The Best Online Resources for Writers
Whether you’re starting out as a freelancer, looking to write the next best-selling novel, or just trying to earn some money on the side, the internet is a mine of information, resources, tip, tricks, advice, and data. But only if you know where to look. Over the years I’ve compiled several go-to websites and resources that always keep me and my work on track. Luckily for you, I’m going to share.
Grammarly - You’ve probably heard of Grammarly because it really is as good as they say. The free version can help you spot spelling errors, basic grammar mistakes, and typos better than anything else I’ve found online. The premium version is a little pricey but it can give your writing a boost by suggesting my dynamic phrases and more interesting verbs. It will also thoroughly check your work for grammar mistakes, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and repetition.
OED online – It never hurts to have a trusty dictionary nearby. The Oxford English Dictionary is a reliable classic. There are over 600,000 words and more than a million quotations at your fingertips. Words are added all the time based on our evolving language so it’s always up to date, accurate, and a real bible for writers.
Merriam-Webster – if you’re anything like me, you switch between British English and American English about five times a day. To make sure I never get confused between the two I also make sure I’ve got Merriam-Webster handy. This is the American answer to the OED and is another great resource to double-check your spelling and usage changes between the two dialects.
ZenPen – Zen Pen is a great little site to use when you just can’t focus. Its purpose is to block out distractions and keep your mind focussed on working. You can set a target word count and really get down to it.
Todoist- This is a great resource for anyone juggling more than one project at a time. If you have a busy life and have to balance several work commitments with family time plus time for yourself then you need todoist. It’s the best way to keep on top of everything. You can add one-off tasks, track recurring events and deadlines, set reminders, categorise, prioritize, check emails, share information, delegate tasks, and even track your productivity. I can’t live without it.
AP Style guide – If you’re writing as a journalist or general online content, this is your bible. The Associated Press is the most accepted, up-to-date guide for spellings, grammar, phrases, formatting. In short, everything you need is here. It’s the most widely accepted across all genres so unless a client specifies that they want you to use a different style guide, you can’t go far wrong with AP.
The Chicago Manual of Style – Having said the AP is the most accepted for inline and journalistic style content, The Chicago Manual is the most accepted for book publishing. If it’s fiction or nonfiction, art of science, if you’re an editor or a writer, this is good to keep on hand for everything for references and citations through to grammar and spelling.
Keywordtool – One for all you commercial writers out there. If you’re looking to spice up some online content with SEO and keywords, then this site if great. Just type in your keyword and it connects to google to see what people search for to find similar phrases that will boost your text ranking.
Statista- Another one for the commercial writers. Statista has over 22,000 sources including market studies, industry reports, surveys. If you’re looking for facts to back up a point then look no further.
Writingprompts.tumblr – If you need some creative inspiration, this is it. It’s full of super random ideas, prompts, questions, and anything else you need when your brain goes dead. But be warned you can get lost here for several hours!
And finally…
Your Dream Website – Whatever your dream is, keep their website as a bookmark. If it’s the imprint you want to publish your novel, your ideal newspaper, a writer you admire, where you want to work in the future… Whatever it is, keep it close by. Not only is this aspirational, but it’s also useful. You’ll get to grips with the kind of thing they’re looking for, understand how they work, what they need, and what they’re style is. When the time comes, you’ll be ready.