The Novel Factory Reviews 22

I had a tech question about exporting individual chapters and the support team at The Novel Factory answered my question in a timely and professional manner.

24-hour response from the customer service team.
I've dabbled with many writing software programs over the years, and I've found the Novel Factory to have the most thorough and user-friendly outlining tools. There are many templates to choose from; the interface is both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing, and I like that it's easily accessible online. Highly recommend.

The mistake was mine. I misinterpreted an email. Despite this, tech support was fast, efficient, and thorough. A non-problem that didn't need resolving was still given respect and consideration and I was given the data to recognize what I had misinterpreted.

I purchased a one-year Basic subscription on January 1st. I was nearing the end of my 30-day trial, and knew that I had, at last, found a novel writing software that fits the way I write. On January 2, The Novel Factory offered a 20% discount. Oof! I had pulled the trigger too soon! I decided to ask for the discount retroactively, not really expecting that it would happen, but thinking it was worth asking. I received a personal reply, and was refunded 20% right away. I was surprised, pleased, and impressed.
I love this software. I'm a 64 year-old luddite who has tried other software programs for writing. One popular one has a learning curve that was, for me, more complicated than plotting a novel. I found another one that I liked pretty well, and used for two years, but found myself wishing it had more features. And then I encountered The Novel Factory. For the first time, I feel like I can finish my first novel. And more after it.

I love novel factory, I started off on the free trial and enjoyed all the features helping writers to build a good story. I purchased the subscription and it is 100% worth it, I have made so much progress on my book thanks to this website.

5 stars in hopes for future development. The program is very handy and the people behind it have been very nice and helpful. I have zero regrets getting a year subscription and would love to get a lifetime, next year is the plan! Keeping track of chapters, scenes, plots, subplots, characters and such. It has a lot of useful tools.

See update below!

Potentially great product with terrible after-care.

I bought this software off the back of a recommendation online and was very impressed with the scope of what it had to offer. Unfortunately, I ran into a couple of niggles early on and then my entire manuscript was deleted! Luckily, I had a backup copy but still lost over three hours work. I sent an email asking for support and seeing if they could get the manuscript back. I had no response. I’ve written numerous emails over the last 10 days and no response. I think this is a pretty poor way to run a business when people are bound to have questions about the software. I’d like to ask for a refund but no one is responding! Very disappointed.

8/12/25 I did get a response from customer services explaining that my emails had gone into spam and thus not been seen. Once this error was uncovered they were extremely helpful in helping me to sort out the situation. Faith restored and software still recommended!

I just want to let you know how much I LOVE using the Novel Factory. I've been using it for a little over two weeks, and it's already helped me take my half plotted dream and begin to turn it into something that is tangible and well within my grasp. I can't express my appreciation enough for what you have done by creating this software. I tip my cap to you. I have always dreamed of becoming an author, and throughout the years I've woven many a story that has been lost to the chaos of life. The Novel Factory has given me the structure I feel I need to stay on track. Thank you for all you do, and all you've done. I look forward to continuing to watch my dreams take form through your platform. My current project is one I've been plotting for years. I finally feel like I have the tools I need to successfully bring it to life.

Review of The Novel Factory
I’ve been walking with The Novel Factory for eight years or more, long enough to see it grow from its early Internet model into the modern version that now sits at the heart of my writing life. I loved that first model — simple, direct, and full of promise. When the newer version came along, with its expanded features and deeper organization, I crossed over without hesitation. It offered more than just tools; it offered a way of thinking like a novelist.

I’ve spent hours watching YouTube videos on story craft, read stacks of books on writing, and studied countless guides. Much of what I learned in those places, The Novel Factory teaches with a hands‑on approach. Within days of experimenting, you feel less like a beginner fumbling in the dark and more like a professional with a plan.

The tutorials are my favorite part. Each section of the writing process is broken down, step by step, so you never feel lost. And then there are the character profiles — with pictures, notes, and arcs — that make them feel like real people you know. Over time, I’ve built a cast of character friends, each with their own stories, waiting for others to discover one day.

There’s one feature I rarely hear praised, but it deserves attention: the ability to see your story title on a book cover, alongside a storyline and two‑sentence blurb. It’s a small thing, but it makes the dream tangible. You don’t just imagine your book — you see it. That moment alone can push a writer forward.

Needless to say, I am a Novel Factory fan. More than that, I am a lifelong supporter and user. This software has walked with me through drafts, rewrites, and discoveries. It has given me structure when I needed discipline, and inspiration when I needed courage. For me, it isn’t just software — it’s a companion in the long road of storytelling.

I am genuinely surprised at just how useful and intuitive this software is. It is like having a massive mood board with all ideas, plotlines, character development, story arc and background in one place with the ability to customise to fit your needs.I have been using this software for under a week so have not yet been able to test its full capabilities but so far I can honestly say that I can’t imagine life as a rookie novelist without it! It has motivated me in a way nothing else has for months because there is always something here that I can work on. If the writing flow is not there, I can focus on character development or background and instead of having my notes scattered around in different files I know that everything is where I need it and can be accessed when I want it. This is invaluable to me and has saved so much time. There are also features that can make helpful suggestions and templates containing different genres that can help you develop your story. It is extremely well thought through and so intuitively designed that even an idiot like me can make it work! Throw in the 30 day free trial and it’s a no brainer! I would also like to add that the customer support has been fantastic. A couple of minor queries I had were answered within an hour and were clearly personalised. This just takes so much stress off me. If you’re in doubt give it a try . Two thumbs up!

Ease of use and very responsive support team.

I've been using this software for over a decade. It's incredible in every way, the features are amazing, and it's never buggy or weird! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a structured beginning to their writing journey 😊

Novel Factory was the difference between being published in my lifetime or not. The ability to write scenes as they come to me without being confined to a strictly linear story has completely changed my writing process. I love how simple it is to rearrange scenes or even entire chapters, and the timeline feature keeps me accountable and on track. On top of that, their support team is outstanding. Novel Factory has become an essential part of my writing journey.

Joel Gaines
Chaos Terrain
Nathan Kang Series

I've been writing professionally for over 30 years as an advertising copywriter. Writing 30 to 60-second scripts mostly for TV and radio. However, two years into my debut novel, I discovered how writing a novel was an entirely different prospect. I was struggling halfway through, writing on WORD, when I discovered The Novel Factory, and it was not a moment too soon. I doubt I would have completed my novel without their awesome platform, which provides way more practical resources than I realised I needed and more structure than I was able to muster independently. Without a shadow of doubt, it has improved the quality of work I have been able to produce. And importantly for me, it has dramatically improved my productivity. Of particular help to me was the Version History. It records versions every few minutes, so writers can go back and find the magic sentence they wrote in a scene before they spoiled it. Or, to pick up on a train of thought they seem to have veered away from. I won't attempt my next novel without doing more prep up front with the help of Novel Factory. If you're starting out, or halfway through, the way I was, and you're struggling, or simply think it should be easier, then try the free version. The platform will help you gather your thoughts, where and when you need them most. And if you're ever stuck, the support staff are a great help too.

I'm writing my first piece of fiction, a manuscript for a novel. I was using native Mac and IOS apps to do so. It was fine for a while but keeping track of character attributes, locations, scenes, chapters, became impossible.

Novel Factory allows me to keep everything in one place. Easily organized and easy to reference. And when I'm ready for my second in the series, I can upgrade, allowing me unlimited manuscripts and the ability to copy all of my current information to the second file.

Writing is, at times, a chore. Novel Factory has made it far less cumbersome. It allows me to write without worrying about all of the details.

I would easily recommend this to any writer. Give the free trial a spin and you will be hooked.

Novel Factory is a great site to help you plan your novel. It allows you to keep key components (scene list, timelines, characters, settings, etc.) in one place and refer back as you develop things further. If you run into software questions, the staff is great. They are patient, offer personalized service, and respond within a day or less.

I just love this software. I don't know how I could have written my first novel without it. so user friendly and intuitive. What I enjoyed the most was the section on building characters with its 200+ questions.

I would like to express my, absolute, delight with The Novel Factory writing program. Just calling it a writing program doesn't do justice to the many layers involved in this comprehensive novel writing system. The exceptional design of the layout, involving every manner of novel construction
that includes intricate Plot templates, Character creation, and a million steps along the way - all laid out as a multi-faceted novel writing guide. All of the program elements are further bolstered by a full system of academic support, both within the program areas and actual emailed "classes". I am a complete neophyte as a novel writer. Getting that book to flow from my head to paper, in a way that makes sense, is a big project. The Novel Factory is 100% leading the way towards that accomplishment. Also, the people involved at the Novel Factory are just beyond helpful and awesome. I reviewed a lot of programs - The Novel Factory surpasses them all!

Great software if you're a beginner and looking for some guidance on how to get started writing your novel. The roadmap is particularly good for this.
Still needs some work on the UI to be as good as Dabble,b and some work in features to be as good as Scrivener, but they are still working to improve things. I found their customer support to be responsive and valuable.
Overall I found The Novel Factory to have enough features for my needs, works well online, and cheaper than Dabble for a single novel. I used to use Dabble but switched to The Novel Factory.

Update 10/04/2025: I'm changing this into a 5 star review. The customer support was exceptional, very knoweldgable and supportive. I confirm that the app no longer has any syncing issues, as before. And it clearly shows that the company is striving to improve.

Initial review: 02/04/2025
This was a 3-4 star, but I leave it a 4 because of my appreciation for companies that invest in projects that help writers. I like the solution, it provides very nice features but it has some drawbacks which I think should be resolved:
- a bit clunky and unstable, refreshes a lot, loads slowly
- I once wrote on a separate device without internet. When I regained access to wifi I saved my work. This continued to show when accessing it from one device, but never showed when accessing with another one. Dangerous stuff for a writer.
- No dedicated app. I use the in browser app which continued crashing. Now it's a bit more stable lately.
- I would like a feature to write in full screen mode, to get more screen space, when I am submerged into writing.
- There is a feature that uses autocorrect in browser, which I can't disable on my device (I use an ink tablet). This is really annoying.
- I don't like the subscription payment model. Having to pay 3 times more yearly for having more than a book project is not cool. Especially when there are products like scrivener which give you lifetime access for a one time fee (same price).