Writing Tools
Software and apps that serious writers actually use — from drafting to final polish.
drafting
Scrivener
The industry-standard writing environment for long-form projects. Organise chapters, research, and notes in one place.
"Used by professional authors worldwide for its unmatched project management capabilities."
Best for: Novelists, memoirists, and nonfiction writers working on book-length projects.
Ulysses
A distraction-free writing app for Mac and iOS with a clean interface and seamless sync.
"Ideal for writers who want a minimal, focused environment without the complexity of Scrivener."
Best for: Mac and iOS users writing essays, articles, and shorter long-form work.
editing
ProWritingAid
A deep editing tool that analyses style, pacing, readability, and grammar — far beyond a basic spell-checker.
"Catches patterns in your writing that you'd miss in a single pass. Pairs well with voice analysis."
Best for: Writers who want substantive editing feedback without a human editor.
Hemingway Editor
A clarity-focused editing tool that highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and adverb overuse.
"Excellent for writers who tend toward dense or academic prose and want to improve readability."
Best for: Nonfiction, essay, and memoir writers.
Grammarly
Real-time grammar, spelling, and style suggestions that work across browsers and writing apps.
"A reliable safety net for catching surface-level errors during drafting."
Best for: All writers, especially those who write directly in web-based tools.
productivity
Notion
A flexible workspace for research, outlining, and project management that adapts to any writing workflow.
"Writers who need to organise research alongside their manuscript find Notion invaluable."
Best for: Writers who work across multiple projects or genres simultaneously.
formatting
Atticus
A modern alternative to Scrivener and Vellum — write, format, and export your book in one tool.
"The best all-in-one option for indie authors who want professional formatting without a steep learning curve."
Best for: Self-publishing authors who want print and ebook formatting in one place.
Vellum
The gold standard for ebook and print formatting for Mac users. Produces beautiful, professional output.
"If you self-publish, Vellum's output quality is unmatched. Worth the investment."
Best for: Mac-based indie authors publishing to Amazon, Apple Books, and other platforms.
Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.