Resources for Writers
Here are some resources recommended by our members. If you have a favorite that isn’t on this list, please use our contact form to share it with us. We will be glad to list anything that would benefit our members. Also, if you discover any broken links, please let us know.
Please Note – These sites are not officially endorsed nor have they been thoroughly researched by ETWG. Please do your own research to determine whether or not a particular resource is right for you.
Writing Software
Word Processors
- Microsoft Word – Win/Mac
- Pages – $19.99 – Mac only
- Open Office – FREE – Win/Mac
- AbiWord – FREE – Win/Mac
- Yarny – FREE – Web-based
Distraction Free Writing
- Write Room – $9.99 (free trial available) – Mac only
- Dark Room – FREE – Windows only
- Q10 – FREE – Windows only
Typing Software
- Dragon Naturally Speaking – Win/Mac
- Kaz-Type – $19.99 – Win/Mac
Organizational Software
- Scrivener – $45 – Win/Mac
- yWriter – FREE – Windows only
- Evernote – FREE
- New Novelist – $47.99 – Windows only
- Jutoh – Digital Publishing for Everyone – $40 – Win/Mac
Other Writing Software
- Final Draft – $199.95 (free demo available) – Win/Mac
- Celtx – FREE – Win/Mac
- Scripped – FREE – Web-based
- Google Docs – FREE – Web-based
- Basecamp – Starts at $20/month (60-day free trial available) – Web-based
- Dropbox – FREE – Web-based
Writing Fun
Organizing Your Manuscript
- Streamline Your Formatting in MS Word
- Jami Gold’s Worksheets (& Beat Sheets) for Writers
- 4 Ways to Improve Plot/Climax in Your Writing
- 5 Ways to Prep for Your Novel’s Climax
- 8 Ways to Outline a Novel | LitReactor
- Beat sheet to the rescue, pantser-style – BELINDA CRAWFORD
- How to Use Plot Formulas | creative writing blog
- How to Use the Snowflake Method of Writing for Your Next Novel
- The Story Structure Countdown: How Different ‘Experts’ Say You Should Structure a Story | THE OTHER NETWORK WRITER’S ROOM
- Story Structure Database Index – Helping Writers Become Authors
Name Generators
Characters
- Writing POC 101
- How to Write a Male Character (If You’re Not)
- Women are Schooling Men about How to Write Female Characters in a Tumblr Thread
- How to Reveal Character Backstory Strategically
- Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language | Writers Write
- How to Use Layers to Show Intense Emotions | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author
- 12 Stages of Intimacy | Noble Choices
Descriptions
- 106 Ways To Describe Sounds – A Resource For Writers – Writers Write
- The Importance of Using All Five Senses When Writing Descriptions
- 43 Words You Should Cut From Your Writing Immediately
- Writing with Color — Writing with Color: Skin Color Description Guide.
Editing
- How to Streamline Your Formatting in MS Word
- Common Errors In English Usage
- Editorial Freelancers Association– Find an editor
- Editminion– FREE – Web-based
- JaLingo– FREE – Win/Mac
- WhiteSmoke– Starts at $79.95 – Win/Mac
- StyleWriter– Starts at $90 (free trial available) – Windows only
- Grammarly
- Ginger
- Grammar Slammer
- Grammar-Monster
- Christian Editor Connection
- PENCON(Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network)
- com– Grammar and punctuation rules
- DIY Your Edit: 10 Tips to Shape Up Your Manuscript | NY Book Editors
- How I Plan And Organize My Edits | How To Edit Your Novel: Part Six Heart Breathings
- Rewriting, Revising, and Fine-Tuning Your Fiction | The Rambo Academy
Location, Location, Location
- 7 Tips for Writing About Places You’ve Never Been – Write It Sideways
- How to Fictionalize Your Town in Your Novel
- Tutorial: How to make your own fictional city using Google Maps!
- What Does a Fantasy Map Look Like? | Tor.com
Marketing
- A Publishing Timeline for First-Time Authors – kn literary arts
- 25 New Book Marketing Strategies For When You’ve Run Out Of Ideas | Self-Publishing Relief
- 9 FREE Things Every Author Can Do To Boost Their Visibility On Social Media
- Fiction University: Backmatter: Are You Making the Most of Your Digital Shelf Space?
- The anti-ick guide to building your brand as a writer | Katie Lewis
- Book Marketing Glossary, Links and Resources from ALLi, Alliance of Independent Authors
Social Media
- Content Patterns: How to Create Better Content, Faster
- Grow Your Author Platform Archives – Web Design Relief
- Keyword Tool (FREE) ᐈ#1 Google Keyword Planner Alternative
- Book Brush – Ads & Social Media Images for Authors
Book Video Trailers
Blogs
- 6 Ways To Get People To Comment On Your Blog – Web Design Relief
- Blogging: Tips, Tricks, and Knowing Your Goals | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author
- How to Use Medium: A Beginner’s Guide to Writing, Publishing & Promoting on the Platform
- How Do You Write A Book, Blog and Build A Platform At The Same Time?
- How To Add Your Own Audio Version to Your Blog Posts
Miscellaneous
- First Time Authors
- Color Psychology
- Jerry Jenkins Writing Tools
- Jerry Jenkins Best Books on Writing
- E.A. Deverell’s Resources for Writers
- Copyright.gov – Guide to copyright laws.
- Preditors & Editors – A guide to publishers and publishing services for serious writers since 1997.
- Association of Writers & Writing Programs – an easy to navigated directory for writing conferences, residencies, centers, festivals, and retreats
- Universal Class – Online courses with feedback from real instructors (You can access Universal Class with a Tyler Public Library card)
- 45 Flower Meanings: Discover the Significance Behind Each Bloom – FiftyFlowers | The Blog
- Home – Folk Tale and Folk Motif Indexes – Library Guides at University of Missouri Libraries
- How To Quote Song Lyrics In Books Legally | BookBaby
- A Writer’s Guide to Permissions and Fair Use | Jane Friedman
- Writer Beware®: The Blog
- How to Calculate Series Read-Through (And Why It’s Important to Know)
- Internet Movie Firearms Database – get specific about firearms
Getting Published
Traditional Publishing
- Top 101 Book Printers in Texas
- Query Tracker – For writers that are ready to start searching for an agent
- Query Shark – one agent’s unforgiving(and hilarious) blog about drafting queries to agents
- Writer’s Market – the best in resources for writers
- The Submission Grinder – same listings and guideline for fiction and poetry writers as WM, but for free
Self-Publishing
- A cheat sheet for self-published authors making print books
- 5 Tips For Marketing Your Self-Published E-Book to Libraries
- 5 Reasons To Self-Publish On Smashwords For Your Ebooks
Freelancing
- How to Start a Freelance Business When You’re Broke – Lisa Tanner Writing
- How to Find Freelance Writing Gigs that Won’t Consume Your Life – Lisa Tanner Writing
- 10 Red Flags for Freelance Writing Gigs: How to Not Get Scammed – Lisa Tanner Writing
- The Freelance Creative – Your Guide to the Gig Economy
- Writer’s Markets – Paying Markets for Freelance Writers
- How to Start a Freelance Writing Business & Become a Writer! – FundsNet
- Freelancer’s Survival Guide – Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Memoir
- How To Outline A Memoir: A 3-Step Guide To Organization
- How to Write a Memoir: Breath Life into Your Story in 8 Steps
- Memoir Structure: 5 Things to Consider When You’re Writing a Memoir
Poetry
- Poets & Writers
- Poets.org
- Science Fiction Poetry Association
- How to Write a Cover Letter for A Poetry Submission – Read Poetry
- RhymeZone Rhyming Dictionary and Thesaurus
- Road Trip Activities for the Car: Poetry Writing (includes a good primer on writing poetry, along with many other good resources)
Scriptwriting
- Scriptwriting 101
- The Black List loglines
- Save the Cat
- Screenwriting.io
- Slanguage – Hollywood lingo to brush up on
- TV Tropes
- ScriptBlast – online screenwriting community
Places to Submit
- List of Magazines to Submit to
- Script Revolution – Screenwriting Pitch Site
- Virtual Scriptfest – $55 for five screenwriting pitches
Competitions
Magazines
The Business of Writing
- Breakeven Analysis for Self vs. Traditional Publishing | Writing for Your Life
- When Do Writers Need a Business Plan? | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author
- The Business of Writing – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
- The 7-Step Business Plan for Writers by Angela Ackerman
- Introducing the Business Plan for Writers Worksheet! | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author
- How to Create a Writer’s Business Plan – The Startup – Medium
Other Local & Texas-wide Writing Organizations
- Northeast Texas Writers Organization
- East Texas Writers Association
- Writers’ League of Texas
- The Poetry Society of Texas | A member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc.
- Tyler Public Library – Open Door Writing Group
- Wednesday Writers’ Whatchamacallit | Coach Nikki B.