Tools for Writers

Creative Writing Tips

• Phil’s Tips
• Phil’s Recommended Reads
• Online Writing Community Reviews/Ratings
• Writer’s Block Help
• Idiom Origins

Free Writing Tools

• WriteorDie.com (a motivator for writing–when you don’t type, there are penalties!)
• JDarkRoom (minimalist text editor)
• My Writing Spot (provides a simple, uncluttered writing workspace to write anywhere)
• Bubbl.us (a mind-mapping tool for plotting)
• FreeMind (a mind-mapping tool for plotting)
• XMind (a mind-mapping tool for plotting)
• ywriter (novel organizer and writing software)
• AutoRealm (map creation software)

Grammar and Other Technical Resources

• Grammarist.com
• US vs. UK spelling list of similar words (Tysto.com)

Publishing Support/Guides

• Query Tracker (A great resource to search for agents and publishers, while tracking your progress)
• Writer’s Market (A guide to finding publishers)
• LiteraryMarketPlace.com
• Writer’s Guide to ePublishing
• Author Publish Magazine
• Query Shark (Advice on writing great query letters and pitches)
• Quite the Query (Chasing the Crazies Blog)

Publisher Warning Sites

• Predators and Editors
• Writer’s Beware

Self Publishing Guides

• A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing
• Words with Leti Del Mar

Author Services

• Selestiele Designs Book Covers
• Truenotdreams Book Covers
• Honeyshadow Premade Book Covers
• Melchelle Designs Book Covers

Writing Communities

• Online Writing Community Reviews/Ratings
• Writing.com
• The Next Big Writer
• Writer’s Café
• Book Country–A Penguin Community
• Figment
• Critique Circle
• Writer’s Network
• YouWriteOn.com
• PenFactor
• Inkitt
• Scriggler

Writing Challenge Sites

• NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)
• StoryADay.org
• Stories with Pictures