This free novel writing program has evolved over the years into a powerful piece of software, allowing you to break your book into chapters and scenes. Tracking progress is easy with the 'status' flags that you can apply to each scene: outline, draft, 1st edit, 2nd edit or done.

Because losing work is the pits, this program will also create autobackups by date and time, as frequently as once a minute if desired. These can be browsed at will, making it easy to revert to an earlier version of your work. Includes a text editor, project overview, daily change log and much more.

yWriter is one of the most cohesive freeware programs for writers. With helpful tools like a word count (doesn't just tell you your total words, but breaks it down by individual words and how many times they are used), time line, story outline, and places to write scene summaries (and viewpoints, goals, conflicts ...) yWriter guides writers through their story on their terms.

It's not necessary to use the time line or scene summaries, but if that's what you're used to doing, it's there for you. This program is all about what works for you as a writer, and what methods you use to keep yourself on track and consistent.