If only all of our writing environments were like this...
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series.]
***Update – We’ve got more than 20 now with additions via the comments! Thanks all!***
So you’ve decided that you’re not someone who wants to draft directly in WordPress because of the possibilities of losing data and you’re not interested in blogging in one of these top blogging apps that sync to your blog because of the cost or complexity.
Perhaps you’re one of those writers who need something a little less robust – a little less distracting? You’re in luck! There are a number of desktop apps that do just that and we’ve seen a significant rise of apps that help you simply focus on that which is of utmost importance: Writing.
These apps were designed to help you focus on the complete writing experience as best as they possibly can, removing distracting buttons, going fullscreen to just the drafting area, and even playing music in the background to help stimulate creative energy! I’ve collected apps for Windows, Mac, Web, and more.
Remember, these apps do not necessarily connect directly to your blogging platform (unlike these blogging apps) so you’ll have to, at some point, copy and paste the content into WordPress manually.
So pretty... so calming... so perfect.
1. Ommwriter
Ommwriter is one of the more well-known Mac (and now iPad and Windows!) apps that has definitely inspired many a copy-cat. With support for multiple backgrounds, different sound effects and music, you might never leave the interface!
Nothing but text.
2. Q10
I liken Q10 as the Ommwriter for Windows since you’re able to do fullscreen, except there are some really neat features in Q10 like spellcheck and timed writing sessions. Definitely a must-have.
[tentblogger-vimeo 24156534]
3. iA Writer
This professional app will cost you a few pennies but it’s well worth the expense if you dive in deep. Above is a sweet video of it in action!
If you want to read my robust review of iA Writer than check this one out here. This one is a clear winner in my book!
4. PenZen
This might be one of the best web apps out there – simply begin to type and you’re good to go! Save via PDF directly if you like (check out the example of my work above in PDF format here).
Yup, it was that easy.
This is much more than just a writing app...
5. Ulysses
Ulysses is much more than just a focused-writing app – it’s a full suite of awesomesauce for all your writing and creative needs. It’ll cost you some green but man, it’s crazy-powerful.
But, it does have a full-screen mode so it’s made the list.
Clean and straight-forward.
6. WriteMonkey
This Windows-only app is another minimalist app which even has CSS markup support if you want. I can’t believe this app is free considering some of the features built right in.
One of my favorites!
7. WriteRoom
WriteRoom might be one of my personal favorites for the Mac since it’s one of the fastest and cleanest app of them all. There’s not much to it and the simplicity of it is astounding. And that’s about it. Perfect.
8. Byword
This Mac app has an auto-saving feature which pretty much puts it near the top of the pile. Clean and sleek.
9. Clean Writer
Clean Writer, another Mac app which starts at $3, is a sweet deal if you’re looking for a stripped down workspace with a few styling and theme options.
10. Writer App
A minimal text editor this app competes directly with Clean Writer above. It’s also priced the same as well.
11. Grandview
This Mac app takes minimal writing to the next level and lets you just see one word at a time! Sure, you can step back if you want with this app but I find this experience fascinating.
12. FocusWriter
This open source multi-platform app might just be the best thing for you since it’s free and does most of what you might need. With optional statistics, auto-save, and more you can’t beat it for the price of zero.
13. Microsoft Word
I thought I might mention this even though it’s not really classified as a minimal writing app – but you can do fullscreen with it if you like. It’s not the same experience though.
14. QuietWrite
This free web app is super impressive as it allows you to have that fullscreen experience with auto-saving. It’s perfect for bloggers since it gives you that title field too! You can save them and come back to them later!
15. Pages App
It’s also worth noting that iWork’s Pages App allows fullscreen too. You could use this if you wanted if you already have the app.
Love me some java!
16. JDarkRoom
JDarkRoom is a multi-platform app that uses Java to run. It’s free to use and might be a first app to try because of the nice cost.
For Windows!
17. Dark Room
This is the Windows-version of WriteRoom and is free to use. Also a great spot to start since the cost is so low.
A word processor with fullscreen mode.
18. Bean App
Bean App is actually a free word processor for the Mac and there’s a nice fullscreen mode that’s comparable. It’s a good Pages and Word replacement and worth a look and mention on this post.
The Ommwriter for Windows
19. CreaWriter
CreaWriter was inspired by Ommwriter and is the Windows-version comparable. It’s free but you can pay for increase features if you’d like. Definitely worth a look.
Writing with Python.
20. PyRoom
Distraction-free writing? Sure, as long as you have Python, GTK bindings for python and XDG bindings.
Hah. Get it here.
21. Writer Web App
Writer is an “internet typewriter” in your browser. Print, download, and count the words. Done.
22. Google Docs
Of course, I have to mention the free (and awesome) Google Docs option with fullscreen that might just be what you need.
23. TextEdit
As I’ve mentioned before I just love OS X’s native TextEdit application. It’s not a “true” minimalist app but it does the trick.
24. TextRoom
This open source platform for all operating systems is pretty darn sweet. Works on Windows, Ubuntu, Fedora and other Linux distributions.
25. Open Office
Of course if we mention Microsoft it wouldn’t be fair if we left out the free alternatives to those robust collection of apps, right? Open Office is the free version of the many Microsoft-branded productivity apps, including one for writing.
It's like the 'Office' without the Microsoft part.
26. NeoOffice
Another free “office-like” alternative this one’s made for the Mac. Get it here!
And that’s it! Is there anyone that I’ve missed? What do you use?
Finally, here is the clear winner in my book – I love me some iA Writer!
[This is part of the Developing Great Blog Content Series. Image via jsmoral.]
Of the apps listed above I’ve got Word, Pages, and WriteRoom.
I haven’t used many of the minimalistic features of the above, but i’m thinking about doing more of that this fall as i’m going into my last semester at North Greenville University.
Can’t afford distractions on papers when they are being written the night before they are due, right?
riiiiiiiiiiiight.
i try to destroy my papers in one sitting… doesn’t happen often though.
You could try NotesDeck if you’re looking for something that syncs between iPhone, iPad and Mac.
It uses Dropbox, iCloud or a bunch of other stuff. You can set hot keys for different folder to make quick notes to them in full screen mode.
http://www.NotesDeck.com
If my writing environment looked like that beach image, I would not be writing. LOL
I actually haven’t tried any writing apps (aside from Google docs). But, I really should because I’m scared of losing my work while drafting in WP as you have already forewarned us! EEK!
i think google docs autosaves, right?
right!
yah!
I’ve used several of the apps you listed, but the one I’ve ultimately settled on for distraction-free writing, is TextRoom. It works on all three platforms that I used on a regular basis (Windows, Max and Ubuntu).
Check it out: http://code.google.com/p/textroom/
darius,
awesome! i’m going to add that to the list.
Just realized my typo… Mac, not Max, lol
LOL! True that!
Hey
Have you ever tried to turn a blog into a book? Any apps or services you would recommend?
Also, what are your thoughts about “no follow” links in comments?
If you want to turn blogs into a book, a great program is Scrivener. It’s about the only writing program I use anymore. It’s great for fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, and anything else you want to write. For blogs, you can set up a “binder” for your blog posts. In the binder each post will be separate. Then you can compile them into book format. It’s a really powerful program and only costs $45. Well worth the price.
thanks for this linda!
here’s a free plugin for wordpress that can help.
http://churchm.ag/anthologize-wordpress-plugin-that-creates-ebooks-out-of-your-content/
Thanks for sharing the available tools to write. I do have to say, you have to add IA Writer which is available for Mac and iPad and is perfect to just write. It’s what I use on iPad (I use OmmWriter on Mac).
Here’s the URL: http://www.iawriter.com/
ah moe, i had this one down but forgot! awesome app! will add it.
Thanks for adding. It’s a great app. I go back and forth between IA Writer and OmmWriter.
for sure. it looks swell.
I really like the look of iawriter Moe. Thanks for sharing!
not as cheap but definitely great looking.
For writing blog posts it’s hard to beat Blogsy or Blogpress for the iPad. Blogsy is the better of the two, with lots of formatting features.
Blogpress is great if you just want to post text and do it quickly. I use Blogsy for almost all my posts since I can type faster on the autocorrecting iPad keyboard than my regular PC. For a full featured editor, it’s hard to beat Live Writer from Microsoft on the PC. I wish they made a Mac version.
would you consider blogsy “distraction” free though?
Dude, you are a researching machine. I’m impressed. And thanks for these options. Ommwriter wins in my opinion.
i like the forced donation button.
I use Pages on my Macbook Pro and it has a full screen option where it’s just text.
yup! listed up there!
not sure if it is minimalistic, but have you looked at NotePad++?
a great alternative to UltraEdit.
i had thought about it but didn’t put it up there. is there a full screen?
F11 toggles full screen on Notepad++
thanks for this david! you’re right.
WOW the beach image is awesome and I envy
If my writing environment is like that whoa!
John, thanks for putting up all the nice and cool minimalist writing apps. I really am bookmarking this post because I am getting a Macbook Air very soon and I will need these Mac only apps
Cheers,
Jane.
awesome! the macbook air is awesome! i love it!
LOVE me some ommwriter… It makes my writing brain happy.
that is truth.
I’m a big fan of OmmWriter but would be willing to try something new. Thanks for sharing the list.
sure thing bro!
Love Ommwriter.
great deal for the price!
New to OmmWriter as of a few weeks ago, love it.
Will be checking out some of the other recs. Thanks!
word up!
Thanks to you mentioning Omni in a previous post, I am now a convert. That baby is amazing! Thanks.
Sorry, Ommwriter.
sure thing!
Since you mentioned Microsoft Word, I was interested that you didn’t mention NeoOffice or OpenOffice. Anything against them? Or programs that you would use instead of these as a word-processor? I’ve been using NeoOffice mainly because it can do proper reverse text (for languages like Hebrew) unlike Word. It’s a good free opensource word-processor, but it struggles a bit with converting the docx documents properly.
i thought about open office but didn’t add it. perhaps I will as another alternative. thanks mike!
mike, i’ve added those two.
Really digging Write Monkey.
Markup text is really interesting and you can use with wordpress along with a add on from firefox called it’s all text.
http://writemonkey.com/features.php
Basically you download one plugin php markup that lets you use markup language for your posts. You just have to disable the visual editor. You can easily switch between WP and write monkey. plus you can still use the HTMl editor if you want too which is my default anyways. Will work with comments too.
I really like it
love it susan! you’re a code monkey!
I use 750Words.com … It’s personal campaigning for writing whatever comes to your brain. Tracks your progress such as how many words you got in how much time, the common emotions portrayed in your writing, a mash up of prominent words used, etc.
i know about that app too! a lot of writers swear by it, right?
#22 – Google Docs gets my top vote. I even wrote my latest ebook on it. It’s a great web-based word processor and fits my needs perfectly.
for sure! google docs is incredible.
i had no idea there were this many options. Great post full of options for all tastes and machines.
I’m downloading Ommwriter to try the meditational music. WriteRoom looks good, too, but I probably won’t try more than two. Too many choices mess with my focus.
~ Milli
you can even use your own music with omm too i believe.
Hey, are there any writer apps for both the iPad and Windows, that will sync? (I can’t seen to find one, which is another reason why I’m thinking of going Mac this Fall).
PS I just found your blog through Google and I love it!
lizzie,
awesome! thanks so much! what were you looking for? just curious!
people use evernote to sync… or they use dropbox with text editors.
I searched Google for WRITING APPS, and you came up #4 on the list. Thanks for the Evernote/Dropbox tip. Good idea, I’ll try that.
aw, awesome! thanks for responding!
It might be worthwhile updating your post, as it seems that OmmWriter offers a Windows version as well.
I started using Write Monkey as my writing app because it is portable, and thus works at work and home which is synced via DropBox.
you’re right! thanks for that!
updated!
Thanks for the great apps for writing, however do any of the Windows based ones allow for inserting of links and images that is compatible with WordPress?
i believe some of them do, yes.
I think Notepad should be here.