March: Sites for Writers

So I decided that at the beginning of each new month from now on I’m going to post the links to some of my favorite writing articles/websites. If you wrote a helpful article on your blog and would like to be linked please let me know and I’ll add it to the list.

One of the places where I get the best advice on writing is Writersdigest.com.

The one I recently got in my mailbox was called:

8 Ways to Write a 5 star Chapter One

http://writersdigest.com/article/8-ways-to-write-a-5-star-chapter-one/

And here are some other articles that are a MUST read:

Beyond Basic Blunders

http://www.writersdigest.com/article/Beyond_Basic_Blunders/

This one is my absolute favorite article! You have no idea how many times I’ve seen the Morning-routine cliché, especially in published books. For some reason it bothers me to see it so much even though I’ve done it a fair number of times when I first started writing. Everyone should read this ASAP, and see whether or not you have some of these clichés in your own work.

How to Build Tension and Heighten Stakes:

http://www.writersdigest.com/article/how-to-build-tension-to-heighten-the-stakes/

This basically tells you all the ways you can heighten the stakes in your book: for ex. with change, twists, dialogue, etc...

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Another site I’d recommend for the general dos and don’ts of writing is darkwaves.com’s Advice on Novel Writing by Crawford Killian. I think this is the first article on writing I’ve ever read and it’s always been a great resource for me to go back to. I highly recommend reading through this at least once.

http://www.darkwaves.com/sfch/writing/ckilian/

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Reccomended blog:

http://www.editsthatrock.com/blogETR/

"...we provide tips on writing, editing, and publishing." -Rochelle French


Note: I've noticed that there is a problem with the comments. It sometimes swtiches back to the regular blogger comment system even though I'm using intense debate. This usually happens because the page isn't loaded all the way. If it continues I'll just go back to using the regular blogger comments.

March: Sites for Writers

iPod Apps For Writers

(This picture was made by Exceptional-Mind)

Here is a list of useful iPod Touch/ iPhone Applications for Writers that I've found in the App Store. There are a ton more but I'm only listing the ones the are for free.

WriMoDemon

The WriMoDemon was made for Nanowrimo but it can be used ANY time of the year. Use it to keep track of your progress for your WIP (daily word count, percentage of completion, days left). When you're done press the reset button and all setting will go back to zero.

Note: You don't copy and paste your work on it. All you do is write the # of words you have written.

Merriam Webster Dictionary

What is a writer without their tools: words. I use this app all the time to look up new words I don’t know. I try to use as much vocabulary as possible because the more words you have in your noggin the more tools you have at hand while you’re writing.

Note: this app also includes the word of the day, so everyday you can learn a new word.

StoryTracker

The Story Tracker helps you keep track of the submissions you’ve made for the book you’re querying for. It's really only useful for those who are currently submitting to agents.

Note: it's not the full version but it does just about the same thing.

One Word Lite

One word helps writers keep track of their daily progress. It also tells you how many words you should aim for each day in order to reach your target word count.

Note: It's just like WriMoDemon except it has pretty pictures and it doesn't show the percentage of completion. I personally prefer WriMoDemon than this.

The Writer's Hat

The Writer's hat can help you come up with really random ideas for prompts. Some of them are actually pretty interesting.

Note: It can feel really random at times

iPod Apps For Writers

Online tools for Writers

Happy 4th of July Weekend! Hope you guys are enjoying the firework dislays that are everwhere. I know I am. :)
Just thought I'd make a small list of Online Tools for Writers. I seem to have a thing for lists...hehe...I make them all the time.


Useful Online Tools for Writers:

Write or Die-

An online tool for writers who get distracted. If you stop writing for too long it will make a noise and flash until you write more.


http://writeordie.drwicked.com/


PDF Creator-
Make a PDF file for your novel so that when you send it out for critiques it’s in a safer format.


http://www.primopdf.com/index.aspx


Creative Writing Prompts-
Prompts are a great way to build your writing skills. Try them out some time.


http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/


TagCrowd-
Use tagcrowd to highlights words that are used repetitively in your manuscript. The bigger the word is in the word cloud, the more frequently you have used it. Chances are that the word you used too much could need editing. For example: I used the word “looked” too much, and had to find substitutes/ better ways to describe the action of “looking.”


http://tagcrowd.com/


Readers/critique partners-
Probably the most important one. Find someone who you trust and gives constructive criticism, and ask them to read your work. There are many critque sites online where you can find critique partners. I suggest you google that one and find the one thats right for you.

Online tools for Writers

Grammar: A Writer's Tools pt.1

5 ways to improve your grammar:

1-Become a slow reader, analyze as you read

2-Be aware of sentence construction

3-Notice the spelling of long words

4-Be aware of active and passive verb tenses

5-Avoid overuse of slang (unless in dialogue or thoughts)

Here I’ve compiled a list of…

Common Grammar mistakes:


Loose = ie; spare change, something coming away


Lose = ie; something lost



 Your: This word means belonging to you.


Examples:


Correct: "Here's your coat."


Incorrect: "Here's you're coat."


You're: A contraction of the words "you are"


Examples:


Correct: "You're not serious!"


Incorrect: "Your not serious!"



The words Affect and Effect:


Affect is a Verb.


Ex. "How does this affect that."


Effect is a Noun.


Ex. "How does the effect of this change that."


Notice that there's a 'The' in front of the word effect; you can identify it as a noun easily that way.



You use than to compare two things. For example:


"I'd rather use smooth peanut butter then chunky peanut butter."


You are comparing the two peanut butters by listing which one you'd rather use, therefore you use than.


You use then as an order of time. Example:


"If we can't get in through the front, then we'll try going through the back."


Towards and Toward:

Both toward and towards are technically correct, according to most English language stylebooks.



Blond (without the e ) is used to describe males. Blonde refers to women or female gender.
In modern use, blond is sometimes used for female as well as male, but blonde is preferred for female.

Grammar: A Writer's Tools pt.1