From journaling to authoring, you’re covered
Have you always had a way with the pen, or keyboard? If your family, friends, or colleagues tend to call out this natural talent, perhaps they’re on to something. Whether it’s a matter of journaling, getting your thoughts out in the most creative way, or trying your hand at that memoir you’ve been dying to write, Microsoft Store on Windows has something for you.
You’ll find a myriad of writing apps out there, but this article gives you a high-level view of what makes the top apps different, and which suits your specific needs.
Bamboo Paper
We live in a digital world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the experience of pen to paper. With Bamboo Paper, turn your Windows device into a “paper notebook” with a natural ink feel and enjoy access whenever you need it. Personalizing your ideas are easy as you set your color preference by creating a color palette with 36 color swatches. Jazz your work up with imagery, then add notes as you see fit. Plus, if you have a penchant for visualizing your thoughts, zoom in to draw the finest of lines and tiniest of text to fit more copy on your page. Even if you aren’t ready to make the full transition, you can start on actual pen and paper on the Bamboo Smartpad, then refine your copy later in Bamboo Paper. The choice is yours. This app is perfect for those who love the pen-to-paper experience and consider themselves novice writers who want to take their writings up a notch in the digital space.
Moleskine Notes
Working with 20+ languages, Moleskine Notes allows you to simply digitize and transcribe your handwriting from your pen-and-paper Moleskine Smart Notebook with your Smart Pen to text on your PC. No more flipping of multiple notebooks or relying on your memory to find a single thought. This app allows you to tag and search, plus digitally “dog ear” certain pages in your Favorites. You’re in control as you choose what you’d like to share with others by exporting your work into images, documents, or files. The app also allows you to edit with finger or stylus markups. Backup your digital notebooks on Microsoft OneDrive and other cloud-based drives. This app is for lovers of the traditional Moleskine notebook but are looking to digitally take their musings to the next level using Moleskine’s Smart Notebook and Smart Pen.
Nebo
Isn’t it nice to be understood? Well with Nebo’s critically acclaimed AI, even “chicken scratch” doesn’t stand a chance as you draft stunning musings, handwrite your poetry, or create reports for school or work. Turning what you write into typed text, the app can accurately convert the most questionable handwriting into your choice of 66 languages. Annotate PDFs, including Word and PowerPoint converted PDFs, with ease. Enjoy infinite canvasing, which is perfect when you’re brainstorming or flowing your ideas to the app. For avid writers, never worry about last-minute changes when Nebo automatically reflows your entries to accommodate layout updates. This app is for those who enjoy scribbling their great ideas but don’t have the time to transcribe to a digital version. The AI of this tool does the heavy lifting.
Simplenote
Never experience the loss of your most important notes, ideas, and creations again. With Simplenote, you will always be in sync with all your devices—for free. The app touts efficiency, speed, and ease of use. Open. Write. Finish. Tags and pins become your best friends as you grow your collection and need to amp up your search game. Rest easy knowing your work is backed up after every change. Enjoy just the right amount of features to get the job done and with confidence that your words are right where you left them. This app is for folks who don’t want all the bells and whistles of a writing app. Yet, they still want an app that sleek and reliable.
Microsoft Journal
With Microsoft Journal, your creative thoughts go from a simple idea to an evolved project you can be proud of. Natural expression is supported through digital ink via tactile signal capable pens and devices. That means through “ink-feel” your writings will feel like real ink on paper, while “ink gestures” signal a feeling of writing mainstays such as erasing or hitting the edge of a page. Meanwhile, you will be able to take disjointed ideas and map them into cohesive stories as you see fit. Uniquely attuned to your writing style, Journal helps you grow your all-up ideas through sketched drawings, applied annotations, and drafted copy. This app is for those who journal and those who are ready to share their ideas with the world. These writers are also inspired by the feel of real paper and pen.
LiquidText
You’ve got tons of documents and you need to connect the dots—now. Through touch with gestures and/or a stylus, you can quickly gather, organize, and review all that data and create solid, cohesive documents on LiquidText. Pinch and compare pages side-by-side, swipe key points off to the side of the page, and connect the story like you’ve never been able to do until now. Brainstorming, preparing study notes, or outlining ideas for your latest writing project made simple. Annotate the most complex documents and PDFs with ease. Go as deep as you need with a research project knowing that LiquidText is that proverbial rope you’ll need to climb your way out or wade around as you make total sense of your findings. For those who need to write more complicated pieces like dissertations and contracts, this app allows them to truly make a connection between their ideas and findings.
Concepts
Doodling (or serious artistic expression) and writing have found a home with the Concepts app. Think, plan, and create as you build storyboards and flesh out your artistic vision. Every note and stroke are editable due to the tool’s vectoring capabilities. You’ll have a choice of realistic pencils and pens that respond to pressure with haptic feedback. Plus, your infinite canvas offers a variety of paper types and customizable grids. Create your own templates with easy duplications. If you like to pair your handwritten musings with visual conceptualizations, Concepts is for you. For writers who want to pair their ideas with more complicated visualizations, this app will bring your words to life.