While Microsoft Word is a trusty way to type up an essay, it might not be a good match for your writing process. If you’ve been wanting to try out Scrivener, now is a good time: Scrivener was designed through and through to cater to writers, and you can download Scrivener 3 on your Mac or Windows for only $29.99 (reg. $59.99).
If you’re familiar with Word (or writing software in general), Scrivener isn’t too hard to master. It allows you to break your writing into sections and rearrange them on a virtual cork board or with an outliner tool. As you move sections around, the manuscript automatically rearranges itself. If you have a specific structure in mind, you can create an outline first and then use the full-screen writing tool to hammer out each section. You can type with your favorite font and format, and then when you’re finished, you can change your writing to match any required font and format guidelines and export it into a single Word, PDF, Final Draft, or plain text format.
There’s also a wide range of tools that are helpful for research, like taking notes on a PDF file or web page. Here are the full list of features.
Note that this isn’t a lifetime subscription to Scrivener 3, though. While you can use Version 3 of the software indefinitely (until Scrivener stops supporting it), major updates like new versions will still cost.
A ton of writers use Scrivener for a reason, including best-selling novelists, screenwriters, and academics. It helps organize and simplify writing projects much better than Word or a basic Google Doc. At the moment, you can download Scrivener 3 for your Mac or Windows for $29.99 (reg. $59.99), no coupon needed (though prices may change at any time).