Writing Software Tools

Scrivener is the top dog when it comes to organizing story material. It's the writerly tool of choice for lots of writers. I'm not one of them. Not that I have anything against the program. It's just that I'm old school, preferring actual slips of paper and writing in cursive with a pen. But old school and Scrivener aren't the only 2 choices out there. Here are a few more you might want to consider . . .

Storyist

This word processor helps you track plot, characters and settings while keeping all of your writing organized and accessible. This one is great for screenwriters as well. And as a bonus, this includes all the tools you need to output your final novel if you're planning on self-publishing.

Pricepoint: $59

yWriter

This program is the step between old school and high-tech. yWriter was made by an author, so while there aren't a whole lot of bells and whistles, it does break your novel into chapters and scenes. But the best thing about this program is that it's free.

Pricepoint: $0

Ulysses

In their own words: "A pleasant, focused writing experience combined with effective document management, fast syncing and flexible export make Ulysses the first choice for writers of all kinds."

Pricepoint: $24.99

Bibisco
Here's another freebie that's even jazzier than yWriter. You can organize chapters and scenes, manage revisions and even export your novel in pdf or rtf.

Pricepoint: $0