Most writing software is only used once the hard yards, the research, the brainstorming and sleepless nights organising index cards are over. If all you need is a glorified typewriter, MS Word is fine. But if you’re like me, and you need a way to organise the random ideas in your head before you can get them onto the page, then you should try Scrivener for Mac or yWriter for PC. These are programs written for writers by writers.

yWriter for PC

Easy to use and free,yWriter is a simple program but with the features a writer needs to organise and, most importantly, finish their novel. You can import your novel, after a few minor formatting changes in Word, and yWriter will break it up into chapters and scenes ready for you to start work. Once imported, you can add descriptions, status, goals, scene notes, viewpoint details, and more. yWriter will also give you a word count (by character if you want) and will even tell you how often you use certain words. You can also create character bios with images, location list and details, and a storyboard. The actual text editor is pretty low on features but this program is more concerned with helping you create quality content rather than making it look pretty.

Scrivener for Mac OS X

Scrivener is not free, but at around $45 it’s well with in the means of the struggling writer. Before you commit, download it for a free 30-day trial. After importing your masterpiece into Scrivener you can begin to organise it by chapter and scene. Scrivener also provides a “research folder” that can hold Word, PDF and RTF files as well as images, audio and video. Using the split screen feature you can view a picture of a character, video or notes in the lower half of the screen while you write about them in the top half. Using the Keyword feature you can tag chapters, scenes or research materials by assigning keywords that enable you to quickly find anything in your project. A virtual corkboard lets you storyboard you novel and move scenes.