Write your novel the easy way with ApolloPad (2024)

You sit at your desk with nothing but a fresh notepad and good intentions. But, you find that you can’t write your novel in thin air - you need to plan, plan and plan some more. How can ApolloPad help you draw a solid roadmap for the exciting journey that’s ahead of you?

“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.”

― John Steinbeck

Maybe you want to finally bite the bullet and take part in NaNoWriMo this year. Perhaps you’re a seasoned author suffering from writer’s block. Or maybe you’re simply overwhelmed by the number of ideas you have.

A lot of authors, when asked if they plan, may discount planning as something which takes the creativity out of writing.

If you have a romantic view of novel-writing, you might imagine yourself as a mere vessel for the special lightning strike of inspiration, a means for it to get on the page.

This narrow image of creativity doesn’t exactly allow for sticky notes.

But you don’t have to be a martyr and suffer for your art. You don’t have to yield to the fickle, mystical nature of inspiration. Planning is actually a real asset to your writing.

It will help you create an image in your mind’s eye of what the final product will look like and keep you motivated to get there. It will also help you keep track of key plot points and characters.

Genres such as crime and science fiction, for example, create a necessity for planning. You have to keep your timeline in check, or you’ll get confused by your own plot and if you can’t follow your writing, your readers can’t either. Remember the five Ws - who, what, where, when, why.

With ApolloPad, you can create a project outline which allows you to write an outline for each chapter of your novel to refer to easily. You can also create a project timeline to allow you to visualize the events of your novel easily. You can then link specific documents to these timeline events.

Works across all your devices

“Write while the heat is in you… The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.”

― Henry David Thoreau

You never know when you might suddenly get a great idea. You need a tool which is entirely online and works everywhere. ApolloPad is that tool.

Maybe you want to boost your daily word-count on your commute - no need to worry about signal cutting out and losing your work. ApolloPad works offline too. Your work is saved as soon as you get a signal.

With the technology we have today, it would be silly not to take advantage of the portability that comes with this for your writing.

Use ApolloPad anywhere you want - on your computer, mobile or tablet.

Stay on target with word-counting and visible progress

“A word after a word after a word is power.”

― Margaret Atwood

Much harder than writing when you’re inspired is writing when you’re not, but that’s often when material hits the page that you didn’t think was there. The key to writing discipline is consistency.

Sylvia Plath woke up every day at the break of dawn to give herself some valuable writing time before her children woke up. By doing this, she ensured consistency and made sure she made time for herself as an artist.

You might not be as much of a morning person as Plath, but if you’re writing a novel you must have a word count in mind.

The handy dashboard will give you an overview of the targets you’ve set and whether or not you’re hitting them from day to day. Visible progress while you work will help to keep you motivated.

Create character profiles

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

Even if you can’t write hundreds of words a day, you might still have vivid ideas of your characters. Their names, their backgrounds, maybe even their whole life history and deepest fears. Get that down. The story comes from the characters.

ApolloPad allows you to create complete character profiles and sketch out their whole personality.

Your character can be updated at any time, so it’s not set in stone. If you want to change the name of your character, for example, ApolloPad will update that throughout your project.

Customize your writing space as you like it

“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”

― Virginia Woolf

There is no doubt that the freedom to write often depends on your environment. What if there was a way to ensure a distraction-free space free for you to customize?

You might be in a busy coffee shop, but you’ll still be able to tailor your workspace with ApolloPad. Change from light themes to dark themes and change your font and corkboard theme.

After all, your mind is unique - why shouldn’t your workspace be?

If that’s not enough freedom for you and you’re handy with coding, you can even use your own custom CSS.

Embrace the planning process and write that novel

Writing a novel is undoubtedly a tricky process which requires the brain to be in a dozen places at once. Wouldn’t you love to have your notes, character sketches, drafts and plot overview all in one handy place?

ApolloPad gives you the tools to really enjoy the planning process.

It helps you create realistic goals, encourages you to be consistent, and it pushes you to meet that word goal, even when you don’t feel like it.

All of this with a distraction-free interface.

Try a free demo of ApolloPad today.

novel writing writegoal writing tips

Write your novel the easy way with ApolloPad (2024)

FAQs

How to write a novel super fast really quickly? ›

Proven Techniques to Help You Write Quickly
  1. Do your planning. ...
  2. Write every day. ...
  3. Get rid of distractions. ...
  4. Don't edit as you go. ...
  5. Leave the research till later. ...
  6. Don't be afraid to skip bits. ...
  7. Use the in-between times. ...
  8. Use the Pomodoro technique.

How to write a novel with ChatGPT? ›

How to Write a Book in ChatGPT
  1. Step 1: Brainstorm. Brainstorming is the creative groundwork for your novel. ...
  2. Step 2: Synopsis. The synopsis is a concise summary that encapsulates the main plot points of your novel. ...
  3. Step 3: Characters and Worldbuilding. ...
  4. Step 4: Outline. ...
  5. Step 5: Story Beats. ...
  6. Step 6: Style. ...
  7. Step 7: Prose.
Jan 19, 2024

How much does ApolloPad cost? ›

ApolloPad

Its text editor is simple and does the job. If you want to write your novel with minimal distractions, give this Scrivener alternative a try. Pricing: Free (public beta). Paid plans start at $5/month.

What is the hardest part of a novel to write? ›

What is the hardest part of writing a book for you? Susan Mallery The middle of a book is always the hardest for me, making sure that I have enough story to keep the readers' interest. Always beware of the dreaded "sagging middle." There's a term for it because it's something every writer faces.

What is the easiest type of novel to write? ›

Of the four types of fiction, the shortest one – a short story – would be the easiest for a new author to write. It is relatively quick to put together and allows you to explore different writing techniques with an achievable word limit. There will always be challenges along the way, even with the short story format.

How do authors write books so fast? ›

Consider a writing marathon.

Just lock yourself away from distractions, and make your total focus writing the book, 10- to 14- hours a day, 6 days a week until it's finished. As soon as you awake in the morning, go to your computer and begin drafting.

How to plot a novel quickly? ›

10 Tips for Plotting Your Novel: Step-by-Step Guide
  1. Generate ideas. ...
  2. Start with a simple, compelling premise. ...
  3. Have a clear central conflict. ...
  4. Choose your structure. ...
  5. Trace out general story arcs. ...
  6. Build subplots. ...
  7. Think about cause and effect. ...
  8. Write a detailed outline.
Jun 7, 2021

How to write a novel in a day? ›

  1. It's absolutely possible to write a novel in a day using dictation.
  2. Water, lots of water.
  3. Write where you don't feel self-conscious.
  4. Make sure your outline is as granular as you can make it. ...
  5. Dictation is great for flow and speed, but man, the rough draft will be the roughest possible draft you can imagine.
Dec 4, 2019

Is it legal to write a book using ChatGPT? ›

Is It Legal To Write Your Book Using ChatGPT? The simple answer is, yes, it is perfectly legal! You're not infringing on any copyright laws by using the AI as a tool to write your book. However, there are some caveats to this.

Has ChatGPT read every book? ›

However, ChatGPT has read every book in the library, so when you ask a question it writes you a story from it's memory based on what it thinks* you want.

Which AI is best for writing a book? ›

Squibler is considered the best AI-assisted novel writing software by the world's most innovative teams, authors, and creators. It has all the tools needed to make your screenplay story come to life. I wanted something more collaborative, and Squibler is exactly that.

What is better than Scrivener? ›

  • The Best Scrivener Alternative: Atticus. I like to start with the best. ...
  • iA Writer. iA Writer is a word processor designed for distraction-free writing. ...
  • Squibler. If you're a plotter, Squibler might be right for you. ...
  • Ulysses. Ulysses is a lot like Scrivener. ...
  • Living Writer. ...
  • Bibisco. ...
  • FocusWriter.
Jun 27, 2024

Is Apollo free to use? ›

Apollo.io has four different pricing plans: Free, Basic, Professional, and Custom. They vary based on price, credits, and features.

Is Scrivener free? ›

** Please note: Scrivener comes with a 30 days of use free trial. At any point during the trial period you will be able to make an in-app purchase to license Scrivener. ** Typewriter. Corkboard.

How do you write a novel with no ideas? ›

Here are some things to try.
  1. #1: Start Writing Shorter Pieces.
  2. #2: Enjoy Other People's Creations.
  3. #3: Take a Writing Course or Class, or Join a Writers' Group.
  4. #4: Explore the Ideas You DO Have.
  5. #5: Try Some Writing Prompts or Exercises.
  6. Ready-Made Ideas for Fiction Writers (Short Story or Novel)
Jun 20, 2024

How do you write a novel with no experience? ›

10 Steps to writing a book with no experience
  1. Understanding your why. ...
  2. Setting realistic goals. ...
  3. Finding your book's unique angle. ...
  4. Researching your topic. ...
  5. Just start writing. ...
  6. Building a writing routine. ...
  7. The revision process. ...
  8. Seeking professional editing.
Jun 7, 2024

How do you start a beginner novel? ›

How to start writing a novel
  1. Set aside proper, regular time to write. ...
  2. Don't expect your words to come out perfectly straight away. ...
  3. Loosen up your writing and relax. ...
  4. Explore your ideas. ...
  5. Ask yourself 'what if' questions. ...
  6. Get to know your characters. ...
  7. Alternate between plotting and writing. ...
  8. Work out your structure.
Jan 16, 2020

What is the first thing to write for a novel? ›

'Where are we' is a base most first chapters will cover – often in the first sentence. 'Who we are' is also usually disclosed within the first chapter, if not the very first scene. But often, writers use their openings to establish one or two other things: The problem with the status quo.

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