Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. Which means that I may receive a commission if you buy a software or book. However, every opinion I express about the books and softwares in this article are my own genuine thoughts and feelings.
A List Of Free & Paid Writing Tools & Resources
When I first started off as a writer, it was just me, a cup of tea, and a Google Doc.
But over time, I discovered (and people introduced me to) more resources. And thanks to these tools, I’m far more efficient with the research/planning/business/social media sides of being an author (which means I have more time to actually write).
So if you’re also looking for tools to make your life easier, here are some of my top favorite books, websites, softwares, and apps for writers!
Books:
I’ve owned this writer’s workbook for years, but never even opened it until this past year.
It has a journal-like feel that helped break down the story planning and character building process in a way that helped me fall in love with my story before I had even begun writing it.
This book helped me so much while I was writing An Ambassador’s Ploy.
If your writing features any sort of fight, or anything weapon or injury-related, I recommend that you check out Carla’s books!
(She also has a helpful website: fightwrite.net)
The Novel Matrix by Brad Pauquette
There are very few writing craft books in this world that I will rave about, but The Novel Matrix is definitely one of them.
The information in this book revolutionized the way I think about storytelling, and what makes a good story.
Characters, plot, pacing, writing strategies—this book has it all. So whether you’re fairly new to writing, or you’ve been typing away for a while and want to create a fantastic novel, this book is for you!
The Story of With by Allen Arnold
Descriptions, characters, plot, worldbuilding, and research are only a few things that go into writing a successful story.
A huge part of writing for me is my why. The reason that I write. And The Story of With is the book that helped me find it.
In fact, this book convinced me to turn writing from a hobby, to my full-time career. So if you’re feeling lost or discouraged in your writing, or in your life, I definitely recommend that you check this book out!
Organization & Productivity:
I use Trello to keep myself organized throughout the week.
It allows me to make checklists, set deadlines, and customize everything. It’s also free and you can make multiple boards if you want to separate life stuff from business or writing stuff.
I was introduced to this free, adorable app by Lucy Grecu, and I use it almost every day!
It features cute cat animations, background sounds (like rain, a cafe, or white noise), and a timer.
The app is modeled after the Pomodoro method of productivity (25 minutes of focusing on a task, then a 5-minute break before the next 25 minutes).
10/10 would definitely recommend!
I will forever rave about this software. There are a ton of tools, but my favorite thing about Scrivener is that it allows me to divide my writing into scenes, and my scenes into chapters. Which makes drafting and editing so much easier.
It’s not free, but it’s a one-time cost of $50. And as someone who writes and uses the program every day, I’d say it’s been more than worth the price.
Writing Aids:
I accidentally stumbled across this website while researching for my last book, and it had all the information I needed and more!
If you’re looking for obscure information, like how much of your characters’ stuff can fit into their horses’ saddlebags, or the floor-plan of an old English home, this site is for you! This website reminds me a little bit of quora.com except for the fact that absolutewrite.com is specifically for writers, and is forum-based.
Whenever I have trouble thinking of synonyms, or the right words to use for my descriptions, I immediately open this app.
It features synonyms, antonyms, definitions, how to use the word in a sentence, related words, and even rhymes. Definitely a game changer.
(There’s a web version too!)
Chances are that you’ve heard of Pinterest before, but this is definitely one of my favorite apps/websites.
I mostly use it to gather character and scene inspiration, but there’s plenty of descriptive word lists, prompts, worldbuilding advice, and other writing content on there as well.
(I also post writing prompts on there under @thirzahwrites, so be sure to check them out!)
Content Creation & Business Tools:
Canva is fantastic tool for creating graphics, even if you don’t have a ton of experience with graphic design.
I personally use it to create Instagram posts and cover photos for all my website articles.
Pixabay has an extensive collection of mostly user-submitted royalty-free images.
I often use it when Canva doesn’t have what I’m looking for, or if I want to create graphics with a different program.
I included Krita on this list because it’s a free drawing software that I use to draw maps and characters from my books.
It may not have as many tools and features as Procreate, but it’s a huge step up from the default art programs you may find on your computers, and it’s fairly beginner-friendly.
Writing Communities:
If you’re a Christian who writes speculative fiction, then I can’t recommend the Realm Makers community enough.
I’ve gone to their annual conference twice now, and I’ve got two notebooks full of information that has exponentially improved my storytelling (plus I made a lot of amazing new writer friends)!
If you’re ready to take your writing and storytelling to the next level, then you should check out The Company.
I attended their full-time program, and by the time I graduated, I already had my writing business up and running, gained a ton of hands-on experience in various areas of the publishing industry, and published my first book.
They also have a great Facebook community and plenty of online programs and resources.
Even though the team behind Story Embers will no longer be uploading new articles, I have to shout out this website.
Story Embers was one of the first writing websites I found when I started writing, so it holds a special place in my heart.
All of their articles on plot, characters, themes, and other writing topics were invaluable, and it was thanks to Story Embers that I discovered both Realm Makers and The Company.
Before You Go…
There are still plenty of writing tools and resources I didn’t mention in this article, so let me know if you’d like me to make a part two!
Have you used any of the tools on this list? Which writing resources are your favorite?
Let me know down in the comments!
Read last week’s article here!