Best Self Publishing Tools for Authors

Dabble — Cloud Novel Writing with Plot Grid, Story Notes & Goals

Dabble — Cloud Novel Writing with Plot Grid, Story Notes & Goals

Outline and draft in one clean workspace. Dabble’s Plot Grid, Story Notes, and goals keep you organized—syncing across devices with exports to Word/text and optional co-authoring on premium.

Highlights

Why Authors Love Dabble

  • 🧱
    Plot Grid – Map chapters, scenes, and arcs visually to spot gaps and keep your story on track.
  • 📒
    Story Notes – Organize characters, settings, and world details beside your manuscript so everything stays connected.
  • 🎯
    Goals & Analytics – Set daily/weekly targets and track progress to finish drafts on time.
  • ☁️
    Cloud Sync – Write anywhere; autosave protects work across devices.
  • 📤
    Flexible Exports – Export to Word or text when you’re ready to share or format elsewhere.
  • 🤝
    Optional Co-Authoring – Collaborate with partners/editors on the Premium plan.

Pricing

Dabble starts from $9/month. Standard is $19/month, Premium $29/month, and there’s a $699 lifetime option. Pricing may change, so always check the latest details on their site.

Last checked: October 2025

💲 Check Latest Pricing

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Clean, intuitive drafting with Plot Grid and Story Notes
  • Goals keep word count on track; autosave & cloud sync
  • Exports to Word/text for editors or formatters
  • Optional co-authoring and premium editing aids

Cons

  • Subscription cost over time vs one-time tools like Scrivener
  • Advanced grammar/tools locked to Premium

Dabble FAQ

Is there a free trial?

Yes — a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

What export formats are supported?

Export to Word or text for sharing, editing, or formatting elsewhere.

Does Dabble include plotting tools?

Yes — the Plot Grid organizes chapters, scenes, and arcs visually; Story Notes keep characters and settings handy.

Can I collaborate with another writer?

Yes — co-authoring is available on the Premium plan.

Is Dabble cross-device?

Yes — write anywhere with cloud sync and autosave across desktop, tablet, and mobile.

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Scrivener is the industry-favorite writing software for novelists, nonfiction writers, and screenwriters. With flexible corkboard outlines, distraction-free writing, and export options for KDP, print, and ePub, Scrivener helps authors stay organized from first draft to finished manuscript. Used by bestselling authors worldwide, Scrivener combines research storage, note-taking, and formatting into one powerful app.