Life can be hectic. Between work and the array of other daily duties, there never seems to be enough hours in the day to devote to writing your book.

In this day and age, when you think about an app, the first thing that might come to mind is procrastination. Many people use apps to put off other obligations or to take a mental break. Although this is true, there are some apps out there that are actually intended for the opposite purpose: to help boost your productivity.

Today, we want to offer you a list of some of the apps every writer should have to help jumpstart your productivity and help you wrap up that final version of your manuscript!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary – The most important element of writing is, naturally, the words. And as we all know, sometimes choosing the right word can be a difficult task. That’s why a dictionary is a necessary tool to keep in your writer’s toolbox. There are several versions of this dictionary app. The free version offers the complete Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and limited thesaurus, while the $3.99 version includes the previous list plus  synonyms and antonyms, illustrations, and foreign words and phrases that are commonly used in English literature. Both options allow a writer to quickly and efficiently search for the right word to keep the process running smoothly.

Evernote – As a writer, sometimes an idea will pop into your head when you least expect it. Perhaps you are on the treadmill at the gym, or you’re sitting on a bench at the park and don’t have a pen and paper handy. Those moments when you need to jot something down are when Evernote comes in handy. This free mobile app is a great resource for anyone who needs a place to record their thoughts and other information. The app accepts text, audio notes, video clips, or photos. Once the note is taken, it syncs with all of your devices, such as your tablet or laptop, so your thoughts are always just a click away.

Werdsmith – This mobile app will transform your iPhone or tablet into a handheld writing studio. This means that whether you are on the bus riding home from work or sitting in the stands at your kid’s basketball practice, you will still be able to write. Writers everywhere use this app to collect their ideas and work on their writing projects whenever they please.

Dragon Dictation – Sometimes your mind moves faster than your fingers. That’s why this free mobile app is great for those people who need to jot down ideas quickly before they slip their minds! All you have to do is hit the “Record” button, and your words are turned into text. When you are done recording your thoughts, just tap “Done” and that’s it – your thoughts have been recorded!

SelfControl – As we mentioned before, apps can be distracting. Whether you are scrolling through your social media pages or reading your favorite sites, odds are that a few times during the day you find yourself mindlessly looking through your phone or tablet. SelfControl is an anti-distraction app that not only “Blacklists” the major distractions that will kill your productivity, but it also makes the user more aware of their own behavior by showing them how many times they unthinkingly tried to visit a blocked website. The user can set the app’s timer for however long they want to devote to their work. So if you set aside a block of hours each day to devote to your writing, this app will tell you how often you tried to stray from task.

In short, apps can do so much more than distract. In fact, they can actually help a writer be more productive. No matter what your favorite time to write, these apps can help you stay on track and move one word closer to making your publishing dreams a reality!