By author Joe Orange
A small collection of browser-based tools I built for myself - and decided to share. No installation, no account, no data collected. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Auto-advances pages and scrolls through text so you don't have to. Built for readers with mobility limitations, or anyone who wants a hands-free reading experience.
A distraction-free writing app for screenwriters and novelists. Supports Fountain format, PDF export, sticky notes, scene navigation, and retro display presets.
A handful of free, open-source tools made by other developers that I've found genuinely useful - and think other writers will too. These aren't mine, but they're good.
A markdown-style text editor built specifically for writing novels and long-form fiction. Where most word processors fight you, novelWriter gets out of the way. It organises your project as a collection of plain text documents - chapters, character notes, world-building - so everything is readable and portable forever, no proprietary format lock-in. It also lets you cross-reference characters and locations across documents, write scene-level synopses, and track your manuscript structure at a glance. Free, open-source, and available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Visit novelwriter.io →A distraction-free word processor that hides everything - menus, toolbars, the OS itself - until you move your mouse to the edge of the screen. What's left is just you and the page. It supports daily word count goals, customisable themes (fonts, colours, background images), spell checking, auto-save, and a timer if you like to work in sessions. Simple, reliable, and exactly as minimal as it sounds. Free and open-source, runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Visit gottcode.org/focuswriter →A full-featured, professional screenwriting tool that handles everything from first idea to production-ready script. It has a research module for organising your materials, a visual corkboard for story structure, and an intelligent screenplay editor that auto-formats as you write - handling scene headings, action, dialogue, and transitions without you having to think about it. Exports to PDF, Fountain, Final Draft (FDX), and DOCX. Supports 70+ languages and runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Note: KIT Scenarist is no longer being updated - the developer has moved on to a new project. But the existing version is free, fully functional, and still one of the best free screenwriting tools available.
Visit kitscenarist.ru →