Best Software to Write a Children's Book

I wrote the opening of one of my own picture books into the Notes app on my phone, using talk-to-text, while pushing a stroller around the block.

That's not a charming exaggeration. That's just what writing looks like for me some days.

Two young kids don't leave a lot of room for sitting down at a desk with a cup of coffee and "finding your flow." You learn to grab five minutes wherever they show up, and you learn fast that the software you use either helps you do that or gets in your way.

So when people ask me what's the best software to write a children's book, my honest answer is: you probably don't need more options. You need the right tool for the stage you're in right now, and there isn't a one-size-fits all.

How to choose the best software to write a children's book

Before I name names, get clear on what job the software actually needs to do. A lot of new writers go looking for one platform that handles brainstorming, drafting, editing, illustration planning, formatting, and publishing all at once. Most programs do one or two of those jobs well. Not all of them, and definitely not all at once.

If you're writing picture books, simplicity matters most. You're working with short text, tight pacing, page turns, and drafts that get revised more times than you'll want to admit. You don't need a complex novelist's dashboard slowing you down when your manuscript is 500 words long. If you're writing early readers, chapter books, or middle grade, organization starts to carry more weight. You may need chapter navigation, somewhere to store research, or a way to manage scenes.

It also depends on whether you are aiming for traditional publishing or self-publishing. Traditional submission usually requires a clean manuscript in a standard format. Self-publishing adds a whole other layer on top: trim size, image placement, print-ready files, ebook conversion.

One caveat, and it's an important one: if you're self-publishing an illustrated picture book, none of that layout work is a DIY job unless you happen to be a trained book designer yourself. You'll need to hire a professional. The software below for self-publishing and layout is built for that designer, or for you if that's genuinely your skill set, not for a picture book author trying to lay out their own illustrated spreads over a weekend.

Best software to write a children's book by use case

Google Docs

For many aspiring authors, Google Docs is the best place to start. It is simple, familiar, and easy to access from anywhere. If you want to draft quickly, share your manuscript with a critique partner, or get feedback from a book coach or editor, it works well.

This is the one I reach for myself when I'm short on time, which, with two kids, is most of the time. The app on my phone lets me use the talk-to-text feature; some days speaking a scene out loud is just easier than typing it, and Google Docs lets me do that without any setup or learning curve standing between me and the idea before it disappears.

It's especially useful for picture book writers. Picture book manuscripts are short, so you don't need a huge system to manage them. Google Docs lets you focus on word choice, line breaks, and read-aloud flow without distractions.

Its weakness is project management. If you are juggling multiple manuscripts, revision notes, mentor text observations, and submission plans, things can get messy fast. It is a drafting tool, not a full writing studio.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is still one of the most practical options for children's authors, especially if you plan to submit to agents, editors, or contests. It remains a standard for manuscript formatting, comments, track changes, and professional editing workflows.

I can tell you from the agent side of my desk: if you are working with freelance editors, there is a good chance they prefer Word. It is not flashy, but it handles the writing and revision process reliably.

The downside is that it can feel clunky for brainstorming and visual planning. It is strong in drafting and editing, weaker in creative organization.

Scrivener

Scrivener is often recommended as the best software to write a book if you are creating longer projects or juggling a pile of ideas all at once. It gives you folders, corkboards, note sections, and flexible document organization. For chapter books, middle grade, and young adult novels, that can be a big help.

It can work for picture book writers too, if you're the type who keeps multiple versions, mentor text notes, market research, and revision experiments in one place. If your desktop is full of random files named FinalDraft2 and FinalDraftReallyFinal, Scrivener can bring some order.

But there is a trade-off. Scrivener has a learning curve. If you are brand new to writing and easily overwhelmed by software, it may feel like too much. This is a good tool for authors who want control and have the time to learn the system.

Dabble

Dabble is a cleaner, friendlier alternative to Scrivener. Plotting, organization, cloud access, with a lot less setup. If you want more structure than Google Docs but less setup than Scrivener, Dabble sits in a useful middle ground.

For children's writers working on chapter books or series, it can keep characters, outlines, and manuscripts in one place without the overhead. For picture books, it's probably more than you need, unless you're building a larger body of work and want everything centralized.

Cost is part of the decision here. A subscription is worth it if you'll actually use the features regularly. It's not worth it if all you need is a basic place to draft.

Pages

If you use Apple devices, Pages can be a solid low-cost choice. Cleaner than Word in some ways, easy to use for straightforward drafting and formatting. For new writers who want something simple without paying for extra software, it does the job.

It's just not the most universal option. If you're collaborating with editors or formatters working in Word, file compatibility can become its own small headache. That doesn't make it a bad choice. It just means you should think a step ahead before you commit to it as your only tool.

Software for planning picture books visually

Writing a strong children's book is not only about sentences. You need to know where the page turns might be, where the emotion shifts, and where the illustrations are doing the storytelling instead of the words.

Canva

Canva is not a manuscript-writing platform, but it can be very helpful for visual planning. Many picture book authors use it to mock up page-by-page story flow, create dummy-style layouts, or organize mood and illustration references.

That does not mean you should design your final trade picture book in Canva and call it professionally formatted. For real production and publication, especially print, there are standards to meet. But for early concept development and visual sequencing, Canva can be useful.

PowerPoint or Keynote

These may sound unconventional, but they are surprisingly effective for picture book pacing. One slide per spread gives you a quick way to test rhythm, page turns, and text distribution. If your manuscript feels flat in a document, placing it spread by spread often reveals the problem. Sometimes a basic slide deck shows you more than a fancy writing app does.

Software for self-publishing and book layout

If you plan to self-publish, writing the manuscript is only part of the process. You also need software that handles layout and print preparation.

Adobe InDesign

For professional interior layout, InDesign is the strongest option. If you are producing a picture book with full illustrations, custom typography, or print-specific design needs, this is the industry-level tool.

It is powerful, but it is not beginner software. If you are not comfortable with layout, margins, bleeds, and print specs, the program can feel technical fast. Many authors either learn it over time or hire a designer instead.

Atticus

Atticus is better known for formatting books with lots of text, so it is more useful for chapter books than heavily illustrated picture books. If you are self-publishing an early reader or middle grade novel, it can simplify formatting and export.

For standard picture books, it is usually not the right final layout solution.

So what is the best choice for most writers?

If you are a new picture book writer, start simple. Google Docs or Word will cover your drafting and revision needs. Add Canva or slides if you need help seeing page turns and story pacing.

If you are writing longer children's manuscripts or managing many projects, Scrivener or Dabble may be worth it. If you are self-publishing, separate your writing software from your production software. Draft in one place, then move to layout tools when the manuscript is truly ready.

Too many writers start worrying about fonts, trim sizes, and cover mockups before the story is working. Software should support the writing process, not distract you from it.

At Home Author teaches this principle often because it saves authors from a common mistake: trying to solve a craft problem with a tech solution. The right tool helps, but it does not replace revision, market awareness, or a clear publishing plan.

A smart setup for children's authors

For most aspiring authors, the strongest setup isn't one perfect program. It's a small stack of tools, each with a clear job. One for drafting, one for feedback, one for visual planning or layout if you need it. Keep it lean.

None of this software writes the book for you. It just gets out of the way long enough for you to. I still draft most of my best lines into my phone, walking, half-distracted, hoping I remember the ending of the sentence by the time I finish saying it out loud. The software isn't the part that matters. The manuscript is, and whatever five minutes you've got to work on it today.