We Asked 100+ Authors About Their Writing Process — The Tea Is Piping Hot

What they hate, what they use, what they’ll pay for, and what they’re desperately dreaming of.

Let’s get real for a second

Writing is supposed to feel magical. Cozy. Inspired by muse kind of vibes.

But for most authors, it feels like juggling flaming plot holes, emotional breakdowns, and twelve disconnected writing tools just to keep the story straight.

So we asked more than 100 writers: What’s making your writing life harder than it needs to be?

The answers were honest, frustrated, occasionally unhinged, always relatable.

And if you’ve ever wondered if you’re the only one struggling, this survey proves you’re definitely not.

The struggle is real

When we asked authors about their biggest headaches, here’s what came out on top:

• Editing 35% said it’s their personal nightmare 

• Staying motivated 28% admitted it’s their biggest battle 

• Plotting 25% said the middle of their book is a swirling pit of doom 

• World-building 22% can’t keep all their invented cities, currencies, and magic laws straight 

• Character development 17% just want their main character to stop being a pancake

“Maintaining character timelines against plotlines is where I lose it.”

“Characters’ emotional arcs staying consistent? I’m crying in Scrivener.”

“Many projects. Zero motivation. It’s chaos.”

👉 If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. And these are the exact struggles Skriptzi was built to solve.

Tool chaos

We also asked: What writing software are you using right now?

The short answer: all of them.

Every author surveyed said they use at least two to five different writing apps just to finish one book.

The most common mix looked like this:

• Microsoft Word or Google Docs for drafting

• Scrivener for writing & plotting, if they could figure it out

• Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Hemingway for editing

• Notion, Obsidian, or Evernote for notes

• Physical notebooks, index cards, sticky notes, coffee, prayer

  
  

“I use five different tools just to write one book. It’s exhausting.”

“If Scrivener wasn’t so hard to learn, maybe I’d still be using it.”

“Please, just give me something that links my scenes to my character arcs. I’m begging.”

That’s why Skriptzi was built as an all-in-one writing software. No tabs. No toggling. No chaos.

Just one workspace where everything connects.

What writers are paying now

Writers are already spending money on tools. They’re just not happy with what they’re getting.

Here’s the breakdown of monthly spending:

22% spend one to twenty-five dollars 

21% use only free tools 

7% spend twenty-six to fifty dollars 

5% are spending more than one hundred dollars cobbling systems together

And here’s what they told us:

“I’d pay more if it actually saved me time and kept everything in one place.”

“Better organization means more finished books, which is worth it.”

“I waste hours moving info from Notion to Word to Scrivener and back again. Help.”

The bottom line: authors are willing to pay for a tool that actually helps them finish writing their book.

The dream tool

When asked if they’d use a single platform that handles world-building, plotting, writing, editing, and formatting, the response was overwhelming.

98% said yes. 

Only 2% said no.

“If it does everything and I don’t need five tabs open, I’m in.”

“A tool like that would save my sanity.”

“Honestly, take my money. Just make it easy to link my characters to my plot.”

And here’s the best part. Skriptzi has already launched in beta with more than 100 authors signed up and growing every week.

What writers are dreaming about

When asked what would make their writing lives easier, authors asked for:

• Built-in plotting frameworks

• Drag and drop chapters

• Visual timelines

• World-building folders that actually make sense

• A way to track character arcs across drafts

• Formatting that doesn’t make them cry
  

“I want to click on a character and see what scenes they’re in. Why is that so hard?”

“Pantser here. I need structure I can ignore until I need it.”

“Custom subfolders for research would change my life.”

And Skriptzi is already building all of it.

The writing tool of the future isn’t a tool. It’s a studio

Authors don’t need another single-use app. They need a home base.

One place where everything connects. One place where their brain can breathe. One place where writing feels fun again.

That’s Skriptzi. And this survey proves the demand is real.

Ready to write without chaos

If you’re tired of duct-taped systems, juggling apps, and plot holes the size of Mordor, it’s time to join the movement.

Join the Skriptzi Beta and be the first to write smarter, plot faster, and finally finish your book.

Because your creativity deserves better than copy-paste, color-coded chaos.