Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
An old-school pen on top of a tablet
Software & Services I have tried over 50 writing apps, and these are my favorites
Kindle Scribe
Tablets I use my Kindle for notetaking every day, and these 5 tips and tricks make it the ultimate organization station
iPadOS 26
iPad iPad just won WWDC 2025 – here’s why the iPadOS upgrades just made me cry tears of joy
Best note-taking app for iPad Pro
Pro Best note taking app for iPad of 2025
The Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) in front of a teal background featuring the phrase 'Lowest price'.
Seasonal Sales My Kindle Scribe transformed the way I write – and now this massive deal on the latest model has given me the perfect excuse to upgrade
The Journal app in iPadOS 26
iPad iPadOS 26 adds the iPhone's Journal app to iPad – and I think it makes total sense
A person typing on a laptop to check battery life
Software & Services Best free writing app of 2025
  1. Tablets
  2. iPad

How to write a novel on an iPad

How-to
By James Rogerson published 6 August 2015

Think an iPad would be rubbish for writing a novel on? Think again.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Write a novel on an iPad

Write a novel on an iPad

It's said that everyone has a novel inside them, the hard part is getting it out. But with a tablet it's now easier than ever, as you can write whenever and wherever you happen to be.

Of course there are still hurdles. Even if you're strong enough to resist the lure of the latest games and are tired of refreshing Facebook you need the right apps and tools to get the job done. Thankfully if you've got an iPad there's an ever growing number to choose from. Here's where to start.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Step 1 - Get a full size iPad

Step 1 - Get a full size iPad

The iPad mini 3 is great, but if you want to write a novel you're ideally going to want a bigger canvas, so a full sized model like the iPad Air 2 is preferable. A mini is workable, but fifty hours of writing from now you'll be glad you opted for a larger screen.

There's less need to zoom and scroll, less eye strain from having the text zoomed too far out in order to fit a full page on the screen and more space to type, whether you're using the touchscreen or a keyboard case.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Step 2 - Find a writing app that suits you

Step 2 - Find a writing app that suits you

Out of the box there isn't a hugely useful text entry app on the iPad for serious writing. Trust us, you don't want to write a novel in Notes.

But there are loads of options on the App Store, so you just have to find one which suits you. From full-featured word processors like Pages, Microsoft Word and Polaris Office, to more specialist apps like Werdsmith, which has a minimalist interface free of distractions and even Hanx Writer, which simulates a typewriter without the annoyance of having to start again every time you make a typo.

Some writing apps are free, others aren't, but the important thing is to find one which you're happy to use for hours at a time.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Step 3 - Find the perfect note taking app

Step 3 - Find the perfect note taking app

As well as an app for the heavy lifting of writing your novel you may also want a separate one for jotting down notes and ideas as they come to you.

The Notes app on the iPad can do this job but there are stronger options. Evernote for example gives you an attractive interface and cloud storage, while A Novel Idea is more designed with authors in mind and has separate sections for scenes, characters, locations and ideas.

Then there's Mindly, which helps you brainstorm and structure your ideas. As with writing apps these are just a few suggestions from the many options on the app store, so dive in and find the right one for you.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Step 4 - Grab a dictionary

Step 4 - Grab a dictionary

A writer is only as good as their vocabulary, so grab a dictionary or thesaurus and make sure you're using the best words for the job.

Dictionary.com includes both a dictionary and a thesaurus and best of all it's free, though you can also upgrade to an ad-free premium version which additionally benefits from an encyclopaedia and example sentences.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Step 5 - Vanquish writer's block

Step 5 - Vanquish writer's block

Writer's block hits us all from time to time, but there are now a number of tools to help you overcome it. You could check out Creative Writer for one, which is essentially a keyboard but with far more inspired next word suggestions than you'd typically find.

Or there's Writing Challenge, which turns writing into a game with creative prompts for you to follow.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Step 6 - Get a keyboard

Step 6 - Get a keyboard

The iPad has a pretty good keyboard and now that there's third party keyboard support there are other options too, but ultimately if you want to write a novel you really need a physical keyboard.

That inevitably means an additional purchase, but there are a number of options available, including some which double as cases to keep your iPad protected too. They range from things like the £13 Caseflex Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard to the likes of the £85 Logitech Ultrathin Magnetic Clip On Keyboard, with plenty of options priced in between.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Step 7 - Keep your work backed up

Step 7 - Keep your work backed up

We can't think of many things worse for a writer than losing hundreds of hours of work, so keeping your novel backed up is essential. Thankfully some writing apps will offer this as standard, but if not you should get set up with a cloud storage account such as Dropbox and make sure you're regularly backing your work up.

This will also make it easier to access your manuscript from other devices, as you can get back into it from any computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Step 8 - Find a good editing app

Step 8 - Find a good editing app

Once you're done writing you'll want to edit your work. The app you chose to write your novel may already have strong editing tools, but then again it may not. So if it doesn't you'll want to switch to something else for the editing process.

Writer Pro is a good bet. Among other things it has a Syntax Control feature which can highlight superfluous adjectives and adverbs, spot repetitive nouns and more. The feature-packed Editorial is worth a look too if you've got £7.99 to spare.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Step 9 - Just write

Step 9 - Just write

Apps and keyboards are nice, but ultimately all you really need is an idea and the means to write. With an iPad you have the means, the idea is up to you. Once you have one, just write. Ignore any distractions, don't worry about whether or not you have the perfect tools for the job, just do it.

Starting is the hardest part and it's easy to come up with excuses not to, but when your masterpiece is complete you'll be glad you did.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
TOPICS
Apple
James Rogerson
Social Links Navigation

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

See more iPad How Tos
Read more
An old-school pen on top of a tablet
I have tried over 50 writing apps, and these are my favorites
Kindle Scribe
I use my Kindle for notetaking every day, and these 5 tips and tricks make it the ultimate organization station
iPadOS 26
iPad just won WWDC 2025 – here’s why the iPadOS upgrades just made me cry tears of joy
Best note-taking app for iPad Pro
Best note taking app for iPad of 2025
The Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) in front of a teal background featuring the phrase 'Lowest price'.
My Kindle Scribe transformed the way I write – and now this massive deal on the latest model has given me the perfect excuse to upgrade
The Journal app in iPadOS 26
iPadOS 26 adds the iPhone's Journal app to iPad – and I think it makes total sense
Latest in iPad
Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M3 chip in all colors on blue background with TechRadar lowest price sign
The new iPad Air falls to its lowest price ever for Prime Day – but it won't be around for long
iPad Pro 13-inch with M4 chip on a wooden table
Apple could finally go all-screen with the iPad Pro, as new leak hints at slimmest-ever bezels
iPad 10.9 2022 being held in a hand
Ready for a cheap tablet upgrade? I’d still recommend the base iPad over (literally) anything else right now – here's why
The new Apple iPad (A16)
It's a great time to buy Apple's cheapest iPad – and iPadOS 26 is the secret to its value
iPadOS 26 being introduced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.
Apple’s Mac-like multitasking feature is coming to these iPads soon – but I prefer these handy tools
Apple iPad 11 (A16) on blue background with lowest price text overlay
I'm a tablet deal-hunting expert – I'd buy this 10.9 iPad at $299 ahead of Prime Day
Latest in How Tos
Gabriel Book (Mark Gatiss) riding an old-fashioned London bus in Bookish season 1
How to watch Bookish season 1 online from anywhere
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on during a practice round prior to The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 16, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
British Open 2025 live stream: how to watch the golf online, schedule, Round 1 tee times
Kevin Vauquelin of France and Team Arkea - B&B Hotels attacks climbing the Cote d'Outreau
Watch Tour de France LIVE: Stage 12 updates, TV channels, free streams
People wave flags at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 7, 2013 during the last night of the Proms. US conductor Marin Alsop became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms in its 118-year history. AFP PHOTO/CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)
How to watch First Night of the Proms 2025: live stream for free online from anywhere
MLB All-Star Game Logo
How to watch MLB All-Star Game 2025 — watch baseball online from anywhere
The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 contestants
How to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 for free online from anywhere
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Netflix’s Amy Bradley Is Missing captivates with its strange clues to the missing woman’s whereabouts – but if you want a happy ending, you’re better off with these 3 TV shows
  2. 2
    Hackers hijack Microsoft Teams to spread malware to certain firms - find out if you're at risk
  3. 3
    Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't offer one of the Nintendo Switch 2's promised features
  4. 4
    These cheap new noise-cancelling headphones have the style of the Sonos Ace for a fraction of the price – but you can still get Sonos' originals for an amazing discount right now, too!
  5. 5
    Microsoft abandons change to Windows 11 taskbar as testers hated it - but I didn't, and it's baffling why there wasn't a compromise

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...