Draft, Structure, & Polish Your Manuscript
From powerful outliners for complex novels to collaborative cloud editors, find the perfect software to bring your story to life.
- For complex projects like novels, look for tools with strong organizational features like Scrivener's binder or Dabble's plot grid.
- If you collaborate with an editor, prioritize cloud-based tools with real-time editing and commenting, like Google Docs or Reedsy Book Editor.
- For an all-in-one solution that combines writing and formatting, consider a tool like Atticus to streamline your workflow from draft to export.
- Don't forget a dedicated editing and polishing tool like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to ensure your final manuscript is error-free and clear.
ProWritingAid goes beyond basic grammar checking to provide in-depth reports on writing style, sentence structure, pacing, and more. It integrates with Scrivener, Google Docs, and Word, making it a versatile editing companion.
Pros
- Over 20 detailed writing reports
- Excellent integration with other software
- Lifetime option available
- Helps improve writing skills over time
Cons
- Can be overwhelming for new users
- Free version is limited
Best For:
Authors who want to deeply analyze and improve their writing style and grammar.
A popular choice for writers, Scrivener is known for its organizational tools and features like a 'binder' for managing different parts of your book and a 'corkboard' for visualizing the structure. It offers templates for various writing projects like novels, screenplays, and academic papers.
Pros
- Excellent organizational features (binder, corkboard)
- Powerful outlining tools
- Distraction-free writing mode
- Handles large, complex projects well
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Separate purchase for each OS (Mac/Windows/iOS)
- Formatting tools are less intuitive than Vellum/Atticus
Best For:
Novelists, academics, and writers working on complex, research-heavy projects.
Consistently rated as a top choice, Atticus is an all-in-one web-based platform that combines writing, editing, and formatting features, making it ideal for self-publishers. It is available on multiple platforms (Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook) and is considered more affordable than competitors like Vellum.
Pros
- All-in-one writing and formatting
- One-time payment
- Cross-platform (web-based)
- User-friendly interface
- Good Vellum alternative
Cons
- Newer, so fewer long-term reviews
- Lacks some of Scrivener's deep organizational features
Best For:
Indie authors who want a single tool for writing and formatting without a subscription.
ProWritingAid is a powerful editing software offering comprehensive grammar and style checks with more detailed feedback than basic spell checkers. It provides in-depth reports on writing style, readability, and overused words, making it a robust alternative to Grammarly.
Pros
- Comprehensive writing analysis
- More detailed reports than competitors
- Integrates with major writing apps
- Affordable premium pricing
- Extensive writing reports
- Genre-specific suggestions
Cons
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Interface not as polished as Grammarly
- Some features require premium subscription
Best For:
Authors who want detailed writing analysis and comprehensive editing feedback
While not specifically designed for book creation, Microsoft Word is a familiar option for many writers. It features change tracking, comprehensive grammar tools, and wide compatibility. However, it may not be the most efficient choice for long manuscripts or specialized formatting needs.
Pros
- Familiar interface for most users
- Advanced grammar and editing tools
- Excellent change tracking features
- Wide compatibility and format support
- Integrated with Microsoft ecosystem
- Offline functionality
Cons
- Not optimized for long manuscripts
- Can become slow with large documents
- Subscription-based pricing
- Limited organizational features for books
Best For:
Writers familiar with Microsoft Office who need comprehensive editing features
Google Docs is a free and widely accessible option, especially useful for collaboration with editors and beta readers due to its real-time editing and commenting features. While it may experience lag with very large documents, it excels in accessibility and collaborative workflows.
Pros
- Completely free for basic use
- Excellent real-time collaboration
- Cloud-based accessibility
- Automatic saving and version history
- Wide compatibility and sharing options
- Voice typing capabilities
Cons
- Can lag with very large documents
- Limited formatting compared to desktop apps
- Requires internet connection for full functionality
- Basic organizational features
Best For:
Authors who prioritize collaboration and need a free, accessible writing platform
Scrivener is renowned for its organizational capabilities, featuring a 'binder' system for managing different parts of your book and a 'corkboard' for visualizing structure. It offers templates for various writing projects including novels, screenplays, and academic papers. Available for Mac, Windows, and iOS with separate licensing for each platform.
Pros
- Exceptional organizational features
- Binder and corkboard views
- Templates for various project types
- Research integration capabilities
- Split-screen editing
- Compile to multiple formats
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Interface can feel outdated
- Separate purchase for each platform
- Syncing between devices can be complex
Best For:
Novelists and long-form writers who need robust organizational and project management tools
Reedsy Studio is a web-based platform praised for its writing and formatting capabilities. It offers a free core version with paid add-ons for advanced features like outlining, goal tracking, and collaboration tools. The platform focuses on simplicity while providing professional-grade formatting options.
Pros
- Free core version available
- Clean, distraction-free writing interface
- Professional formatting capabilities
- Web-based accessibility
- Modular pricing for specific features
Cons
- Advanced features require paid add-ons
- Limited offline functionality
- Fewer organizational tools than Scrivener
Best For:
Authors who want a free writing platform with optional premium features
Consistently rated as a top choice, Atticus is an all-in-one web-based platform that combines writing, editing, and formatting features, making it ideal for self-publishers. Available on multiple platforms (Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook) and considered more affordable than competitors like Vellum. Features include real-time collaboration, automatic formatting for multiple platforms, and integrated publishing tools.
Pros
- All-in-one solution for writing and formatting
- Works on all operating systems
- More affordable than Vellum
- Web-based with offline capabilities
- Automatic formatting for multiple platforms
- Real-time collaboration features
Cons
- Newer software with fewer advanced features
- Primarily optimized for text-based books
- Limited design customization compared to InDesign
Best For:
Self-publishers who want an affordable all-in-one solution for writing, editing, and formatting
The Reedsy Book Editor is a sleek, web-based writing tool that handles formatting as you write. It's designed for collaboration, allowing you to work seamlessly with editors and proofreaders. It exports professional-grade files ready for any ebook store or print-on-demand service.
Pros
- Completely free to use
- Beautiful and simple interface
- Excellent collaborative features
- Handles formatting automatically
Cons
- Requires an internet connection
- Fewer organizational features than Scrivener
- Limited customization options
Best For:
Authors who need a simple, free, and collaborative writing and formatting tool.
Grammarly is an essential editing tool that goes beyond basic spell-checking. It analyzes your writing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes, offering real-time suggestions to improve your manuscript.
Pros
- Advanced grammar and style checking
- Integrates with most writing apps
- Provides explanations for suggestions
- Customizable style guides (Premium)
Cons
- Premium version is a subscription
- Can sometimes be overly prescriptive
- Doesn't replace a human editor
Best For:
All writers for polishing their manuscript and improving writing clarity.
Atticus aims to be a one-stop-shop for indie authors. It combines a clean writing environment with powerful, intuitive formatting tools for both print and ebooks. It's built to be a more affordable and user-friendly alternative to Vellum and Scrivener combined.
Pros
- Writing and formatting in one app
- Cloud-based with offline capabilities
- Unlimited books and formats
- User-friendly and modern interface
Cons
- Newer software with fewer features than established rivals
- Primarily for text-based books
Best For:
Indie authors who want a simple, all-in-one solution for writing and formatting.
Scrivener is a word-processing program and outliner designed for authors. It provides a management system for documents, notes and metadata, allowing users to organize notes, concepts, research and whole documents for easy access and reference (documents include text, images, PDF, audio, video, web pages).
Pros
- Excellent for organizing complex projects
- Corkboard and outliner views
- Distraction-free writing mode
- Available for macOS, Windows, and iOS
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Interface can feel dated
- Syncing between devices can be tricky
Best For:
Novelists and long-form writers who need robust organizational tools.
The Reedsy Book Editor is a sleek, web-based writing tool that handles formatting as you write. It's designed for collaboration, allowing you to work seamlessly with editors and proofreaders. It exports professional-grade files ready for any ebook store or print-on-demand service.
Pros
- Completely free to use
- Beautiful and simple interface
- Excellent collaborative features
- Handles formatting automatically
Cons
- Requires an internet connection
- Fewer organizational features than Scrivener
- Limited customization options
Best For:
Authors who need a simple, free, and collaborative writing and formatting tool.
Grammarly is an essential editing tool that goes beyond basic spell-checking. It analyzes your writing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes, offering real-time suggestions to improve your manuscript.
Pros
- Advanced grammar and style checking
- Integrates with most writing apps
- Provides explanations for suggestions
- Customizable style guides (Premium)
Cons
- Premium version is a subscription
- Can sometimes be overly prescriptive
- Doesn't replace a human editor
Best For:
All writers for polishing their manuscript and improving writing clarity.
Atticus aims to be a one-stop-shop for indie authors. It combines a clean writing environment with powerful, intuitive formatting tools for both print and ebooks. It's built to be a more affordable and user-friendly alternative to Vellum and Scrivener combined.
Pros
- Writing and formatting in one app
- Cloud-based with offline capabilities
- Unlimited books and formats
- User-friendly and modern interface
Cons
- Newer software with fewer features than established rivals
- Primarily for text-based books
Best For:
Indie authors who want a simple, all-in-one solution for writing and formatting.
Scrivener is a word-processing program and outliner designed for authors. It provides a management system for documents, notes and metadata, allowing users to organize notes, concepts, research and whole documents for easy access and reference (documents include text, images, PDF, audio, video, web pages).
Pros
- Excellent for organizing complex projects
- Corkboard and outliner views
- Distraction-free writing mode
- Available for macOS, Windows, and iOS
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Interface can feel dated
- Syncing between devices can be tricky
Best For:
Novelists and long-form writers who need robust organizational tools.
💡 Writing Tip
Set daily word count goals and use tools with progress tracking to maintain writing momentum.