Thanks to our constant hunger for innovation and efficiency, there are now numerous useful online author tools out there for amateurs and professionals alike. From hobbyist writers to published authors looking to improve one’s productivity, enhance writing quality, and aid smoother creative processes, there are various websites, online programs, and platforms to choose from, and most of them have free options.
Don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of options to go through, known as “analysis paralysis.” Remember that technology is supposed to help not hamper your craft. Choose wisely and have fun writing!
Writing and Editing Tools
- Grammarly: A powerful AI-based writing assistant that checks grammar, punctuation, style, and tone. It also offers suggestions to improve clarity and conciseness.
- Hemingway Editor: Helps make your writing more clear and concise by highlighting complex sentences, passive voice, and unnecessary adverbs.
- ProWritingAid: Offers in-depth writing analysis, grammar checks, style improvements, and readability enhancements. It also integrates with various writing platforms.
- Scrivener: A comprehensive writing tool for long-form content like novels, screenplays, and research papers. It helps with organization, formatting, and compiling.
- Google Docs: A free, cloud-based word processor that allows real-time collaboration and sharing. It’s great for team projects and easy access from any device.
Organization and Productivity Tools
- Trello: A project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks. Writers can use it to manage story ideas, deadlines, and writing progress.
- Notion: A versatile workspace that combines notes, tasks, databases, and wikis. It’s ideal for organizing research, character profiles, and writing schedules.
- Evernote: A note-taking app that helps writers capture ideas, research, and to-do lists in one place. It supports various formats like text, images, and audio.
Brainstorming and Creativity Tools
- MindMeister: A mind mapping tool for brainstorming and organizing ideas visually. It’s useful for plotting stories, creating character connections, or structuring content.
- Coggle: Another mind mapping tool that helps in outlining ideas, plotting story arcs, or developing characters. It’s user-friendly and supports real-time collaboration.
- Plottr: Specifically designed for writers, Plottr is a visual book planning tool that helps outline and organize your story, create timelines, and structure plots.
Research Tools
- Google Scholar: A search engine for academic papers, books, and articles. It’s helpful for research-heavy writing projects or finding credible sources.
- Zotero: A reference management tool that helps collect, organize, cite, and share research materials. It integrates with word processors to easily insert citations.
Distraction-Free Writing Tools
- FocusWriter: A simple, distraction-free writing environment with features like customizable themes, goal tracking, and timers.
- IA Writer: A minimalist writing app that offers a distraction-free environment with markdown support, focus mode, and content blocks.
- Calmly Writer: Another minimalist writing tool with a clean interface, distraction-free mode, and basic formatting options.
Publishing and Sharing Platforms
- Medium: A popular platform for writers to publish articles, essays, and stories. It offers a built-in audience and opportunities for monetization.
- Substack: Allows writers to create newsletters, share content directly with subscribers, and monetize their writing through paid subscriptions.
- Reedsy: A marketplace for authors to find professionals for editing, cover design, and book marketing. It also offers a free book editing tool.
Writing Communities and Feedback
- Wattpad: A social storytelling platform where writers can share stories, get feedback, and build a readership.
- Critique Circle: An online writing workshop where writers can get feedback on their work and offer critiques to others.
- Scribophile: A community of writers who share their work for feedback, offering detailed critiques and advice.
Character and Plot Development Tools FOR MEMOIRS
- Milanote: Its Character Profile Template helps especially memoir writers develop detailed character profiles, including personality traits, physical descriptions, and backstories, and even lets you connect characters based on relationships to aid in keeping track of them.
- StoryPlanner: Offers templates and other online author tools to help plan your stories, including character development, plot outlines, and scene structuring.
- Campfire: A suite of online author tools designed for world-building and character development. It’s ideal for fantasy and sci-fi writers who need to create detailed worlds.
Idea Generation and Prompts
- Plot Generator: Generates random plots, characters, and dialogues based on inputs you provide. It’s useful for overcoming writer’s block or sparking new ideas.
- OneStopForWriters: Offers a variety of writing prompts, story ideas, and resources for character building and world creation.
- Reedsy Plot Generator: Offers millions of plot combinations, including genre-specific prompts and character suggestions, to inspire story ideas.
Style and Tone Tools
- Tone Checker: A tool by Toolsaday that analyzes the tone of your writing, identifying emotions and style to help you match the desired sentiment for your audience.
- Slick Write: Checks for grammar errors, potential stylistic mistakes, and other features of interest. It also provides detailed reports on your writing style.
Word Choice and Synonym Tools
- Thesaurus.com: An extensive online thesaurus that helps find synonyms and antonyms to improve word choice and avoid repetition.
- Power Thesaurus: A user-driven thesaurus that offers a broad range of synonyms, antonyms, and word suggestions, often preferred by writers for its diverse input.
Formatting and Layout Tools
- Reedsy Book Editor: A free online tool for formatting manuscripts for self-publishing. It allows you to export your work as print-ready files.
- Vellum: A tool for creating beautifully formatted eBooks and print books. It’s especially popular among self-published authors for its ease of use.
- Atticus: A book formatting tool that combines writing and formatting features, designed specifically for self-publishing authors.
Collaboration Tools
- Slack: A communication platform that allows writers to collaborate, share files, and organize team communication in channels. It’s ideal for writing teams or writers’ groups.
- Dropbox Paper: A collaborative document editing tool with features that support real-time collaboration, comment threads, and task assignment.
Writing Timer and Focus Tools
- PomoDone: A timer app that uses the Pomodoro Technique to break writing into focused intervals with short breaks in between. It integrates with task management tools to track progress.
- Cold Turkey Writer: A distraction-free writing tool that locks you into your writing session until you meet your word count goal or time limit.
Self-Editing Tool
- AutoCrit: An editing tool that focuses on fiction writing. It analyzes your manuscript for pacing, dialogue, word choice, and more, providing insights specific to genre writing.
Inspiration and Research Tools
- Brainstormer: A creative app that helps generate ideas by spinning wheels with different story elements, like setting, conflict, and themes.
- Quora: A Q&A platform where writers can ask questions, gather information, and explore discussions related to their topics of interest.
Publishing and Marketing Tools
- Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon’s platform for self-publishing eBooks and paperbacks. It offers tools for formatting, publishing, and promoting your work.
- BookBub: A platform for promoting eBooks to a large audience of readers. It’s an excellent tool for marketing self-published books, particularly through discounted promotions.
- Publisher Rocket: A downloadable software that guides writers on the most popular genres, categories, and topics by KDP book analytics.
Writing Challenge Tools
- NaNoWriMo: An annual writing challenge where participants aim to write a 50,000-word novel in November. The site offers tracking tools, community support, and motivational resources.
- 750 Words: A daily writing challenge that encourages you to write 750 words every day. It’s great for building a writing habit and clearing your mind.
Voice-to-Text Tools
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking: A powerful voice recognition software that converts speech to text, making it easier to write when typing is not ideal.
- Google Voice Typing: A free voice-to-text feature available in Google Docs, allowing you to dictate your writing instead of typing it out.
And so much more! These online author tools can support various aspects of the writing process and overall publishing journey, from initial brainstorming, drafting, editing, organising, and publishing, to creative inspiration and character development, editing, collaboration, and publication. Depending on your specific needs, integrating a combination of these tools into your writing routine can help streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity.