Originally published December 22, 2021

We can all agree that society has moved past Microsoft Word. Don't get me wrong; as plain writing software, it gets the job done, but only if the job is a high school essay.

If you're looking for research organization and focus features, or if—heaven forbid—you want to add an image, you are straight out of luck. And if you're blogging, writing a book, etc., you can do better.

Luckily, other tools have stepped up to provide features that more vanilla writing software does not.

Find a Writing Program that Isn't Microsoft Word

One of the reasons this list of writing software is so helpful is that they were all created by smaller teams for a niche audience. So, they cater specifically to writers and bloggers.

All this writing software can be used for free or bought as a one-time purchase. (Subscriptions can quickly stack up, especially when you're trying to personalize your workflow.)

There still isn't a holy grail of writing apps, but these programs each have specific strengths to improve the writing process.

#1 For the Writer Who Wants It All: Scrivener by Literature & Latte ($59 One Time Purchase or $19.99 for iOS)

Starting with my personal favorite (and what I'm writing this post on) is Scrivener by Literature and Latte. It's a highly versatile word processor with templates for novels, essays, and screenplays.

Scrivener is the only program on the list that qualifies as book-writing software since it offers robust organizational tools. A large percentage of novel writing and content writing is organizing and researching, so book writing software needs that integration capability.

You can access different pages in the outline formatted sidebar that lets you put pages in folders. In addition, Scrivener lets you compile your research in the program to reference in a side-by-side comparison.

It's also highly customizable writing software, so you can change every aspect of the visuals and enjoy a full-screen, distraction-free mode.

This barely scratches the tool's surface, and you'll constantly be stumbling on new and valuable features and options. I'd even go so far as to say it qualifies as the best book-writing software on the market. Non-fiction and fiction writers alike will find it an ideal tool.

Unfortunately, all of this comes with the cost of a steep learning curve. If you're the type who gets overwhelmed by too many options, Scrivener is not the program for you.

The one-time purchase is very nice in a market dominated by the subscription model. You can also try before you buy with a 14-day trial. I also recommend the iOS program if you like to use writing apps on the go.

#2 For the Concision-Challenged Creator: Hemingway Editor/App by Adam & Ben Long (Free or $19.99)

Maybe you don't need something with as many organization options, but you're looking for a program that refines your writing. That's where the Hemingway App can help. This writing software takes its name from the famous 20th-century writer who gave the writing advice: "Be brief."

The two versions of the writing software are virtually identical, but Hemingway Editor is a free writing app, while Hemingway App is a desktop application that costs $19.99.

The main difference is that the App allows you to work offline, publish directly to WordPress or Medium, export your work, and share your highlights with others.

The writing software (like the author) is very straightforward. It has two modes: writing and editing.

The writing mode is a bare-bones word processor with minimal formatting options and no page breaks, so you can focus on getting what you want to say on the page.

The editing mode is where the program's features really shine and when it begins to guide you stylistically. The tool gives you a readability score and a word count. It highlights different parts of your text according to specific metrics. It will highlight different parts of your text and offer recommendations:

• Blue highlights adverbs

• Green highlights sentences written in the passive voice

• Purple gives recommendations for simplifying your vocabulary

• Yellow highlights sentences that are difficult to read

• Red highlights sentences that are very difficult to read

Hemingway's style is distinctive and very well suited for content that needs to be punchy but isn't very helpful for other kinds of writing. The tool can corner you in one particular style, so use it cautiously.

#3 For the Avoidant Author: Writer by Cold Turkey (Free or $9.00)

We get it. Focusing is hard. And focusing on writing is even harder. If you're one of those people searching for "How to focus on writing" when you should probably just be writing, this is the writing program for you. Writer is a bare-bones application that turns your computer into a typewriter.

The program stops you from leaving the application until you've completed a specific word count or stayed on the page for a set amount of time.

The choice is nice since you can work to a word count or for whatever block of time you have set aside. Once you reach your goal, you can save and quit or snooze for ten minutes. There's no installer for the program, so if you want to use it on, say, a library computer, you can plug a USB in and go to town.

While the essentials of the program are the same for both the free and paid version, the paid includes some quality-of-life features.

• The free has zero formatting options down to the font, while paid gives you two choices and an option for sizing.

• You can also disable specific keys to keep yourself from self-editing as you write, such as the backspace or copy/paste.

• Finally, if you like some ambiance with your no-frills writing software, the paid option lets you choose between rain sounds or a coffee shop soundtrack.

Writer can only export as a text file, so you need another word processor for editing.

This program is simple and good at what it does—shackling you to the page until you hit word count—but with that comes some limitations. Sometimes other programs on your computer are not, in fact, distractions. They can be necessary for your work.

However, for such a low price tag and for how good it is at what it does, Writer is worth it.

Honorable Mentions

While these are the obvious picks for book-writing software, they still deserve a shout-out.

Google Docs

While it may not be fancy, a Google Doc with the right integrations can be powerful and accessible. The cloud-saving functionality and well-integrated grammar-checking tools make it an excellent choice for editing whenever and wherever.

It's free writing software that supports collaboration, and that makes Google Docs worth a spot on your roster.

Microsoft Word

Yeah, I know I just spent a lot of time making fun of it, but MS Word has its time and place. It's used almost universally, and that alone makes it worth your time.

While it's not specialized novel writing software, it is a fully featured writing tool with more under the hood than you'd expect.

However, if you're looking for a free book-writing software alternative, you're in luck. LibreOffice offers many of the same features without the subscription fee.

AI Writing Assistant

These tools are all on the more traditional side of writing. If you’re interested in learning more about using an AI writing assistant, check out our post exploring its pros and cons.

The Writing Tools of the Trade

Writing doesn’t require a lot of tools. Really, in the end, it’s just you and the blank page. But there are so many ways to improve the process, whether through customization, style enhancement, or just taking away all the other things clamoring for your attention, so you actually write.

None of these tools is the end all be all, but each can be extremely helpful for different parts of the writing process (I used each of them for different parts of making this blog post). Mix and match and figure out how you can make your word processors work for you, not against you.

This is a lot of legwork though, and if you want to skip all that, you can find people who have already figured it out to write for you. People First Content is here to help you out and create content so you don’t have to. 

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