Ready to give your novel more structure than a word processor provides? With Faustica, you organise chapters, plan storylines and keep characters, settings and research close to your text. Work offline on Windows or macOS and import your existing Word manuscript to continue writing. Try Faustica free for 30 days, then choose a one-time purchase for your platform through its respective store.
This guide shows how Faustica supports a novel project and how to move your text out of Word. It also compares other programs and their different strengths so you can assess the features that matter to your writing.
This Writing Academy is published by Faustica. Comparisons are based on documented vendor information. Sources for other software are listed at the end; check current vendor information before buying.
Why so many novels start in Word
There are good reasons Word is where most writers begin. It is often already installed, and you don’t have to learn anything new. Agents, editors and publishers frequently work with Word files, so comments and Track Changes are a common way to exchange feedback, although each recipient’s own submission guidelines come first. Heading styles let you structure a long document, and the Navigation pane lists your headings: click one to jump there, or drag it to move that whole section, according to Microsoft.
According to Microsoft, Word is available with Microsoft 365 Personal, a yearly or monthly subscription that includes Copilot in the desktop apps and 1 TB of cloud storage, or with Office Home 2024 as a one-time purchase, with no upgrade path to the next major version. Switching is an option, not a necessity.
Where Word gets awkward for a novel
Word treats your novel as one long document, or as a folder of separate files. That works until the book grows:
- Long documents. A whole novel in one file means a lot of scrolling and searching. Splitting it into one file per chapter helps, but then word counts, search and reordering stretch across many files.
- Structure. Headings and the Navigation pane let you move sections, but there are no scenes as separate building blocks with their own status, synopsis or point of view.
- Notes and research. Ideas, research and open questions end up in comments, extra documents or a notebook. They don’t show up next to the chapter they belong to.
- Characters and world. There is no place for character profiles, settings or relationships that is connected to the text. Which chapters a character appears in, you find out by searching.
- Planning. Storylines, a timeline or turning points in the overall structure aren’t part of a word processor; you plan in tables, spreadsheets or on paper.
- Versions. Earlier drafts exist if you save copies yourself or rely on the version history of your cloud storage. Keeping several drafts apart takes discipline.
None of this makes Word a bad choice; the planning simply happens outside it.
The alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | What it does differently from Word | Platforms | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faustica | Plot Planner, Compendium, timeline; offline | Windows 10/11, macOS 13+ | One-time purchase per platform through its respective store |
| LibreOffice Writer | Free word processor, supports DOCX | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
| Google Docs | Browser-based, real-time collaboration | Browser, iOS, Android | Free with a Google account |
| yWriter | Chapters, scenes, characters, locations; very plain | Windows (other versions by another developer) | Free (Windows) |
| novelWriter | Plain text with markdown-like syntax, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
| Scrivener | Binder, corkboard, Compile | macOS, Windows, iOS | One-time per platform |
| Ulysses | Minimal markup editor, iCloud sync | Mac, iPad, iPhone | Subscription |
| Dabble | Cloud, plot grid, co-authoring | Any device via your account | Subscription or lifetime |
| Plottr | Planning alongside Word, exports to Word | Windows, Mac; browser on Pro plans | Subscription or lifetime |
As of October 2026. Sources at the end of the page. For a broader overview, see Writing software compared.
The alternatives by reason
Writing and planning in one program: Faustica
Faustica connects your manuscript with visual planning: organise storylines and scenes in the Plot Planner, develop characters and settings in the Compendium and keep research and events together with notes and a timeline. Import your text as a Word file and try Faustica free for 30 days with your own project.
If you want to keep Word but plan better: Plottr
Plottr is a planning tool without a manuscript editor: a visual timeline for scenes and chapters, more than 40 plot templates and sheets for characters and places. According to the vendor, you write in your own program, and Plottr can export your outline to Word. There are subscriptions and lifetime licenses, and there is a 30-day free trial. It is the smallest step: your writing stays where it is.
If it shouldn’t cost anything: free programs
LibreOffice Writer is a free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux. LibreOffice lists support for DOCX, ODT, RTF and PDF, so your existing Word files come along. It solves the subscription question but not the structure question, because it works just like Word. yWriter divides the novel into chapters and scenes and keeps track of characters, locations and items; according to the developer, it is free on Windows. novelWriter is open source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and works with plain text and markdown-like formatting; on macOS it is currently offered only as a Python package, according to the project site.
If you mainly want to avoid a subscription, what to look for is explained in Writing software without a subscription or cloud.
If you want a full writing program: Scrivener
Scrivener by Literature & Latte organizes the manuscript in a “Binder” with chapters, scenes and research; every section has an index card on a virtual corkboard. When you “Compile,” you get Word, RTF and PDF files, e-books and more, so the exchange with an editor still works via Word. Scrivener is available for macOS, Windows and iOS, with a license per platform and no subscription; the iOS version is a separate purchase, and there is a free trial. It can do a great deal and takes some learning. More detail: Scrivener alternatives for novelists.
If you only use Apple and want it minimal: Ulysses
Ulysses is a markup-based editor for Mac, iPad and iPhone with iCloud sync, goals and deadlines, a built-in grammar and style checker, and export to PDF, Word and e-book. It is subscription-only, billed yearly or monthly. The vendor mentions no dedicated tools for characters or plot.
If you write on many devices or with others: Google Docs and Dabble
Google Docs is free with a Google account, runs in the browser and as an app, and lets several people edit the same document at once; according to Google, offline editing is possible too. Like Word, it has no specialized tools for storylines or characters. Dabble works with an online account, syncs automatically, has a plot grid and lets co-authors work on the same manuscript. Its plans are subscriptions billed monthly or annually, with lifetime access also available. In both cases, your manuscript is stored with the provider.
Moving your novel out of Word
- List what bothers you. Long scrolling, scattered notes, lost characters, no overview of storylines? What doesn’t bother you, you don’t need to fix.
- Keep the original. Leave your Word files untouched, at least until your next finished draft.
- Clean up the headings. Give every chapter (and part, if you use them) a proper heading style. Many programs use headings to split an imported document into chapters.
- Import a test. Try two or three chapters first. Check italics, scene breaks and the beginning and end of each chapter.
- Move planning by hand. Character notes, research and outlines from separate files need a new home in the new program. Use the opportunity to tidy up.
- Keep Word for the exchange. Most writing programs export to Word, so your editor or beta readers can keep working the way they are used to.
An example: is switching worth it?
This example uses a writing project about ferrywoman Rika: her childhood friend Hauke advances repair costs and uses her crossings for drug cargo without her knowledge. The project includes profiles and a transport chronology alongside the manuscript. Suppose it currently lives in Word: before switching, the writer examines actual use.
| Material or workflow | Question before switching |
|---|---|
| Manuscript | Can chapters and formatting be transferred appropriately? |
| Rika and Hauke | Which character details must be organized again? |
| Chronology | Will the real failure, discovery, anonymous tip and fake failure remain clear? |
| Checking routine | Which existing language tools are essential? |
| Working device | Does the new program work on the computer actually used? |
Rika’s story does not demand a particular program. Familiar checking and formatting tools may make staying sensible. If planning is the missing piece, a trial import of a few chapters and their notes is more informative than moving the whole project immediately.
Common mistakes
- Switching for the price alone. A free word processor removes the subscription, not the lack of structure.
- Expecting a perfect import. Text and chapter headings usually come across; comments, notes in the margin and odd formatting need checking.
- Switching mid-draft. Better between two projects or after a finished draft.
- Not testing the way back. Before you move, check that the new program exports cleanly to Word.
Practical tips
- Test every alternative with the same three chapters, so you compare programs, not texts.
- Check whether a program sends your text to servers or brings AI features you don’t want. More on this in Writing software without AI.
- Which features a writing program needs at all is explained in What to look for in novel writing software.
- How to keep many characters organized, in whatever program, is the subject of the blog post Organizing novel characters: how to keep track.
Try Faustica free for 30 days
Faustica is an alternative for writers who work offline on a novel on Windows or macOS and want planning and characters right next to the text. You can import an existing manuscript from Word: Faustica detects chapters from the headings and shows a preview before creating anything. In the Plot Planner, storylines form the rows and chapters the columns, with scene cards, four structure templates and a tension curve based on your own ratings. The Compendium collects characters, places and your own categories with a relationship graph, and the timeline arranges events across several time levels. The editor offers offline synonyms, spell checking with your system’s spell checker and a repetition analysis; Project Statistics show sentence length, dialogue share and chapter lengths. Export produces Word, PDF, EPUB and Markdown, with templates for paperback, standard manuscript and e-book.
With Faustica, your novel and its planning stay together: chapters, characters, settings and research are close to your text. Write and plan offline, keep your projects on your own device and get started without a Faustica account. You can import existing text as Word or Markdown files and continue working on it in Faustica.
Try Faustica free for 30 days and see how it fits your writing process. You can then buy the version for your platform as a one-time purchase: Windows through the Microsoft Store and macOS through the Mac App Store. Each version is sold separately through its respective store.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Word for writing a novel?
Yes. LibreOffice Writer is a free word processor that supports Word files. yWriter (on Windows) and novelWriter are free writing programs with chapters and scenes, according to their developers. Google Docs is free to use with a Google account.
Can I import my Word manuscript into a writing program?
In most cases, yes; Word is the most widely supported import format. How well chapters are recognized depends on clean heading styles. Notes, outlines and character lists from separate files usually have to be moved by hand.
Will my editor still be able to work with me if I leave Word?
Usually, yes. Most writing programs export to Word, so you can send a DOCX file with or without comments. Check during the trial whether the export meets your editor’s or agent’s requirements.
Is Scrivener better than Word for novels?
Neither is better across the board. Scrivener is strong at organizing text and research, Word at exchanging files and familiar editing. What matters is which of these strengths you need day to day.
Sources
Research on other companies’ software: October 2026, based on the vendor pages linked below. This is a comparison of documented features and pricing models, not a hands-on test of every program. Statements about suitability and ways of working are editorial assessments.
- LibreOffice: libreoffice.org/discover/writer · File formats (German-language project page): de.libreoffice.org/discover/writer · Platforms: libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice
- Google Docs: workspace.google.com/products/docs
- yWriter: spacejock.com/yWriter7.html
- novelWriter: novelwriter.io
- Scrivener, features and platforms: literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview · Licensing: literatureandlatte.com/how-our-licensing-works
- Ulysses, features and platforms: ulysses.app
- Dabble, features: dabblewriter.com
- Plottr, features: plottr.com