Vellum vs WriteLoom
- Vellum: Mac-only, one-time license (~$249-$349), ebook + print formatting.
- WriteLoom: cross-platform web, subscription, eight studios.
- Vellum’s killer feature: drag-and-drop interior layout templates.
- WriteLoom’s killer feature: workflow continuity from plan through sell.
- They occupy different stages — most indies use both.
Vellum is a Mac-only formatting tool for indie authors — produces professional ebook and print interiors with templates. WriteLoom is an eight-studio web workspace covering Plan through Sell. They are complementary, not competing: WriteLoom handles writing, editing, pitching, and operations; Vellum handles the final-layout stage. Most indies use both at different points.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Vellum and WriteLoom solve different problems at different stages. Confusing them for direct competitors leads indie authors to pick one and miss the other. The right choice isn’t either/or — it’s "WriteLoom for writing through pitching, Vellum for final layout."
Chapter ii·What to include
- Vellum strengths: best-in-class interior formatting, one-time price, Mac-only.
- Vellum weaknesses: no writing, editing, or marketing tools; Mac-required.
- WriteLoom strengths: end-to-end workflow, AI assistance, cross-platform web.
- WriteLoom weaknesses: no interior formatting (use Vellum or Atticus for that).
- Common stack: WriteLoom + Vellum + KDP/IngramSpark dashboards.
- The deciding question: are you on Mac and need interior formatting?
Chapter iii·Example
A working romance author uses WriteLoom for everything through copy editing, then exports to Vellum for ebook and print interior. Vellum’s drag-and-drop templates handle the layout in 30 minutes; WriteLoom handles the previous 12 months of project work. Two tools, two clearly-divided jobs.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom covers Plan through Sell; Vellum or Atticus handles the interior layout at the end.
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