In December 2014, I bought a copy of Scrivener, a “content-generation tool for writers.” I may be an atypical user, but the app immediately became part of my routine. In fact, it helped me to complete 79 projects over the past year.

Why atypical? The developers of Scrivener designed the tool for creative writers. (Not surprising: the company behind it is named Literature and Latte.) There is a category for “Non-Fiction,” but that contains academic templates. What it does have, however, is a “Blank” project, with no presets. That’s works just fine for my business and technology writing.

The power of this app extends across all categories. Scrivener gives you room for the actual, varied tasks of writing. In one folder, I compile, sift and organize research. In another, I brainstorm, outline, draft lead sentences, paragraphs and so forth. After joining all the sections, I export into Word, for the finishing touches.

Traditional word processing software arose for the single purpose of printing a document. Scrivener, the app with the name that evokes a medieval scribe, breaks that mold. It’s not perfect. Some users object to its lack of iOS app. But even using a fraction of its capabilities has boosted my productivity. In 2016, I expect it to help me deliver even more completed projects.