September 11, 2015November 11, 2015

As writers, we know how frustrating the writing process can be, especially after you’ve done all that work to finish your manuscript. Here we share some links to help you easily find resources to make the process easier.

Improve Your Writing:

Find the right word. Use punctuation properly. Flow. Rhythm. All are important in minimizing your editing and go a long way in improving your writing.

WordKeeperAlpha 

Words-to-Use.com – A different kind of thesaurus.

OneLook.com – One quick dictionary search tool.

Vocabulary.com – The quickest, most intelligent way to improve your vocabulary.

ZenPen.io – A minimalist writing zone where you can block out all distractions.

BibMe– fully automatic bibliography maker that auto-fills. It’s the easiest way to build a works cited page.

Story Starter-provides 1,007,240,080 creative ideas and writer prompts for writers of all ages.

Bubbl.us-create your map of ideas for your writing project.

750words.com – Write three new pages every day.

YouShouldWrite.com – Get a new writing prompt every time you visit.

WriterKata.com – Improve your writing with repetitive exercises.

FakeNameGenerator.com – Generate fake names for your characters.

Storyline.io – Collaborate on a story with others by submitting a paragraph.

How to use a semi-colon. The easiest way to prove you went to college.

When to use “that” instead of “which.” It’s not a simple explanation, but it’s good to know.

How to use an apostrophe. Hooray for plurals, possessions, and contractions.

When to use “an” instead of “a.” Use “an” in front of words that start with vowels or sound like they start with vowels.

When to use “I” instead of “me.” Learn why it is Tom and I went to the store and not Tom and me went to the store.

What compound possession is and how it works. Learn why it is Jackie and Jared’s wedding and not Jackie’s and Jared’s wedding.

When to use “whom” instead of “who.” Okay, nobody really expects you to know this one, but it is cool anyway.

How to use quotation marks. Know when the mark goes inside and outside the period.

When to use “i.e.” in a sentence. Use i.e. when making a clarification or defining something.

When to use “fewer” instead of “less.” Learn why it should be ten items or fewer.

When to use “farther” instead of “further.” Basically, you use farther when referring to physical distance.

Purdue Owl

Reverse Dictionary

Editing Help:

These are not meant to take the place of a real editor, but are very useful for getting through the editing stage before you send your manuscript out to beta readers. Some of these are free, some are paid, and some offer both.

ProWritingAid (we highly recommend this app. It covers almost everything and offers a human editor as well. Check our sponsors page for the discounted link we provide for the best aspects of this service.)

writecheck.com – Correct grammar and check for plagiarism.

Copyscape

HemingwayApp.com – Simplify your writing.

Grammarly

After the Deadline

Autocrit

Edit Minion

WordRake-for Microsoft Office users.

Word Counter

Writers Diet-tests your content to see if it’s flabby or fit.

ClicheFinder

Slickwrite

PaperRater

Polish My Writing

Readability-Score.com – Get scored on your writing’s readability.

Writing Tools:

From writing programs to writing helpers, this is an assorted list of the tools and apps you can use while writing. Some are free, others are not.

Google Docs-this is the preferred writing service of Our Write Side. It’s versatile, easy to use and share, editing is simple, and research is incredibly easy to do from the document itself.

Quabel

Ommwriter

Evernote

Scrivener

Ulysses

Blind Write-if you’re easily distracted by those squiggly lines, this is the app for you.

Writeboard

Microsoft Live Writer

Write: Tablet Notepad/Journal

yWriter5

Springpad

Wridea-don’t lose an idea again!

Loosestitch

Zemanta

FocusWriter

Imagination Prompt

Unstuck

Zen Writer

Byword

Workflowy

Zotero

Ctfm

Mellel

Story Mill

Storyist

Script It!

Mariner Writer

Nisus Writer Pro

Celtx

Pagehand

MarkMyWords

Marked2

OmniGraffle

Papers

Are you using a tool we didn’t list? Tell us all about it!

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