Atticus
Cross-platform writing-plus-formatting app (browser/PWA) aimed at indie authors who want Vellum-like output without needing a Mac. Strong for fiction interiors and print/ebook export; writing features are lighter than Sc…
Writing apps
Drafting, outlining, and manuscript organisation tools for novels and long-form work.
9 tools
Campfire
Modular worldbuilding and writing suite (maps, timelines, characters, manuscript). Especially useful for speculative fiction authors who need interconnected lore alongside drafting.
Dabble
Cloud novel-writing app with a Plot Grid, goals, and co-authoring. Positions itself as simpler than Scrivener and has emphasised an AI-free writing environment. Works in browser and as an installable web app.
Notion
Flexible databases and docs often used for series trackers, launch checklists, and editorial calendars. Fine for planning; less ideal as the sole drafting home for a 100k-word novel.
Novelcrafter
Fiction writing platform with a Codex story bible and scene-driven drafting. AI features typically use your own model keys rather than a closed proprietary stack — still treat AI prose as a draft aid, not a finished book…
Obsidian
Local-first Markdown notes with backlinks and a graph view. Not a dedicated novel app, but many authors use it for research, series bibles, and Zettelkasten-style planning. Offline-first and privacy-friendly.
Plottr
Visual outlining and series-bible software: drag-and-drop scene cards, structure templates, character and world notes. Popular with plotters who want timelines before drafting in Scrivener or Word.
Reedsy Studio
Free browser writing and formatting tool (formerly Reedsy Book Editor) with EPUB and print-ready PDF export, collaboration, and clean themes. Less customisation than Atticus or Vellum, but an excellent zero-cost starting…
Scrivener
Long-form writing software built around a binder, corkboard, and research folders. Steep learning curve, but still the default for complex novels and research-heavy non-fiction. Export to Word/ebook formats is capable bu…