3 Novel Writing Software Worth Testing (2021).

My mind is the equivalent of Detective Jake Peralta's locker pre-Captain Holt.

If you don't watch Brooklyn-99, I'll offer another example for the fun of it.

You probably know a K-Mart version of Machine Gun Kelly that inevitably smells like bottom-shelf AXE body spray, stale menthols, and beef jerky. Well, all my creative thoughts live on the floorboard of his beat up Honda Accord. It's absolute chaos, and for some reason, Sheryl Crow's "Everyday is a Winding Road" is always playing.

I started writing my debut novel in my Notes app. Take my word, your phone's pre-installed notes app is where blurry-eyed plot structures go to die--especially if you've turned out 13 objectively decent ideas on a note that doubles as a grocery list.

I knew early on that I needed a space that solely existed for my novel and every wild thought I had for it. Thanks to TikTok's oddly specific algorithm, I was introduced to quite a few softwares. Before I get into the specifics, I want to add a small disclaimer: I'm only reviewing novel writing software that I've purchased a pro subscription to and tested thoroughly.

While I definitely have a favorite (scroll to the bottom to ruin the surprise), my opinion isn't gold. If you have an alternative writing software that deserves to be on this list, please comment below and I'll get it a shot.

Let's get into it...

1. Plottr

Plottr is a cost-effective writing software that helps organize your plot timelines, outlines, character profiles, and more. If you're starting from square one, especially as a new writer, Plottr is fantastic resource. Not only does it help organize the world living rent free in your head, but it also guides you through the writing process with informative templates.

I was genuinely surprised with the amount of effort Plottr put into building a novel mapping software that's also a phenomenal resource for writers of all backgrounds. Writing a novel is hard work--there's no doubt about it. Working out the pace of a story is essential to your audience's experience, as is knowing when to introduce certain characters or when to stir the pot so to speak. Plottr takes the guess-work out of the process, but also leaves room for creativity.

Pros:

• Plottr is only $25/Yr.

• Plottr's mobile app is $.99/mo (no subscription needed if you have desktop version).

• Plottr is compatible with OS and Windows software.

• Offers invaluable templates curated by famous storytellers

Cons:

• The mobile app crashes often

• Opening files between the desktop version and the mobile app can be tedious

• Mobile app edits don't often translate to the desktop version

• Linear thought process

Plottr will always have a special place in my heart, but I would be negligent if I didn't dig into it's cons.

(Skip ahead if you're not interested in this anecdote)

I don't approach a story idea with a linear timeline in mind, especially in the planning stage. My thoughts are a flurry of charming scenes, half-thought plots, and dialogue. When I was writing FanFiction (which by the time this blog has gained any traction, I hope to have deleted it all because yikes), I'd always start with a Spotify playlist to get in the headspace of the character. Writing original characters requires a few more steps than that--I've actually turned to creating birth charts for my characters to better understand their personalities. I'll get to that one day.

Mapping out a story in your head doesn't always start with a timeline of events. It might start with googling your favorite actors stats, or going to Pinterest to search aesthetic boards, or just writing down the storm in your mind. I love Plottr, but there's really no space for absolute chaos or brainstorming.

Then there's the thing with the mobile app. It crashes more times than not. I consistently got the white screen of death for an entire month once, and then it refused to accept my license key. I ended up just biting the bullet and paying the extra $.99 a month just to have my outline in mobile format. Then, I had to deal with the files not syncing over between the Plottr desktop application and the Plottr mobile app.

More than once, I added chapter musings in the mobile app, switched to my computer, and received an error screen saying my updates couldn't be read in the desktop program. I ended up having to reopen the file in my mobile app, copy and paste what I worked on into my Notes app to add to the desktop version.

Ultimately, it's what led to my search for another writing software and that's how I found our next candidate.

2. Dabble

Dabble is a cloud-based software that allows you to organize your novel and write it in the same space. Users can organize their plot structure through scene cards as well as build character profiles and worlds in Dabble. After knocking out those large feats, they can switch to Dabble's built-in word processor where scene cards are readily available. Dabble is accessible through your chosen web browser, and automatically updates across your devices as you work.

Dabble costs $10 a month for a basic subscription following a 14-day trial. I strongly encourage taking full advantage of the trial before committing because Dabble may not be for you. I think Dabble is a better resource for experienced writers because it lacks any major resources for writers that might make the plotting process easier.

Learn more about Dabble's pricing here.

Some key points:

Pros:

• Dabble doesn't require you to download anything.

• It's cloud-based, so any time you make an update, it saves automatically.

• Your work can be exported to other word processors.

• Dabble offers focus mode, which is very useful if you're trying to meet a specific word count.

• Dabble allows you to set goals for your writing.

Cons:

• Mainly linear thought process outside of scene cards

• No templates :(

• Doesn't let you copy and paste your work (which is weird because there's shortcuts for it).

• If you decide to trash your entire plot and start over, it doesn't sync with the word processor and you will lose the scene cards on the side.

Dabble helped me organize my plot structure in a way that made sense to me at the time. I loved being able to rearrange scene cards to fit my desired plot pace, as well as the ability to sift through them during my actual writing sessions. Still, I think this software works best if you already have an idea of what your story looks like, and you're ready to hammer it out.

After using Plottr, I found that I missed the ability to add attributes to my character profiles, as well as numerous other minor details that made the process easier. Given, this isn't necessarily an issue with Dabble--just a personal preference. Dabble markets itself as a word processor before it markets itself as a novel organization tool, and that's an important distinction given the price point--which I find steep in comparison to Plottr.

3. Milanote

Disclaimer: This is the most biased thing I'm ever going. to write.

I'm obsessed with Milanote. You could say that it was love at first sight, and you'd probably be right. Milanote is a multi-faceted organization tool that packs a powerful punch--and guess what? It's free for up to 100 cards. It's the best program that I've ever used in my life, and every time I get the chance to share it with someone, I'm filled with absolute excitement because it will change your life.

The reality of being an author lies in the ol' "one woman show" adage. You're not just a writer, you're also a content manager, and a blogger, and don't forget graphic designer, website developer, PR representative, social media guru, etc. It's mentally exhausting work, which is why it's so important to have some kind of organization tool.

I'll let this video speak for itself.

Okay, it's done talking. My turn.

Milanote is the equivalent to a white wall filled with multi-colored sticky notes--except, guess what? You can organize those sticky notes into boards. You're not limited by the pictures you can paint with words, either. You can upload images and drag them anywhere. You can also upload documents, video, and audio into your boards.

But what's the best part? The templates.

No, they're not as fantastic as Plottr's plot structure templates, but they're different than anything else out there. For example, you can plan an entire book launch in one board and create a character map in another. It's the one-stop shop for story planning across multiple platforms. As someone that's in love with all forms of storytelling, this app blew me away. Not to mention, it's incredibly intuitive and the customer support is amazing.

Nitty Gritty:

Pros:

• You can plan hundreds of creative projects in Milanote.

• Cloud-based

• It's not just a novel planning software, but it's pretty great at that, too.

• Milanote offers a free trial up to 100 cards so you can get your feet wet.

• Milanote has so many templates for all your project needs that it's unreal--ranging from brand management to UX design outlines.

• Milanote boards can be exported and shared via word document, pdf, html, or link.

• Milanote has collaborative features.

• Mobile app for quick notes and board edits.

Cons:

• I wouldn't recommend writing your novel in Milanote, but you can link to your chosen word processor (for me, it's Google Docs)

• Milanote is $12.50 a month for a personal subscription.

• Difficult to use in mobile browser, but they're working on it.

I'm currently paying for all three of these softwares, but if I'm honest, the first one I'd cut is Dabble. It's an amazing software, and I loved it pre-Milanote, but I enjoy the visual organization for the latter too much to go back. The only thing keeping me from ditching Plottr are the templates, which I've mentioned a thousand times by now. They're really that great.

Also, it's a yearly subscription. They've already got me.

Did this article help you find your novel planning match? Comment below.