Sunday, February 05, 2023

The Best Writing Tools to Add to Your Armoury


The task of writing can turn into an arduous task, even when it's a passion. But you probably know that already.

Sometimes it can feel:
  • Really discouraging
  • Totally overwhelming
  • Thoroughly exhausting
  • Completely frustrating
But when you've completed your writing assignment the rewards are:
  • That feeling of real accomplishment
  • Knowing that your words are going into print
  • Realising the impact of your writing on your audience
Never fear, these things can all be done with the right tools and resources. Most of these tools and resources are free but some cost.
 
Education

Courses on Amazon Prime Video

The writing courses on Amazon Prime Video offer writers aspiring to publish something a little different. If you're looking to improve your writing or break into a completely different genre, the courses on Amazon Prime Video will suit most experiences and ambitions.

With many of the courses provided by "The Great Courses", uniquely crafted courses for lifelong learners like you, with engaging, immersive learning experiences you can't get in a lecture hall.

Writing Courses

Writing Great Fiction

From emails, to stories around the campfire, storytelling is fundamental to human nature. But most writers will tell you that the blank page is daunting, and tough to know where to start. What details to include in each scene, how to move from the essence of an idea to a complete manuscript.

Writing Great Fiction offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by acclaimed novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop and the University of Michigan.

Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
 
With its own set of possibilities and limitations, writing a script is just another way of telling a story. This course will provide you with the indispensable ability to appreciate more films and TV, and be able to tell better stories, as well as write your own scripts. How you use these limitless creative possibilities lies in your own hands.

Becoming a Great Essayist

Everyone has an essay in them, if they have a clever anecdote, an interesting memory, a new way to explain how something works, or even an opinion.  Contrary to a novel, a history book, or scientific publication, essays provide a new kind of versatility of expression with the various facets that make you you.  The compact and direct nature of an essay means that you can tap into your own sense of wit, sharing your individual point of view, persuading others to your perspective, and record part of your memories for the future in as many distinct ways as you want.  Essay writing is one of the most profoundly personal outlets for writing.

Analysis and Critique: How to Engage and Write About Anything

Turn your writing from good to great by tapping into the power of effective writing, and developing the fundamental critical and analytical skills needed to transform your writing.  These skills, regardless of your chosen subject, goal or occasion, will help you organize your thoughts into a coherent piece, making a persuasive argument which will be rooted in the facts.  Making use of the responsible research materials gathered.  Together with other methods that will immerse you in the elements of being a successful writer, using engaging literary and everyday examples, inspirational prompts and unforgettable insights.

Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques

Great fiction isn't a gift reserved for the talented few - the craft can be learned.  Even if you don't dream of penning the next Count of Monte Cristo, you'll enjoy exploring the elements of fiction.  Delve into a wealth of exercises that will get you writing so that you can practice the many techniques you learn.  From evoking a scene to charting a plot, get a master class in storytelling.

How to Write Best-Selling Fiction  
 
Get eye-opening and comprehensive survey of the entire writing process, as well as a full breakdown of how dozens of best-selling authors have implemented best practices in their own writing.  As an aspiring author, you will gain a wealth of tools that will not only improve your ability to write, but will also increase your enjoyment of the craft. 

Productivity Tools

Dragon Professional

Create documents, surf the web, control your PC - three times faster than typing - simply by speaking.

Digital Voice Recorder

Record your notes for books, blogs, and social media at the touch of a button, then save direct to USB connection for easy file transfer.

Qwerkywriter Keyboard

Remember when people used to use typewriter's to do their writing? Well you can get that same feel without the need of a typewriter with the Qwerkywriter keyboard.

Books on Writing

The Elements of Style By William Strunk Jr and E B White

An American English Writing style guide, the most prescriptive treatment of English grammar and it's usage.

On Writing By Stephen King

Hugely enlightening for any aspiring writer, a million-copy bestseller, Stephen King shares his experiences, habits, and convictions that have helped shape him and make him the writer he is today.

Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers By Jennifer Serravallo

Jen Serravallo has collected 300 of the most effective strategies to share with writer's everywhere, and grouped them together into 10 crucial goals.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life By Anne Lamott

Advice about writing and on life from acclaimed bestselling author Anne Lamont.

The Author Startup: A Radical Approach To Rapidly Writing and Self-Publishing Your Book On Amazon By Ray Brehm

The Author Startup will show you how to create a viable product and publish your book, build momentum and market your book.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction By William Zinsser

Highly praised for its sound advice, On Writing shows with the clarity of its style and warmth the fundamental principles as well as insights from a distinguished writer and teacher William Zinsser.

The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression By Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

Highlighting 75 emotions and listing the possible body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses for each, all in an easy-to-use format.

The Writing Life By Annie Dillard

A short collection of essays written by Annie Dillard, illuminating the dedication, absurdity, and daring that characterize the existence of a writer.

Blog Images and Book Covers

Fotor

Everything you need for online photo editing and image creation. With thousands of beautiful and professionally-designed templates to meet any of your design needs! With handy tools and features at your disposal for amazing designs, as well as a wealth of tutorials and guides at your disposal.

Book Design Templates

Easily create beautiful book covers in Microsoft Word, Apples Pages, Affinity Publisher, or Adoby InDesign. Pre-designed templates to make all your books standout, with technology to help you format your book for both print and eBook.

Online Writing Tools

Google Docs

I use Google Docs mainly for writing my books but it comes with some really handy features whereby you can ask other people to write comments on your work.

Hemingway Editor

Make your writing standout with clarity and power. The Hemingway app allows you to edit with ease.

Evernote

Organize your notes, research or any other important ideas quickly and store them so you can access them later.

Writing Terms

Useful Guides, Articles and Writing Sites, From the Best Minds in the Writing Business

The Secrets of Story Structure - K.M. Weiland

Daily Writing Tips - Grammar Resource

Writing World - Everything You Need to Know About Writing

The Writer's Edge

How to Plan, Write and Develop a Book

How to Write a Book Proposal - Jane Friedman

How to Write a Book and Become an Author in 9 Steps - Just Publishing Advice

10 Writing Tips to Help You Sound More Human - ProBlogger

Writing a Novel? How to Keep Going - Liminal Pages 

My Own Comprehensive Guides and Blogposts

How to Improve Your Skills as a Non-Fiction Writer

12 Glaring Signs You're a Writer at Heart 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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