Best Book Writing Software 2024 For Novels, Non-Fiction & More

A stack of coloured books.

“Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators,” according to Richard Miller. He’s not wrong. A whopping 97% of writers never finish their book.

In this day and age, surely there has to be a way to make book writing easier?!

Meet the book writing software. It won’t write your book for you, but it can streamline the process, helping you meet your goals and stay organised. Many AI tools simply rewrite or summarise your input but I’ve chosen the best book writing softwares with the entire writing process in mind. Whether you’re creating a novel or short story, writing from the first or third person perspective, or want to design and format your book, there’s a writing tool that can help you.

From Atticus’s all-in-one writing and formatting capabilities to Google Docs’ ease of use for collaboration, these tools are designed to alleviate the struggles of writing, making the journey smoother, more enjoyable and bring out your best work.

So, let’s dive into the best book writing software of 2024!

What Is A Book Writing Software?

A book writing software helps authors write and format their manuscripts into books ready for publishing. Using the best book writing software, writers can enhance their creative process, organise chapters, and edit their work easily. These programmes offer features like collaboration, storyboards and custom templates, ranging from mobile to desktop apps. 

1. Atticus

best overall
A blue dog illustration wearing red glasses and a bowtie.

Atticus

Want an all-in-one writing app for writing, formatting, and publishing your book? Atticus is for you. Developed with both writers and self-publishers in mind, Atticus streamlines the entire book creation process, from the initial draft to the final formatted version ready for publishing. It’s particularly known for its user-friendly interface and for making stunning print and ebook designs so that your masterpiece,  filled with creative writing techniques, genius and ingenuity, can have the format it deserves. It’s no wonder that Atticus is a popular software for writers wanting to write a book. So, if you’re looking for top-notch software, this has all of the writing features you’ll need. 

Image Source: Atticus

Product Pros

  • 17 Easy to use writing templates
  • Works on PC, Mac, Chromebook and Linux 
  • 30 day money back guarantee
  • One off purchase

Product Cons

  • No free version
  • Best for short stories
  • Can take a while to master
  • Some features are only available online

2. Scrivener

Best for planning
A black and white square with a silver 'S' in the middle and 2 quotation marks.

Scrivener

Another best writing software is Scrivener. Scrivener is a powerful word-processing and project management tool designed specifically for writers. It enables authors to organize their work into sections, chapters, and scenes, making it easy to rearrange and edit complex manuscripts. Its features include a virtual corkboard for visualizing structure and arranging your tropes, a rich text editor, and the ability to store research and notes. Additionally, Scrivener helps you track your word count, which is essential for meeting your creative writing goals. This all-in-one platform streamlines the writing, editing, and organising process, making it a great choice for novelists and screenwriters. 

Image Source: Scrivener

Product Pros

  • Supports ‘focus mode’ for distraction-free writing
  • Visualise your novel outline
  • Set writing goals and track progress
  • 30 day free trial

Product Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Can only sync to iPhone & iPad through Dropbox
  • Need to enable spelling & grammar checks manually
  • Complex interface
  • Difficult to create tables and table of contents

3. Word

best word processor
Blue rectangle with white a 'W' for Word which is one of the best book writing softwares.

Word

Microsoft Word is a word processor that offers unmatched versatility and reliability. Known for its robust word-processing features, Word supports writers through drafting, editing, and formatting with ease. Its user-friendly interface and extensive template library help writers streamline the book writing process, while its collaborative tools enable seamless teamwork and feedback. During writing sessions, Word’s features provide the support needed for productive work. Additionally, its compatibility with various file formats and the ability to access documents via a browser makes it widely recognized across industries. Microsoft Word remains a top choice for authors, editors, and professionals looking for polished, professional results.

Image Source: Word

Product Pros

  • User-friendly interface
  • Strong collaboration tools
  • Extensive formatting options
  • Strong collaboration tools
  • Numerous templates

Product Cons

  • Limited project organization
  • Requires office 365 subscription
  • Not designed specifically for authors
  • No book formatting options

4. Google Docs

Best free software
A blue rectangle with the top right corner turned down to look like a page, with white lines in the middle to represent text.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a dynamic, cloud-based writing tool that has become popular among writers for its simplicity and real-time collaboration capabilities. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to draft, edit, and format documents, while the seamless integration with Google Drive ensures your work is always accessible and securely stored. With features like automatic saving, version history, and extensive sharing options, Google Docs enhances productivity and teamwork. Whether you’re writing solo or collaborating with others, Google Docs offers a flexible and efficient platform for creating and managing your documents.

Image Source: Google Docs

Product Pros

  • Free & easy to use
  • Automatic saving and version history
  • Great for co-authors
  • Edit offline

Product Cons

  • Basic manuscript formatting
  • Becomes slow in longer texts
  • Grammar checker weaker than competitors
  • Little control over book design

5. Living Writer

best for non-ficiton
A multicoloured 'W' shape, representing one of the best book writing softwares, Living Writer.

Living Writer

Imagine a blend between Google Docs and Scrivener and you get Living Writer! It offers a drag-and-drop interface to easily organize chapters and elements, a sidebar for quick access to notes and goals, and intuitive boards for plotting, research, and manuscript management. With AI-assisted outlines, smart text auto-suggestions, and access to famous story templates, Living Writer ensures your narratives are well-structured and your creative process is seamless. Additionally, it features customisable writing goals and non-fiction templates, including Memoirs, Self-help, and Biographies, so there’s no doubt that this software will speed up the time it takes to write your book.

Image Source: Living Writer

Product Pros

  • Storyboard feature
  • Create your world’s glossary with Story Element
  • Clean, easy-to-navigate layout
  • Custom story templates

Product Cons

  • No formatting options
  • Subscription fee or expensive lifetime cost ($699)
  • Reports of frequent bugs
  • Difficult to make edits to your entire work.

What Writing Tool Do Most Authors Use? 

Most authors use Microsoft Word out of all of the writing software options due to its simplicity and reliability. Word’s continuous document format makes restructuring easy, and its tracked changes feature is essential for clear revisions.  The navigation options help you move between sections effortlessly, and you can work in your browser or in the desktop app, making internet issues no problem. For those collaborating with editors and designers, Word is definitely the preferred choice. 

Start Writing Your Bestseller With A Book Writing Software

Each book writing software has unique strengths designed for different parts of the writing process, so it’s important to pick the right software for your goals. Scrivener excels in organizing and structuring complex manuscripts, making it ideal for novelists and screenwriters, no matter the type of creative writing.  Microsoft Word offers versatility and a familiar interface, which is great for extensive formatting and collaboration. Google Docs shines in real-time collaboration, a perfect word processor for writers working with editors or co-authors while Living Writer caters to writers who need planning and creativity support.

However, Atticus is the best book writing software overall. It combines writing and publishing tools in one user-friendly platform, not to mention you can format your book! As self-publishing continues to rise, now accounting for over 30% of e-books, this tool will help you join the movement. Put simply, it simplifies the transition from draft to published book, addressing many of the challenges that writers face. 

Start writing with a book writing software today to bring your story to life!

Similar Posts