking for. 

Depending on the complexity of your book, it can be difficult to keep track of all your notes, research material, and snippets of inspiration.

Some authors prefer to keep all their research material in the same program that they write in, while others like to store everything in a separate app. 

If you want to have a dedicated program to keep all of your book’s research material, here are three great options.

Apple Notes

Apple Notes is one of the best book research solutions for authors who use iPhones, iPads, and Macs to create their books. 

It allows you to quickly jot down a moment of inspiration or save an idea or image while you’re browsing online.

Notes integrates well with all of Apple’s other tools, making it easy to transfer material back and forth between different apps. 

If you are looking for a minimalist, intuitive way to research and store material for your book, Apple Notes could be your perfect program.

Google Keep

Google Keep is a simple and easy to use research tool. It’s a great choice if you prefer to work with Google tools like Docs and Drive. 

Keep has dedicated mobile apps for Android and iOS making it easy to jot down your ideas and inspiration on the go and then sync seamlessly across devices. 

You never know when your next great idea will strike. Having a simple program like Google Keep makes sure none of your ideas go to waste.

Simplenote lives up to its name. It’s a minimalist, intuitive place to take notes and store ideas for your book projects. 

You can use Simplenote on almost every operating system and platform available, including Linux, so it’s a great choice for authors working outside of the usual Windows and Apple ecosystems. 

Simplenote uses Markdown, so if you’re already familiar with that way of working, you will find it easy to get started creating book research materials in Simplenote. 

Programs for Planning

After you’ve gathered together the ideas and inspiration that will form your book’s content, it’s important to plan and map out the rest of the project and how it will all fit together. 

Some authors like to go old-school and use sticky notes, whiteboards, and handwritten mind maps to plan out everything their book will contain. Others prefer to use digital programs to keep everything under control.

Here are two great book writing programs for better planning.

Trello is one of the most intuitive planning tools out there, but it doesn’t compromise on power. 

You can integrate Trello with other apps like Google Calendar to keep your project precisely scheduled out. 

Trello has an incredibly easy to use drag and drop Kanban-style interface. There are desktop and mobile versions of the program that sync, allowing you to check your book plan or outline across multiple devices.

Creating a mindmap of your book is one of the best ways to organize your ideas. You can always use large pieces of paper or a whiteboard for your mindmap, but there are also apps and programs that offer a lot more functionality.

XMind is a powerful and popular program for creating mindmaps. It supports aesthetically beautiful maps you can customize with different graphics, and it syncs across desktop and mobile. 

Programs for Writing 

The most important program for writers is the tool you use to write your book . Of all the categories in this guide, take the most time to think about your needs here and which app best meets them. 

Some of the factors to weigh up include:

• Will you be working on desktop, mobile, or both?
• Which operating system will you be using?
• What features do you require? 
• Are you looking for a simple writing solution, or a complex program offering research and formatting capabilities?
• Do you want to take the time to learn a powerful program, or do you want something simple and intuitive you can jump straight into?

Keep those five factors in mind as you browse this selection of eight book writing programs. 

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is an ideal choice if you’re looking for the most minimal and intuitive environment for book writing.

Using FocusWriter allows you to focus entirely on your work. It blocks out everything on your screen except for the words you are crafting, keeping your creative flow free from outside distractions. 

You can download FocusWriter for free on Windows or Linux, but it currently doesn’t work on Mac or mobile. 

Google Docs 

If you already use Google’s suite of tools, you should consider Docs for your book writing program. 

Google Docs has the advantage of storing all your work in the Cloud while also allowing you to work offline when needed. It’s easy to collaborate with proofreaders, editors, and other creatives by sharing a link to a Docs file. 

You can also add a lot of functionality to Docs with its add-ons, allowing you to customize its features to your needs. 

Microsoft Word

A lot of writers have experience using Microsoft Word and find it easier to continue with the program rather than adapting to something new. 

Word might lack a lot of the specialist features found in other writing programs, but it has everything you need to finish your book. 

If you're already a regular user of Microsoft's flagship writing tool and don't feel the need for anything more complex, stick with it to start writing your book as soon as possible. 

Novlr manages to blend advanced features for authors with a clear and attractive user interface that is simple to use. 

You can plan out your chapters and scenes using Novlr as well as storing notes and research material. 

Although Novlr isn’t an ideal choice for nonfiction writers , aspiring novelists should check out the free trial on offer to get a feel for what it’s like to work in Novlr compared to other specialist writing programs. 

Scrivener is famous for being one of the most fully-featured writing programs out there.

It’s a powerful solution for every stage of the writing process, from research and planning to formatting and exporting your final book file. 

Although there’s a definite learning curve to Scrivener, it’s great value and comes with one of the best free trials out there. Scrivener is available for Mac, Windows, and iOS. 

Ulysses 

Ulysses is a powerful writing program available exclusively for authors using MacOS or iOS. 

It combines a very focused writing environment with extra features such as the ability to set goals and track your writing stats, attach files and supporting documents to your project, and to publish directly to WordPress and Medium from within the program. 

If you prefer to work using Apple software and hardware, and want a program that allows you to blog as well as write books, Ulysses is worth checking out further. 

yWriter 

yWriter is a free book writing program available for users of Windows and Linux. 

Unlike a lot of other writing apps, yWriter’s creator is both a novelist and a programmer. Because of this background, yWriter is packed with specialist features intended for fiction authors, like the ability to store character and location information directly in the app. 

Nonfiction writers should look elsewhere, but if you’re working on a fiction book in Windows, take the time to check out yWriter. 

Programs for Editing & Style

Although there’s no substitute for working with an experienced human editor, you can make better use of their time by first running your text through a grammar and style checking tool. 

Some tools are well-suited to catching grammar and spelling errors while others are more concerned with tightening your text and improving its readability. 

Here are three programs to help self-edit your book and improve its style. 

Grammarly 

Grammarly is probably the most famous self-editing tool on the market today.

You can use Grammarly to catch errors with your punctuation, fix your grammar slip-ups, and improve the readability of your text. You can check out our full review here .

Grammarly exists as a standalone program, as a Cloud service, and also as an integration for web browsers and other apps. 

Hemingway 

Hemingway is far more focused on improving the style of your writing rather than catching our basic errors.

This program scans your text for complicated word choices, sentences that are too lengthy, and misuses of the passive voice. Our full Hemingway review breaks down exactly what it does. 

You can either use Hemingway in the Cloud or download a standalone app for Mac or Windows. It’s a good idea to use Hemingway in conjunction with Grammarly or ProWritingAid to focus on both errors and style improvements. 

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a comprehensive style and grammar checking program.

As well as highlighting any basic errors, ProWritingAid shows you where you repeat certain words or phrases too often, where your sentence lengths aren’t varied enough, and where you use cliched language. 

Both ProWritingAid and Grammarly are powerful self-editing programs. Book writers should compare the two and choose the one which is the best fit for their needs. You can explore ProWritingAid in more detail here . 

Programs for Formatting & Exporting 

If you're not only writing a book but looking to format and self-publish it as well, you need to either find a program with the right features or invest in hiring someone to carry out the work.

Some of the programs featured earlier in this guide, such as Scrivener, have formatting and exporting capabilities. 

But what if your writing program isn’t suited for formatting? 

Here are three programs you can use to format your book. 

Atticus may be one of the newer programs on the market, but it is quickly becoming the author's favorite when it comes to writing and formatting a book.

It is easy to use, boasts over 21+ templates, has the ability to create custom chapter themes, and more.

On top of that, Atticus is only $147 ($103 cheaper than Vellum), works on all computers, and has more features coming that will be free upgrades for current owners. You can check out our full Atticus review here .

FastPencil 

FastPencil is more than just a formatting tool. It’s a powerful and fully-featured cloud writing environment that lets you write, format, and market your book online.

As FastPencil offers a lot more than just formatting capabilities, you should be comfortable with using it for your entire book writing process. Check out our full review to decide if it’s right for you. 

Jutoh is a dedicated formatting tool intended for book writers looking to self-publish ebooks. 

You can download Jutoh for Windows, Mac, Linux, or even Raspberry Pi. It exports your book files as ePub or Kindle, allowing you to publish on all the biggest book retailers online. 

Jutoh is available for a one-off purchase price, meaning you don’t need to worry about a monthly subscription for a service you only use from time to time. 

Vellum is one of the best-known formatting and export programs available to self-publishers.

You can use Vellum to format both ebook and paperback files as well as exporting them in all of the major file formats. Vellum is available as a one-off purchase, with a slightly more affordable option if you only need to format and export eBook files. Our Vellum review breaks down everything you need to know,

Vellum is only available for Mac at this time.

Complete Book Writing Program

If you're looking for a complete solution to write and publish a book, there are a number of book publishing courses on today's digital marketplace.

However, very few of these courses walk you through the entire process on how to write, publish, and market your book.

For a complete book writing and publishing program, we recommend these book writing programs from our partner site, Self-Publishing School.

You can check out our full Self-Publishing School review here.

You now have all the programs you need to write a successful book, from start to finish. 

So what are your next steps?

Choose the right mix of programs for every stage of your project, but don't take too long to decide. These tools are just a means to an end, allowing you to focus on your book.

After that, it’s time to write! 

There’s nothing more exciting than starting a brand new book project, and the right mix of programs will make it easier every step of the way. 

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12 tools for writing a book online (faster).

It's easier than ever before to become a published author online. But, by using the online tools, you can write a book online much faster too!

Published on Jan 18, 2023

By Austin Distel

No matter how you slice it, there’s just no good way to write a book quickly. Part of what makes books great is the investment of time, energy, and passion needed to bring them to life. That said, there certainly are tools that can speed up the process—especially for first-time authors wanting to author and publish their first book online.

So, since we’re pro all-things-writing at Jasper, we’ve compiled a list of tools to help you write a book online faster. While this list is by no means exhaustive, you’ll find it is a good jumping-off point. 

Staying Organized: Tools for Streamlining Your Workflow

Staying organized is one of the best ways to write faster. Writing a book online is no exception. With a centralized go-to location for all your notes, thoughts, inspiration, and questions, you won’t lose precious writing time rifling through papers on your desk.

1. Evernote

Evernote offers an easy way to save and store text, images, files, and to-do lists in a personal space to support your writing process. Search and keyword tagging help you stay organized as your project gathers momentum. You can also sync your Evernote account between devices, so your research, notes, and writing inspiration are available wherever you happen to be.

Highlights :

Top Features:

• Browser-based web clipper allows you to grab relevant information and media while you browse the Internet
• To-do lists help you make the most of research and writing time
• Calendar/scheduling functionality can sync with your notes
• Note-taking templates based on the Getting Things Done® (GTD) system
• Well-designed, feature-rich user interface
• Voice recording functionality adds flexibility for note taking
• Versatile solution for wide varieties of notes
• Notes containing a lot of rich media can bog down performance
• Some users report issues with online/offline note syncing
• Organization at scale increasingly relies on consistent note labeling 

Evernote offers a free subscription plan that includes the following:

• Note syncing between two devices
• 60 MB of monthly uploads
• Note size of 25 MB max
• Home dashboard and 3 Evernote widgets

Evernote’s paid Personal plan costs $8.99 per month and includes these additional features:

• Unlimited device syncing
• 10 GB of monthly uploads
• 200 MB maximum note size
• Dashboard customization
• Google Calendar syncing
• Offline access on desktop and mobile
• Custom template creation
• Image markup

2. Milanote

Milanote presents authors with a different approach to taking and managing notes. Users collate information and media on a digital whiteboard and can organize information visually by dragging it around and adding arrows, comments, and color coding. In addition, whiteboards can be added within whiteboards, giving users added dimensionality to their organization.

Top Features :

• Drag-and-drop organization
• Web clipper available for both browsers and mobile devices
• Sharing and real-time collaboration
• Uploading of common file and image types, e.g., Word docs, PDFs, and JPGs
• To-do list functionality
• Free trial available
• Boards can be exported either as (.Pdf or .Png) or in a linear format (.Doc, .Txt, .Md)
• Intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface
• View/Edit permissioning available when sharing boards
• Some users specifically appreciate Milanote’s simple, visual approach to note taking / white boarding
• No tracking of edit history available
• No calendar feature
• Web-based only
• Some users also report performance issues as rich media is added to boards
• Limited type customization

Milanote offers a free plan which includes the following:

• 100 Notes, images, and links
• 10 File uploads
• Unlimited board sharing

Their paid per-person plan is $12.50 per month and offers some upgrades:

• Unlimited notes, images, and links
• Unlimited file uploads
• Unlimited shared boards

3. Google Drive

Google Drive , Google’s cloud-based storage solution, doesn't offer research-specific features like the other products listed here. But for those with their own note-taking system, Google Drive can be a solid storage and syncing tool. This is especially true for those already using other aspects of Google’s productivity suite (e.g., Google Docs, Google Calendar, Gmail, etc.).

Highlights:

• Integrates with Google’s cloud-native collaboration apps, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Allows you to collaborate in Microsoft Office files without the need to convert file formats
• Supports 100+ file types, including PDFs and images
• Google search functionality helps you find relevant files and information faster
• Device agnostic
• Google-powered file search
• Clean, powerful user interface
• SSL encryption
• Requires internet connection
• 750 Gb daily upload limit
• 50 Mb file size limit for Google Docs
• Ambiguous privacy policy may be an issue for storing sensitive information

Google Drive’s personal plan is free and includes the following:

• 15 GB cloud storage
• Integration with Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms

Google Drive’s Business Standard plan is $12 per user per month and includes these extras:

• 2 TB of storage per user
• Target audience sharing
• Shared drives
• Meeting and video conference recordings saved to drive

Starting with the End in Mind: Tools for Audience and Market Research

Successful self-published authors know that great books begin with great research . In fact, while you may have a general idea about your book's subject matter before you sit down, sometimes it takes research to inspire the book idea itself. 

But book research should also include learning about your audience—and your competition. There are many tools to help you accomplish this. 

KDSpy is a browser-based audience targeting tool designed to help writers and authors study trends in the publishing industry and its competitive landscape. KDSpy allows you to identify keywords, sales rankings, and the sales performance of published works (yours and those of other authors you deem important to keep an eye on).

• Once installed, automatically analyzes Amazon while you browse and research books
• Provides detailed breakdowns and performance metrics of over 25,000 Kindle, book, and audiobook categories on Amazon
• Includes insights on how many copies a given type of book needs to sell per day to be viewed favorably by the Amazon ranking algorithm
• Allows authors to perform Amazon-specific keyword research to help with book promotion
• “No risk” 60-day free trial
• Regularly updated
• Helps authors with book category selection
• Viewed as fairly affordable
• Word cloud tool available to inform authors of potential words/phrases to include in their writing
• Some users consider the user interface to be dated
• Browser-based only
• Doesn’t show demand data
• Only works with the Amazon bookstore
• No free version available

There is a one-time $97 licensing fee (currently on sale for $69).

5. Publisher Rocket

Publisher Rocket is another audience-targeting tool used by the self-publishing community. This tool searches Amazon and Google for popular or niche keywords to help you decide what to write about and whom to write for.

• Keyword search, including Amazon-specific keywords
• Provides information on other authors, including book covers, listing prices, and daily/monthly earnings
• Categorical breakdowns that include sales needed for specific rankings
• 30-Day money-back guarantee
• Easy filtering of profitable keywords
• Good for finding hidden categories
• Free lifetime updates
• No Linux version (PC and Mac only)
• Available data limited to Amazon US, UK, and DE
• Data is estimated

Publisher Rocket has a one-time $97 licensing fee (monthly subscription TBD).

6. AMZ Suggestion Expander Pro

AMZ Suggestion Expander Pro is a Chrome plugin that expands the results of your search bar as you research your book on Amazon. Suggestion expanders are tools specifically designed to help you discover combinations of keywords with a high search volume—that is to say, what customers are looking for. 

• Expanded results feature keywords that Amazon adds before and after words users are searching for
• Works in multiple markets (currently US, CA, MX, UK, DE, FR, IT, AU, and ES)
• Free version available (AMZ Suggestion Expander)
• 30 day money back guarantee
• Keywords and search suggestions can be exported to a spreadsheet
• Word analysis sheet reveals keyword frequency
• Only available as a Chrome extension
• Does not work on iOS or Android devices

AMZ Suggestion Expander Pro is available for $9.97 per month.

Making the Words Go: Tools for Outlining and Writing Your Book

There are many tools out there to help with both general and specific types of writing. There’s also a lot of overlap between the outlining, writing, and editing processes. So we’ve included a variety of different tools here to help set your words in motion.

7. Grammarly

Grammarly is a popular AI-powered writing assistant that works on practically anything connected to the internet—including Grammarly’s own desktop app for Windows and iOS (iPhone and iPad), Android, and as an extension for popular browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation check
• Basic writing feedback, like conciseness and tone
• English fluency check
• Full-sentence rewrites
• Formatting suggestions
• Word choice and sentence variety feedback
• Citation style formatting
• Plagiarism detection
• Seamless browser integration
• Intuitive to use
• Viewed as extremely accurate
• Explanations provided for word choice and grammar suggestions
• Offers users customization options to match specific writing styles
• Some laptop users report overlaps with aspects of the interface
• Word choice and grammar suggestions sometimes seem at odds with the intentions of the author
• Some users report problems in getting Grammarly to integrate with specific apps or websites
• Prompting to upgrade from the free version can be viewed as aggressive 

Grammarly’s free plan includes the following:

• Grammar, spelling, punctuation check
• Basic writing feedback, like conciseness and tone detection

Grammarly's Premium plan costs $12 USD per month and includes everything in the free plan, in addition to those features listed in the Features above.

Jasper (that’s us!) is an AI-powered, flexible yet robust virtual writing assistant. Jasper generates compelling original content, and its growing library of writing templates includes tools for conquering every self-publishing author's nemesis—writer's block. The wide array of features we offer are helpful to some authors because Jasper can help out with so much of the non-novel marketing or writing work you’ll need to do as part of the publishing and promotion process.  

• Writing prompts allow users to include specific keywords and writing tones
• Supports 29+ languages
• Ideation, writing, and outlining templates
• Chrome extension available

Jasper offers several flexible pricing plans ranging from the $39/mo Creator plan to custom Business plans for an enterprise-level solution.

9. Microsoft Word

Chances are good you’ve crossed paths with the ubiquitous Microsoft Word . For all its uses, Word is an especially handy tool for writing books. Plus it's always a good idea to try and use the tools you already have, so your resources can go to other areas of your process that need a boost. 

• Templates and margin controls that are specific to book writing
• Built-in grammar and spelling check 
• Change-tracking and editing controls
• Almost universally accepted output file format (.docx)
• Legacy software means abundant documentation and support available
• Wide range of fonts available
• Supports multi-user editing
• Auto-sync is inaccurate at times 
• Some users feel the ability to add and manipulate rich media is clunky/out-dated
• Updates to the user interface lag behind updates to features and documentation styles
• Some functionality is complex, making their use difficult to understand

As long as you have a Microsoft account, you can use Microsoft Word for free. However, the free option is restricted to Word’s basic functionality. For features and formatting options authors may need to write their book (e.g., creating bibliographies, citations, etc) users will need a subscription plan, which start at $6.99 USD per month.  

10. Scrivener

Scrivener is an outlining and writing application available for macOS, Windows, and iOS.

• Integrated outlining tools allow you to break text off into specific sections that Scrivener tracks and keeps organized
• Scales with the needs of your book as you write
• Offers a flexible approach to writing and organizing pages and chapters
• Corkboard functionality acts as whiteboard
• Outliner mode keeps track of word counts and metadata
• Side-by-side version editing
• Target setting and progress tracking
• APA and MLA templates
• Select layout options guide the author as they write
• Ideas and notes can be attached to specific chapters
• Automatically backs work up
• Compiling feature aids in manuscript formatting
• Lots of customization options
• Complexity/learning-curve can be problematic for some
• The program itself is large/substantial 
• Some users feels formatting options are too complications
• Cloud-sync may not be intuitive to some

A free 30-day trial is available (based on days used, not calendar days). One-time licensing fees are $23.99 for iOS and $59.99 for macOS or Windows.

Xmind is an app designed to support the practice of mind mapping. Mind mapping can help authors (especially first-time authors) organize their thoughts and discover connections between themes, ideas, and characters. Unlike other mind-mapping apps, Xmind’s free tier does not limit the number of mind maps you create.

• Unlimited topics and maps, regardless of plan
• Mind-mapping templates
• Labels, markups, and notes
• Stickers and illustration library
• Export to PNG or PDF
• Single canvas/whiteboard approach makes it easier to see “big picture”
• Makes it easy to take a sectional or segmented approach to ideation
• Outliner linked to mind map provides helpful context to map flow
• User-friendly interface and UX on both desktop and mobile versions
• Could offer more app integrations
• Some users report a bit of a learning curve when first using the app
• Icon availability and use is limited
• Text placement viewed as problematic by some
• Larger projects/mind-maps may affect performance

A free plan is available. The pro plan costs $5.99 per month and includes the following:

• Audio notes
• Attachment support
• Topic linking
• Custom themes
• Password protection
• No watermarking
• Additional exporting options/formats

12. Zoho Writer

Zoho Writer is an online word processing tool that features Zia, an AI-powered writing assistant. Zia offers contextual grammar, style, and readability suggestions in real-time. 

• Simple layout and interface designed to minimize distractions
• "Focus mode" can toggle attention to only the selected paragraph 
• Ability to auto-save, lock, and mask sensitive information
• Short story and simple novel among available templates
• Workflow automation
• Web clipper and word processor extension
• Seamless integration with other Zoho products
• User cite easy of use as major benefit
• Word processing may seem too simplistic for some
• Features are due for an upgrade
• Limited technical support
• Some users report payment details are a bit difficult to understand

Zoho's word processor is free to use. Zoho WorkDrive storage plans start at $3 per user per month for 1 TB of storage.

“The End” Is Just the Beginning: Promoting Your Book

When your book is ready to publish, do yourself a favor and take a few deep breaths (or a mini-staycation). Once the book writing process is done, it’s time for the self-publishing and promotion processes to begin. 

Don’t worry, though. Many of the tools we’ve covered above can also help get your book into your audience's hands—or e-readers. 

AI writing tools like Jasper can also help with all the different kinds of writing it takes to put a book out there—like summaries, meta descriptions, headlines, and advertising copy. 

When you’re ready, take full advantage of Jasper’s own free trial to ensure that when your book is ready for publishing, you are too!

Meet The Author:

Austin Distel

Austin Distel is the Sr. Director of Marketing at Jasper , your AI marketing co-pilot. When not working, Austin is also an Airbnb superhost in Austin, Texas.

Enjoy this post? Join over 4 million people who are learning to master AI in 2024.

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Book writing online: 10 effective tools for writers

Finishing a novel takes focus, dedication, motivation and time. Tools for book writing online make it much easier for you to plot a story, create a sustainable writing routine, draft without distraction and more. Don’t wait for NaNoWriMo to roll around again to finish your novel this year. Make headway now with the help of these 10 online writing tools:

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Finishing a novel takes focus, dedication, motivation and time. Tools for book writing online make it much easier for you to plot a story, create a sustainable writing routine, draft without distraction and more. Don’t wait for NaNoWriMo to roll around again to finish your novel this year. Make headway now with the help of these 10 online writing tools:

Jot down whole swathes of your novel faster using this writing and collaboration tool .

The ‘Hemingway’ mode in Draft is a novel solution for those of us who love to go back and edit our work as we go incessantly. In Hemingway mode you can’t delete anything and can only move forward. It’s free, so try it if you need to stop yourself from editing your novel’s first page repeatedly.

2. Evernote

Writing historical epics or romance? Or is your main character a medical professional, perhaps, and you need to research some facts about human anatomy for some dialogue? Factual detail can add extra richness to your novel.

But your fact-finding can easily bog you down, especially if you have to return repeatedly to find information you’ve already looked up before. Evernote lets you save articles and images you find online (in full or part) to the Evernote app , for later viewing. Installing the browser extension lets you instantly save any information you come across.

One feature of Evernote is that you can create individual journals containing multiple notes. Create journals such as ‘Characters’ or ‘Setting’ and fill them with details that you can use in your book. Store all the factual detail you’ll need as you go in an easy-to-use platform.

The app is available for desktop computers as well as mobile devices.

Book writing online can be overwhelming since there are so many competing ideas about how best to draft your novel. One truth about writing a novel is that organizing your thoughts and ideas speeds the process up. It helps forge a sense of direction.

Before you draft your story, you need an idea of why you are writing this story and where in particular the narrative might lead. Coggle is a useful (and visually beautiful) online brainstorming tool , that lets you visually map your ideas. There’s a free version that allows you to create unlimited mind maps, but to gain private maps costs $5 per month for subscription.

Use a mind mapping tool such as Coggle in conjunction with the Now Novel ideas finder to arrange and organize your creative ideas. Gathering all your initial ideas about specific characters, settings or plot events will kick-start the process of building a complete and satisfying story.

Oranization is a core challenge for many writers.  Trello is an easy-to-use information organizing tool .

When logged into your free, private account you can create a ‘board’ on any topic of your choosing. Each board is a blank space where you can create side-by-side lists that can be rearranged as you desire. You can add cards to each list – blocks of text that can be moved around vertically within your list or dragged and dropped to other lists. You can also attach images and website links to individual cards.

Use Trello as a tool to structure your novel as this example illustrates:

Write scene summaries on individual cards. Shuffle them around to try out different plot and narrative sequences if you wish. You can do similar (with the added benefit of scene-tagging and filtering what you see) in Now Novel’s Story Builder .

5. Google Calendar

‘Not having time to write’ was the number one obstacle reported when we asked you what was stopping you finishing your novel (in a blog reader survey).

Not having time is so often simply not making time. Think of how when entering a new relationship or discovering a new hobby you will shift a lot of things around to make time? Being committed to writing a novel requires the same dedication.

It’s easier to find gaps in your schedule and manage your productivity when you have an easy-to-use, well-structured online calendar. Google Calendar in particular is a great booking writing online tool. Besides being able to color-code your scheduled events and activities, you can also set alarm reminders for your mobile phone. Often simply forget to spend some time writing? This will help you keep focused on your writing goals.

6. Pomodoro Technique Tools

To finish writing a book this year, you need focus in addition to determination. The Pomodoro technique is an approach to working smarter developed by Francesco Cirillo. You build frequent small breaks into your writing and in doing so become more focused and productive.

The idea behind this approach is that the ideal length of time for working without faltering attention is 25 minutes. There is an official Pomodoro app in the works, but you can find other digital timers online. Tomatoes is one free app, and you can optionally set a ticker sound to play through your internet browser and spur you on as you go.

7. The Now Novel Dashboard

Sure, this is shameless self-promotion. But Now Novel’s story outlining tool (‘the Dashboard’) provides a structured, guided process that will help you identify key elements of your story and create an outline or blueprint for your novel step-by-step.

The Scribble Pad is your private space on Now Novel where you can save extracts from your work in progress. These you can choose to share individually with the rest of the Now Novel community, either publicly or anonymously, for helpful feedback.

8. Power Thesaurus

Do you that your writing slows down sometimes because there’s an exact word you want and the alternative you’ve used just isn’t working? Thesauruses are essential tools for every writer. It doesn’t matter whether you aspire to be an author or are already published. A Thesaurus will help you find the right word with the most fitting connotations.

Power The saurus is an online tool that will help you quickly find a synonym that works for your passage. Also use a reliable, reputable dictionary as you go to check spellings or definitions you are unsure of. This will save you much time when it comes to editing.

9. Namepedia

Something else that can slow you down while writing a novel is coming up with names for your primary and secondary cast of characters.

Namepedia is a database containing thousands of names from around the world along with their meanings. You can also quickly find foreign-language equivalents for the names whose meanings best fit your characters. The name ‘Karl’, for example, means ‘brave’. If you have a Polish character, this becomes ‘Karol’. Use Namepedia to quickly find names that are symbolic of your characters’ backstories and choices.

Writer’s block is something that writers of all experience levels encounter. Some grapple with it more than others. One of its biggest causes is excessive self-censorship or self-criticism. One of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is to do free-writing. Write something – write anything – for at least 10 minutes. This loosens up the writing ‘muscle’.

A large part of becoming a productive and more confident writer is also practice. 750 words is a free online tool that helps you work your way up to writing 750 words per day. It’s a distraction-free writing environment, and you can view a breakdown of how often you’ve reached your word count target and other useful and interesting statistics. Use it either for free-writing or for reaching your daily word count targets.

Writing a novel is hard work in addition to being a fun-filled process of discovery. Try our story outlining tool and create a helpful, structured outline that will be like a trusty sidekick as you draft your book.

Related Posts:

• Updating our online writing tools: 8 lessons and changes
• How an online writers' community grows skill
• Writing a book online? 8 vital questions answered
• Tags online writing tools , story structure , writing a draft

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

18 replies on “Book writing online: 10 effective tools for writers”

I use http://germ.io to break-up ideas and plan my novel.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Well, guys, I was just passing by when suddenly have decided to stop for a while to say thank you for your beautiful blog and priceless advice. My writing experience is pretty big but your tips are still extremely useful for me. Keep writing and inspiring us, your faithful readers! First of all, professional writer should use the tips listed above to develop his/her professional skills and save priceless time. Honestly, I don’t understand those “old-fashioned” writers who don’t use modern tech at all. Sure, it’s not right to let technology rule your life but there is no sense to refuse the fact that some tools are genius and ignoring them is simply foolish. For instance, I can hardly ever imagine my daily routine without using a handy writing tool , online editor and a reliable plagiarism checker . If innovations are so close, why not to start using them?

Thanks, Daniel! I’m glad you enjoy the blog, it’s always lovely to hear feedback, and even more so when it’s so positive. I agree, working ‘smart’ is important generally but especially when undertaking a long-haul project such as writing a novel 🙂 Digital tools can be real time-savers.

For scene sequence and outlining I recommend Amazon’s free screenwriting tool (that works just as well for other writers). It’s at studios.amazon.com and I really love it. Mostly because it’s free and offers really good services 😛

I had a look, it looks great. Thanks for sharing your favourite resource!

Don’t forget to add Reedsy to your list of writerly resources! Reedsy is a marketplace for authors to collaborate with the world’s best freelance publishing professionals. Check it out at: https://reedsy.com/

Thanks for the recommendation, Elliot. I’ll add Reedsy to our mammoth list of 151 must-visit writing websites.

EXCELLENT ADVICE.Many thanks for your patience

Hi Bridget, Let me share one more resource. OK, say, kind of resource. I am speaking about ghostwriting. I think that certain parts of the text could be written by someone else (if you plans fall for example). In my academic life I used http://www.paythegeek . But I heard these guys also handle non-academic papers. What do you think?

You might need to try Power Thesaurus (powerthesaurus.org). It’s a crowdsourced online thesaurus that has been built as a convenient tool for writers.

Thank you for the suggestion, it looks useful.

Another for the list is Cards from wavemaker ( http://www.wavemaker.co.uk ) Has some useful planning and writing features

NovelEasy has a super-clean interface, autosaves as you type, and includes chapters and the ability to re-order them. https://noveleasy.com

Can a class 10 student write a novel? Is it ok!

Definitely, Sapna!

I’m John, CEO of Taskade, a Y-Combinator backed startup, and we built a real-time collaboration and organization tool for remote teams. Taskade is designed for tree-structured brainstorming and outlining with built-in video chat, all in one unified workspace. ⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️

?‍? Web App: https://taskade.com ? Mobile & Desktop: https://taskade.com/downloads

Taskade will become the last remote tool you’ll ever need.

Excited to connect and hear your feedback. ?

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Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

How to Write a Book (with Tactics from Bestsellers)

What’s the secret formula to tapping into your creativity and writing a book? Some authors would tell you there is no single path to authorship , as every writer’s journey is unique. However, almost every bestselling author will have highly effective writing patterns and habits that help them reach their writing goals . In this post, we'll share some of their most commonly used tactics for starting and finishing a book.

How to write a book:

1. Start with a book idea you love

2. research by reading genre-prominent books, 3. outline the story, 4. write the opening sentence , 5. write the first draft, 6. set a schedule with achievable goals, 7. find a good writing space, 8. pick a "distraction-free" writing software, 9. finish your draft, 10. edit the manuscript, 11. publish your book for readers to buy.

There's a long, exciting road ahead. So let's get started.

The one thing you absolutely  need  to write a book is, of course, an idea. If you don't have that, you'll never get past the first page of your draft.

You may already know what you want to write about, or you may be at a total loss. Either way, you can settle on a “big book idea” by asking yourself a few simple questions:

• What do I  want  to write about?
• What do I feel is  important  to write about?
• Who will want to read about this story/subject?
• Will I be able to carry out this idea effectively?

Your answers to these questions will help you narrow it down to your best options. For example, if you have several different ideas for a book, but only one that you're truly passionate about and feel you can pull off, then voilà — there's your premise!

On the other hand, if you  lack  ideas, these questions should steer you in a firmer direction. Think about the kinds of books you love to read, as well as books that have made a significant impact on you. In all likelihood, you'll want to write a book in a similar vein.

Tools to help you find an idea

If you're grasping at straws, consider using creative writing prompts or a  plot generator  to get the ball rolling! You might stumble upon an interesting concept or story element that sparks a “big idea” for your book. (And if you're still uninspired even after trying these tools, you may want to reconsider whether you really want to write a book after all.)

Which writing app is right for you?

Find out here! Takes 30 seconds

Once you've found your big idea, the next step is to research your genre. Again, if you're writing the book you like to read , you already have a leg up! Reading books in your genre is by far the best way to learn how to write in that genre yourself.

But if not, you'll want to select a couple of representative titles and analyze them.  How long are they  and  how many chapters do they have ? What does the  story structure  look like? What are the major  themes ? Perhaps most importantly, do you think you can produce a book with similar elements?

Find out what people are reading

You should also conduct market research on Amazon to determine the most  popular  books in your genre. If you want your book to succeed, you'll have to contend with these bestsellers. Go to the  Amazon Best Sellers page  and find your genre in the lefthand sidebar:

Then read those books' blurbs to figure out what really sells. What do they all have in common, and why might readers find them appealing? Does your book hold up to these standards?

Finally, think about how your book can offer something NEW. For example, if you're writing a psychological thriller, will there be a particularly sneaky  unreliable narrator , or maybe a  series of twists  that the reader never sees coming? If you're  writing a nonfiction book , do you have a unique take on the subject, or a particularly deep well of knowledge? And so on.

Going above and beyond is the only way to give your book a chance in today's hyper-competitive market. So don't skimp on the genre research, because this will tell you where the bar is and how you can surpass it.

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If you want to write a great story , you need to outline it first. This is especially important if it's your first book, since you need a solid blueprint to rely on when you get stuck! (Because believe us, you will  get stuck.)

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Use this template to go from a vague idea to a solid plan for a first draft.

So how do you go about creating that outline for your book? We actually have a  whole other post on the subject , but here are the essentials:

• Pick a format that works for you.  There are so many different types of outlines: the free-flowing mind map, the rigorous chapter-and-scene outline, the character-based outline, and so on. If one approach doesn't work for you, try another! Any kind of plan is better than none.
• Have a beginning, middle, and end.  Way too many authors go into writing a book with a strong notion of how their story should start... yet their middle is murky and their ending, nonexistent. Take this time to flesh them out and connect them to one another.  Remember:  the best books have endings that feel “earned,” so you should try to be building toward it from the start!
• Consider your conflict points.   Conflict is at the heart of any good book  — it draws in the reader, conjures tension and emotion, and ultimately reflects the themes and/or message you want to convey. You don't have to know  exactly  where your conflict will manifest, but you should have a pretty good grasp of how it works throughout your book.
• Get to know your characters.  If you haven't done much  character development  yet, your outline is the perfect opportunity to do so. How will your characters interact in the story, and how will these interactions demonstrate who they are and what matters to them?

If you'd like to outline your story directly in a writing app, we recommend using the pre-made templates in the free Reedsy Book Editor. Simply create your account with one click below and start creating the building blocks of your story — right away.  

FREE OUTLINING APP

The Reedsy Book Editor

Use the Boards feature to plan, organize, or research anything.

Let's get into the actual writing and make a dent in your first draft . One of the most important parts of writing a book is  starting the story ! It's no exaggeration to say your first few pages can make or break your book — if these pages aren't good enough, many readers will lose interest, possibly never returning to your book again.

First off, you need an opening hook that grabs the reader's attention and makes it impossible for them to look away. Take a look at the first lines of these hit bestsellers:

“Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum's Grand Gallery.” — The Da Vinci Code

“If all the Saturdays of 1982 can be thought of as one day, I met Tracey at 10 a.m. on that Saturday, walking through the sandy gravel of a churchyard, each holding our mother's hand.” — Swing Time

All of these books fall into different genres, yet all their opening lines do the same thing: capture the reader's attention. You can imitate them by making a similarly strong, slightly furtive statement in  your  opener!

From there, your job is to maintain the reader's interest by heightening the stakes and  inciting the plot . You should also make the reader care about the main characters by giving them distinct personalities and  motivations . (Note that “main” is a key descriptor here; never introduce more than a couple of characters at a time!)

Of course, there are infinite ways to write your first chapter. You might have to experiment with lots of different opening lines, even opening scenes, to find the right balance — but it's worth the effort to set the stage perfectly.

If you struggle to write consistently, sign up for our How to Write a Novel course to finish your novel in just 3 months.  

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Many writers believe that the key to writing an amazing book is style: impressive vocabulary, elaborate sentences,  figurative language  that would make Shakespeare swoon.

We're here to dissuade you of that notion. While style is great (as long as your prose doesn't  start to become purple ),  substance  is far more important when writing a book — hence why you should focus primarily on your plot, characters, conflict(s), and themes.

Make sure your book is all killer, no filler

Of course, that's easier said than done, especially once you've already started writing . When you get to a patchily outlined section, it's tempting to  keep  writing and fill out the page with literary gymnastics. But that's exactly what this content is: filler. And if you have too much of it, readers will become frustrated and start to think you're pretentious.

This is another reason why outlining is so important. You need to KNOW your story in order to stay on track with it! But besides outlining, here are a few more tips for making substance a priority:

• Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action.  This advice comes straight from Kurt Vonnegut, and it's 100% true: if a sentence doesn't accomplish one or both of those things, try removing it. If the passage still makes sense, leave it out.
• Be conscious of your pacing.  Slow pacing is a symptom of excess description. If the events of your book seem to move like molasses, you're probably using too much style and not enough substance.
• Use a writing tool to reduce flowery language.  Speaking of great American novelists,  Hemingway  is a fantastic tool to help you write like the man himself! Simply paste your writing into the app and Hemingway will suggest ways to make your prose more concise and effective.

Tell us about your book, and we'll give you a writing playlist

It'll only take a minute!

Keep readers in mind while writing

Do you want to be the author of a novel that people will really  enjoy (and buy)? Well, this is pretty much the cardinal rule: you should always be thinking about your audience and trying to write “reader-first.”

For example, sometimes you'll have to write scenes that aren't very exciting, but that  serve the overall story arc . Don't rush through these scenes just to get them over with! Even if they don't seem interesting to  you,  they contribute to the reader's experience by building tension and preserving the pacing — and the reader deserves to relish those things.

Create 'fake' people who will want to read your book

When considering your readership, you should also  keep a proto-persona in mind  for marketing purposes. These are constructed personalities that marketers use to better understand their target customers. The more your book can cater to this hypothetical reader, the easier it will be to sell!

Maybe you're writing a true-crime account for zealous  true crime readers . Such readers will have pored over countless criminal cases before, so you need to include unique details to make  your  case stand out, and craft an extra-compelling narrative to engage them.

Let's move on to practical ways that you can improve your writing habits. Word count goals play a huge part in creating an effective writing process, especially if you're trying to finish your book  in a certain amount of time .

You should create word count goals for both your individual sessions and per week — or per month, if that's how you prefer to think about your writing output. For relatively novice writers, we'd recommend the following word count goals:

• 500-750 words per day
• 1,500-2,500 words per week
• 6,000-10,000 words per month

These goals are based on a pattern of 3-4 sessions per week, which is reasonable for a beginner, but still enough to make commendable progress. Even if you only follow our  minimum  recommendations — 500 words per session at 3 sessions per week — you can still easily finish your book in less than a year!

Speeding up the writing process

If you're looking for how to write a book  as fast as possible , your word count goals should look a little more like this:

• 1,500-2,000 words per session
• 9,000-15,000 words per week
• 35,000-50,000 words per month

The figures above adhere roughly to  NaNoWriMo , the event in which participants write an average of 1,667 words/day to complete a 50,000-word book in  one month . It's hard work, but it's definitely possible to write a book that quickly; hundreds of thousands of people do so every year!

But as any author who's done NaNo can attest, it's also a pretty grueling experience. Most authors find it exhausting to write such great quantities for so many days in a row — and they still have to  edit copiously  once they're done.

If this is your first book, make sure you take your time, set manageable word goals, and gradually build to bigger goals.

Use writing sessions to establish a schedule

Having a healthy writing routine is the only way you'll actually hit those word count goals — not to mention it fosters a better relationship with writing overall! To establish a healthy routine, ask yourself these baseline questions first:

• When do I have the most free time in the day/week?
• What time of the day do I tend to be most productive?
• How can I space out my writing sessions effectively?
• Will I realistically be able to balance my writing goals with other responsibilities?

The best way to set up your routine is to take advantage of your pre-existing schedule and natural patterns. So for example, if you already go to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays, perhaps the best time to write would be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Or if you find yourself most creative late at night ( many of us do! ), you can plan late-night sessions over the weekend/before your day off, so you can sleep in the next day.

Ultimately, you just want a well-balanced writing routine that facilitates productivity, yet keeps you from burning out. If you find that writing for several days in a row is too much for you, space out your sessions more or try to shake things up by moving to a new writing space. If you can't keep up with your goals, it's okay to reduce them a little.

Yes, writing a lot is important, but it's not more important than your mental health! Remember that writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint, and that a consistent, healthy approach is absolutely vital. Here are some tips for making the most of your writing routine.

Don't skip more than one session in a row

Life happens, and sometimes you won't be able to make a planned writing session. However, unless it's a serious emergency, you should try to get back in the saddle for your next session. Otherwise, you'll lose too much progress and feel discouraged, which typically leads to skipping even  more  writing sessions, and eventually giving up.

Track your progress

With our free writing app, the Reedsy Book Editor , you'll see the numbers update automatically depending on your activity: you'll see how many words you added  and deleted on any given day. Depending on the overall goal you set for your manuscript, you'll also see your daily targets adjust depending on how much you've written so far.

Use a site blocker to stay focused

Distraction is the enemy of routine, and the biggest distraction in our modern world is the Internet. To that end, download a site-and-app blocker to use during your writing sessions so you won't be enticed by social media or adorable cat memes. We'd recommend  Freedom , as you can schedule block sessions in advance and even keep track of your productivity   within  the app.

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Another major component of how to write a book is  where  you write, hence why it gets a separate section. If you want to complete an entire book, you absolutely must find a calm, focused space for your writing.

This may be in your house, a coffee shop, a library, a co-working space — wherever you can work productively and without interruptions. It should also be a place that you can access easily and go often. Working from home is the most convenient option in this sense, but it may be difficult if you have family around, or if you don't have a designated “room of one's own” (i.e. an actual office, or at least a desk).

What does a good writing space look like?

Try out different locations to see what works for you. Indeed, you may find that you like to rotate writing spaces because it keeps you energetic and your writing fresh! But wherever you go, do your best to make the space:

• Quiet  (noise-canceling headphones can be very helpful)
• Clean  (no clutter, especially if you do chores to procrastinate)
• Non-distracting  (nothing too fun around to tempt you away from writing; turn off your phone so other people won't bother you)
• Your own  (cultivate a nice atmosphere in your home office with posters and plants, or simply take the same seat at your local café every time — truly carve out a “dedicated writing space”)

We've already talked about a few different pieces of software to help you with writing a book. But if you haven't found the right app or program yet, never fear — there's plenty more where those came from!

Book writing software is a topic we've actually  written an entire post about , but it's worth touching on a few of our favorite writing tools here:

Scrivener 🖋️

Scrivener is  the  downloadable writing software of choice for many writers, and for good reason: it has an exceptional interface and tons of useful features. You can outline chapters with its drag-and-drop system, create labels for elements you want to track, and use various templates to plan AND format your book. If you want to feel like a true professional, you can't go wrong with Scrivener — and it's even free to try for 30 days.

Or if you're not much for outlines because your thoughts are all over the place, Milanote can help. The super-flexible interface allows you to “mind map” just as you would longhand, and rearrange different sections as you please. When writing, you can see all your notes at once, so you don't have to stress about forgetting things. It's a very refreshing, intuitive way approach that's worth a try for all disorganized authors.

FocusWriter ✍️

Speaking of intuitive, what's more intuitive than simply writing on a piece of paper, no distractions — just like the old days? Meet FocusWriter, which allows you to do exactly that. The full-screen default interface is a sheet of paper on a wooden desk: no bells, no whistles, no distractions whatsoever. Seriously, this one will get you in the zone.

The Reedsy Book Editor 📖

We couldn't leave out one of the coolest word processing, editing, and formatting tools on the market! All jokes aside, the RBE lets you cleanly format your book  as you go,  so you can watch it take shape in real-time. You can also add sections for front matter and back matter and invite collaborators to edit your text. Plus you can toggle on goal reminders to make sure that you're on track with your writing schedule. Once you finish writing, you can export the files of your book. But don't take our word for it: you can try the RBE for free right here .

FREE WRITING APP

Set goals, track progress, and establish your writing routine in our free app.

Getting into the groove of writing a book can be difficult. When there are a million different things to distract and discourage you, how can you keep going with your writing routine and finish your book?

Based on ours and other writers' experience, here are a few motivational strategies for you to try:

• Make a list of reasons  why  you want to write a book.  Having a tangible reminder of your true purpose is one of the best ways to motivate yourself, so think hard: Do you want to send an important message? Reach a certain group of people? Or do you simply yearn to tell this particular story? Write down all your reasons and keep them as an ace in the hole for when your motivation dwindles.
• Find someone else to write with you.  Getting a writing buddy is another great way to stay motivated! For one thing, you get some camaraderie during this process; for another, it means you can't slack off too much. So ask your writer friends if they'd like to meet up regularly, or join an  online writing community . With the latter, just make sure you exchange progress updates and proof that you're actually writing!
• Reward yourself at important milestones.  Sometimes the best motivation is the prospect of treating yourself. If you respond well to this kind of motivation, set a goal, a deadline, and a reward for meeting it: “If I can write 10,000 more words by the end of the month, I'll go out for an amazing, fancy dinner with all my friends.” This kind of goal is also helpful because you can  tell  your friends about it, and that very act will hold you accountable.

For even more advice on how to staying motivated through the writing process, check out this Reedsy Live from author and writing coach Kevin Johns!

Don't give up

Remember how we said you'd inevitably get stuck? Well, that's what this step is all about: what to do when you hit a wall. Whether it's a tricky plot hole, an onslaught of insecurity, or a simple lack of desire to write, all writers experience setbacks from time to time.

There are countless ways to  overcome writer's block , from freewriting to working on your characters to taking a shower (yes, that's a legitimate tip!). However, here are some of the most effective techniques we've found:

• Revisit your outline.  This will jog your memory as to planned story elements you've forgotten — which may help you find the missing piece.
• Try writing exercises.  It's possible you just need to get the words flowing, and then you can jump get right back into your book. Luckily for you, we have a whole host of great writing exercises  right here!
• Share your experience with friends.  This is another great role for your writing buddy to fill, but you can easily talk about writer's block with your non-writing friends, too. If you're struggling, it always helps to vent and bounce ideas off other people.
• Take a  short  break to do something else.  Yes, sometimes you need to step away from the keyboard and clear your head. But don't take more than a day or so, or else you'll lose momentum and motivation.

Most of all, remember to take setbacks in stride and not let them get you down. As platitudinous as that might sound, it's true: the only thing that can stop you from writing a book is if you, well,  stop writing . So keep calm and carry on — every day brings new opportunities and you'll get through this.

Your aim at this point is not to emerge with an instant masterpiece. The quality almost always emerges in the edit.

You can write all day, all night, to your heart's content... but if no one else likes what you've written, you might end up heart broken  instead. That's why it's crucial to request feedback on your book, starting early and from as many sources as possible.

Begin by asking your friends and fellow writers to read just a few chapters at a time. However, apply their suggestions not only to those chapters, but wherever relevant. For example, if one of your friends says, “[Character A] is acting weird in this scene,” pay extra attention to that character to ensure you haven't misrepresented them anywhere else.

Once your book is finished, you're ready for some more intensive feedback. Consider  getting a beta reader  to review your entire book and provide their thoughts. You may want to hire an editor to give you professional feedback as well. (Find out about the different types of editing, and which type your book might need,  in this post .)

Finally, it might sound obvious, but we'll say it anyway for all you stubborn writers out there: feedback is useless if you don't actually listen to it. Separate yourself from your ego and don't take anything personally, because no one wants to offend you — they're just trying to help.

You’ve persevered to the end at last: brainstormed, outlined, and written a draft that you've edited extensively (based on feedback, of course). Your book has taken its final form, and you couldn’t be prouder. So what comes next?

Well, if you’ve taken our advice about catering to your target readers, you may as well give publishing a shot! We have a  full guide to publishing right here  — and if you’re thinking about traditional publishing,  read this article  to decide which is right for you.

Get help from publishing professionals

Publishing is another rigorous process, of course. But if you’ve come this far to find out how to write a book, you can pretty much do anything! Invest in  stellar cover design , study up on  marketing , or start writing an  irresistible query letter  that will get you an offer.

Whichever route you take, one thing will remain true: you’ve written a book, and that’s an incredible achievement. Welcome to the 0.1% — and may the next book you write be even greater than the first. 📖

13/12/2019 – 15:33

thank you for helping me find a new way to write my book

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