Top-Ranked Writing Aids to Elevate Your Writing Skills in 2025
In the world of literature, having the right tools can make a significant difference in the writing process. Here are some of the top recommendations from platform CEOs and founders for authors, catering to both traditional writing software and modern AI assistants.
Scrivener: The Perfect Tool for Complex Projects
Scrivener is a powerful software that excels in managing detailed manuscript organization and complex projects. Its unique features like the Binder and Corkboard help authors to efficiently organize notes and manuscript elements. Scrivener is praised for handling all stages of writing, particularly long-form projects, though it does have a learning curve and lacks real-time collaboration [1].
Novelcrafter: The AI Tool for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Authors
When it comes to AI writing tools, Novelcrafter stands out as the best overall for fiction and creative nonfiction authors. What sets it apart is its ability to integrate research storage with writing, making it adaptable for authors working on various formats [3].
Sudowrite: An Easy-to-Use AI Assistant for Fiction Writers
Sudowrite is another AI tool that is highly favored by fiction writers. It can help expand a scene, rewrite dialogue, punch up description, or get unstuck when a character's gone silent [3][5].
Grammarly and Hemingway Editor: Essential Editing Tools
Grammarly and Hemingway Editor are popular editing tools that are often recommended for improving writing quality and readability. Grammarly helps with grammar, spelling, and plagiarism detection, while Hemingway Editor improves readability by highlighting complex sentences and passive voice [4].
ProWritingAid and AutoCrit: Tools for Enhancing Clarity and Style
ProWritingAid and AutoCrit are tools worth adding to your revision process. They can help improve clarity, strengthen style, and spot issues you'd otherwise miss [6]. AutoCrit, in particular, is an editing tool with a fiction writer's brain, refining pacing, dialogue, repetition, word choice, and emotional beats, and letting you compare your writing style to genre benchmarks [2].
Other Notable Mentions
- ChatGPT: This AI tool can help brainstorm ideas, workshop hooks, clarify clunky sentences, and ask questions like "What's another way to say this without sounding awkward?" It works best when used thoughtfully as a sounding board.
- Trello: Trello uses a "board and card" system for organizing ideas, making it easy to see where ideas are and what's next, especially for writers who manage blog posts, content pipelines, or client work.
- Plottr: Plottr is a tool for visual thinkers that allows laying out a story on a timeline, dragging and dropping scenes into place, and keeping track of character arcs and plot threads as they evolve.
- Atticus: Atticus is a tool that combines writing and formatting for books, working on various operating systems including Mac, PC, Linux, and Chromebook. It helps in drafting books in distraction-free mode, organizing chapters and front/back matter, and formatting professional-quality files for print and ebook.
- Notion: Notion is a versatile tool that can be used for note-taking, building book bibles, editorial calendars, content archives, swipe files, research databases, and more, but requires building a system within it to be effective.
- Publisher Rocket: Publisher Rocket shows what real Amazon shoppers are typing into the search bar, which categories have the best sales potential, and which competing books are getting the most traction. The platform's CEO and founder recommend it for keyword research, category selection, and reader insight for authors publishing on Amazon.
These tools represent a blend of traditional author software and modern AI assistants, offering comprehensive support across writing, editing, and research needs. They are essential for authors who aim to streamline their writing process and produce high-quality, engaging content.
[1] Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php [2] AutoCrit: https://autocrit.com/ [3] Novelcrafter: https://novelcrafter.app/ [4] Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/ [5] Hemingway Editor: https://hemingwayapp.com/ [6] ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/
Technology plays a crucial role in fostering personal growth and productivity in the field of education-and-self-development, particularly for authors. Publisher Rocket, for instance, provides valuable insights about Amazon shoppers' search behaviors, helping authors make informed decisions about keyword research, category selection, and reader insight.
The diverse set of tools presented, ranging from traditional software like Scrivener to AI assistants such as Novelcrafter and Sudowrite, empowers authors to manage complex projects, refine their writing style, and streamline the editing process, enhancing the overall quality of their content.
