If you're an aspiring author, you may have used Google Docs or MS Word to write. They're by far the most popular word processors out there. But, it would be a painstaking process if you're writing a book using those tools.

It's easy to re-order or re-arrange some chapters if you're writing a book of 10,000 or 15,000 words. But, once you cross the limit, it becomes a terrible ordeal.

Some of the common pain points faced are:

• Re-arranging chapters
• Outlining
• Keeping track of the characters
• Statistics & Analytics

Here's a list of free writing software for writers who are writing their next book.

1. Manuskript

It's an open-source tool that can be installed on your local machine. Your work gets stored on your system as a .msk file. Runs on Linux and Windows.

2. Wavemaker

Wavemaker is a Progressive Web App(PWA). It's free for use and runs on Linux, Windows and Android. Wavemaker lets you save the file on Google Drive as a backup (which is a really great feature).

3. yWriter

As a standalone application, yWriter is a good option if you're using Windows. It's an awesome tool if you're looking to write scenes for your book as it lets you re-order it effortlessly. However, it runs only on Windows.

4. AtomicScribbler

If you're a short story writer or a Novelist, this is for you. It has some cool features like adding images, bookmarks and files. It runs only on Windows, currently.

5. Bibisco

This is a freemium application. The free version is good enough for beginners. It runs on your local machine and stores data there. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.