There are many different software’s out there for writers to help them either achieve their writing goals or publishing dreams.
Many are up to personal preference, others are chosen due to ease of access, and some some are preferred more than others based off if you are a MAC or Windows user.
I’ve used many different programs over the years, and these are the ones that, for me personally, have proven the most beneficial.
Writing Software
For writing, my preferred software is Scrivener. It easily allows you to keep all of your research and many MANY different random notes or snippets in one place.
It is also set up in a ‘binder’ that shows you your book in chapter form rather than one long massive word document. Each chapter has a place for notes and comments, it gives you detailed data about your word count and writing history, and so many features that it would take an entire book to name all of them.
It does have a learning curve, but you can find tutorials on their website as well as YouTube. It is available for both Windows and Mac, and also has an app for both the iPad and iPhone that allows you to sync your document between devices, that way you can pull up your current project no matter where you are.
Other Writing Softwares:
Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Dabble, Campfire, Y Writer
Formatting Software
After trying multiple different formatting software's, I found that Affinity Publisher was the best choice for me and the most cost effective as it is a one time purchase. Set up similar to Adobe InDesign, it allows you to format page by page and gives you complete control over the layout of your book. This one also has a learning curve, but there are many helpful tutorials on YouTube, and it’s well worth the time if you are willing to learn.
Other Formatting Softwares:
Vellum (Mac Only), Atticus, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, Scrivener (via export), Draft 2 Digital, Kindle Create