Writing a book is rarely a straight path, and if you ask Kevin Nguyen — features editor at The Verge and author of two novels — it’s closer to a digital obstacle course than a streamlined workflow. In his recent article, “The 7 writing apps I used to start and finish my book,” Nguyen takes us through the unlikely, sometimes chaotic set of tools that helped him turn a jumble of ideas into a published manuscript. From scribbling thoughts in Bear and Apple Notes to drafting on iA Writer, organizing drafts in Scrivener, revising in Google Docs and Word, and proofing in Adobe Acrobat, this is less a guide for efficiency and more a love letter to creative chaos. “The limitations of each tool forced me to be thoughtful,” he writes, laying bare a process that favors creative friction over seamless software harmony. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the supposed need to find the “perfect” writing app, this read will not only soothe your tech anxiety — it might even inspire you to lean into mess.

Key Points:

• Kevin Nguyen used 7 different writing apps throughout the process of writing his second novel, leveraging each for its strengths — and despite their siloed limitations.

• The journey of tools looks like this: Bear / Apple Notes ➡️ iA Writer ➡️ Google Docs ➡️ Scrivener ➡️ Google Docs again ➡️ Microsoft Word ➡️ Adobe Acrobat.

• Bear (for structured ideas) and Apple Notes (for loosely captured thoughts) were Nguyen’s scratch pads — quick access environments to save ideas wherever inspiration struck.

• Main drafting was done in iA Writer, a minimalist app he finds worth its premium price tag ($50 for mobile, $50 for desktop), especially for the calming typeface.

• Drafts were organized and expanded in Google Docs, thanks to its familiarity and practicality — though it struggles with longer texts (over 15,000 words).

• For navigation and narrative structure, Nguyen turned to Scrivener, the only tool on the list actually built for long-form storytelling; it’s powerful but comes with a learning curve.

• Final revisions were done in Microsoft Word, which remains the publishing industry standard — despite Nguyen’s frustration with its “clumsy” interface on Mac.

• Adobe Acrobat was used for proof reviewing in the final production stage.

• For handling pre-publication logistics like marketing, author events, and copywriting, Nguyen used Craft 3, an upgraded writing and productivity tool praised for its slick interface and organization.

• AI tools? Nguyen mostly dismisses them for creative writing, stating, “The convenience of AI is that it makes decisions for you. But then, really, what is the point of writing if you let something else do it for you?”

• His takeaway: There’s no perfect software solution — and that’s a good thing. “A workflow is for getting things done efficiently. Embracing mess is how you write a book.”

Top Software Mentioned:

• Bear: Best for structured brainstorming with tags
• Apple Notes: Best for fast, anything-goes note-taking
• iA Writer: Preferred for focused, distraction-free drafting
• Google Docs: Ideal for familiar, collaborative editing
• Scrivener: Best for organizing and structuring long narratives
• Microsoft Word: Industry standard for manuscript submissions
• Adobe Acrobat: Used for final proofing and edits
• Craft 3: Useful for managing pre-launch logistics and marketing

Final Thought:
Nguyen’s article isn’t just a tour through his writing-tool drawer — it’s a case study in how creative mess and software friction can actually serve the artistic process. So next time you agonize over which app to use, remember: the best tool is the one your story needs right now.
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