I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again – writing isn’t easy. You can’t teach someone to write about a world that’s never existed before. When that’s your goal, you need all the help and advice you can get. Now, I wouldn’t say that I’m an expert about writing by any means. I’m still working hard to get my thoughts in order on most of my possible works-in-progress because I’m a planner. I have to know as much about my story as possible before I can start writing it.

There are a lot of tools I’ve tried over the years to help me get my thoughts in order. Most of what they offer isn’t really what I’ve been looking for, so there’s been a lot of disappointment. However, years of trying to write means that I’ve downloaded almost every writing app in the App Store. If you are just getting started with your writing career, or need an extra hand, here are a few of the apps I would recommend!

MyStory Today

This is actually the newest app I’ve found and the only one I’m recommending that helps with planning your stories. The brilliance of this app is that you can work on your phone and computer simultaneously, so you’re never away from your story. It is free, simple to use, and has some amazing features. You can plan out most of your story in this handy little app and export it to Word when you’re done to print. This is easily one of the best planning apps I’ve found.

Buffer

Everything seems to revolve around social media, and it’s hard to find the time to post on every platform you have every day. However, I’ve found a free platform that allows you to do it all from one app on your phone. Buffer is amazing for anyone who does a lot of work on social media. Their free account allows you to connect three accounts. You can schedule and queue posts and create a custom schedule for each platform. It also enables you to post whatever you want – photos, links, text, etc.

Canva

Building an online presence is hard, particularly if you’re going the self-publishing route, and depends on content creation. This doesn’t only mean your writing. You have to be plugged in, constantly connected with your fanbase and constantly creating. I would love to make all my content on Photoshop or Indesign, but those programs are expensive to maintain. That’s why I use Canva for most of my content creation needs. They have free templates for book cover design, Instagram posts, Facebook covers, and so many more. It’s simple to use and creates a professional product.

Wattpad

Most writers have some experience on Wattpad. That’s where I built my following during my fan-fiction days (don’t ask) and where samples of my stories will be posted when I start self-publishing. As long as your story fits community guidelines, it is eligible for posting on Wattpad and provides an outlet that most first-time writers wouldn’t have otherwise. You’re not going to build a fanbase overnight, but what you can do is find a place to start.

These are just a few apps of the hundreds marketed to writers. If you’re trying to get started as a self-published or traditional author, these might be worth the time and effort! Are there any you would recommend for a first-time writer that I missed? Comment below, and see if you can help someone out.