There are so many wonderful resources out there for writers. Here are a few that I’ve tried out and would recommend:
DIY Book Covers: I’ve used this for making free 3D mockups and promos.
Canva: They have a free version. (Canva is a graphic design platform that provides tools for creating social media graphics, presentations, promotional merchandise and websites.)
Pexels: Pexels is a free stock photo and video website and app that helps designers, bloggers, and everyone who is looking for visuals to find great photos and videos that can be downloaded and used for free.
FocusWriter: FocusWriter is a distraction-free text editor for Microsoft Windows and Linux. This platform is designed to help writers concentrate on their work by providing a clean, minimal interface that hides all the menus and options away from sight.
Grammarly: Some love it, some hate it. The free version isn’t bad. It reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes in English texts, detects plagiarism, and suggests replacements.
WordCounter: LOVE THIS! Apart from counting words and characters, the online editor can help you to improve word choice and writing style, and, optionally, help you to detect grammar mistakes and plagiarism. To check word count, simply place your cursor into the text box above and start typing. You’ll see the number of characters and words increase or decrease as you type, delete, and edit them. You can also copy and paste text from another program over into the online editor above. The Auto-Save feature will make sure you won’t lose any changes while editing, even if you leave the site and come back later. In addition, WordCounter shows you the top 10 keywords and keyword density of the article you’re writing. This allows you to know which keywords you use how often and at what percentages. This can prevent you from over-using certain words or word combinations and check for best distribution of keywords in your writing.
WordHippo: Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs.
TTS Reader: For when you want to read your work out loud.
Obsidian: A Worldbuilding Essential
Reedsy: Reedsy combines the best of technology and human talent to connect authors with top editors, designers and marketers. Reedsy’s curated marketplace is free to join and gives authors access to professionals such as Neil Gaiman’s editor, Stephen King’s designer and Dan Brown’s marketer. Check out their blog on Recommended Writer’s Resources
Reddit: I can’t tell you how many times Reddit has helped me with an editing or grammar issue. Good Writing Subreddits:
r/selfpublish
r/writing
r/writers
r/books
r/pubtips
r/publishing
r/literarycontests
r/creativewriting
r/literature
r/worldbuilding
Lanne Garrett 