Use These 18 Apps to Improve Your Writing

There’s an app for everything else, why not use one to improve your writing skills?

In this post, we’ll take a look at the top writing apps available. Get ready to bookmark!

750 Words

Have you ever tried to write 750 words in one day? I’m betting the answer is yes. Now, I need you to do that every day for the rest of your life. Deal?

Well, I know that sounds like an insane commitment to make right now, but if you’re serious about writing (of course you are), then you need to write daily. Why?

Writing is similar to exercise—the more you do it, the stronger you get.

So, here’s a tool that’ll make it easier. 750 Words is a writing website that rewards you for writing. You get points for meeting your writing goals, and those points can be surprisingly rewarding. Plus, it tallies your word count automatically without needing to check. You’ll be at 750 words before you know it.

Coffitivity

Can you hear a pin drop in your carpeted room? Is it way too quiet for you to concentrate? It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

As a writer, you crave quiet, but not too much quiet. Sometimes, a low ambiance can help you focus more on the page at hand.

Enter Coffitivity. It’s a website that makes you feel less lonely and magically improves your work through the power of sound. Choose between six tracks (three are premium) to find the perfect sound atmosphere.

Daily Page

Sometimes the blank page can be intimidating. Do you need a gentle nudge to help you get to writing? Check out Daily Page. It’s a tool that sends out daily writing prompts via email. It’s a great reminder to just get to writing. Plus, the fact that each day is something new makes this tool even more engaging. Use Daily Page in combination with 750 Words for a daily writing workout. You’re welcome.

iA Writer Pro

Do you need a simple interface to just start typing? Sometimes Microsoft Word or even Google Docs can feel way too heavy. This is where iA Writer Pro enters the conversation. Its usefulness lies in its simplicity. It’s a stripped down program: a sheet of digital paper that you can access on iOS, Mac, or Android. There’s nothing for you to do but type, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need to do to improve your writing.

Twords

In an effort to improve your writing, check out Twords. Twords is a tracker. You input how many words you’d like to write each day, and then Twords will nudge you until you get it done. It creates a sense of accountability, and pushes you out of procrastination. Twords also has a library of writing prompts to help you if you’re stuck. No excuses.

Calmly Writer

Minimize your distractions in every form. Use the distraction-free text editor, Calmly Writer, to focus on your work. One of my favorite features with Calmly Writer is dark mode, where the text and background colors switch, and the background is black instead of white. Another benefit to using this tool is that documents are saved in the Cloud, with the help of Google Drive. You’ll be able to access your files from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Hemingway Editor

You’ve probably heard of this tool before, but on the off chance you haven’t, don’t miss Hemingway Editor. Hemingway Editor is insanely popular for a good reason—it’s easy to use and understand. What more can you ask for? Use this app on the web or download it on your desktop to grade the readability of your writing by removing unnecessary adverbs and passive language.

Graph Words

Every writer needs a thesaurus, and it’s hard to beat good old Thesaurus.com for finding synonyms (and antonyms too). But every now and then, even us writers need visual stimulation. Check out Graph Words, an interactive visual thesaurus. It does the expected job of finding associated words, but it does so in a visually engaging way. Words are color coded into nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.

ZenPen

ZenPen is another minimalist writing tool that removes distractions and excuses. Just bookmark this page and start typing. It’s as simple as that. With cookies enabled, your words are still there when you return, but I highly recommend that you download your work after each session. You can also set a target word count, and ZenPen will notify you when you’ve met your quota by changing the color of the scroll bar to green.

Ilys

Ilys is a word processor tool that I’m really excited about. It’s unlike any other tool I’ve ever seen. Unlike most word processors where you have immediate access to everything you’ve typed, Ilys only shows you one letter at a time, leaving the rest of the screen blank. After you’ve hit your target word count, you’re able to read everything you’ve written. This is one surefire way to turn off the internal editor.

Google Docs Voice Typing

For those without Microsoft Office, Google Docs is a godsend. It’s easy to use, free, and available wherever there’s an Internet connection. But one of the very best features of Google Docs is Voice Typing.

That’s right. Google Docs has a built in dictation service that’s accessible by navigating to Tools > Voice Typing. You can use this to speak instead of type, which is often easier, especially if you type slower than you think.

Airstory

Airstory is writing software that makes it easy to make and organize notes, save your research, and collaborate with others. This app was made by writers for writers, and it looks beautiful and well-designed.

OneLook Reverse Dictionary

You have a word that’s on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t quite figure it out? That happens to me all the time. If it happens to you, too, bookmark OneLook Reverse Dictionary. To use it, all you need to do is type in the concept that you want to convey and OneLook does the rest. It’s so valuable, you’ll wonder why you didn’t know about it sooner.

Ginger

If you need serious help with your grammar, Ginger to the rescue. Ginger automatically checks and corrects poor grammar, bad punctuation, misspellings, and misused words. There’s also a handy sentence rephraser which helps you improve your writing voice.

Draft

Draft helps make collaboration possible. With this tool, you can easily see changes made by others and compare it with your original draft. If you’re writing a book with another person, or sending it off to be edited by a peer, Draft makes the process easier.

Brainstormer

Brainstormer advertises itself as “the best defense against writer’s block”. It provides writers with unlimited five minute writing exercises to help spark your imagination. Build characters or entire worlds from scratch with this handy tool.

Google Keep

Is your desk covered with post-it notes? Let’s take that virtual. Instead of cluttering your desk, neatly store all your notes and to-dos with Google Keep. Use it to plan out your story, set reminders, and jot notes while working. A huge benefit to Google Keep is that everything is in the cloud. You can take your virtual notes with you from your desk to anywhere with Internet access.

Gingko App

Speaking of organizing, Gingko App provides an awesome way to plot your novel. Use this tool to plan your novels by chapters, ideas, or themes. Restructure your plot on the fly.

Do you have a favorite writing app?

We’re always looking for new tools and resources that writers love. So, share your favorite writing app or tool with us in the comments below.