As a Mac software expert and author, I know firsthand how challenging the book writing process can be, from the initial concept to the final manuscript. While no app can write your book for you, having the right software in your toolkit can make a night and day difference in your writing experience.
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share my professional perspective on the best book writing software for Mac and PC users in 2024. Whether you‘re penning the next great novel, an inspiring memoir, or a thought leadership book, these are the tools that can help you plan, write, edit, and publish your work more efficiently.
The State of Book Writing Software in 2024
The market for book writing software has come a long way in recent years, with a range of powerful apps now available for every budget and skill level. According to a 2023 survey by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), over 80% of writers now use specialized book writing software, with Scrivener, Ulysses, and Google Docs being the most popular options.
As we look ahead to 2024, I expect to see continued innovation and growth in this space. Machine learning and AI will likely play a larger role, with more apps offering intelligent editing and formatting suggestions. Cloud collaboration will also become increasingly seamless, making it easier than ever for authors to work with editors and publishing teams.
Choosing the Best Book Writing App: Key Features to Look For
Before we dive into the top picks, let‘s discuss some of the essential features you should look for when choosing book writing software, based on my experience and industry insights.
1. Writing Environment
One of the most important considerations is the actual writing interface. Look for an app with a clean, distraction-free design that allows you to focus on your words. Customization options like full-screen mode, dark mode, and flexible layout and typography settings can also help you create your ideal writing environment.
2. Organization and Navigation
Writing a book involves managing a large amount of content, so organization tools are critical. The best book writing apps provide an intuitive way to arrange your chapters and scenes, view your manuscript‘s structure, and quickly navigate to different sections. Features like a project binder, outliner, and/or corkboard can be game-changers.
3. Formatting and Exporting
Unless you‘re only writing for yourself, you‘ll need a way to format and export your book for publication. Look for apps with robust formatting options and support for popular file formats like DOCX, PDF, and EPUB. Some apps even offer pre-designed templates for common book genres and trim sizes.
4. Goal Setting and Progress Tracking
Staying motivated is one of the biggest challenges of writing a book. Apps that include goal setting and progress tracking features can help you stay accountable and celebrate your successes along the way. Options to set word count targets, track writing streaks, and view detailed statistics are all valuable.
5. Collaboration and Editing
If you plan to collaborate with co-authors, editors, or beta readers, choose an app that supports seamless file sharing and collaboration. Some book writing apps offer real-time co-authoring and inline comments, while others integrate with external tools like Google Drive and Dropbox.
The Best Book Writing Software of 2024
Now that we‘ve covered the key features to look for, let‘s dive into my top picks for the best book writing apps this year. Note that while I‘m focusing primarily on Mac apps, most of these tools are also available for PC.
Best Overall for Mac: Ulysses (Runner Up: Scrivener)
For Mac users, my top recommendation is Ulysses. This Apple Design Award-winning app offers an exceptional writing experience, with a polished interface, extensive customization options, and a robust set of organizational tools.
One of Ulysses‘ standout features is its "sheets" system, which allows you to break your book down into smaller sections and easily rearrange them. The app also offers excellent Markdown support, a built-in grammar and style checker, and customizable export options for all major ebook formats.
While Scrivener is also a powerful Mac app (and my runner-up pick), I prefer Ulysses for its more modern design and seamless sync with its iOS companion app. However, Scrivener does offer some features that Ulysses lacks, such as a corkboard view and scriptwriting tools.
Ulysses Pricing: $49.99/year or $5.99/month
Best for Windows: Scrivener
For PC users, Scrivener is my top pick. Like its Mac counterpart, Scrivener for Windows offers an impressive array of features for organizing, writing, and formatting your book. Its "binder" system allows you to view your manuscript in multiple ways, including as an outliner, corkboard, and traditional text editor.
Scrivener also includes robust metadata and tagging options, a built-in snapshot system for version control, and support for custom templates. Its powerful Compile feature allows you to export your book in virtually any format, with granular control over the output.
While Scrivener has a steeper learning curve than some other options, its feature set and flexibility are unmatched on Windows. And at a one-time price of $45, it‘s an excellent value.
Best for Collaboration: Google Docs
For authors who frequently collaborate with others, Google Docs is hard to beat. This free, web-based writing app offers real-time co-authoring, inline comments and suggestions, and integrated version control. Its simple, pared-down interface is also a plus for writers who prefer a more streamlined experience.
While Google Docs may lack some of the bells and whistles of dedicated book writing apps, it‘s an excellent choice for collaborative projects. And with Google‘s suite of complementary tools like Drive and Keep, it‘s easy to keep all your book-related files organized.
Best for Formatting and Layout: Vellum
If your primary focus is producing a beautifully formatted book, Vellum is well worth the investment. This Mac-only app allows you to quickly and easily create professional-grade ebooks and print editions, with a wide selection of pre-designed templates and customization options.
One of Vellum‘s standout features is its live preview, which shows you exactly how your book will look on various devices and in different formats. It also offers advanced options for endnotes, drop caps, ornamental breaks, and more.
While Vellum doesn‘t offer the writing and organizational tools of apps like Ulysses and Scrivener, it‘s an unbeatable option for creating polished, publication-ready files. And with its one-time pricing of $199 for ebooks or $249 for ebooks and print, it can quickly pay for itself in saved formatting costs.
Best Free Option: Reedsy Book Editor
For authors on a tight budget, the Reedsy Book Editor is a hidden gem. This free, web-based app offers a clean, intuitive interface for writing and formatting your book, with support for common features like chapters, scene dividers, and front matter.
While it may not be as feature-rich as some paid apps, Reedsy offers a surprising number of advanced options, including custom endnotes, interactive images, and embedded videos. It also allows you to export your book in both EPUB and PDF formats, making it easy to distribute your work.
One potential downside of Reedsy is that it doesn‘t offer any desktop or mobile apps, so you‘ll need to be online to use it. But for a free tool, it‘s an impressive option that can help you create professional-quality books.
Book Writing Software Comparison
To help you compare the features and pricing of these top book writing apps at a glance, I‘ve put together the following table:
| Software | Pricing | Platform(s) | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulysses | $49.99/year | Mac, iOS | Fiction writers, long-form content | Sheets system, Markdown support, export options |
| Scrivener | $45 (one-time) | Mac, Windows, iOS | Long-form writing, research-heavy projects | Binder system, corkboard, custom metadata |
| Google Docs | Free | Web, mobile | Collaborative writing, simple projects | Real-time co-authoring, inline comments, version control |
| Vellum | $199-249 (one-time) | Mac | Formatting and layout | Live preview, pre-designed templates, advanced formatting options |
| Reedsy | Free | Web | Budget-conscious writers, simple formatting | Clean interface, EPUB and PDF export, embedded media support |
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Book Writing Software
Regardless of which app you choose, there are a few best practices that can help you get the most out of your book writing software:
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Take the time to learn your app‘s features and keyboard shortcuts. Most writing apps offer detailed documentation and tutorials that can help you work more efficiently.
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Use your app‘s organizational tools to break your book down into manageable chunks. Whether it‘s Ulysses‘ sheets or Scrivener‘s binder, structuring your book in a logical way can help you stay on track.
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Set achievable writing goals and track your progress over time. Many book writing apps offer built-in goal-setting and statistics tools that can help you stay motivated and accountable.
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Customize your writing environment to minimize distractions and maximize focus. Most apps offer full-screen modes, focus modes, and other tools to help you get in the zone.
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Back up your work regularly to avoid losing progress. Most book writing apps offer automatic backups and/or cloud sync, but it‘s always a good idea to have a separate backup system in place.
Final Thoughts
Writing a book is a significant undertaking, but with the right tools and mindset, it‘s achievable. By choosing the best book writing software for your needs and following best practices for organization, goal-setting, and focus, you can make steady progress toward your writing goals.
While I‘ve focused on a few of the top apps in this guide, there are many other options worth considering, from open-source tools like Manuskript to subscription-based apps like Plottr and Novlr. Ultimately, the "best" book writing software is the one that works for you and your unique writing process.
So whether you‘re a Mac or PC user, a fiction or non-fiction writer, a solo author or a collaborator, there‘s a book writing app out there that can help you bring your vision to life. Here‘s to your writing success in 2024 and beyond!