novelWriter is a plain text editor designed for writing novels assembled from many smaller text documents.
It uses a minimal formatting syntax inspired by Markdown, and adds a meta data syntax for comments, synopsis, and cross-referencing. It is designed to be a simple text editor that allows for easy organisation of text and notes, using human readable text files as storage for robustness.
novelWriter is free and open source software. It sports a Qt5 GUI using PyQt5.
Key Features
- Supports a minimal markdown syntax for formatting text that is useful for the specific task of writing novels.
- All text is saved as plain text files with a meta data header. The core project structure is stored in a single project XML file. Other meta data is primarily saved as JSON files.
- Export formats – Open Document and HTML5.
- Colour themes – syntax highlighting for the features it supports, and includes a set of different syntax highlighting themes. Optional GUI themes are also available, including dark themes.
- Easy organising of project files.
- Project notes – supporting notes can be added for the story plot, characters, locations, story timeline, etc.
- Visualization of story elements.
Website: novelwriter.io
Support: Documentation, GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Veronica Berglyd Olsen
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
novelWriter is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Writing Tools | |
|---|---|
| FocusWriter | Simple, distraction-free word processor |
| Ren'Py | Used to create over a thousand visual novels, games, and other works |
| novelWriter | Plain text editor designed for writing novels |
| CherryTree | Hierarchical note taking application packed with features |
| Zettlr | Markdown editor for the 21st Century |
| oStorybook | Offers authors a complete and well integrated tool |
| Twine | Visual tool for creating interactive stories |
| Manuskript | Snowflake method can help you grow your idea into a book |
| Quoll Writer | Java tool to help you focus on writing and your words |
| Joplin | Note taking and to-do application with synchronisation capabilities |
| Hammer | Simple tool for building stories |
| Bibisco | Write your story, in a simple way |
| WareWoolf | Minimalist novel-writing system built specifically for fiction writing |
| Scriptorium | Write short stories and novels |
| Skribisto | Born from the ashes of Plume Creator |
| novelibre | Novel organizer for writers who use LibreOffice or OpenOffice |
| Plume Creator | Project manager and rich text editor for writers |
| NovProg | Graphs your progress when writing a novel |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Distraction-Free Tools for Writers | |
|---|---|
| FocusWriter | Simple, distraction-free word processor |
| Mark Text | Simple and elegant Markdown editor |
| Zettlr | Markdown editor for the 21st Century |
| novelWriter | Plain text editor designed for writing novels |
| Apostrophe | Editor that stays out your way |
| Quoll Writer | Desktop writing application written in Java |
| Manuskript | Tool for those writer who like to organize and plan everything before writing |
| ghostwriter | Distraction-free writing experience offering a clean interface |
| Bibisco | Novel writing software |
| PanWriter | Distraction-free Markdown writing environment |
| Abricotine | Markdown editor built for the desktop with inline preview functionality |
| Dawn | Distraction-free writing environment with live markdown rendering |
| Story Architect | Reinventing the screenwriting software |
| TextRoom | Basic full-screen rich text editor for writers |
| PyRoom | Editor that stays out of your way |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.