# Writing Tools

> Compare writing software, plotting tools, and manuscript organization apps for authors and novelists

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools
Listings: 31
Last verified: 2026-08-27

## Campfire Write

> Modular worldbuilding and writing platform with 18 interconnected tools: maps, timelines, character webs, and a manuscript editor, plus its own bookstore paying 80% royalties.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/campfire-write (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/campfire-write.md)
- Website: https://www.campfirewriting.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$12/monthly
- Tags: worldbuilding, planning, maps, timelines, fantasy, sci-fi, character-sheets, plotting, series-writing, self-publishing

## Dabble Writer

> Cloud-based novel writing tool with Plot Grid for visual story structure, real-time co-authoring, and an explicit AI-free policy. Installs as a web app on desktop, mobile, and Chromebook.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dabble-writer (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dabble-writer.md)
- Website: https://www.dabblewriter.com
- Pricing: paid — $19–$49/monthly
- Tags: cloud-based, plotting, plot-grid, goal-tracking, co-authoring, real-time-collaboration, ai-free, novel-writing, fiction, nanowrimo

## NovelPad

> Novel writing app for desktop and browser with scene cards, side-by-side draft comparison, beta-reader sharing, and an explicit no-AI stance — rentable monthly or buyable outright.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelpad (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelpad.md)
- Website: https://novelpad.co
- Pricing: paid — $15–$349/mixed
- Tags: distraction-free, revision-tracking, novel-writing, offline, scene-cards, goal-tracking, prowritingaid, privacy

## Plottr

> Visual timeline and series-bible software for plotters: drag-and-drop scene cards, 30+ structure templates, character webs, and world-building tools.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/plottr (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/plottr.md)
- Website: https://plottr.com
- Pricing: paid — $5–$15/monthly
- Tags: plotting, outlining, visual, planning, story-structure, series-bible, templates, timeline, worldbuilding

## Publisher Rocket

> Amazon keyword and category research tool for authors: find profitable niches, surface hidden categories, and build AMS ad keyword lists using real Amazon data.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/publisher-rocket (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/publisher-rocket.md)
- Website: https://publisherrocket.com
- Pricing: paid — $199/one-time
- Tags: keywords, research, categories, competition-analysis, amazon, kdp, ams, book-marketing, keyword-research

## Scrivener

> Industry-standard long-form writing software with binder-based manuscript organization, corkboard outlining, research storage, and flexible export to ebook and print formats.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/scrivener (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/scrivener.md)
- Website: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview
- Pricing: paid — $60–$96/one-time
- Tags: popular, long-form, organization, research, compile, binder, corkboard, novel-writing, non-fiction, screenwriting

## yWriter

> Free scene-based novel writing software for Windows, built by author Simon Haynes — zero cost with solid organization tools.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/ywriter (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/ywriter.md)
- Website: https://spacejock.com/yWriter7.html
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: novel-writing, scene-based, free, offline, windows, manuscript-organization, progress-tracking

## Authors AI (Marlowe)

> AI manuscript analysis platform built around Marlowe — generates editorial reports on pacing, narrative arc, dialogue, and genre fit without generating new prose.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/authors-ai-marlowe (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/authors-ai-marlowe.md)
- Website: https://authors.ai
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$359.4
- Tags: ai-writing, manuscript-analysis, marlowe, editorial-report, pacing, dialogue

## AutoCrit

> Self-editing platform built exclusively for fiction writers, benchmarking your manuscript against published novels in 13 genres.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/autocrit (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/autocrit.md)
- Website: https://www.autocrit.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$500
- Tags: grammar-checker, fiction, genre-specific, pacing, dialogue, story-analysis

## Dragon Anywhere

> DISCONTINUED (July 2026). Nuance's mobile dictation app for iOS and Android — no longer sold, and existing subscriptions can no longer be renewed.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dragon-anywhere (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dragon-anywhere.md)
- Website: https://dragon.nuance.com/en-us/dragon-anywhere-mobile
- Pricing: paid — $15–$150
- Tags: dictation, mobile-dictation, voice-typing, dragon, nuance, custom-vocabulary, continuous-dictation, discontinued

## Dragon Professional Individual

> Windows dictation software with offline processing and custom vocabulary training — now sold only through resellers after Nuance ended direct sales.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dragon-professional-individual (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/dragon-professional-individual.md)
- Website: https://dragon.nuance.com/en-us/dragon-professional
- Pricing: paid — $700
- Tags: dictation, speech-to-text, voice-training, custom-vocabulary, offline, manuscript-drafting, nuance, dragon, windows-dictation, legacy-software

## Ginger Software

> Long-running grammar checker and sentence rephraser with a personal dictionary and 60+ language translation, positioned below Grammarly.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/ginger-software (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/ginger-software.md)
- Website: https://www.gingersoftware.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$168
- Tags: grammar-checker, personal-dictionary, multilingual, browser-extension, affordable, sentence-rephrasing

## Grammarly

> The most widely used grammar and spelling checker, with real-time corrections via browser extensions across nearly every writing surface.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/grammarly (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/grammarly.md)
- Website: https://www.grammarly.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$360
- Tags: grammar-checker, browser-extension, real-time, proofreading, spelling, popular

## Hemingway Editor

> Readability-focused editor that color-codes hard sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and complex word choices for a prose clarity pass.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/hemingway-editor (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/hemingway-editor.md)
- Website: https://hemingwayapp.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$150
- Tags: grammar-checker, readability, clarity, passive-voice, style, one-time-purchase, desktop-app

## LanguageTool

> Grammar checker covering 31 languages with an LGPL open-source core you can self-host for free — the widest multilingual support in this category.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/languagetool (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/languagetool.md)
- Website: https://languagetool.org
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$239
- Tags: grammar-checker, multilingual, open-source, self-hosted, browser-extension, privacy, affordable, style-checking

## MacWhisper

> Mac transcription app running Whisper and Parakeet locally on your own machine, with system-wide dictation that types into any app — free tier included.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/macwhisper (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/macwhisper.md)
- Website: https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$100
- Tags: dictation, transcription, whisper, audio-transcription, offline, voice-memo, speaker-diarization, meeting-transcription, subtitles

## NovelAI

> Privacy-focused, uncensored AI storytelling platform with the proprietary Kayra model, Lorebook worldbuilding, and unfiltered fiction generation.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelai (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelai.md)
- Website: https://novelai.net
- Pricing: paid — $120–$300
- Tags: ai-writing, uncensored, privacy, lorebook, genre-fiction, kayra

## NovelCrafter

> Bring-your-own-key AI writing platform with the Codex story bible system, scene-by-scene drafting, and outline-driven novel structure for fiction authors.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelcrafter (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/novelcrafter.md)
- Website: https://www.novelcrafter.com
- Pricing: paid — $48–$240
- Tags: ai-writing, byok, codex, story-bible, outline, fiction, worldbuilding

## Otter.ai

> Real-time AI transcription for interviews and calls, with speaker ID, AI summaries, and a desktop app that records without sending a bot into the meeting.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/otterai (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/otterai.md)
- Website: https://otter.ai
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$30/monthly
- Tags: dictation, transcription, interview-transcription, meeting-transcription, real-time-transcription, speaker-identification, ai-notes, voice-recording, research

## ProWritingAid

> Self-editing suite for fiction authors: 25+ manuscript reports on style, pacing, and dialogue, Scrivener integration, and credit-priced AI story critiques.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/prowritingaid (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/prowritingaid.md)
- Website: https://prowritingaid.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$699
- Tags: grammar-checker, style-analysis, long-form, scrivener-integration, manuscript, fiction, lifetime-license, manuscript-analysis, browser-extension, pacing, dialogue

## QuillBot

> AI paraphrasing tool with a built-in grammar checker, popular with students and ESL writers as a low-cost grammar option.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/quillbot (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/quillbot.md)
- Website: https://quillbot.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$119
- Tags: grammar-checker, paraphrasing, free-tier, browser-extension, multilingual, budget

## Scribeist

> Context-aware AI writing platform with the Mythos system that gives the AI knowledge of your story, characters, and world for coherent generation.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/scribeist (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/scribeist.md)
- Website: https://scribeist.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$216
- Tags: ai-writing, mythos, context-aware, novel, blog

## SidekickWriter

> AI writing environment with genre-aware models, two-pass generation architecture, and Character/World Bible context injection.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/sidekickwriter (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/sidekickwriter.md)
- Website: https://sidekickwriter.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$1188
- Tags: ai-writing, genre-aware, character-bible, worldbuilding, two-pass

## Slick Write

> Free, no-signup style and readability analyzer that highlights adverbs, passive voice, sentence flow, and 30+ stylistic categories.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/slick-write (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/slick-write.md)
- Website: https://www.slickwrite.com
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: grammar-checker, style-analysis, free, passive-voice, readability, no-signup

## Speechnotes

> Free browser-based dictation notepad that needs no account or install, plus a free Chrome extension for voice typing across the web and $0.10/min file transcription.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/speechnotes (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/speechnotes.md)
- Website: https://speechnotes.co
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$2
- Tags: dictation, speech-to-text, free, browser-based, distraction-free, no-login, voice-typing, transcription, chrome-extension, subtitles, google-drive, pay-as-you-go

## Squibler

> All-in-one AI writing platform with story generation, templates, smart writer, and Smart Outline — designed as both a planning and drafting environment.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/squibler (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/squibler.md)
- Website: https://www.squibler.io
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$588
- Tags: ai-writing, templates, outline, story-generation, collaboration

## Sudowrite

> Fiction-only AI writing tool built around the proprietary Muse model and Story Engine, with prose generation, rewriting, and brainstorming designed for novelists.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/sudowrite (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/sudowrite.md)
- Website: https://www.sudowrite.com
- Pricing: paid — $120–$528
- Tags: ai-writing, prose-generation, fiction, brainstorm, rewriting, story-engine, popular

## Superwhisper

> Voice-to-text dictation for Mac, Windows, and iOS that runs Whisper models on-device by default, with optional cloud models and a $249.99 lifetime licence.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/superwhisper (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/superwhisper.md)
- Website: https://superwhisper.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$250
- Tags: dictation, speech-to-text, voice-typing, voice-to-text, whisper, on-device-ai, offline-dictation, custom-vocabulary, lifetime-license, manuscript-drafting, mac, windows

## Voice In

> Voice dictation for Chrome and Edge that types directly into 10,000+ websites — Google Docs, Notion, email — in 50+ languages and 100 dialects.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/voice-in (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/voice-in.md)
- Website: https://dictanote.co/voicein/
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$150
- Tags: dictation, chrome-extension, browser-extension, speech-to-text, voice-typing, browser-based, google-docs, notion, web-speech-api, voice-commands, multilingual, chromebook, lifetime-license

## Wispr Flow

> AI dictation for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android that strips filler words and formats speech as you talk — cloud-only, with no offline mode at any tier.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/wispr-flow (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/wispr-flow.md)
- Website: https://wisprflow.ai
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$15
- Tags: dictation, speech-to-text, ai-cleanup, voice-typing, cross-platform, filler-word-removal, cloud-only, voice-editing, custom-dictionary, multilingual, system-wide-dictation

## Wordtune

> AI paraphrasing and rewriting tool from AI21 Labs that suggests sentence alternatives in casual, formal, shorter, or longer tones across any browser writing surface.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/wordtune (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/writing-tools/wordtune.md)
- Website: https://www.wordtune.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$119.88
- Tags: ai-writing, paraphrase, rewrite, browser-extension, sentence-level, tone