If you are starting your first novel, the best writing app is the one you will open every day. That usually means one that is simple, saves automatically and does not bury you in options.
What a first-time novelist actually needs
- A place to write chapters and scenes, and reorder them later
- Autosave and a way to back up your files
- Word count you can see without effort
- A rough outline you can change
- Export to a standard manuscript format when you are done
What you can ignore for now
Deep customization, compile presets, and elaborate project settings are for later. Features like character sheets and world-building notes are useful, but they should be optional, not a barrier to writing the first scene.
Mistakes beginners make with software
Switching apps mid-draft. Moving a half-finished book between tools is possible (Quillen can import a Word manuscript), but it breaks momentum. Pick one and commit through the first draft.
Spending weeks on setup. Planning is productive; configuring software is not. Prefer an app with sensible defaults.
Formatting as you go. Choose an app that formats automatically, so you only think about the story. See How to Format a Novel Manuscript.
A sensible starter setup
Start with a simple fiction app with a free trial. In Quillen, you can create a book, add chapters and scenes, and begin with one of four built-in outline templates (Fichtean Curve, Save the Cat, Seven-Point Story Structure or the Hero's Journey) if you want structure, or ignore the outline completely and just write. The guided tutorial on first launch shows you the rest. Read How to Outline a Novel if you want to understand the templates.
Common questions
What should a beginner use to write a novel?
Something simple enough to start immediately but able to organize chapters. A fiction-focused app or a plain word processor both work. Avoid anything that makes you configure a lot before writing.
Do I need novel writing software for a first draft?
No. A first draft can be written in any editor. Software helps most once you have many chapters, need an outline, or want clean formatting at the end.
Should a first-time novelist pay for writing software?
Not necessarily. Use a free trial first. Quillen, for example, has a 30-day trial that only counts days you use it, so you can test it on a real chapter.