In the ever-evolving world of novel writing software and tools, two platforms stand out as popular choices for writers looking to organise their thoughts, streamline workflows and turn their big ideas into a compelling narrative.
Notion and Scrivener are both easy to use and packed with features and capabilities to help you write a book.
Let’s take a look to see which might be the best fit for you.
- Scrivener:
Scrivener is a powerful writing tool for long-form writing projects like novels, screenplays and academic papers. It is available for a one-time fee of $97 for Mac and $62 for Windows users, with a free trial period.
- Notion:
Notion is a versatile all-in-one workspace that allows users to create custom databases, notes, wikis, and more. It offers a free plan with limited features and paid subscription plans that start at $6 per month.
- Organisation and structure
- Scrivener:
Scrivener has an organisational system with a corkboard, outline view and binder for managing scenes, chapters and research materials. You can easily rearrange and restructure your projects, making it ideal for writers who prefer a flexible approach.
- Notion:
Notion lets you create customisable pages, tables and databases to organise your writing projects.
Writing and editing tools:
- Scrivener:
Scrivener includes a wide range of writing and editing tools, including a distraction-free full-screen mode, word count targets, and a built-in dictionary and thesaurus. It also offers features for tracking progress, setting goals, and managing revisions.
- Notion:
Notion offers basic writing and editing tools, including text formatting, spell check, and version history. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in other dedicated novel writing software, it provides a clean and distraction-free writing environment.
- Collaboration and sharing
- Scrivener:
Scrivener is primarily designed for individuals who are trying to write a book and has limited collaboration features. While it offers the ability to export and share projects with other users, it lacks the real-time collaboration tools in platforms like Notion.
- Notion:
Notion offers robust collaboration features, allowing users to share pages, databases, and documents with team members and collaborators. Users can leave comments, assign tasks, and track changes in real-time, making it ideal for collaborative writing projects.
- Usability and support
- Scrivener:
Scrivener has a steeper learning curve compared to Notion, but it offers comprehensive tutorials, user manuals, and video guides to help users master its features. It also has a dedicated support team and active user forums for assistance.
- Notion:
Notion has a user-friendly interface with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality. It offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and community forums to help you get started and troubleshoot any issues you encounter.
In conclusion, both novel writing software have features and capabilities designed to help you write a book. Ultimately, the best choice for you is the one that stacks up with your working style and writing goals.
Happy writing.