How to write a book using OneNote

Novel writing apps can simplify the daunting prospect of long-form writing. You don’t have to write a historical novel to accumulate pages and pages of notes and research, but the ability to keep track and access notes at a glance is vital to your project’s completion and success. Here’s how you can use OneNote to write a book.

OneNote features that benefit writers

Writing a book requires discipline and the right tools. OneNote’s basic features are fundamental to both improving your writing, protecting your work, and establishing useful habits. Here are some reasons why you’ll love using OneNote:

Creating tabs: You can create tabs in OneNote for different purposes. Drag and drop snippets for research, take notes in another tab, and work on multiple chapters with new tabs.
Notes: As you write, you can drop notes and comments in line with your text. This is especially helpful for edits you want to revisit in the future, passages that might need more research, or character traits you’d like to develop.
Autosave: A must-have feature for anyone who writes, the ability to autosave eliminates the stress of losing your work.
Cloud sync: Integration with Microsoft OneDrive means you can access your project from anywhere. Cloud backup also lets you save and backup your work, adding another layer of reassurance.
Multiple platforms: OneNote is available for all laptops and mobile devices, no matter the operating system. So, if inspiration strikes when you’re out and about, you can access your notes on the go and capture the moment.

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There are more techniques for outlining and organizing your writing within OneNote. Here’s how to set up OneNote to streamline your work process.

Outline your chapters in OneNote

In OneNote, you can not only create new tabs for sections, but you can also create new pages within those tabs. Consider the tabs as individual chapters, and the pages within these chapters for your section-specific research, writing snippets, and drafts. Writing a book is easy when you break it up into chunks that you can act on, one day at a time.

“You don’t have to write a historical novel to accumulate pages and pages of notes and research, but the ability to keep track and access notes at a glance are vital to your project’s success.”

Create a new tab and title it “Chapter 1,” then start writing from the pages there. If you need to break up or merge chapters, you can copy and paste between pages, and merge tabs if necessary.

Be sure to reserve one tab for the core details of your writing project. This tab should include character descriptions, settings, overall arc, and any other inspiration. Traits that will go unchanged (age, physical attributes, etc.) or will be changed eventually are important for establishing a baseline for your project’s success.

Use OneNote lists to keep your writing schedule on track

Where OneNote excels is its list integration: You can use the to-do list category to keep track of what to work on next. The Important list is handy for keeping track of things you can’t forget about, such as plot-affecting choices and character traits. And the Question list can be used to answer your own questions about plot holes, gaps in the story, and other pressing issues that you’ll want to revisit later.

OneNote boards can hold your notes and research

OneNote can keep track of your research, serving as a “mood board” for the atmosphere you want to conjure. You can use a tab to easily paste images that inspire your chapter, scene, or overall book. Creating this visual board can focus your work to conveying the story’s atmosphere to your readers.

You can also drag and drop sections and screenshots from webpages, in case you’re doing research on a specific aspect. If your story is set in New York City, for example, you can grab a screenshot of a subway map and paste it directly into a tab and note (in a text box) where your characters are going and what train they’re taking. Research can apply to esoteric details to overall world-building, and OneNote tabs are an easy way to organize your notes.

If you need to refer to a previous section of your story, you can insert a link to go directly to a different tab or section in OneNote. That way, you won’t miss an important detail: how old are your characters? What are they wearing in this scene, and what are their motivations? You can draw from your earlier work with OneNote links.

No matter how long your project is, Microsoft 365 apps can handle it all. Check out more inspiration for creative projects as well as how to get your creative juices flowing.