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How to write a novel: 6 writing apps & inspiration apps

6 writing apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac that will help you start writing your novel and stay inspired until it's finished

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  • how to write a book apps slide 1 Intro
  • how to write a book scrivener Scrivener
  • how to write a book ia writer iA Writer
  • how to write a book hemingway Hemingway App
  • how to write a book mindnode MindNode
  • how to write a book brainstormer The Brainstormer
  • how to write a book lists for writers Lists for Writers
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How to write a book: Writing apps to help you write your novel

If you have had an idea for a novel for months or years but haven't quite figured out how to put that idea to paper and actually write it, you are far from alone. But what you might not know is that there are lots of tools out there to help you get started, so why not make 2017 the year that you finally take the plunge?

We're here to help with a round-up of writing and inspiration apps that will help you get started and see the writing process through to the end. Read on to find out how to write a novel using your Mac, iPad or iPhone (plus a splash of imagination too of course).

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Next Prev how to write a book apps slide 1

If you have had an idea for a novel for months or years but haven't quite figured out how to put that idea to paper and actually write it, you are far from alone. But what you might not know is that there are lots of tools out there to help you get started, so why not make 2017 the year that you finally take the plunge?

We're here to help with a round-up of writing and inspiration apps that will help you get started and see the writing process through to the end. Read on to find out how to write a novel using your Mac, iPad or iPhone (plus a splash of imagination too of course).

 

How to write a book: Scrivener writing app

One of the first things to decide is what software you're going to use to actually write the thing. Microsoft Word or Apple's Pages are great, but they come with lots of trimmings that someone writing a novel doesn't actually need. You can choose an application that strips things back to basics but adds some handy tools for writers to help organise notes, ideas and timelines instead.

Scrivener

View on Mac App Store
View on iOS App Store

One of the most popular is Scrivener. In addition to being a word processor, it's also a project manager designed specifically for anyone writing a novel, research paper, script or other long-form text. It's designed to let you work in any order and restructure later, meaning you can dip in and out of your novel at any point when you have new ideas or if you get a bit stuck on a particular chapter. You can add a synopsis, an index, collections and more to help you stay organised when you're writing, and thanks to the mobile app you can write when you're out and about if inspiration strikes.

 

How to write a book: iA Writer writing app

View in the Mac App Store
View in the iOS App Store

While Scrivener is excellent for collecting all of your ideas, drafts and notes in one place, there is a lot going on there. Some might prefer iA Writer, which sports a plain text editor that is designed to take away all of the distractions. There's a Focus Mode for when you really want to knuckle down and write, and when it comes to editing you can use the Syntax Control tool to see empty adjectives and adverbs, weak verbs and faulty conjunctions.

It's a very good-looking application that is available on Mac, iPhone and iPad so you'll be able to use it wherever you are too.

 

How to write a book: Hemingway writing app

View Hemingway App's website.

If you like the sound of iA Writer's Syntax Control tool, you might also want to check out Hemingway App, which is designed to help you improve your writing. It will highlight sentences that it deems hard to read, offer advice on the use of unnecessary adverbs and overcomplicated phrases and more. It will also give you a word count and rate your writing for readability.

This isn't going to work for everyone, because you might have a particular style of writing that doesn't play well with the Hemingway App. But it's a neat idea and worth investigating, because of course you don't always have to take its advice.

 

How to write a book: MindNode

View in the iOS App Store
View in the Mac App Store

If you've got lots of ideas that feel like they're jumbled up in your mind, it can be really difficult to know where to start. An app like MindNode can help, as it allows you to create a visual representation of your ideas and organize your thoughts. Available for iPhone, iPad and Mac, MindNode lets you quickly create mind maps that can be as simple or as complicated as you need them to be.

 

How to write a book: The Brainstormer

View in the iOS App Store.

MindNode is great for when you have loads of ideas to put down onto paper, but what if the problem is that the ideas just aren't coming at all? There are several apps that can help, including The Brainstormer.

The Brainstormer is designed to help you get rid of writer's block by offering a plot, subject, setting and style combination completely at random using a spinning wheel mechanism that's a lot of fun. Start writing whatever comes to mind and hopefully it'll kickstart your creativity ready to get back to work on your novel.

There are additional wheel sets available as in-app purchases too, including Character Builder and World builder.

 

How to write a book: Lists for Writers

View in the iOS App Store.

Similarly, Lists for Writers offers prompts to help you with your novel if you get a bit stuck. There are lists that will help you name your characters and get to know them, as well as come up with places, settings and even plot ideas. Lists include phobias, basic plots, dramatic situations, weather and many more.

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