websites to write a book for free

Write Your Novel Online Now

NovelEasy is the online writing platform for writers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a published author or budding talent looking for life beyond status updates, you can get away from the noise and focus on telling your story with NovelEasy.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou

You want to write but you get distracted when you go online. Humans are creative. We have ideas and incredible stories to tell, but often we end up scrolling instead of writing. Is the next Shakespeare out there fishing for “likes”? Is the next Dickens sharing memes?

NovelEasy wants to change that. Here you can unleash your creativity and write something you can be proud of. You’ve always wanted to write a book. Let’s do it!

More Efficient, Better Writing

Easy to Use

Just start typing into the distraction-free text editor and NovelEasy will automatically and securely save for you. Click on a title for quick inline edits, then jump right back into your writing. Best of all, NovelEasy is 100% FREE to join.

Easily add, reorder, delete, and navigate chapters . Start using them to build an outline, then add text to flesh out your story. All the flexibility of a three-ring binder, but a whole lot easier.

Universal Formatting

Spruce up your writing with NovelEasy's convenient Markdown buttons in addition to typing in your own tags. The built-in Markdown renderer will display your styling right in your browser. Best of all, everything you type is preserved exactly as you entered it.

Writing Statistics

PREMIUM FEATURE

Track your daily progress with word count, time spent writing, days spent writing, monthly totals, and more! Go back and see your past statistics * and get a true picture of your writing journey.

*Statistics recorded from December 2018 onward.

Get to the Finish Line

Monitor your book's length using NovelEasy's word counter . Review your novel in Reading Mode then, when you're done, export it as a Markdown document that you can open with most text editors.

Free Book Writing App |

Hermit is a secure, private book writing application for everybody who likes to write, from scribblers to aspiring authors.

Write better and faster!

Lightning fast.

Hermit has been designed from the ground up to be fast and lightweight so that you can have a delightful writing experience. No more waiting 10 seconds every time you try to refresh the page.

Powerful Auto-Save

We’re no strangers to the frustration of random, unannounced browser and computer crashes. We’ve all been there. Combined with our auto-save feature, everything you type is automatically backed up on Hermit’s servers so you never lose any data.

Version History

More features to reach your writing goals, clean, simple & easy-to-use.

Hermit tears down all layers of complexity and provides a beautiful, minimalistic layout to optimize your writing experience.

Public & Private Sharing

Feel like sharing what you’ve written? Generate shareable URLs. Use the password-protect option to grant limited access to those you personally approve or simply keep all the content to yourself.

Publish Your Writings

Hermit’s Library is the perfect place to share your writings publicly. People will be able to read them on their phones or computers in a beautiful, modern layout.

Get Recognition

Hermit users can vote for the texts they like to show appreciation and encourage budding authors. Gain exposure and grow your readership by publishing your writings.

Display Options

Need something easier on the eyes? Try our dark mode. Spice up your writing experience with some professional looking typography configurations.

Export Your Writings

Turn your virtual books into HTML files or beautifully formatted PDFs to back them up onto your computer or share them with the world.

Hermit can be whatever you want it to be

An online diary that will keep all your secrets and private thoughts safe, a reflective journal where you can pour all your emotions and record life events or maybe even an infinite digital parchment for that novel you always wanted to write!

It's time to start writing |

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The 50+ Best Writing Websites of 2024

The Internet is full of writing websites and blogs to help people reach their creative goals . If you’ve always dreamt of writing your own book, but don’t know how to get there — or if you’re in the process of writing, but feel unsure about what to do next — then it’s your lucky day! Here we have all the best writing websites of 2024 in one single place for your convenience. They’re also organized by category, and alphabetically within each of those categories, to make each one easier to find. Enjoy!

Best writing websites for writing craft and inspiration

1. Almost an Author

Offering up new content every day, Almost an Author covers a grand scope of writing topics. From genre-specific advice to emotional support on your writing journey, there's tons of useful info here for beginner and veteran writers alike.

2. Association of Writer & Writing Programs

Having just marked their 50th anniversary, AWP is one of the premier authorities on writing. The AWP website provides resources and ample opportunities for authors, teachers, and students at every point in their career. Here you’ll be able to find information about writing programs, career options, and conferences all over the world. Keep in mind, though, that access to some of these features is restricted to members only.

3. Creativity Portal

This is a wonderful hub for creative resources that has been around for a whopping nineteen years! Here you can find writing prompts , creative coaching, printable writing templates, and interviews with authors that will help nourish the right side of your brain.

4. Daily Writing Tips

As the name suggests, this site offers daily writing tips ranging from open-ended prompts and exercises to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. It also covers all writing levels and professions, so it doesn't matter how far along you are in your writing career — DWT is sure to help you out.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a master’s degree, you can get your own "DIY MFA" right here! This site (founded by Gabriela Pereira ) aims to cover everything you would learn in a graduate program, while giving you the freedom to choose your own areas of concentration and allocate your time as you please. 

6. Electric Literature

While not exactly a craft-focused website — so no straight-up writing advice or prompts — this nonprofit digital publisher showcases literature-related essays, criticism, and recommended readings. If you're looking to brush up on both literary theory and recent literary trends, Electric Lit is the place for you.

7. Fiction University

This virtual university, run by award-winning author Janice Hardy, contains tons of advice and concrete examples to help authors build a strong writing foundation. It's full of blog posts by professionals who share their own processes and techniques, providing tips not just on what you should do as a writer, but on how  to make it happen.

8. Helping Writers Become Authors

Longtime author K.M. Weiland offers writing advice that ranges from outlining and structuring to characterization and dialogue — plus all the little details in between. She updates her blog faithfully with topical posts that would pique any writer's (or non-writer's) interest.

9. Insecure Writer's Support Group

Writing is intimidating for everyone , whether you're a multi-published author or you're just starting out. That's why getting support, guidance, and motivation throughout the process is vital! On IWSG, you'll discover a wealth of information on writing, publishing, marketing, and anything else you might need to ultimately overcome your insecurities.

10. Literary Hub

LitHub boasts a superb selection of content for all things literary. Here you can get all the latest book-related news, posts on design and the craft, your daily dose of fiction, and sparkling reviews of new works. One of this site's best features is its section on literature in translation — a great resource for those who want to read books and authors from around the world.

11. LitReactor

The LitReactor blog consists of writing classes, workshops, and a myriad of posts on writing and books ( some of which are even written by us! ). There’s also an online magazine that includes interviews, criticism and analysis, and seasonally appropriate reads and recommendations.

12. LitRejections

An unfortunate occupational hazard of with writing is rejection. This is where a site like LitRejections comes into play! It offers personal stories to help discouraged writers persevere through rejection, and maintain hope and motivation as they move forward in their careers.

13. Live Write Thrive

In this website by professional writer and editor C.S. Lakin, you’ll find plenty of nuanced writing anecdotes and tips. Lakin also supplies annotated critiques that can help you prep your book for publication.

14. NaNoWriMo

Besides serving as the official information hub for NaNoWriMo , this site also lends constant support for those struggling to "win" National Novel Writing Month. Make sure to check out the NaNoWriMo forums, which are chock-full of other people's personal writing tips and strategies to get you through November — and every other month of the year — as a writer.

15. Now Novel

This comprehensive website, founded by author Bridget McNulty , is a go-to for just about every writing-related question you might have. Here you'll also find advice, courses, and even an author dashboard where you can keep track of your own writing progress.

16. Positive Writer

If you often feel uncertain about your creative abilities, this is the site for you. Bryan Hutchinson created Positive Writer to encourage and inspire all those who want to write, no matter how much experience or confidence they have.

17. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid offers a fantastic manuscript editing software that analyzes your writing and creates reports for you to learn from! This tool also includes a thesaurus, grammar checks, style suggestions, and more — you can learn all about it on the ProWritingAid blog, or in our review of the app !

18. She Writes

A well-established writing website with a feminist bent, She Writes is "the largest online community and content site for women writers... all around the world." The site features thoughtful posts and resources to help writers on their journeys, as well as a personal She Writes blog page for every user who signs up.

19. Well-Storied

Here you can find recent articles, workbooks, tutorials, and fascinating discussions on writing. Kristine Kieffer has an extensive archive of posts as well, where you can procure information on just about any topic related to books and writing.

20. The Write Practice

Fulfilling the promise of their name, every single post on this site emphasizes putting theory into practice! There's simply no better way to become a writer than by creating a routine, and that’s exactly what The Write Practice helps facilitate.

21. Writer’s Digest

Writer's Digest is one of the most encyclopedic writing websites out there — after all, the print magazine has been around for almost a century now! Here you’ll find genre and vocation-organized articles, events and competitions, webinars, templates, tutorials, and so much more.

22. Writer Unboxed

Writer Unboxed features articles by authors and industry professionals, focused specifically on the craft and business of fiction writing.

23. The Writing Cooperative

Plain and simple, this is a group of people who want to help each other become better writers. On Writing Cooperative, you will find articles that cover just about every aspect of the writing life. They also have monthly writing challenges to keep you incentivized, and there’s even a space where you can submit your own article to the blog!

24. Writing.com

This is an absolutely all-inclusive community for writers . It’s open to all levels and provides a creative, supportive environment for all members, as well as portfolios to store and display their writing. Like most writing websites, it also includes a plethora of writing tools , contests, and rewards.

25. Catapult: Don’t Write Alone

Don’t Write Alone is a blog written by the Catapult team dedicated to helping writers grow their skills. As a publisher and magazine founded in 2005, Catapult has seen a lot of works and now they’re spilling all the details. From interviews, to craft essays, to writer lifestyle essays, Catapult covers it all.

26. Kirkus Review’s Writers’ Center

Kirkus Review is known for its prestigious $50,000 dollar annual prize and its bi-monthly issues where they critique hundreds of recently published books. But, did you know they also have a section of their website devoted to helping emerging writers grow their skills and navigate the publishing industry? They’re always up to date on the latest trends — if they aren’t creating new trends themselves.

27. Writers Write

An invaluable resource for creative writers, business writers, or bloggers, Writers Write offers over 1400 articles, courses, and workbooks to help you take your writing practice to the next level. Alongside their educational content, they offer book reviews, trivia on famous authors, and prompts. Sign up for their inspirational newsletters for regular hits of motivation that will keep you writing.

28. The Narrative Arc

Beginning as a home to Andie R. Cranford’s writing journey, The Narrative Arc is now a treasure trove of practical tips and prompts to inspire your creativity. Breakdowns of popular books are particularly handy for the budding author — but whether exploring writing for the first time or tightening the bolts on your Franken-novel, the site's ideas on craft are elegant and inspiring.

Best writing websites in the publishing industry

29. Agent Query

This database allows authors to perform in-depth searches for literary agents . You can narrow your search by genre and keywords, view agents’ full profiles, and see if they are currently accepting queries — all for free!

30. The Creative Penn

Besides being a bestselling author on various topics, Joanna Penn is also a leading voice in self-publishing . On her punnily named site, you’ll find abundant information related to writing, self-publishing, marketing, and everything else you mind need to make a living as a writer.

31. Digital Pubbing

Digital Pubbing provides industry news, interviews with indie authors, and resources for learning all about ebooks and the publishing industry. In accordance with the name, this is the perfect site for any author hoping to absorb some serious digital knowledge.

32. The Independent Publishing Magazine

We know it might seem like we're repeating ourselves, but this website really is all about publishing (both independent and traditional, despite what the name indicates). Whatever info you need about self-publishing, trad pub, or hybrid publishing , you’ll definitely be able to find it here.

33. Publishers Weekly

And if you have a specific question about the publishing world, you’ll most likely find the answer here. This weekly magazine is packed full of news, reviews, announcements, and many other resources on the industry. It has been dubbed as "the Bible of the book business" and with its extensive archive, it’s easy to see why.

34. Publishing Perspectives

Publishing Perspectives is another leading source of publishing info, specializing in industry news and topical articles. Aimed at publishers, agents , and authors alike, it features a variety of posts that cover book fairs, distribution, education, and much more.

35. Query Shark

Not sure where your query letter is up to snuff? Query Shark offers the opportunity to have your query critiqued, and to read detailed query critiques of other authors' letters, so you can get the best possible results for your book. Be warned, though, that this sharp-toothed feedback isn't for the weak of heart.

36. Writer Beware

This amazingly thorough site compiles information on schemes and scams that affect authors , especially those run through email and the Internet. It’s sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, but obviously applies to authors everywhere. If you're a fresh-faced author trying to get published, definitely check it out — it could save you from losing thousands of dollars in an elaborate scam.

37. The Darling Axe

When the industry professionals at The Darling Axe aren’t working on manuscripts, they flock to the internet to share their hot takes on the publishing industry. They also host writing contests throughout the year to build a writing community and give unpublished authors the chance to get feedback from professionals.

Best writing websites for marketing and design

38. David Gaughran

An experienced author of historical adventures, short stories, and popular books for writers , David Gaughran is one of the definitive writing experts out there. His eponymous blog contains plenty of info on marketing and self-publishing, plus workshops to help aspiring authors. And similar to Writer Beware, he's the noble opposition of online publishing scams and scammers — so if you're frustrated by these issues, you'll discover a blissfully sympathetic voice on his blog.

39. Kikolani

Focused specifically on marketing, Kikolani offers tips and strategies for bloggers who want to grow their presence and attract more readers. Here you’ll find information on brand development , social media, customer retention, and other useful tips that you can put to good use as a blogger. (If you're just getting started, though, we'd recommend this course .)

40. Kindlepreneur

Dave Chesson is — in his own words — a “digital marketing nut.” His blog has all the information you could ever need about Kindle book publishing , how to write to market, increasing your rankings on Amazon, and lots more practical tips and advice.

41. Storiad

Storiad is a marketing platform that helps authors and publishers sell books. Go here for essential information on writing apps , databases, tools, and budgeting to help you run your own publishing campaign from start to finish.

42. Writers & Artists

Part of the distinguished Bloomsbury, Writers & Artists has quite a few articles on writing and the self-publishing process. They also offer editorial services and events on many different topics, like genre-specific writing courses and how to get connected with agents .

43. Your Writer Platform

Naturally, this site is dedicated to building your very own writer platform. There are tons of tips, resources, tools, how-tos, and even individual consulting services to help you build the platform that works best for you and your marketing needs.

Best writing blogs by industry professionals

44. Goins, Writer

Bestselling author Jeff Goins created this blog to share his thoughts on writing and to inspire others to chase their creative dreams. He's especially good at breaking complex topics down into digestible bits — new writers, go here for your primers.

45. Jane Friedman

With copious experience in the publishing industry, Jane Friedman offers online classes and articles on the entire process of book publishing. She's a real goldmine of business knowledge, so keep her in mind for when you're ready to publish your book.

46. Nail Your Novel

As a bestselling former ghostwriter who now publishes under her own name, Roz Morris provides advice about writing, self-publishing, and of course, ghostwriting . If you're interested in becoming a ghostwriter, be sure to check out her courses!

47. Nathan Bransford

Nathan Bransford is a former literary agent who posts all about the inner workings of publishing, as well and information on agents and self-publishing. He also does consultations, edits, and critiques . 

48. Rachelle Gardner

Skillful agent Rachelle Gardner has negotiated over 200 contracts with over twenty publishers and helped more than 100 authors fulfill their dreams of publishing. On her blog, she offers writing, publishing, and social media coaching, along with general writing and publishing tips.

49. Kris Writes

For regular insights from a New York Times bestselling author, look no further than Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog. On Mondays, she posts free short stories for authors to find inspiration in, and Wednesdays she posts in her “Business Musings” collection where she breaks down news from the publishing industry and offers her inside opinions. 

50. The Marginalian  

Maria Popova describes her site as “a record of my own becoming as a person — intellectually, creatively, spiritually, poetically — drawn from my extended marginalia on the search for meaning across literature, science, art, philosophy, and the various other tendrils of human thought and feeling.” She sends out a Sunday newsletter with thoughtful deconstruction of the week’s best liberal arts goings-on to help broaden her readers’ appreciation of the creative world.

51. John August

For all the screenwriters out there, John August co-hosts a weekly podcast with fellow screenwriter Craig Mazin discussing both the craft and business of screenwriting while breaking down popular movies. To help screenwriters really get a feel for the process of working with a studio, John has posted multiple versions of scripts from different stages in the production process on films and series he’s written, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Big Fish , and Chernobyl .

What are some of your favorite writing websites? Let us know in the comments below!

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Track your sales and royalty using author dashboard. Monthly payout options available.

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What is Pencil Publishing?

Pencil publishing is the world’s first incubated & accelerated publishing module. The Pencil writing platform is a free platform that enables authors to create, publish, and distribute their books worldwide in paperback and eBook format. Pencil aims to empower writers with a variety of tools:

• Pencil is the first free publishing platform that aids Omni distribution, i.e; your paperback book is available on all major retailers like
• Amazon, Flipkart, Barnes & Noble, and several more. Also, your eBook is made available on Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, Apple Books, and Kobo, to name a few.
• Pencil’s royalty and sales reports are transparent and available to the author on a monthly basis.
• Pencil helps the writer create, build, and increase the reading audience.
• In addition to this, Pencil offers editing and designing services to enhance the books’ quality, where needed.
• Pencil’s dashboard enables writers to get real-time analytics to how their content is
• being consumed. (Note: This is when the book is being consumed on the Pencil Reader App).
• Pencil enables authors to make real-time changes through dynamic editing where the author can create newer versions of the book,to
• improve the chances of its commercial success.
• Pencil enables the writers to write in more formats than just the book and keep their fans and audiences engaged. Also, helps in
• content discovery.

How much time does it take to publish a book via Pencil?

While the publishing process on Pencil takes up to an hour in case you have a ready manuscript and cover design, once you digitally sign the author-publisher agreement, the submitted book has to undergo a quality check process to be published further.

Once verified, the book is available on the Pencil Reader App within 24-48 hours. In the case of eBook distribution to other retailers, it takes up to 10-14 days and in the case of paperback distribution to Indian and international retailers, it takes up to 6-8 weeks. These timelines are subject to various factors in the quality assurance process including but not limited to, plagiarism errors, copyright errors, file errors, and other platform-mandated guidelines.

How do I start writing on Pencil?

Once you create your account and log in on our writing platform, you will be directed to our main dashboard. At this stage, you can either select the option to ‘Start Writing’ to write using our editor or add the manuscript or short to the editor.

Are there any minimum requirements to distribute my book in eBook and Paperback format?

In the case of eBook distribution, your book’s character count should be more than 15000 characters. However, in the case of Paperback distribution, please note that your book’s page count should be at least 50 pages. For paperback distribution, we would recommend avoiding image-heavy or color-heavy text since we use a standard 5X8, Black & White Print-on-demand model for distribution.

When will I receive my royalty earnings?

In the case of eBook sales on Pencil Reader App, the royalty will be credited within 30 days from the month of sale. In the case of sales of your book in eBook and Paperback format across Third-party Domestic and International retailers, the royalty received from these platforms will be credited within 90 days from the month of sale.

What is the age criteria to register on Pencil?

While there are no age criteria for registering on Pencil, but in case of account holders below the age of 16, parental guidance is advised. In case you are a minor publishing a book, we might need a legal guardian to sign the agreement.

The Best Free Book Writing Software To Write Your New Book

If you want to write a book, you might be looking for free book writing software. But what’s the best choice to write a novel?

You have many alternatives now for book writing programs specifically designed for the long task ahead of you.

Writing software for novelists includes tools and features that will help you organize and manage the individual elements of your manuscript.

For new authors, you can choose from many free novel writing software programs to get you started on your book.

Article Contents

You need the right tools to write a book

Many new writers and authors start out using a word processor such as Microsoft Word, iA Writer, or Google Docs.

But word processors are not always the best software to write a book because they are not designed to help you with a long creative writing project.

If you plan to write fiction or nonfiction, you might consider dedicated novel writing software.

Word processing, spreadsheets, email managers, and a desktop publisher are for business and administration.

They are not the best programs for creative thinkers and the book writing process.

These tools are tools primarily designed to write a letter, a business proposal, or a report.

What are the alternatives to using word processing software?

You want to write a book or a novel, and there are plenty of options for beginners.

You can choose between software programs you can install on your computer or online apps you use in a browser.

A good book writing app will help you manage your writing project.

Dedicated book writing programs will assist you a lot with your research notes, file management, event tracking, character development, and, of course, your writing.

Take a look at the many choices you have for your new book project.

Choose the best book writing software

“I want to write a book.”

Okay, then, let’s get you started with the best writing apps for the job of writing a novel.

When you decide to write a book, you want a writing program designed for the task.

Look in an app store for a distraction-free writing program (yes, no social media!).

You want to be able to stay focused and concentrate all your energy on writing your book.

There are a lot of paid writing software packages available for authors.

But, some, like Ulysses, Vellum, and even Word, can all cost you a lot of money.

Are you just starting on your project of writing your book?

Then there are many free writing and editing software alternatives that you can try.

There is always a short learning curve when you start using new software programs.

But it’s better to spend your time and not your money when you learn how to use a new writing program.

Most of the applications in this article are easy to learn how to use and set up for writing your new book.

What you need in book writing software and apps

Writing a book is a long-term project.

That’s why a non-fiction or fiction writer needs software specifically designed for the task.

The main feature of a good book writing program is that you can write chapter by chapter. Some offer scene-by-scene and also track your story development.

Writing a novel is a step-by-step process. A good writing program will allow you to write in these stages.

You also want to keep notes about your characters, events, and, if possible, mind maps and record a timeline.

An auto-save function is also advisable. It will keep your manuscript stored and saved securely.

Also, check if you can save your work on a cloud drive. Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud are good options for extra backup security.

Another feature that is important to many writers is to have a distraction-free mode.

Or at least one that reduces the clutter on your screen while you write in a text editor. Sometimes, a plain text editor is all you need.

It takes a long time to write a book

Books are long-form writing. Working on one huge, long lump of text in one document is cumbersome and prone to file and save errors.

It really is an unsafe way to write a book. The chances of something going wrong technically are very high. This is especially true with Word.

Apps for writing books are usually for desktops. But sometimes a phone app is available.

However, some offer an iPad iOS app, which can be a great option when traveling or getting out of the house.

When you try the book writing software and online apps below and start writing, you will immediately notice the difference.

You will understand why writing a book needs a totally different approach.

Let’s get you started on the right foot but with software at the right price tag. Free.

Here is a selection of nine web-based and open-source free book writing software, programs, apps, and tools.

There are also details later in the article about four free trial writing software programs, especially suited to more experienced authors.

9 Free book writing programs

My list of free apps and software for writing books is provided as a resource guide only .

It is certainly not a recommendation or review of any of the programs on the list. If I have reviewed a program, there is a link to my full review.

As with most free applications, there will be some limitations or drawbacks.

However, in my testing of the apps below, there are some that offer quite useful features for free.

You can investigate the free options below, but you will need to decide which one may work best for you and your writing needs.

1. Novlr (Free)

Novlr is a free novel writing app that helps you get your story out of your head and onto the page.

It’s got all the features you need to stay organized, motivated, and productive without all the clutter.

You can break your novel into chapters, take notes, track your word count, and set goals.

With the free version, you can export to docx or share your chapters or full manuscript.

Novlr also has a distraction-free mode that helps you focus on your writing. You can also choose dark mode if you prefer.

If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to write your novel, then Novlr is definitely worth trying.

The free plan offers all the essential tools to write a book.

2. yWriter (Free)

I have to include yWriter because it was developed by a writer, Simon Haynes.

He explains the reason for going to all the trouble to create this software, and it should resonate with many writers.

“I really struggled with my first novel. I wrote slabs of text into a big word processor file, and I just couldn’t make sense of the whole thing at once. No real overview, no easy jumping from scene to scene, nothing.”

It is a great explanation of why word processors are not designed for writing fiction.

The key feature of yWriter is that it breaks book writing into chapters and scenes. When writing a book, this is a must-have feature.

It also comes with the ability to build characters and locations.

3. Manuskript (Free)

Manuskript is a feature-rich book writing tool.

It has an outliner, word count, and distraction-free mode. It also has a novel assistant to help you. With it, you can develop characters using the snowflake method.

You can also keep track of notes about your characters, the plot, events, and places in your story.

These tools will certainly help improve your writing.

It is well worth a try for a new author.

4. Sigil (Free)

Sigil is open-source, free software that is well-regarded for producing e-books in epub format.

In this respect, it is similar to, if not even better than Calibre .

It has multiple views, including book view, code view, and preview, as well as a WYSIWYG editor.

It also has a Table of Contents generator with multi-level heading support.

There is a metadata editor as well as a spell check with default and user dictionaries.

It also supports the import of EPUB and HTML files, images, and style sheets.

5. Reedsy Book Editor (Free)

The Reedsy book editor is a great free online writing tool for authors.

You can write, format, and export your book to epub for ebooks and pdf for print books.

If you have already started writing your book, you can import a Word docx file.

It’s easy to add images and endnotes, and the program also helps you create your table of contents and copyright pages.

Unlike a word processor, the Reedsy editor organizes your book in sections, so it’s easy to navigate to chapters or other parts of your manuscript.

It is a fully featured online editor that has all the tools you need to write and format your book ready for publishing.

6. Wavemaker (Free)

Wavemaker Novel Writing is a free web app, so you can use it on any device.

You can organize your story using timelines, use planning boards, and it even has a snowflake tool.

Like many other apps, it comes with a dark mode option and distraction-free writing.

Another plus is that even though it is a free app, it doesn’t contain ads.

It has a helpful getting started page, plus plenty of video guides to help you learn how to get the most from the app.

7. Bibisco (Free)

Bibisco is open-source software. It is specifically designed for writing a novel.

It has all the elements you will need. These include character development and tracking.

There are chapter and scene organization as well as note-taking.

Everything you need to write a novel in one free software package. Bibisco is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

8. Focus Writer (Free)

FocusWriter  has one key attribute. It is about total distraction-free writing.

It has many options you need to set things up for your writing your book.

But it has a hide-away user interface that lets you concentrate on the one big thing you want to do. Stay focused and write.

Forget about menus, toolbars, drag and drop or copy and paste with this app.

There is all focus mode with nothing between you and your words.

It is very user-friendly, free, and available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.

9. Shaxpir (Free and Premium)

For a dedicated book or novel writing app, Shaxpir really packs a lot into its free version.

With the Manuscript Builder, you can use drag-and-drop tools to rearrange any part of your manuscript.

You can move and change the order of scenes or chapters, so you can work on structures that work for you.

It’s easy to set up writing goals and track your progress. You can also make specific notes about your characters, places, and events.

There is also the facility to add your margin comments as well as collect any concept art.

It also comes with its own built-in spellchecker.

For free software designed for writing books, Shaxpir offers you a huge range of features.

It is available for PC and Mac users with an option for cloud access.

3 Free trial book writing software programs

1. scrivener (free trial).

Scrivener is well-known as the best book writing software program for screenwriters and authors.

It comes with a corkboard, an outliner, side-by-side viewing, word count targets, and a full-screen editor.

There are also print, export, and publishing tools. It has everything a writer could possibly need.

Scrivener is a premium, top-quality book writing program. It has everything you need for the first to the final draft.

However, there is a 30-day free trial period offered by Scrivener.

But it is counted by the days that you use the software. If you use it every second or third day, your trial period will last for 60 days or more.

Scrivener is available to download for both PC and Mac.

2. The Novel Factory (Free trial)

The big feature of The Novel Factory is the Roadmap.

It puts together tested techniques from leading novelists.

It breaks down writing a novel into small tasks so beginners can learn the craft of writing.

The Locations tab allows you to take down details for your locations.

It includes multiple images to help your inspiration. It helps you to consider all of the senses in your descriptions to build an immersive story world.

In the Characters tab, you can see your characters in an overview. Or you can open each one to see all the details.

These include the introduction, basic information, your questionnaire, viewpoint synopsis, as well as your history and notes.

Once you’ve written your long synopsis, you have the option to automatically generate scenes directly from it.

Adjust where each scene breaks, and all your scenes will be created automatically. Then you can get on with writing your first draft.

Unlike some other book writing tools, the Novel Factory doesn’t need hours of learning. It’s intuitive from the very first time you open it.

The Novel Factory is available in an online version that works with all operating systems.  There is also a desktop version for PC only.

3. Ulysses (Free trial)

Ulysses is a Mac and Apple-only application.

It works with a unified library that holds everything you’ll ever write a book.

The features are designed to manage writing projects of any size or ambition. You can write notes, blog posts, or a whole novel.

It has all the tools you need for writing, with the main focus on getting the words down.

Ulysses can export to PDF and Word files as well as ebooks. All totally formatted and styled. You can also export to HTML for use anywhere on the web.

You can even publish to WordPress and Medium from within the app.

Everything is just a click away, with on-the-fly switching of styles and a live preview built right in.

Ulysses operates and syncs on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It is the ideal writing software for Apple users.

There are lots of choices in the list of software, programs, and apps above.

I’m sure you’ll find that at least one of these free novel writing software programs and apps will help you write and publish better.

Some will help you overcome writer’s block and be more organized no matter what your writing style is.

You should also use an efficient and reliable online grammar checker.

The Hemingway Editor is a good free choice. It will keep your use of adverbs, passive voice, and repeated words under control.

Then you are going to be writing more and better every day.

Forget about office applications that are designed for administrative tasks.

Learn how to write a book with tools specifically designed for creative writing and maximizing your writing time.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, many premium apps are highly recommended.

But they are often more suited to professional writers, content writers, and writing blog posts.

You don’t need to make a big investment in book writing software for novels.

If you are just getting started moving away from Word and Google Docs, there are many free choices.

Try a few of these free writing apps and see which one works best for you. They can all help you write a better book or novel.

It might not turn you into a bestselling author overnight. But you never know, do you?

Related reading: 10 Free Book Publishing Software And Tools For Self-Publishing

About The Author

Derek Haines

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23 thoughts on “the best free book writing software to write your new book”.

Manuskript works well for me! installs on linux and on windows. bit fiddly to install but works well. very helpful and guiding. haven’t found a backup utility yet so exporting text for now. Tried quoll earlier but not so impressed. Quoll was too buggy.

Plot factory has been taken down, but was perfect for my needs. Currently I’m searching for a writing app with similar functionalities including the benefits of audio, useful for teasing out complex sentences. Does this app use audio to preview written work?

Thanks in advance

As someone just starting out trying their hand at writing, I will say I have found a lot of useful information on this site and wish I had found it before I started putting “pen to paper.”

Probably like most people trying to write for the first time, I’ve started with the tools at hand: MS Office. One app in MS Office that seems to get overlooked is OneNote.

The best way I can explain OneNote is it is a “jack-of-all-trades” scratch pad. I am currently using it to make various notes about plot, synopsis, character details, and other things of the short stories I’m writing.

Like Word, its not the best tool for the job. However, it seems to be functional for a writing assistant while I look at some of the other tools and find one that best suits me.

What are your thoughts on the Writer’s Café software?

as a novice in book writing{ just getting my thoughts together on how to start} I must appreciate the input f all here. The advice on the writing software is critical, so is the feedback from those like me, who need an easier way forward. I particularly was concerned of how to track my words, page them, and hold together my creativity long enough to put it down to words! Good luck to all writers

I’d also put in a plug for Write it Now. The trial version doesn’t let you save, but it’s a great way to kick the tires and see how it works. I’ve used both it and Scrivener, and WiN has one thing Scrivener doesn’t: Timelines. It also manages characters and locations better than Scrivener. Scrivener is great for large, fluid projects (I’ve got one in a single file that contains multiple novel-length pieces and another section with over 10 short stories), and has more flexibility if you want to really interlink stuff and go all-out.

I want to start writing my book Pain of the hart m first boo I need to no how to get started .

You can read this article to help you get started. https://justpublishingadvice.com/how-to-write-a-book-and-enjoy-writing-it/

But you should start by tidying up your writing, even in online comments. I think you mean that your first book will be called Pain of the Heart.

The worldcradle link is incorrect; its a dot org site instead.

Thanks for letting me know. I have corrected the link. But it is strange that Wordcradle changed from a .com to .org address without a redirect.

Has anybody tried OnlyOffice? It looks very good.

I write poems . Looking for a booklike with flying pages where to download one by one each poem. My language is spanish. Thank you! Lewis

I downloaded Shaxpir yesterday and got a few hundred words in. My computer restarted itself for an update and I lost everything. As far as I can tell, you can’t manually save with Shaxpir (at least not at the moment) and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how it saves otherwise. Just a heads-up to anyone thinking about that one.

I’ve given up on Microsoft since they stopped me from using their latest Version of MS Office by closing my account after I tried unsuccesfully to register the damned thing for use… So now I use Open Office and LibreOffice. I’m editing one book on Open while writing the squal to my latest sci-fi novella The Magisters: Book One on Libre…

There is one all-round Book production program out there for decades called OPEN OFFICE , a more than equal package vs. Microsoft Office. They both have a Word component, and the Open Office version Word program is amazing. Of course, all serious would be Novelists need to be using Dragon Naturally Speaking by Nuance and it works in Version 5.3. beautifully, onIy doesn’t work in other versions, or Libre Office Word.

I’ve downloaded Grammarly and ProWritingAid of the free writing apps, but how, with the free apps, do I go about checking a complete manuscript? Nor do I see page numbers to keep check on which page I am. Reception here is practically non-existent – none of the writing apps can be used offline. Any advice please? Lastly, if I want to improve or enlarge Word Thesaurus that can be used offline and incorporated into the Word Thesaurus, any ideas please.

Hi Kasha. Free versions always have certain limitations. That’s why they are free. Yet they still offer a lot of functionality. But you can’t expect to have unlimited access to all the pro tools for free for a long complex manuscript.

Thanks for the information, I am very motivated to get started on my book project!.

Just getting started. Thank you for writing this article.

This was an excellent post, as it’s always good to see the new products on the market and get some evaluation of them. And as always, it confirms to me that writing in ordinary wordprocessing with judicious use of styles, page breaks, and grammar checker set to casual, works just fine for me. Thank goodness we are all different!

Surely, the same risk applies, whichever programme you use? Do any of these programmes save your work independently, or would we have to do it?

Have fun choosing, Vivienne!

Brilliant. I had no idea there was free software for creative writing. now I just have to choose between them. I like the idea of Wordcradle with the index cards. That would be most useful, I think. I also like the idea of Manuskript. Thank you for this insight.

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List of Book Writing Websites (Free & Easily Write Books)

• March 22, 2024

Table of Contents:

1.   writing.com:, 2.   wattpad:, 3.   medium:, 4.   smashwords:, 5.   lulu:, 6.      bookrix:, 7.   blurb:, conclusion:, book writing.

If you have ever dreamt of writing and publishing your book, you’re in luck. Digital technology has opened up a world of possibilities for aspiring authors. With the help of an online free book writing website, you can bring your ideas to life and share your story with the world.

This comprehensive guide will introduce you to the 10 best websites for writing and publishing your next book. Whether you’re looking for a book writing website or a more advanced tool, there’s something for everyone. So, let’s see what are some of the options available to help you turn your writing dreams into a reality.

Writing.com is a highly regarded website in the writing and publishing community. It offers a unique and interactive platform to publish an ebook that fosters creativity and collaboration among writers.

With numerous features like writing prompts, contests, and constructive feedback from fellow writers, Writing.com provides a supportive environment for honing your writing skills and receiving valuable critiques. It also allows you to create and manage your portfolio, where you can showcase your work and attract potential readers.

One of the key advantages of Writing.com is its strong sense of community. Connecting with like-minded writers and building relationships is made easy through forums and writing groups. This helps you gain inspiration and motivation and opens up opportunities for collaboration and networking.

If you seek a platform that values community-driven support and growth, Writing.com is a book writing site worth exploring for your writing and publishing journey.

Another excellent Book Writing Website for writers and authors is Wattpad. Specifically designed for aspiring writers, Wattpad offers a wide range of features aimed at helping writers showcase their work and gain a readership.

One of the standout features of Wattpad is its massive community of readers and writers. With millions of users worldwide, this platform provides a unique opportunity to connect with readers who have a genuine interest in your genre or writing style. Whether you are a new writer or an experienced author looking to expand your audience, Wattpad offers an engaged community that can provide invaluable feedback and support.

Wattpad’s user-friendly interface and intuitive writing tools make it easy to publish and share your work with others. You can also receive feedback and comments on each chapter, allowing you to refine your writing. Plus, Wattpad has a built-in feature that allows you to visualize your book cover and enhance its presentation.

In addition to attracting readers, Wattpad also paves the way for potential publishing opportunities. Many successful authors, such as Anna Todd and Abby Sooknanan, started their writing careers on Wattpad and later published their books commercially.

If you’re an aspiring writer or book writing services provider who wants to start their journey cheaply, then Wattpad is a book writing site you should consider for your writing journey.

Another fantastic Book Writing Website writers should consider for their writing and publishing needs is Medium. Known for its sleek design and easy-to-use interface, Medium offers a versatile platform that caters to writers of all genres and styles.

One of the main advantages of Medium is its built-in audience. With millions of active users, Medium provides an excellent opportunity for writers to reach a wide and diverse readership. Whether you are writing personal essays, opinion pieces, or informative articles, Medium allows you to share your work with a large, engaged community.

Not only does Medium offer a platform for publishing, but it also provides a chance for writers to earn money through its Partner Program. By participating in the program, writers can monetize their content and receive compensation based on the engagement and readership of their articles.

Additionally, Medium offers a range of features that enhance the reading experience for readers. With its clean and clutter-free layout, Medium ensures that your writing takes center stage. Readers can also leave comments and provide feedback on your articles, allowing you to connect with your audience and improve your writing skills.

If you’re looking for a versatile platform that offers a built-in audience and the potential to earn money from your writing, Medium is a website worth exploring.

Smashwords offers a user-friendly interface that makes the publishing process a breeze. Whether you’re an experienced author or a first-time writer, this Book Writing Website provides step-by-step guidance on formatting, cover design, and metadata. With Smashwords, you can easily convert your manuscript into multiple ebook formats, ensuring compatibility across various devices and platforms.

One of the standout features of Smashwords is its extensive distribution network. When you publish your book on Smashwords, it becomes available for sale on major online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books, among others. This wide reach allows you to expose your work to a global audience and increase your chances of reaching potential readers.

Not only does Smashwords handle the technical aspects of publishing, but it also provides valuable tools for marketing your book. The website offers comprehensive analytics to track your sales and marketing research efforts. This enables you to make data-driven decisions to promote your work effectively. However, in case you cannot handle such data analytics, you can hire a professional marketer from the Book Writing Bureau who can help you make the best use of this data.

If you are looking for a self-publishing platform that offers a comprehensive range of services, then Lulu is the perfect Book Writing Website for you. With a user-friendly interface and a wealth of tools, Lulu makes self-publishing an effortless and rewarding experience.

One of the standout features of Lulu is its print-on-demand service. With this feature, you can easily order printed copies of your book whenever you need them without worrying about inventory or storage. This is especially beneficial for authors who attend book signings or events, as they can have copies of their books on hand to sell.

In addition to print-on-demand, Lulu also offers an extensive distribution network. When you publish your book on Lulu, it becomes available for sale on major online retailers, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This wide reach ensures that your book reaches readers from all around the world.

Furthermore, Lulu provides a range of tools for marketing your book. From customizable book covers to promotional materials, Lulu offers everything you need to effectively promote your work. The book writing site also offers insights and analytics to help you track your sales, allowing you to make informed decisions to boost your book’s success.

Whether you are a first-time author or an experienced writer, Lulu offers a seamless self-publishing experience that will help you bring your book to life.

BookRix is a unique Book Writing Website that caters to writers and readers. It provides a platform for writers to publish their books and connect with a community of avid readers. With a user-friendly interface, BookRix makes it easy for writers to create and share their stories.

One of the standout features of BookRix is its book editor. This powerful tool allows writers to format their books professionally, giving them complete control over the design and layout. Writers can add images, tables, and interactive elements to engage readers.

BookRix also allows writers to receive feedback and reviews from readers. This valuable input can help authors refine their work and understand what resonates with their audience. Additionally, BookRix hosts writing contests, allowing writers to showcase their skills and gain recognition.

For readers, BookRix offers a vast collection of free eBooks across various genres. Readers can discover new authors, follow their favorite writers, and leave comments and ratings. This interactive experience creates a lively and engaged community of book enthusiasts.

Blurb is a free book writing website that empowers writers to create and publish their books. With its easy-to-use tools and templates, Blurb makes the self-publishing process accessible to everyone.

One of the key features of Blurb is its book-making software. Writers can upload their manuscripts and customize their book’s layout, fonts, and cover design. Blurb offers a range of options, from paperback and hardcover books to ebooks and magazines.

What sets Blurb’s online book writing website apart is its print-on-demand service. Once a book is ready for publication, authors can order physical copies on-demand, eliminating the need for large upfront costs and excess inventory. This allows writers to sell their books directly to readers through online marketplaces or at events and book signings.

Blurb also provides tools to market and distribute books, including integration with online retailers like Amazon and Apple Books, reducing the need for book marketers . Authors can set their pricing and royalties, giving them control over their financial success.

With its comprehensive suite of self-publishing tools, Blurb is a go-to website for writers looking to bring their books to life.

Each Book Writing Website on our list offers unique features and benefits. Whether you’re looking for a platform with a supportive writing community, robust promotional opportunities, or comprehensive analytics, there’s a book writing website free of cost out there that’s a perfect fit for you.

Consider your genre, target audience, and personal goals as you research and explore the various Book Writing Websites. Don’t be afraid to try multiple platforms to see which resonates with you the most.

Remember, the best online book writing website will ultimately be the one that aligns with your vision and helps you achieve your writing aspirations, so choose wisely.

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How to Write and Publish a Book (for Free!): the 10 Step Guide

by Jeff Elkins | 1 comment

We live in an amazing time. If you have a story to tell or an idea to share, you can write a book and publish it for free, making it accessible to billions of people. This moment is unique to human history, and I think everyone who has a story to tell should take advantage of it. To help get you started, in this post I’m going to give you ten simple steps on how to write and publish a book yourself.

You have a number of publishing options available today. In the past several years, I’ve published six novels and two novellas, becoming a self-published author. What I’m going to share today are the exact steps I followed to publish my work.

Disclaimer: Following these steps doesn't guarantee you'll be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King or other famous author. I’m not discussing in this post how to market your book, build an audience , write a book proposal , or get a literary agent who will help you sell your work.

This post is a simple outline of how a first-time author can take their book from their head and put it into the world where people can read it.

Also, if you plan to take your book to a traditional publisher, you should not publish it on your own first. Pitching a book requires a different route to enter the publishing industry. This post is for people like me who have stories they want to share with the world and who are willing to do make the book ready themselves.

Want to become an author? Get a free interactive checklist on book writing and publishing designed to guide you step-by-step through the process. Start your journey to becoming an author, and click to get the checklist here .

How to Write and Publish a Book: 10 Steps

Ready to learn how to write and publish your book? Here's a step-by-step guide of what you'll need to do.

1. Capture the Idea

Every book starts with a raw idea. For some authors, this may be a character or two and a general idea of the journey those characters will take. If you’re a planner like me, you’ll have the entire story plotted out beat by beat in an Excel spreadsheet.

Either way, you need to capture the idea of the book so you know what you are writing. (You can get our book idea worksheet here to help you develop that idea.)

2. Write the Book

Arguably, this may be the most difficult step. Not because the tools aren’t available and easily accessible; but rather because this is the step that requires an investment of time and energy. Writing a book takes dedication and discipline.

This month, after my family went to bed, I spent two hours writing. Thirty days later, I have a completed first draft I'm ready to take to step three. Writing a book takes sacrifice, but it is possible.

Any writing program will do to write your book in. I use Microsoft Word because it is what I’m familiar with. Google Docs is a free word processing program that will save your work in the cloud.

Want more suggestions? Here's our roundup of the ten best book writing software programs .

Need more help writing a book from start to finish? Check out How to Write a Book: The Complete Guide .

3. Edit the Book

If you have money to invest in the production of your book, this would be the first place I’d invest it in. A professional editor can move a book from an “I did this in my basement alone” project to a “this is a professionally produced book and you should all revel in its glory” novel.

A developmental edit will help with structural issues. Then I am ready for line editing and proofreading.

If you are like me (a working stiff with five kids to feed), then there isn’t any money to invest in things that won’t guarantee a financial return. When I edit a book I first read the entire book twice.

They I run the entire manuscript through Grammarly or ProWritingAid . There is a free version of Grammarly that will catch basic errors.

I then trade editing services with other authors and ask readers to read the book for me (it’s taken me three years to build up this network ). This process will catch 90% of the grammatical errors in my books and streamline the editing process.

4. Ask Readers to Read the Book

Before you put your book in the world, have someone else read it and give you their thoughts. I promise, there will be things in your book that make total sense to you that feel like gibberish to a reader. You won’t be able to see these things on your own. Someone else needs to find them for you.

These first readers are called beta readers and they are critical partners in your book's success. A beta reader is different from a critique partner in that they are ideally, a reader will be someone who enjoys the genre you are writing in.

For example, if you are writing science fiction, you need a reader who enjoys science fiction. A reader who hates science fiction will read your book and politely say, “It’s okay, but I didn’t really get it.” That kind of feedback from people is an unhelpful waste of your time.

5. Decide on the Formats

Are you publishing an ebook, a paperback physical book, or both? Do you want to stick with Amazon (the largest distributor in the world) and take advantage of things they offer to authors who publish exclusively to them, or do you want to go “wide” and publish your book on multiple platforms so it is more widely accessible?

These decisions may sound intimidating, but don’t let them scare you.

Each additional place you add and format you chose to put your book in will add a little work to step seven because each publishing platform requires a little different type of manuscript. An ebook is formatted a little differently than a paperback. A Microsoft Word document uploaded to Amazon will look a little different than one uploaded to Draft to Digital.

If this scares you, keep it simple. If this is your first time publishing a book, I’d recommend starting with a simple ebook on Amazon. Once that is done, you can expand to a paperback and to other channels like Kobo and Draft to Digital.

If you know up front that you want to get the book in as many places as possible, but you only want to format it once, I’d recommend Draft to Digital. They’ll take the book you upload and put it everywhere (even Amazon).

Here are links to the top three different self-publishing platforms I’ve used (note: these are US links; if you are outside the United States you will need to google your country's links to these sites):

• KDP (Amazon)
• Draft to Digital
• Ingramspark

These three places are all free and they will allow readers anywhere in the world to access your book.

6. Get a Book Cover

If you have money, cover design art is the other place I would spend it. Every reader in the world judges a book by its cover. That’s why books have covers. A great cover will help your book get noticed and start readers on an optimistic foot when they begin reading the first page.

A great book cover tells a reader what type of book they should expect. It catches the attention of the target audience. Along with the book title , it will be the first thing readers see.

For my first novel, I made the cover myself. I got a free image from unsplash.com. I then added text that image using Microsoft PowerPoint. To be clear, it is a bad cover and no one but my close friends and family read that book. At the same time, I was new at this and trying to figure everything out.

For my last five novels, I’ve used a professional cover designer. Again, if you have the money, I’d recommend you go this route.

7. Format the Book

This is easier than you think. Every publishing platform has its own tutorial on how to upload a book. On most of them, you can upload your Microsoft Word file directly.

Formatting a book becomes complicated if your book contains images. As long as you stick to text, this process will be easier than you expect it to be.

The key to formatting the book is reading (not skimming) the instructions on the site. You’ve spent a lot of time and energy creating this thing. Don’t short sell it now because you can’t be bothered to read the instruction manual. Watch and read all the tutorials the site has to offer before you start uploading your documents to it.

You can also use software like Vellum or Atticus .

8. Upload and Publish Your Book

Once you’ve got it looking like you want, it’s time to upload the files and hit that publish button. Here's where you'll add your book description , blurbs, and list price.

Then it's time to send your book out into the world.

9. Tell Everyone

Publishing your book to a site makes it available, but unless you tell people where it is, they aren’t going to organically find it. After you’ve published it, you have to let people know it exists.

Successful indie authors are part of communities where they are both writers and readers. Book sales come second to active community support. Start that network today, and begin celebrating other writers in your genre.

If you're in groups that already enjoy your genre, then you already know who your ideal reader is and where they go to find books whether it's on social media or library groups or email lists . 

Need help building your social media presence? Check out more help here with social media tips for writers . 

10. Celebrate!

Sometimes the hardest thing about writing and publishing a book is that once it is done, you want a parade. Instead, you get a “cool” from your friends and family.

I recommend planning your own celebration.

After I publish a book, I cook a really nice dinner for my family. We eat something together we don’t usually eat. It’s my way of having a mini party to celebrate what I’ve done. 

It's Your Turn to Publish

We live in an amazing time. You don’t need anyone’s permission. You don’t need anyone’s approval. You can write and publish a book for free. All you have to do is put in the work. I hope this step-by-step process has helped you understand the basics of the publishing process and given you the boost you need to try it for yourself.

Have you ever published your writing? What was that experience like? Let us know in the comments .

For today's practice, you have two choices.

1. Celebrate someone you know who has published a book. (Maybe you!) Share the link to their book in the comments.

2. Get started writing your book right now . If you're at step one above, free write about your book idea to help you figure out what your book is about. Or, if you're ready for step two, write a scene from your book.

Take fifteen minutes to write. Then, share your writing practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here , so we can celebrate with you. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

Jeff Elkins

Jeff Elkins is a writer who lives Baltimore with his wife and five kids. If you enjoy his writing, he'd be honored if you would subscribe to his free monthly newsletter . All subscribers receive a free copy of Jeff's urban fantasy novella "The Window Washing Boy."

Hi Jeff, pls can I send you a mail.

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The 28 Best Writing Websites of 2020

#scribendiinc

Written by  Scribendi

Updated in Feburary 2020 to reflect the best writing websites currently online.

Every writer needs a toolbox.

A writer's toolbox is filled with gadgets and gizmos that help a writer craft a story when he or she cannot do it alone. There are literal writers' toolboxes filled with assorted caffeinated beverages, napkins with plot outlines scribbled on them, and USB devices with novels backed up on them, and then there are metaphorical writers' toolboxes packed with character tics, favorite quotes, and—you guessed it—writing websites!

Writing websites are excellent resources to stash away in your toolbox (or browser bookmarks) to whip out in times of absolute distress (e.g., an existential crisis), piled-up excuses (i.e., writer's block), or uncertainty about the stages of writing (e.g.,  the publishing process ).

Scribendi's got a writer's toolbox fully stocked for you right here! Even better, these writing websites are categorized so you can find just what you're looking for at just the right moment. With everything from creative writing advice to publishing guidelines (and everything in between!), this list of the best websites for writers will be perfect for you to stow away in your bookmarks for when you need a helping hand.

Creative Writing Advice

These writing blogs give concrete advice for implementing literary techniques in your writing to help your work reach its full potential.

1. NaNoWriMo

The National Novel Writing Month blog provides inspirational posts year round for when you're stuck with writer's block, and offers guidelines on everything from the publishing process to finding feedback.

2. Write It Sideways

The articles for writers that can be found on Write It Sideways outline real-life advice (like writing grants, author branding, and gift buying) as well as writing tips and tricks, like spotting dialogue mistakes and learning how to build tension in your writing.

3. Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland, the writer behind Helping Writers Become Authors, is an award-winning author who shares creative writing advice on story structure, character arcs, common writing mistakes, and much more!

4. Warrior Writers

Warrior Writers is run by the best-selling author Kristen Lamb, who guides writers using comprehensive and detailed posts that have a humorous and easy-to-read tone.

5. The Write Practice

Looking for articles and advice on creative writing? Consider checking out The Write Practice, which offers writing free (as well as paid) courses, and even holds writing contests for aspiring authors. 

Writer's Lifestyle

The following resources are great for writers who have some extra time, or need to take a quick, productive break.

6. Write to Done

Write to Done clearly outlines useful topics for writers, like treating imposter syndrome, recovering from destructive criticism, and finding a pen name.

7. Brain Pickings

Maria Popova's writings on culture, books, and other eclectic subjects are always extremely interesting reading material for any writer with some spare time.

8. Daily Writing Tips

With a blend of fun and fun damental writing topics, this writing website provides the tips you need to succeed.

9. Well-Storied.

Run by Kristen Kieffer, this writing website offers more than just blog articles; it links authors with writing communities on social media, provides tutorials on Scrivener (a word-processing software designed for authors), and offers free courses on a variety of subjects.

10. Writers in the Storm

This blog, written by a group of authors who specialize in different genres, is meant to inspire writers and help them to hone their craft. If you are struggling with the storms that rage internally (e.g., self-doubt) and externally (e.g., the publishing industry), this site will be a haven for you.

Marketing/Blogging

These blogs help writers market their books and create blogging personas to engage an audience more effectively.

11. The Write Life

This writing website offers solid ideas for blogging, including working from home, pitching ideas, guest posting, and much more.

12. Goins, Writer

National best-selling author Jeff Goins shares real-life experiences and reflections on building an audience, shortcuts to success, and engaging a community in the age of Internet fame.

13. The Book Designer

As stated in its tagline, The Book Designer gives "practical advice to help build better books," which includes writing creative disclaimers, choosing the right platforms, and using social media efficiently.

14. Angela Booth

Angela Booth, a copywriter, ghostwriter, author, marketer, and writing coach, writes ample posts to help authors improve book sales and ensure that a book will be a financial success.

15. Create If Writing

Need marketing advice on promoting your writing without coming off as too pushy? Create If Writing "is all about authentic platform building" for writers seeking to sell their work. Kirsten Oliphant, the site creator, offers relatable advice in her blog articles and podcasts.

Find some of the best writing blogs below for help with the publishing process, from behind-the-scenes intel to publishing tips and tricks.

16. Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman has more than 20 years of experience in the book publishing industry. She provides informative articles on both the writing process and the publishing process.

17. The Creative Penn

Run by  New York Times  and  USA Today  best-selling author Joanna Penn, this site offers articles and other resources related to book writing, publishing, and marketing.

18. Writers Helping Writers ®

This one-stop shop for writing resources includes links to informative sites on publishing, marketing, and professional services for writers. You can also find information on protecting your writing from scammers and online plagiarists.

19. Publetariat

Publetariat gives practical information on networking, author websites, and the publishing process. It also shares links to big news stories in the world of publishing.

20. The Independent Publishing Magazine

The Independent Publishing Magazine hosts articles about many different parts of the publishing process, such as growing a following, avoiding authorship problems, and finding the right editor.

21. The Complete Self-Publishing Guide for Authors

Thinking about the self-publishing route? If so, this writing resource is invaluable! Kirkus's free Self-Publishing Guide for Authors, available as a PDF or in print, covers everything you need to know about a book's design, format, distribution, and more.

Writing Inspiration/Prompts

These sites are excellent for writers who are stuck in a rut and need some inspiration or concrete prompts to get them writing again.

22. Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are posted here daily, offering inspiration for writers in all genres. Some of the prompts focus on breaking through writer's block, while others focus on building characters or refining your dialogue-writing skills. If you're feeling as though you're in a writing rut, the site also posts inspirational quotes from famous authors.

23. Positive Writer

Positive Writer was created for writers with doubt—like the website's author, Bryan Hutchinson—to provide inspirational posts that help writers keep on writing.

24. Blots and Plots

The Blots and Plots blog instructs writers to stay in the habit of writing, targeting specific problems and demonstrating how it's possible to write a novel even with a full-time job.

25. Writer's Digest

This well-known and comprehensive site offers all manner of advice and resources for authors. Of particular interest are the site's many creative writing prompts. New prompts are published weekly, and writers post their results in the comments section.

26. Poets & Writers

Poets & Writers is a non-profit organization that fosters creative writers. On this site, you can learn about professional development, connect with other authors in your area, and find weekly writing prompts on poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction.

With Reedsy's list of over 250 writing prompts to get you started on your next creative project, this is one of the best websites for writers to find inspiration. It also offers a search filter to help you find prompts from your writing genre (e.g., romance, fantasy, mystery). If you'd like to contribute to the site and help other aspiring authors, there is an option to submit your own writing prompts, too.

28. Live Write Thrive

Run by C. S. Lakin, an accomplished novelist, copyeditor, and writing coach, Live Write Thrive provides a wealth of information from proficient guest bloggers with the intent to instruct, motivate, and encourage aspiring and veteran writers alike.

We hope these tools are just what you need to continue crafting masterful writing. With a list of writing websites designed to help writers with everything from brainstorming to proofreading to publishing, you'll be unstoppable!

Don't forget about Scribendi’s very own  blog , which provides writers with all the guidance and tools they need to perfect their writing. Our articles cover every stage of the writing process, from planning and drafting any type of academic document to revising and finalizing it. Whether you’re looking for grammar tips, writing resources, or advice on any facet of the written word, Scribendi’s blog is the place for writers to perfect their craft.

Happy reading!

Image source: Lauren Mancke/Unsplash.com

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You're ready to learn how to write a book…

And as a first-time author, you're nervous about this new journey because you want first-time success (who doesn't?).

But today's publishing industry has become noisy . There is endless information out there on how to write a book, and with the rise of self-publishing , it can be overwhelming, to say the least.

If you’re ready to take the leap, become an author , and learn how to write a book the right way, start with this resource to get your wheels in motion.

As a first-time bestselling author, I can tell you that writing my first book was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life.

I experienced a lot of growth and pushed through many hurdles, and being able to learn how to publish is something I am truly proud of.

And I'm ready to share the steps of how to write a book with you, so that you can go on to write a book of your own, and find success as a first-time author.

Ready to learn how to write a book? Let's get to it!

Need A Nonfiction Book Outline?

Here's how to write a book in 12 steps:

• Develop a writer’s mindset a. Hold yourself accountable to writing your book b. Give yourself permission to be a writer c. Announce your intention to write a book
• Create a book writing space
• Choose your book writing software a. Google Drive b. Grammarly c. Evernote d. A notebook & pen
• Determine your book's topic a. Identify your target reader b. Write about something that intrigues you c. Research potential topics d. Choose a topic you can write about quickly
• Create a book outline a. Create a mindmap b. Write a purpose statement c. Create a working title d. Write an elevator pitch for your book e. Draft a working outline for your book f. Fill in the gaps with more research g. Frameworks on how to write your book
• Finish writing your manuscript a. Break your book writing into small chunks b. Build the momentum to finish writing your book c. Collaborate with others
• Include front & back matter a. Preface or introduction b. Foreward c. Testimonials d. Author Bio e. Glossary f. Notes g. Images
• Edit your book a. Self-edit your book b. Hire a professional book editor c. Re-write sections of your book's draft using your editor's feedback d. Finalize your book title
• Choose a compelling book cover
• Format your book
• Prepare to launch your book a. Build your book's launch team b. Develop a marketing mindset c. Create a book launch strategy
• Publish your book
• How To Write A Book: FAQs

In this article, we'll start with the basics. While the steps in this phase may seem to be unrelated to actually learning how to write a book , they are very important.

In fact, setting yourself up for success will help you build the foundation needed to start writing a book .

We'll talk about developing a writer's mindset to get you in a frame of mind that's conducive to writing. Then, we'll discuss how to create a writing space that will boost your writing productivity, and how to choose the best book-writing software for your needs.

Here are some tips for success as you write a book:

• Develop a writer's mindset . This is all about embracing a mentality that will inspire you to start (and finish) writing your book.
• Create a writing space . This is all about how to set up the ideal writing environment that fits your routine.
• Use a tool to write your book . This is all about deciding on what you will use to write your book.
• Get support . A strong support network, a community of peers, and a book-writing coach could be the difference between a published book and an unfinished manuscript.
• Use templates where you can. We provide you with a proven book outline template in this post. But there are templates for cover layouts, formatting, and more. Don't recreate the wheel! Use these and build upon them to make them your own.

1. Develop a Writer’s Mindset

Learning how to write a book takes time, work, and dedication. It’s easy to romanticize becoming a bestseller like J.K. Rowling or Octavia Butler. However, every author has a story on how they started out and overcame adversity to get where they are today.

For example, Rowling, who had no job and was on welfare at the time, would take her children to a coffee shop and write.

Butler, who was a dishwasher and potato chip inspector at the time, would wake up at two or three in the morning to write and wrote herself mantras to keep her focused on her goals.

The first steps in learning how to write a book are overcoming mindset blocks, dealing with self-doubt as a writer , and developing a healthy frame of mind that will help you with your writing goals .

Let’s review three things you can do to circumvent roadblocks and crush challenges to keep you focused on your goal.

Hold yourself accountable to writing your book

It’s not good enough to write only when inspiration strikes. There will be days when writing is the last thing you want to be doing.

But you have to treat your writing as if it were a job, or a duty. This means holding yourself accountable, taking action, and showing up every day.

Here's how to hold yourself accountable to writing:

• Set a writing goal. If you don't have a goal, procrastination will get the best of you. Determine a writing goal, including how many days a week you intend to set aside time to write, and set a deadline or due date for when you'd like to have parts of your book.
• Block off chunks of time to write every week.  If you’re looking for a place to start, consider one to two hours per day five days per week. The more often you write, the more you’ll develop a habit for it, and making time for writing won't be that much of a struggle.
• Set a daily word count goal.  Consider how many words you want to write each week. Use this Word Count Calculator to determine the goal you should aim for, depending on the type of book you are writing. For example, if your goal is 3,000 words per week and you have five chunks of time blocked off to write per week, then you’d need to write 600 words per day to achieve your weekly goal.

I write early in the morning before I do anything else for 1-2 hours. I find that as I go throughout the day and work on other projects my mind isn’t as fresh or sharp by the end of the day. However, sometimes I have ideas throughout the day that I jot down in Evernote to jump-start the next morning with a working outline.

Give yourself permission to be a writer

This might sound silly, but it's true: in order to learn how to write a book, you need to give yourself permission to be a writer. Many aspiring authors get stuck in their mindset, which prevents them from initiating and completing their writing projects.

Even successful authors feel like they aren't good enough. Acknowledge your feelings, but then shake them off, and move on with your day.

Hear this : You don't have to be an expert to learn how to write a book. You don't have to feel 100% confident to be a good writer. You don't even have to be all-knowing to teach others about your experiences or knowledge.

Here's how to give yourself permission to be a writer:

• Get inspiration from other writers . When you're just starting to learn how to write a book, you might feel alone in your journey. But take comfort in the fact that other successful writers all started at the bottom, just like you. Many of them overcame seemingly impossible hurdles, but persisted with their writing dreams, anyway. Research some of your favorite authors, and read up on their stories to discover the issues they overcame to find success.
• Accept where you are . Acknowledge your feelings of self-doubt, and then release them. It's okay to experience moments of feeling discouraged, but it's important that you don't let those feelings hold you back. Accept that you are beginning your journey and that this is a learning process.
• Use positive affirmations . Your thoughts have a huge influence on your abilities. What you think starts to become your reality, so make your thoughts good. Use positive affirmations about yourself and your writing abilities to pump yourself up. You can even read inspirational writing quotes from famous authors for motivation.
• Overcome imposter syndrome . Even expert authors and writers feel like imposters every now and again. While it's okay to experience feeling inferior, you have to eventually get over those thoughts and push on towards your goals. Connect with other aspiring writers, get yourself a mentor, and join writers conferences or writing communities.

Announce your intention to write a book

The best way to hold yourself accountable for your work is to let others know your goals. Is there someone you trust or a group of people in your network you can appoint to check in on your progress?

Perhaps there is someone who is a seasoned writer who can serve as a mentor. If so, try to have regular check-ins with this person.

One way to keep these meetings consistent is to schedule a lunch or coffee date. Talk about your progress and perhaps any challenges you’re facing. They may be able to bring a fresh perspective.

I told my wife, Ariele, and several of my closest teammates from work about my intentions to write my first book. We had regular check-ins to talk about progress. Everyone helped keep me motivated and had different feedback for me. Without them, it would have been a lot more difficult to write Inbound Content in the timeframe I did.

2. Create a Book Writing Space

The second step in how to write a book has to do with your environment. Where you choose to write will have a major impact on your writing productivity.

Find creative spaces where you can produce your best writing.

Sure, some might argue that they can write anywhere as long as they have the tools to write. But where we choose to write plays a huge role in our writing motivation and focus.

Questions to think about: Where do you work best? What surroundings inspire you most? Identify them and make it a best practice to work there consistently.

Here are creative writing spaces to write your book:

• Coffee shops (classic)
• Beautiful park or somewhere in nature
• A dedicated writing nook at home

My main writing location is the dinette in my Airstream. I do my best work when traveling; I wrote the manuscript for my book in six weeks as I traveled the U.S. and worked full time from the road.

3. Choose your Book-Writing Software

The next step in how to write a book has to do with writing tools.

In 1882, Mark Twain sent to a publisher the first manuscript to be written on a piece of technology that would transform the writing industry: the typewriter.

Nowadays, we have computers with word processing and the internet where you can find an endless assortment of useful book-writing software and apps that are meant to help you be an efficient and effective writer. If you're writing a novel, check out this guide to novel-writing software .

You may be tempted to overload on apps because you think it’ll help elevate your writing. But honestly, less is more . The truth is that the right tools and even self-publishing companies make writing and publishing easier and more enjoyable.

Instead of overwhelming you with all the possible apps in existence, below is a list of three tools I recommend adding to your writing toolkit today (and they’re free).

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the most versatile cloud storage services available today. But Google Drive is so much more than cloud storage. Here’s a list of ways you can use Google Drive to help you write your book:

• You can organize all aspects of your project in folders (research, outline, manuscript drafts, etc.)
• You can host files for your projects like images, photos, etc.
• You can use Google Docs as a word processor. And we have a book writing template , specifically for Google Docs.
• You can enable offline access and work on your files even when you don’t have an internet connection, such as when you’re traveling.
• You can collaborate easily with others, avoiding version control issues.
• You can access it from just about any device (laptop, smartphone, tablet, you name it).

Plus, Google will give you 15GB of free storage just for signing up.

If you’re new to Google Drive, here’s a list of resources that can turn you into a pro. (FYI, if you have a Gmail account, you have a Google Drive account.)

Grammarly is an editing tool that helps you identify grammatical errors, typos, and incorrect sentence structure in your writing.

Download the web extension and Grammarly will edit most anything you type in a web browser (yes, it will work with Google Docs).

You can check out this Grammarly review if you're on the fence about this one.

Inspiration can strike at any time. Capture those thoughts and ideas as they happen in Evernote . You can even sync Google Drive and Evernote. I recommend doing this, especially on your mobile device.

A Notebook & Pen

Don't underestimate the power of good ole' fashioned pen and paper when it comes to learning how to write a book, which is arguably the only essential writing tool out there.

Even if you write your entire manuscript on a trusty writing software program, you'll still want to have a dedicated notebook available for the times when inspiration strikes and you can't access a computer.

Every writer should have a notebook handy for random ideas and thoughts. You can jot these down in your notebook, then revisit them and digitally store them in your book-writing software when you're back at the computer.

4. Determine Your Book Topic

Now we'll move on to how to actually start writing a book. This is the part that seems simple, but can be more difficult than you realize.

However, once you get through the process of actually writing your book, you will gain momentum to finish it, and eventually publish it.

Learning how to write a book starts with an idea. Shat's your book idea ?

Maybe you already know exactly what you want to write about. Or maybe you have a million ideas floating on in your head, but you don't know exactly where to start.

One of the most common pieces of advice for aspiring first-time authors is: “Write what you know.” A simple phrase that’s meant to be helpful, yet it begs so many questions.

If you're struggling with a book idea, try jumpstarting your creativity by experimenting with these writing prompts .

Whether you’re writing a non-fiction how-to guide or a fictional post-apocalyptic thriller, you need to form a connection with your audience — and you can do that through emotion. The best way to create emotion with your reader is to understand them.

Here's how to determine what you want to write about and how to write it in a meaningful way.  

Identify your target reader

The key to producing meaningful content is understanding your reader. You can do this by creating a reader persona — a semi-fictional representation of your ideal audience.

To get started with your reader persona, consider answering the following questions:

• What’s the reader’s age? Are you writing a self-help book geared towards mature adults, or are you writing a guide for teenagers? The age of your reader will set the tone for your writing and book's context.
• What’s the reader’s education level? Are you writing a book for PhD candidates, or for recent high school graduates? Depending on the answer, your writing style, verbiage, and word choice will vary.
• Does the reader prefer visuals? Think about your book's potential topic and if visuals like charts, graphs, tables, illustrations , screenshots, or photographs will be expected.
• What is this reader interested in? When you write a book, it's less about what you want to say, and more about what your reader needs to know. As you start to brainstorm a topic and write your book, always have a reader-centric approach.

The more you know about your reader, the better experience you can create for them.

When you start learning how to write a book, you have to make your book about the reader. What do they need to know in order to learn what you have to say?

My main audience is marketers and business owners at small-to-medium-sized businesses. They’re strapped for time and don’t need another theoretical resource. They value real-world examples to help visualize what tips and strategies look like in action.

Write about something that intrigues you

You need to write about something that spikes your curiosity, something that keeps you coming back day after day. Something that lights you up and that you're invested in.

I can’t stress the importance of this enough. If you choose a topic to write about for the wrong reason, don’t expect to create something that people will love.

You need to be able to stick with it through dry spells and bouts of non-inspiration. Your own desire to hear the story will be what drives you through learning how to write a book.

Research potential topics

In our digital age, we can conveniently research topics from the comfort of our own homes.

Google makes it easy to research just about any topic.

Here’s a list of ways to research your book concept on Google:

• What content already exists? Are there already books written on this topic? If so, which ones performed well? Why did they perform well? Is there anything interesting about their content that enhances the reader’s experience? Is the market over-saturated on this topic?
• What influencers exist on the subject? Are there well-known authors on this topic? Who are they? What can you learn from them?
• What do you need to learn? Are there specific things you need to learn to create a rich, meaningful narrative (ex. geography, culture, time period, etc.)?

I performed extensive research before writing the manuscript for Inbound Content. It was important for me to understand what content was already out there, which content was performing well, and most importantly, how could I make my book unique. This is exactly why I included homework after each chapter to help my readers build an action plan that they could implement immediately, something I noticed wasn’t typical in other marketing books.

Choose a topic you can write about quickly

Writing your first book is invaluable because it's a serious learning experience. The process of actually writing a book and completing it will make this book a personal success for you, because of how much you will learn about yourself and your craft in the process.

Don't get hung up on a topic. If you're struggling with deciding what to write about first, go with the topic that you know best. Choose a topic or experience that you can write about quickly, with limited resources.

Here's how to find a topic you can write about quickly:

• Write what you can teach right now. If you had to teach a lesson on something right at this second, what could you confidently teach? This is a topic you know well, that requires limited additional research, and what you can quickly create content for.
• Write about a powerful experience. Each individual is unique in their experiences. Everyone has gone through something that changed them. Reflect on your life and think about one experience that sticks out about your life.
• Write about a life lesson. What has life taught you? What unique observations have you made about the world? You can use this information to learn how to write a memoir .

5. Write A Book Outline

Once you know what you want to write about, you’re probably eager to start writing. But you need a writing guide first.

Let’s review what you can do to create a clear book outline for your book that you can use as a roadmap.

Create a mindmap

You have an idea, now it's time to hone in on just exactly what that idea is. With a mindmap , you can drill your topic down into sub-topics. It will help you get all of your ideas out and onto paper.

Here are the steps to mindmap your book's topic:

• Get a blank piece of paper and pen.
• Set a timer for 10 minutes.
• Write your topic in the middle of the page.
• Jot down all of your ideas related to your book's topic.
• Do not stop writing until the timer goes off.

Once you have mindmapped your idea, you should have a full page of brainstormed thoughts, ideas, and concepts. You can then review what you've written, and begin to organize them. This will come in handy when it comes time to actually start plugging in content for your book outline.

Write a purpose statement

In one sentence describe the purpose of your book. A strong purpose statement will explain to readers why they should consider reading your book. For me, I was writing a book to grow my business .

This will also help you stay focused as you begin drafting your outline and writing your book. When you have trouble solidifying what your book is about , review your purpose statement.

Inbound Content‘s purpose statement: People who read this book will learn a step-by-step process on how to do content marketing the inbound way.

Create a working title

A working title is a temporary title used during the production of your book. Identifying your book by giving it a name can help set the direction.

Once you finish your work you can revisit the title and update accordingly. Don't get too hung up on this step; think of the title as a placeholder. It isn't permanent, but it will be helpful to begin with one in mind.

If you need help thinking of a working title, use our Book Title Generator .

Write an elevator pitch for your book

An effective elevator pitch should last no longer than a short elevator ride of 30 seconds. For context, 30 seconds equals about 65-70 words.

Having a prepared elevator pitch will come in handy throughout your book-writing process. It will help you nail your book's purpose and topic, and it will help the concept become crystal clear not only for yourself as the writer, but for your potential readers, too.

As you ask family and friends to hold you accountable to writing, and as you connect with fellow writers, authors, and mentors, you will be asked about your book. Having a prepared elevator pitch will help you nail the answer without hesitation, each and every time.

Draft a working outline for your book

The next step in learning how to write a book is drafting a working book outline. Just like the working title you created, this outline is a work in progress. The outline can change throughout your writing process, and that's okay!

However, it's super helpful to start with an outline so that you know where to begin, and have a general roadmap for where to go as you start writing.

Use the related concepts and sub-topics you organized in your mindmap, and start plugging in some content into your outline.

Your outline will do wonders for you once you start writing. It can help you avoid writer's block , and increase your writing momentum and productivity. Instead of wondering what to write about in the next chapter of your book, you'll already have an idea of where to start with your book's outline.

Fill in the gaps with more research

After your working outline is completed, it's important to do further research on your topic so that you can fill in any areas that you missed or forgot to include in your original outline.

Do not get too caught up in your research that it prevents you from writing your book. Take some time to research, but set a limit. Always go back to writing.

Here's how to research when writing a book:

• Use online resources by doing a Google search on your topic.
• Read other books that have been written about your topic.
• Listen to expert interviews, podcasts, and audiobooks related to your topic.
• Read scholarly articles and academic journals within the subject or industry.
• Search archives, collections, historical journals, data records, and newspaper clippings to get clear on events, dates, and facts about your topic, especially if you're writing about the past.

Frameworks on how to write your book

If your book can follow a framework, this will make it easier to keep your writing organized and relevant.

By choosing a format or structure for your book's topic, you'll be able to align your outline in a way that will be helpful when you start to write each chapter.

Most nonfiction books can fall into a specific framework, or a blend of frameworks. It's better to start with a specific framework, then tweak it as needed as you continue writing.

Here are common nonfiction book frameworks to consider when writing a book:

• Modular: Use this framework if you have a lot of information or concepts that can be grouped into similar topics, but don't need to be presented in a specific order.
• Reference: Use this framework if your book will be used as a reference that makes it easy for readers to quickly find the information they need.
• Three Act Structure: Use this framework if you plan to use storytelling in your book, where you have three main parts like a Set Up, Rising Action, and Resolution.
• Sequential: Use this framework if your book reads like a “how to” with a specific set of steps.
• Compare & Contrast: Use this framework if you need to show your reader how two or more ideas or concepts are similar to or different from one another.
• Problem & Solution: Use this framework if readers need to be able to clearly identify a problem and understand the solution.
• Chronological: Use this framework if each main section of your book represents a specific time or order of events.
• Combination: If your book will fall under two or more of the above frameworks, then you will need to use a combination framework that's adjusted to your book's specific topic.

6. Finish Writing Your Book Draft

For many, the hard part isn't getting started with how to write a book… it's in actually finishing it!

Commit to finishing your rough draft , and you're already succeeding!

Here are our top tips to keep the momentum going as you start taking action after learning exactly how to write a book.

Break your book writing into small chunks

Now that you have your book's outline and framework, it's time to get started with writing.

Like a marathon, your manuscript is essentially a puzzle made up of many smaller like-themed pieces. Your finished book may be 262 pages long, but it’s written one word or thought at a time. Pace yourself and stick to your consistent writing schedule.

If you approach your book writing by focusing too much on the larger picture, you can get overwhelmed. Write chapter-by-chapter.

Start with baby steps by chunking your writing into small pieces. Set milestones, and celebrate the small wins.

Here are some tips for breaking your writing into small pieces:

• Write one chapter at a time . Focus on one piece at a time, not the entire puzzle!
• Set deadlines to complete each chunk of writing . Break your goal down into smaller sections, then set individual deadlines for each section.
• Structure your writing time. Follow a routine for writing that includes time for research (if needed) and review. For example, if you dedicate two hours each day towards your book, set 30 minutes aside to review your outline so you know what you're writing about, then 30 minutes to research anything that you need to clarify, then one hour to actually write.
• Celebrate small goals. As you accomplish milestones towards your end goal, schedule and celebrate your small accomplishments. It can be something as simple as going out to dinner, buying yourself a small gift, or doing a little dance.

Build the momentum to finish writing your book

Learning how to write a book can be difficult.

When you're in the weeds with writing your book, there will be days you want to give it all up.

There will also be times when you have writer's block, and even though you know what you should be writing about, it all sounds wrong as you re-read what you've written in your head.

Here's how to fight writer's block and increase your writing momentum:

• Don't edit as you write. Writing and editing require your brain to work in two very different ways, so don't do it! It'll slow you down, and keep you at a standstill. Keep writing, and save the editing for later.
• Switch up your scenery. If you usually write at home in your own writing space, maybe it's time to freshen up your writing environment. Try writing in a public park, or at a coffee shop or library on the days when writing is the last thing you feel like doing.
• Take a break. It's okay if you're too mentally worn-out to write. Take a small break, and then get back to it. When we say small break, we mean take a day or two off from writing (not a month or two!).
• Get creative inspiration elsewhere. Binge-watch an exciting new show, read a novel, take a walk in nature, go to an art gallery, or be around people you love. While you aren't writing when you do these things, it can help your brain reset and recharge so you can return to your book.
• Write about something else. Sometimes, when we're so engulfed in our book's topic, it can be self-limited. If you're feeling less excited about writing when it comes to your book, maybe it's time to flex your writing muscles in a different way. Try doing some creative writing exercises, journal, or write a poem.
• Supercharge your writing with AI . AI tools, such as ChatGPT , are here to empower your writing journey. They can help you generate ideas, overcome writer's block, and streamline your writing process. By integrating AI into your writing workflow, you can access instant feedback and suggestions, helping you build momentum and stay focused on completing your book.

Related: I Wrote A Book! Now What?

Collaborate with others

There's strength in numbers when it comes to accomplishing a huge task.

And, more importantly, it can help you feel less isolated in what can be a very solitary act. Writing a book can be lonely!

Let’s review three things you can do to collaborate with others when writing your book.  

Connect with your original accountability partner or group

A great example of finding accountability partners is through a group or self-publishing company much like what Self-Publishing School does with their Mastermind Community on Facebook.

Attend a writer's conference

Sharing space and networking with other writers can do wonders for your own writing habits and momentum. By attending writer's conferences, you'll be in a room full of people just like you.

Not only will you be able to network with and learn from expert authors who have been where you are, but you'll also be able to meet fellow aspiring writers going through the same process as you.

Collaborate with thought leaders on your subject

Ideal for nonfiction writers, this collaboration could mean asking well-known people in your industry to write a quote that brings value to your content.

Pro tip: When promoting your book launch on social media, consider creating a buzzworthy piece of content like an engaging blog article and have your audience share it.

7. Include Front & Back Matter

Now it's time to put on your marketing pants and spread the word about your book!

There are elements outside of your book’s content that you’ll need to write, such as a preface, foreword, notes, etc. I suggest waiting until after you’ve written your book. This way, not only can you better connect them to your story, but you won’t waste time editing them in case you make changes to your manuscript.

Let’s review eight final touches you may or may not need to wrap up your book.

Preface or Introduction

Draw in your readers with a compelling story. This could be a personal anecdote related to your topic. Tell them what the book is about and why it is relevant to them (think of your reader persona from earlier).

A foreword is typically written by another author or thought leader of your particular industry. Getting someone credible to write this can add a lot of value to your readers.

Testimonials

Just like with the foreword, try and find respected, well-known people in your space and have them write a review about your book. The best way to promote yourself is to have someone else speak on your behalf.  

How do you want to be portrayed to your audience? Readers love knowing personal details of an author’s life, such as your hobbies, where you live, or what inspired you to write this book.

Pro tip: The author bio on the flap of your book might be one of the first things people read when deciding whether or not to read our book. Keep it short, but make sure it packs a punch (just like your elevator pitch).

A glossary is an alphabetical list of terms or words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect with corresponding explanations. If you are writing nonfiction, especially a topic that uses a lot of lingo or uncommon words, make sure to include a glossary to create a better experience for your readers.

If you are writing nonfiction, keep track of your sources as you research and write. A clear bibliography will only add to your value and credibility.

Being nonfiction that was based on a lot of research and experiments, I made sure to include a notes section in Inbound Content. It included citations, stats, image sources, etc.

Using images is a nice addition to your content. Images can create a more engaging experience for the reader while improving the communication of hard-to-grasp concepts.

8. Edit Your Book

The next step in learning how to write a book is editing. This involves self-editing first, then having a thorough professional edit done.

The success of your book will depend on its quality, and a thoroughly edited book is a solid way to increase your book's quality.

Even the best writers require editing, so don't feel discouraged by this process. In the end, you'll be glad you followed the editing process, and will have a completed, error-free book that you can be proud of.

Self-edit your book

Remember when we told you not to edit your book as you wrote? Well, now's your time to shine in the editing department.

Once your book is written, it's time to go through and read it line-by-line.

We recommend printing your entire manuscript out on paper, then going through each page and making edits. This will make it easy to spot errors, and will help you easily implement these changes into your manuscript.

There's a specific strategy to self-editing; if you start this process blindly, it can be overwhelming, so make sure you understand how it works before diving in.

Here are some tips to self-edit your book successfully:

• Read your manuscript aloud as you edit.
• Start with one chapter at a time.
• First, go through and edit the chapter for structure revisions.
• Second, find opportunities for improving the book's readability.
• Third, make edits for grammar and word choice.

Once you complete your self-edit, you can make your revisions on your manuscript, then get ready for the next round of edits.

Hire a professional book editor

The next step in learning how to write a book is handing your book off to a professional book editor .

As meticulous as you may be, there are bound to be some grammatical or spelling errors that get overlooked. Also, a professional editor should be able to give you feedback on the structure of your writing so you can feel confident in your final published draft.

There are many different types of editing , so think carefully to determine who you should hire.

Re-write sections of your book's draft using your editor's feedback

Now it's time to improve your book using your editor's feedback. Don't be discouraged when you get your manuscript back full of edits, comments, and identified errors.

Think of these edits as opportunities to improve your book. You want to give your reader a polished, well-written book, and to do this, you need to edit and re-write.

This doesn't mean you have to re-write your entire book. You simply have to go through your editor's feedback, and make any revisions you think are necessary.

If there is something you don't agree with your editor on, that's okay. In the end, it is your book, and you are in control of what you want to add or take out of the manuscript.

Just be sure your revisions are coming from a place of sound reasoning, and not pride.

Finalize your book title

If you haven't done so already, it's time to revisit the working title you created for your book earlier in the process.

You need to finalize your book's title before you move on to the next steps!

If you need help deciding on a title, cast a vote with your target readers and mentors in your author network. Send an email out, post a social media announcement , or reach out through text with people that are considered your book's ideal reader.

Get feedback on your title by asking people to vote for their favorite. Include the top three choices, then use the crowdsourced results to narrow it down even more.

Once you have a title selected, don't worry too much if you're not 100 percent sold on it yet. Even if the title turns out to not be effective, you can always change the title depending on the publishing platform you select.

9. Choose a Compelling Book Cover

Don’t judge a book by its cover? Please.  People are definitely judging your book by its cover. 

The book cover design is generally the first thing that will pique a reader’s interest.

You can find freelance graphic designers to create a compelling book cover for you on many online marketplace sites like Upwork, Reedsy , and Snappa . You can even check with a local graphic design artist for a more hands-on approach.

Tips for creating an effective book cover:

• Whitespace is your friend.  Make it a best practice to choose a design that pops, but doesn’t distract.
• Make it creative (non-fiction) or emotional (fiction).  Do your best to connect the art to the story or use it to enhance the title.
• Consider a subtitle.  Think if this as a one-sentence descriptor on what this book is about.
• Test two or three designs.  Send a few designs to your trusted accountability group to get their honest first impressions and feedback.

Keeping these best practices in mind, I chose a cover for Inbound Content that was simple but made the title pop and let the subtitle provide the promise to the reader.

10. Format Your Book

Now that you’ve written your manuscript, it’s time to format it so you can visualize the final product — your book!

Formatting your book is an important step in learning how to write a book, because it has to do with how your book will appear to the reader. A successfully formatted book will not cut off text, incorrect indentations, or typeset errors when printed or displayed on a digital device.

If you've already decided to go with self-publishing vs traditional publishing , this is all on you. But if you're not tech-savvy and don't have the time to learn how to format your own book, you can hire a professional to do this part for you.

If you know how to format a book correctly and to fit your book distributor's specifications, you can do so in Word or Google Docs. You can also use a program like Vellum Software or Atticus .

Otherwise, we recommend hiring someone to do this professionally, as it's one of the most important aspects to get right. Check out Formatted Books if that's the case for you.

11. Prepare to Launch Your Book

Before you hit “Publish” it's time to do the groundwork to start prepping for your book's launch, and your ongoing book launch and book marketing strategy.

There are a few steps involved in this process, which we'll outline below.

Build your book's launch team

This is an ongoing step that you can start doing when you are finished with your rough draft. As you send your book to the editor, designer, and formatter, you can organize a launch team in the meantime.

Your book's launch team is essentially a group of individuals who are considered your target readers. They will help you promote your book, and will be actively involved in the launch process of your book.

Develop a marketing mindset

It's time to start shifting your mindset from writing to book marketing . Think about your strengths and areas of growth when it comes to sales and marketing.

Acknowledge any fears or self-limiting thoughts you have, then push past them by remembering your book's purpose. Know that the power of sharing your knowledge and experience through your book is stronger than any fear that might hold you back.

It's important to understand in the marketing phase that your mindset has a huge role in the success of your book. You can write the best book in the world, but if you don't channel some energy towards marketing, no one will know it exists.

Here are six ways to market your book:

• Paid advertisements
• Free advertisement opportunities
• Local or in-person events
• Content marketing on Google and Amazon
• Be a guest on podcasts and websites
• Speaker opportunities

Create a book launch strategy

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to your launch strategy, so it's important to draft up a plan before you publish your book.

Your launch strategy is basically how you plan to create momentum with your book. Think of it like a business launch. There's always a big celebration to announce the launch of the business. It's the same for your book.

12. Publish Your Book

The self-publishing process steps will vary on whether you are publishing your book as an eBook only, or whether you plan to publish it as a print book .

It will also vary depending on which self-publishing companies you plan to work with. There are many self-publishing platforms to choose from, including KDP on Amazon and IngramSpark .

If you plan to work with a different book publisher , you'll want to follow their guidelines. You should also learn how to copyright a book to protect yourself against plagiarism.

Once you've hit publish on your platform, you can start implementing your launch strategies and marketing strategies, which we'll cover in the next section.

FAQs: How To Write A Book

If you read through this guide and have specific questions on how to write a book, here are some other questions we get often.

How long does it take to write a book?

How long it takes to write a book depends on a number of factors. on average, it takes self-published authors anywhere from 3-6 months, but that can be shorter or longer depending on your writing habits, work ethic, time available, and much more.

How much do authors make?

There is no set amount that an author can make. It depends on many factors, such as the book genre , topic, author's readership and following, and marketing success.

For a full report on this, please read our report on Author Salary

Writing a book is not a get-rich-quick strategy by any means. While learning how to write a book can help you grow your business through techniques like a book funnel , unless you sell hundreds of thousands of copies of books, you likely will not earn six figures from book sales alone.

How much money does an author make per book?

The money an author makes per book sold is calculated by the royalty rate. The royalty rate varies depending on the publishing medium, and company.

Use this Book Royalty Calculator to get a better idea of your potential earnings.

How much does it cost to write and publish a book?

With Amazon self-publishing and other self-publishing platforms, the cost to publish is actually free. However, it costs money to hire professionals that actually produce a high-quality book that you will be proud of.

For full details, read this guide on Self-Publishing Costs .

Can anyone write a book?

Yes, anyone can learn how to write a book. And thanks to the rise of technology and self-publishing, anyone can publish a book as well!

Traditional publishers used to serve as the gatekeepers to publishing, holding the power to determine which books would be published. This prevented many stories from being shared, and many talented authors from being recognized.

Thankfully, this antiquated system is no longer the only option. This also means that because anyone can technically publish a book, it is extremely important that you create a quality, professional book that's of the highest standard.

You Wrote A Book!

And that’s it! Those are the steps to take to learn how to write a book from start to finish.

You can and will write your first book if you put forth the effort. You’re going to crush this!

Trust the process, create a consistent writing schedule, and use this practical guide to help you through the journey of learning how to write a book.

Are you ready to write your book?

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20 Proven Ways To Get Paid To Read Books in 2024

F or many people, curling up with a good book is the best way to pass the time. However, it may not have occurred to you to turn your love of reading into a stream of income. Whether it’s reading books aloud, editing or just plain reading there are several ways you can earn a few extra bucks by simply doing what you love to do. 

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Quick Take: How Do I Get Paid to Read Books?

When you’re looking for companies that will pay you to read books, keep in mind there’s usually something more to the arrangement than just reading the book. Some companies will ask for short reviews. Some will want longer articles. Companies that create audiobooks will require you to submit a recording of your reading the book, which is a great way to make money on your phone.

20 Ways To Read Books for Money

In today’s digital age, where the demand for content is ever-growing, getting paid to be a book reader is not out of the realm of possibility–in fact, it can even become a side gig. Whether you’re a bibliophile looking to turn your passion into a source of passive income or someone seeking flexible work opportunities, there are numerous ways to monetize your love for reading in 2024.

Here are 20 different ways and websites where you can get paid to read books:

• Kirkus Review
• Findaway Voices
• The U.S. Review of Books
• Reedsy Discovery
• Online Book Club
• Audiobook Narration
• Start a Blog or Podcast About Books
• Translate Books
• Join an Online Reading Community
• Monetize Your Social Media Platforms 
• Offer Literary Consulting Courses
• Do Freelance Editing
• Start Beta Reading
• Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine
• Create Book Summaries

1. Kirkus Review

Kirkus Review is a highly reputable website that reviews books of all genres and formats. The site is seeking experienced reviewers of English and Spanish titles written by self-published authors for Kirkus Indie.

This gig does not appear to be for newbies, as the site requests a resume, writing samples and a list of reviewing specialties. With most freelance gigs, the more impressive your writing samples and the more prestigious places you have been published, the better your chances of being selected.

2. Booklist

Booklist is part of the American Library Association. Its reviewers help school and public library workers to choose books for purchase or recommendation to library patrons. Booklist calls its reviews “the haiku of book reviewing,” requesting 150-to-175-word reviews that include a plot synopsis, suggest the book’s ideal audience and recommend similar titles.

ACX offers professional narrators and audiobook producers the opportunity to earn money working with published authors who need a narrator for their book. You can also earn money by referring Audible users to your recorded books through the Bounty Referral Program.

You can enlist the help of other studio professionals to complete and finalize your audio recording. You’ll get paid once the audiobook is published or you’ll receive ongoing pay equal to 50% of the royalties on sales. Once you have at least 25 audiobooks under your belt, you can apply to be an Audible Approved Producer.

4. Findaway Voices

Findaway Voices works similarly to ACX, where authors choose narrators to create audiobooks for them. It offers a comprehensive guide with all the tools to help you succeed.

You can create a profile as a narrator. You’ll receive a custom URL to make it easy for authors to find you. Then, upload samples of your work, along with an audio intro, bio, cover image and an avatar.

Voices is a marketplace for voiceover artists to find jobs or list their availability for projects. The platform says that more than 5,000 jobs are posted each month. When you’re done with a project, your payment is deposited automatically into PayPal.

Projects listed under the “audiobooks” skill offer pay ranging from $250 up to $375. As a voiceover artist, you can choose your rates and delivery time when you list your services.

Simply create your profile and upload samples of your work — you can upload an unlimited number of samples for free. If you opt for the paid Premium membership, you’ll be matched with jobs that fit your profile.

6. The US Review of Books

With the tagline “Professional Reviews for the People,” The US Review of Books publishes a monthly newsletter of book reviews to help authors get the word out about their newest titles. Reviewers are expected to write between 250 and 300 words, offering a plot synopsis and insights. The site’s guidelines request “heart and succinct writing,” without using first-person language in the review. The review can compare similar books, offer opinions or discuss the author’s experience and previous titles.

Reviewers can request their preferences from a list of titles. Once assigned, The US Review of Books expects reviews to be submitted within two to three weeks.

7. Reedsy Discovery

Reedsy Discovery doesn’t pay a flat rate, or even an hourly rate, for reviews. Instead, it allows readers to share tips of $1, $3 or $5 to reviewers in appreciation of their work. You won’t get rich writing reviews for Reedsy, but it is a great way to hone your skills if you are looking to write reviews for larger, more well-known sites, like Kirkus Reviews.

The application process for Reedsy is easy. Just provide your email address and first and last name to create an account. You’ll also have an opportunity to upload an avatar. Then, answer a few questions about your reading habits and the genres you’d like to review. Include a brief bio. To improve your chances of being selected, share links to some of your best reviews. You can submit reviews on video or in written form.

8. BookBrowse

BookBrowse requires review applicants to have good quality sample reviews of at least 300 words before applying. Reviewers must also submit a “Beyond the Book” article in conjunction with each review. Most reviewers write one review per month, and titles include adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as young adult fiction.

The application process is easy and requires listing your favorite genres, sharing two high-quality reviews — plus a link to other reviews if you’d like — and a short bio.

Upwork is one of the largest online marketplaces for freelancers, and you can find plenty of book review opportunities amidst other freelance writing gigs. Qualifications and requirements will vary depending on the client and the specific project. In many cases, Upwork can provide a foot in the door to ongoing work as a book reviewer, making it one of the best sites that will, indirectly, pay you to read books.

Create a Freelancer account on the site, list your skills and experience and upload a portfolio. Then search for jobs and submit proposals for the ones you want. If a client wants to hire you, they’ll send you a contract.

10. Online Book Club

OnlineBookClub.org lets you choose the titles you’d most like to read from a list of books. You receive the books free and then write a review. Your won’t be paid in cash for your first review, but subsequent reviews pay between $5 and $60, according to the website.

Unlike many other online review websites, you do not need to submit an application or have previous book review samples published. That makes this website more open to beginning reviewers.

11. Audiobook Narration

Audiobook narration and production are growing fields with opportunities for voice actors, editors, and producers. If you love audiobooks and have a great voice this offers you the chance to combine your love of reading and performing. 

12. Start a Blog or Podcast About Books

Create your own platform, such as a blog or podcast, dedicated to discussing books. Once you build a loyal audience, you can monetize your platform through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing and even Patreon subscriptions. It may take a while to start earning real money this way, but once you find your audience it could lead to a financial windfall.

Freelance or blog writing gigs related to books and literature are abundant. You can pitch book reviews, listicles, essays, and other content ideas to online publications, magazines, and blogs that pay for quality book-related content.

13. Translate Books

If you’re proficient in multiple languages, you can explore opportunities in book translation. Translating books from one language to another can be a lucrative niche, especially for in-demand languages.

14. Join an Online Reading Community

Platforms such as Goodreads and BookTube, which is the YouTube page dedicated to books, offer opportunities for readers to share their thoughts on books they’ve read. If you grow your following and become an influencer in the literary world you can easily start monetizing your content.

Organize and host virtual book clubs for readers interested in discussing and analyzing books together. Charge a fee for membership or session participation, creating a community while earning income.

15. Monetize Your Social Media Platforms

Grow your social media presence by sharing book recommendations, reviews and literary insights. Once you have a sizable following, you can earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate links, and brand partnerships.

Some market research companies and academic institutions will pay you to read books and provide feedback through surveys or interviews. You can even partner with bookstores, publishers, and literary subscription services to promote their products or services. Collaborations can range from sponsored content to ambassador programs, providing both exposure and income.

16. Offer Literary Consulting Services

Provide consulting services to authors, publishers or literary agencies. This could involve manuscript evaluations, market research, or strategic planning for book launches.

If you have a passion for discovering new talent and negotiating deals, you could even offer literary agent services as a part of your fee. Representing authors and their works can be financially rewarding, especially if you have a good eye for marketable books.

17. Do Freelance Editing

If you have a keen eye for detail and a love for editing, consider offering editorial services to authors and publishers. This could include proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing, all of which can be done remotely.

18. Start Beta Reading

Authors often seek beta readers to provide feedback on their manuscripts before publication. While some may offer this service for free, others are willing to pay for detailed feedback and insights, which is a great way to not only make money but also get your hands on new books before anyone else.

19. Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine

Many literary magazines and journals pay for short stories, essays and poems. As a literary enthusiast, you can submit your creative work or work as an editor for these publications. Generally, when you submit you can get the whole issue for free as well. 

20. Become a Book Reviewer

Many websites, blogs, and publications pay individuals to write thoughtful and insightful book reviews. Platforms like NetGalley, Goodreads, and Publishers Weekly often offer opportunities for book reviewers to receive free copies of books in exchange for their reviews.

Final Take To GO

If you have a passion for reading and a way with words, you can combine your hobby with your skillset to get paid for reading books. Getting paid to read books is not just a dream but a viable reality thanks to the myriad opportunities available in the digital age. Whether you choose to write reviews, create content, offer services or explore entrepreneurial ventures, the key lies in leveraging your passion for literature into profitable endeavors. 

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 20 Proven Ways To Get Paid To Read Books in 2024

IELTS test format explained

Test takers who understand the format of IELTS are at an advantage. Make sure you’re familiar with how IELTS testing works.

There are two IELTS tests available, IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training . Both tests are graded in exactly the same way. 

You’ll take the first three parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing (there are no breaks between these tests). Your Speaking test will be held either on the same day or seven days before or after that, depending on local arrangements.

The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess a wide range of listening skills, including how well you:

• understand main ideas and specific factual information
• recognise the opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker
• follow the development of an argument.

Take a free listening practice test.

You will need to read quickly and efficiently, and manage your time. You will be asked to read three different passages and respond to related questions in your IELTS Reading test. The content of the Reading test is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.

The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including how well you:

• read for the general sense of a passage
• read for the main ideas
• read for detail
• understand inferences and implied meaning
• recognise a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose

Academic Reading

 general training reading.

Take a free reading practice test.

The IELTS Writing test is designed to assess a wide range of writing skills, including how well you:

• write a response appropriately
• organise ideas
• use a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately.

Academic Writing

General training writing.

Take a free writing practice test.

You will talk to a certified examiner in the IELTS Speaking test. The test is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. A variety of accents may be used, and the test will be recorded.

The content of the IELTS Speaking test is the same for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.

The IELTS Speaking test is designed to assess a wide range of skills.

The examiner will want to see how well you can:

• communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences; to do this you will need to answer a range of questions
• speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language
• organise your ideas coherently
• express and justify your opinions
• analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.

Make sure that you relax and talk fluently. You will need to speak naturally.

Take a free speaking practice test.

Video call Speaking test

Many IELTS test centres will start delivering the IELTS Speaking test via video calls. This means more flexibility and more availability of IELTS Speaking tests.

You will take the video call Speaking test at an official IELTS test centre with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be exactly the same as the in-person Speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, level of difficulty, question format and security arrangements.  Delivered by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the video call Speaking test will maintain the face-to-face feature of the in-person Speaking test.

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Remarkable 2 tablet review: the price (and prize) of focus.

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Remarkable 2 display

The Remarkable 2 is not like any other tablet that you might typically use. Unlike the iPad or Android tablets, it doesn’t have an app store, you can’t play games or watch videos, and there’s no browser. Its sole purpose is to help you write on a digital notepad without digital distractions, and it’s fantastic at delivering on that promise. I love writing on it. But should you pay attention to a single-feature-focused device that costs over $400 / 40,000 Indian Rupees?

A Remarkable Build

Remarkable 2 back with Marker 2 on top

The Remarkable 2 is light and feels solid in the hand. It features a frosted glass finish on the back, which isn’t slippery courtesy of the four rubber grips on the back corners. At 4.7mm thick and 403.5 grams, the tablet is thin and light enough to not feel uncomfortable on the wrist. It doesn’t do anything fancy, and there are no extra sensors, which helps keep it so thin.

I like the sheet-like feel to it – as if I’m writing in a thin notebook. The feeling of “writing on paper” is thanks to the display and the Marker 2 (Remarkable 2’s stylus). The e-ink display is faster than usual, as I found it better than Kindle and Boox tablets in terms of responsiveness. I haven’t had such a smooth writing experience on any e-ink tablet yet.

However, it is still plagued by e-ink display traits like slower scrolling speeds, which feels frustrating coming from a smartphone or laptop display. But you get used to it. Plus, there’s no backlight, which bugs me if I want to use it at night. Adding a backlight and ambient light sensor would improve the user experience. The latter would also help turn off the display when I close the cover, which doesn’t happen currently.

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But I don’t think I would trade it for the thin design because it’s important for me that my digital diary is thin enough to slide into my travel backpack alongside my laptop without feeling bulky.

The Marker 2 features a textured finish that helps with grip during long writing sessions. A mainstream pen could get sweaty and slippery in summer, but the Marker 2 doesn’t (tested in 50-degree Celsius Delhi heat).

It attaches to the side of the device and doesn’t need to be charged, which means you always have a pen with your digital diary. The palm rejection is top-notch, too. I haven’t had a single instance in the past three months where I faced wrong input detection.

The Marker 2 is pressure-sensitive, so you can use it for shading in your drawings. The software allows you to use it as a pencil, marker, highlighter, ballpoint pen, calligraphy pen, and more. You can also use the back of the Marker 2 as an eraser.

I’ve Loved Writing On It

Remarkable 2

Using the Remarkable 2 is unlike using any other device because it does specifically one thing – write, and it does so brilliantly, without any distractions. I can take notes on my iPad with the Focus mode on, but I’m in the habit of checking emails and communication apps regularly, which doesn’t help while brainstorming ideas. Removing these distractions has improved my focus on thinking and writing. I don’t feel the need to switch to another app (because there are none), the writing experience is paper-like, and the software is well-customized for writing.

It is better than carrying a diary because I can choose my notebook format from different templates (checklists, ruled pages, grid, etc.), pen type, write on webpages transferred from my Mac, and more. I no longer need to carry my thick diary when I’m traveling. The Remarkable 2 is enough. Plus, it lasts for weeks on a single charge, so I always have a screen to write on.

The user interface is fairly easy to learn. You press the power button located on the top-left corner and enter the PIN (if you have set one), and you are greeted with a home screen made up of your documents, quick sheets, and folders. You can modify the sorting and view (grid or list), as per your convenience. At the top, there are icons to create Notebook, Folder, and Quick Sheets with a single tap.

On the left, you get a menu for various options, and the toolbar remains when you enter a sheet/notebook to let you select your brush shape and size, layers, select text, convert writing into text, and more. The gestures are easy to grasp too – swipe up to continue the sheet, swipe left to add another page, and the like. The company also provides integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft add-ins, so you can access documents stored on these services.

This feature is available without Connect, Remarkable’s $2.99 / 299 Indian Rupees monthly subscription. You can use the tablet without Connect, but subscribing to it will give you access to unlimited cloud storage (which you’ll need if you use the tablet every day), mobile and desktop note-taking with the app, a protection plan, and access to some exclusive offers. I find it expensive and would like Remarkable to introduce a cheaper tier that only offers unlimited cloud storage for sync.

The Remarkable 2 Is A Digital Notebook But With Physical Notebook Limitations

Remarkable 2 templates.

I’ve loved my experience with the Remarkable 2. But a gadget should not have the limitations of its non-tech counterpart. The Remarkable 2 carries some limitations of a notebook.

For instance, I’m bad at remembering file names and have a running list of a few things: a journal and quick sheets for one-liner sentences that I think of randomly during the day for review headlines. I would like the Remarkable 2 to have a universal search feature, where if I type a word, it brings up the sheets highlighting the words – much like Kindle does with its books or like Apple Photos. Otherwise, it remains like skimming through pages of a physical notebook when looking for something. You need to have organization skills to make the most of your Remarkable 2.

I would also like better customization of the home screen. For example, let me choose exactly what I want to see after I enter my PIN, and add widget support. I might want a widget for a quick listicle or a to-do list widget at the bottom so I have access to information at a glance instead of searching for it.

The Remarkable 2 isn’t a good e-reader. You can transfer files through the app or website, but the experience isn’t ideal. You can also add a Chrome plug-in on your laptop, and with a single click, get web pages on your tablet. However, it has its limitations.

First, it doesn’t import images, which is both good and bad. It’s good because you don’t get any ads and bad because the formatting is wonky. Plus, more often than not, images are important for storytelling in certain articles. Second, like a diary, it doesn’t support opening backlinks because there’s no browser capability. As a result, I can’t tap on an in-article link to read a separate article, which is bothersome.

Remarkable 2 Tablet Review: Verdict

Remarkable 2 with its case on

I’ve noticed myself becoming more productive with the Remarkable 2. From taking notes at airports and cafes to brainstorming ideas for pitches, it has helped my brain work more efficiently without distractions. However, it’s too expensive for a single-task device.

You need to decide if $450 / 44,000 Indian Rupees is a comfortable price tag for a distraction-free writing experience. If that price is worth the prize of focus for you, I see no reason not to buy it. It really depends on how much value you place on maintaining focus while writing. That being said, the Remarkable 2 offers the best note-taking experience I’ve had on an e-ink display.

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Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.