Difference between revisions of "Useful references for writers"
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| − | == Web Tools Useful for Writers == | + | == Web Tools Useful for Writers == |
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| − | == | + | === Mind Mapping === |
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| − | + | *[http://freemind.sourceforge.net Freemind open source software for mind mapping]; see also [http://www.tranglos.com/free/keynote.html Keynote] | |
| − | * | + | *[http://www.spacejock.com.au/PlottingANovel.html How to plot your novel using Freemind] - Simon Haynes. Also see [http://crystalking.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/writing-as-therapy/ this blog entry from Crystal King]. [http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Freemind is a mind-mapping application]. |
| − | |||
| − | + | === Organization === | |
| − | + | *[http://www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html Character chart] - really detailed! | |
| + | *[http://www.storyright.com storyright.com - storyboards, character sheets and more] | ||
| + | *[http://www.tiddlywiki.com/ tiddlywiki - a self-contained local wiki for you to organize characters, plot, etc] | ||
| − | + | === Generators === | |
| − | [http:// | + | *[http://wordsmiths.net/Maygra/RTG.htm Random Title Generator] - good for book/chapter titles or just ideas |
| + | *[http://www.writingfix.com/ writingfix.com -- interactive site for writers] | ||
| + | *[http://traevoli.com/story.php Story Idea generator] | ||
| + | *[http://chaoticshiny.com chaoticshiny generators (Fantasy focus)] | ||
| − | + | ==== Character Names ==== | |
| − | [http://www. | + | *[http://www.prairieden.com/articles/character_names.php Character Name generators] |
| + | *[http://www.dilloscape.com/generatorz/cng.htm Fantasy Name generator] | ||
| + | *[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php Seventh Sanctum Name generators] | ||
| + | *[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010208b D&D Name generator] | ||
| + | *[http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/ A collection of name generators] | ||
| + | *[http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm What's in a name?] | ||
| + | *[http://www.20000-names.com/ Random name generator] uses data from the US Census to match first and last names with differing degrees of probability | ||
| + | *[http://www.behindthename.com/ Names from around the world] | ||
| + | *[http://genforum.genealogy.com/surnames/a.html Etymology and history of first names] | ||
| + | *[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php Surnames] | ||
| + | *[http://nine.frenchboys.net/country.php Evil name, planet name, angel and demon name generators] Plus lots of links and a place name generator | ||
| + | *[http://incompetech.com/named/ Name database] | ||
| + | *[http://www.babynames.com/ baby names] | ||
| + | *[http://www.nameseekers.co.uk/surname.htm surname meanings] | ||
| + | *[http://www.last-names.net last name meanings] | ||
| + | *[http://nine.frenchboys.net/medieval.php Medieval names] | ||
| + | *[http://www.namepistol.com/medieval-name-generator.html Medieval name generator] | ||
| + | *[http://www.rinkworks.com/namegen/ fantasy name generator] | ||
| + | *[http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/ American names (socialsecurity.gov)] | ||
| − | + | === Writing Prompts === | |
| − | + | *[http://www.tdbspecialprojects.com/ Idea generator] | |
| + | *[http://thinking.teiru.net/oblique Oblique Strategies] | ||
| + | *[http://melydia.zoiks.org/writing/writing-prompt-websites/ Writing Prompts - a list] | ||
| + | *[http://www.livejournal.com/community/nano_prompt/ more Novel writing prompts] | ||
| + | *[http://www.jjuriaan.com/Fifteen_Craft_Exercises_for_Writers.htm Writing Prompts] | ||
| + | *[http://www.diyplanner.com/node/824 D*I*Y Planner article with pointers to journaling prompts] | ||
| − | + | === World Building === | |
| − | * [http://www. | + | *[http://www.web-writer.net/fantasy/30days.html 30 days of world building] |
| + | *[http://www.tageo.com index of country and city names] | ||
| + | *[http://www.larseighner.com/world_builder/ Patricia C Wrede's worldbuilder questions] - very good prompts for world builders | ||
| + | *[http://www.elfwood.com/farp/thewriting/liljenbergworlds/liljenbergworlds.html Article on world building] | ||
| + | *[http://www.thescriptorium.net/world1.html world building reference at thescriptorium] | ||
| + | *[http://www.seventhsanctum.com/ General references from the seventhsanctum] | ||
| − | + | === Analysis Tools === | |
| − | |||
| − | + | *[http://writing.teiru.net/fog My readability analysis CGI] that uses Lingua::EN::Fathom and the UNIX style utility. See the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test Wikipedia definition for the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test]. | |
| + | *[http://www.wordcount.org/main.php wordcount frequency] | ||
| − | + | === Writing Software === | |
| − | + | *[http://www.37signals.com/svn/archives2/writing_words_vs_writing_software.php Writing words vs. writing software] - some essential truths about writing | |
| + | *[http://romanzo.teiru.net Romanzo] - ideas for an heir to [http://papel.teiru.net Papel] | ||
| + | *[http://www.dklevine.com/general/software/tc1000/jarnal.htm Jarnal], open source software to annotate PDF files | ||
| + | *Need help with time management/motivation? Try [http://todoist.com todoist] and [http://www.joesgoals.com Joes Goals]! | ||
| + | *[http://softwarebybrian.com/cms/content/view/20/2/ TextBlockWriter] - Windows freeware that lets you manipulate virtual index cards. | ||
| + | *'''Also see [http://naperwrimo.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software_for_writers this list from our NaperWriMo Wiki]''' | ||
| − | == Writing | + | == Writing using index cards == |
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| − | + | ''Rescued from the 2007 NaNoWriMo Technology forum article by [http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/4423 MSRenfrow]'' | |
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| − | = | + | *[http://www.pileofindexcards.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page Pile of Index Cards] - a wiki dedicated to the use of index cards |
| − | * [http:// | + | *[http://absolutewrite.com/novels/index_cards.htm Holey 3x5 Cards Empower Creativity] by Will Mitchell. |
| − | * [http://www. | + | *[http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Use-Index-Cards-to-Write-a-Novel-Outline&id=537666 How to Use Index Cards to Write A Novel Outline] by Stuart Brown. |
| − | * [http:// | + | *[http://www.autocrit.com/articles/?a=articles&p=85 12 Easy Steps Make a Novel] by Ann Major. Advocates always carrying around index cards in first stages of plotting. |
| − | * [http:// | + | *[http://members.optusnet.com.au/~charles57/Creative/Idea_Recording/lila.htm Extract from Lila] by Robert M. Pirsig Published by Bantam Press – 1991. Actual real-live novel excerpt where the main character describes his method of using index cards. |
| + | *[http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Index_Cards 43 Folders Wiki entry: Index Cards]. Discusses several other authors who use index cards. | ||
| − | == Other Writing Links == | + | == Writing Advice and Articles == |
| − | * [http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/wrlinks-wordstuff.htm Internet writing links for writers] | + | |
| − | * [http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=9203 lazym] posted this at NaNo: | + | *[http://www.editred.com/Uploads/st_49447_All_time_Top_7_Plotting_M Back story-#7 on the All time top 7 plotting mistakes to avoid] - from editred.com |
| + | *[http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/scene.php Writing the Perfect Scene] - Randy Ingermanson (the Snowflake method guy) - about the Motivation-Reaction units (From Dwain McSwain's Techniques of the Selling Writer) | ||
| + | *[http://bksp.org/secondarypages/articles/authors/DRobbins1.htm Advice for Writers by David L. Robbins] | ||
| + | *[http://www.fictionwriters.com/tips-novel-writing.html Novel writing tips] from Fiction Writers Connection (short list of ten; high level advice) | ||
| + | *[http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/the_snowflake.html "The Snowflake Process for Writing a Novel" by Randall Ingermanson] | ||
| + | *[http://www.talewins.com/plotting.htm "Plotting" by Jeff Heisler, of Heisler Ink] | ||
| + | *[http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/plot.shtml "Plotting by Personality" by Marg McAlister] | ||
| + | *[http://www.hollylisle.com/ HollyLisle.com] | ||
| + | *[http://dmoz.org/Arts/Writers_Resources/Fiction/ Open Directory - Arts: Writers Resources: Fiction] | ||
| + | *[http://www.starrigger.net/advice.htp Writing Advice from Science Fiction author Jeffrey A. Carver] | ||
| + | *[http://www.sff.net/odyssey/podcasts.html Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop - free podcasts] - some interesting advice for writers! | ||
| + | *[http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-write-faster-better-and-easier/ Great article on how to write faster, better and easier] by K. Stone | ||
| + | *[http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/.html Article on how to be creative] | ||
| + | *[http://lillieammann.com/blog/2007/08/24/blogs-by-and-for-writers/ Blogs by and for writers] | ||
| + | *[http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/Dialogue&Detail.htm Learning about writing dialogue] | ||
| + | *[http://www.diyplanner.com/node/878 Journal writing tips from D*I*Y*] | ||
| + | *[[Novel Writing Tips|Novel Writing Tips]] - a mindmap with notes from two good novel writing books | ||
| + | *[[Notes from Techniques of the Selling Writer|notes from Techniques of the Selling Writer]] - a mindmap with notes from the great book by Dwight Swain | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Starting your Novel/Inspiration === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://watchout4snakes.com/CreativityTools/Main/Main.aspx Creativity tools] | ||
| + | *[http://www.creativewriterwithin.com/creative-writing/where-should-you-start-when-you-want-to-learn-how-to-write-a-book Where you should go when you want to learn how to write a book] | ||
| + | *[http://arwenbooks.com/a_brilliant_opening.htm The Opening Sentence] | ||
| + | *[http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2007/how-to-write-a-book-the-short-honest-truth/|Scott Berkun blog: How to write a book - the short, honest truth] | ||
| + | *[http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/43542-Charles-Bukowski-So-You-Want-To-Be-A-Writer So you want to be a writer] - An inspirational poem by Charles Bukowski that has the ring of truth... | ||
| + | *[http://www.logicalcreativity.com/jon/quotes.html Quotes about writers] | ||
| + | *[http://www.52projects.com/52_projects/2006/05/simple_things_y.html Jump start your writing!] | ||
| + | *[http://naperwrimo.org/wiki/index.php?title=Use_of_emotional_response How to use emotional response to create plot elements] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Writer's Block Advice === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.languageisavirus.com/ Tools for curing writer's block] | ||
| + | *[http://www.copywriting1.com/2007/03/eliminate-writers-block-forever.html How to eliminate writer's block forever] by Andrew Cavanagh | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Finishing your Novel === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.timothyhallinan.com/writers.php "Finishing Your Novel"] by Timothy Hallinan | ||
| + | *[http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/09/complete-your-first-book-with-these-9.html Complete your first book with these 9 tips!] | ||
| + | *Needing some motivation? Check out [http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/12/the-unpubbed-writers-7-deadly-sins/ this devastatingly candid article about the 7 deadly sins of unpublished authors] | ||
| + | *[http://www.nanofimo.org/resources.html National Novel Finishing Month] (30,000 words to finish your NaNo novel in December) has a terrific resources page | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Children's Novel Writing === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.midtel.net/~roediger/faq.html Patrice Kindl, Children's Author] | ||
| + | *[http://www.underdown.org/basics.htm Getting Started: Really Basic Information for Children's Writers and Illustrators] | ||
| + | *[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display/-/3E0D2R49QS6FV/102-1456311-9564914 Amazon.com: So You'd Like to... Write Classical Children's Fantasy] | ||
| + | *[http://www.scbwi.org/ The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Editing === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.nanoedmo.org/ National Novel Editing Month] (''March'') | ||
| + | *[http://www.timothyhallinan.com/writers.php Inspirational resource to help folks with their rewrites if not finished] | ||
| + | *[http://www.eeicom.com/staffing/marks.html proofreading marks ref] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Writer Beware! === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Here are some cautionary sites (taken from an article by [http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/24904 AngelSong]): | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Writer Beware - http://www.sfwa.org/beware/ | ||
| + | *Helpful information about bogus agents and publishers - http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/writer_beware.htm | ||
| + | *Absolute Write forums - http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22 | ||
| + | *5 reasons to avoid PublishAmerica - http://writing.articlesarchive.net/5-reasons-to-avoid-publishamerica.htm... | ||
| + | *"Preditors" and Editors - http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | == About Copyright == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://creativecommons.org/projects/founderscopyright/ Founders' Copyright Creative Commons] | ||
| + | *Kimberly Dawn wrote: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Because there are HUGE misunderstandings about what a copyright is these days and I keep seeing them repeated over and over again. I thought I could help. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | There's a good start. | ||
| + | |||
| + | So, yes fan fiction is a violation of copyright. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.keytlaw.com/Copyrights/top10myths.htm http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.theistudio.com/seven-online-copyright-myths.html http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/ http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Copyrights are made as soon as you make them into apparent form. So automatically everything in this post is being copyrighted as I write it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This post will be invalid in its copyright after I'm dead for EIGHTY years. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Also another thing to know is that an official copyright is EXPENSIVE, which is why most publishers will do it for you. It will cost you quite a bundle, unless you intend to have a high volume, and should be done through a lawyer. Trade mark and copyright often get confused, BTW, but you can't copyright titles to books, etc. You can copyright ideas, expressions of art, etc. specific phrases, slogans and titles are trademarks. ^_^ | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.sfwa.org/beware/copyright.html Copyright info] and [http://www.sfwa.org/beware/epublishers.html Electronic publishing] info from the [http://www.sfwa.org Science Fiction Writers of America]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *MThornton | ||
| + | |||
| + | official copyright requires the filing of form TX for literary works, sending along 1 or more copies of the work to be copyrighted and $30.00 Copyright itself is not the expensive part. correcting an error in the submission is $100.00 and any investigation into existing copyrights is $75.00 per hour. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Trademark application as of this year is $325.00 per each class of goods or service that you submit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ISBN registration is done in blocks of 10 and begins at $225.00 with an additional publisher registration fee of $25.00 | ||
| + | |||
| + | I've got a list of links to various agencies US, UK, Aus and others listed [http://www.darkescapes.net/node/426 here], along with other information for registration or self publishing, including ISBN and barcode ordering. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Writing Communities == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.composition/topics rec.arts.sf.composition] (''usenet group'') | ||
| + | *[http://www.fmwriters.com Forward Motion Writer's Community] -- looks really good! | ||
| + | *[http://www.critters.org aburt's critters Writers' Workshop], a large, active community of writers who help each other through frequent critiques -- great resource for critiquing, including [http://www.critters.org/resources.html these great references about how to be effective in critiquing other's work]. This is a must read! | ||
| + | *[http://www.geocities.com/arwzone/ ARWZ.com: Alternative Reality Writers' Zone. An online community for writers and readers of speculative fiction: fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, horror, supernatural, cross genre] | ||
| + | *[http://diaryland.com/error.phtml Diaryland members area] | ||
| + | *[http://www.write-on.org/ Write On! Discuss the art and craft of writing] | ||
| + | *[http://www.inkify.com/ inkify forums] - "A place to talk about books and writing" | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Self Publishing and Publishing Refs == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.lulu.com/ Lulu: Marketplace for digital content] | ||
| + | *[http://www.weberbooks.com/publish.htm Plug your book!] (a blog about publishing) | ||
| + | *[http://www.brendahiatt.com/id2.html - How much will they pay me for my book?] A wonderful site to fantasize over--a survey of typical advances, royalty percentages by publisher. Mostly romance publishers, but TOR is in there, too. | ||
| + | *[http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peala.htm - Predator editor/agents to avoid] | ||
| + | *[http://www.absolutewrite.com/ absolutewrite.com - writer's resource]; also check out the ''beware & background check'' thread in the forums for info on disreputable publishers (<a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/" title="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/">http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/</a>) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Writing References == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html Common Errors in English] | ||
| + | *[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus Merriam-Webster OnLine] | ||
| + | *[http://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg] | ||
| + | *[http://www.gopdg.com/plainlanguage/ plainlanguage.com] | ||
| + | *[http://www.phrasefinder.co.uk/ Phrase Thesaurus] | ||
| + | *[http://www.writingforums.org/showthread.php?t=15157 more action verbs] from writingforums.org | ||
| + | *[http://www.msgarrettonline.com/descripwords.html descriptive words], [http://www.msgarrettonline.com/actionverbs.html action verbs], [http://www.msgarrettonline.com/100ways.html 100 ways to say said] and [http://www.msgarrettonline.com/trans.html transition words] | ||
| + | *[http://www.geocities.com/evelynleeper/ Evelyn Leeper's homepage with many useful links] | ||
| + | *[http://www.diyplanner.com/node/304 D*I*Y Planner - On using index cards for NaNoWriMo] | ||
| + | *[http://writingniche.rebeccathomasdesigns.com/?m=200511 Writing tips from DragonChild (ML)] | ||
| + | *[http://www.thewatchmakerproject.com/projects/267/a-writers-toolbox A Writer's Toolbox] with links related to writing | ||
| + | *[http://del.icio.us/Razorkitten/resource Razorkitten's del.icio.us bookmarks] (mostly with a fantasy bent) | ||
| + | *[http://www.truckpoetry.net/resources.php NaNoWriMo resources] (collected by Cameron Matthews)--includes character creator | ||
| + | *[http://www.silveragebooks.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mag/ns/november_spawned.htm Rolnikov's November Spawned] site, with four issues of NaNoWriMo-inspired literature and a very useful booklet of writing tips | ||
| + | *[http://babelfish.altavista.com/ babelfish online translator] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Science Fiction === | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/ctnlistalpha.asp Glossary of science fiction ideas] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == NaNoWriMo == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://2006.nanowrimo.org 2006 NaNoWriMo] | ||
| + | *[http://2005.nanowrimo.org 2005 NaNoWriMo] | ||
| + | *Unfortunately, archives of years prior to 2005 are not available | ||
| + | *[http://www.tinman.org/nanowrimo/home.html NaNoWriMo Windsor: National Novel Writing Month 2003] - lots of great tips and tools. | ||
| + | *[http://www.zokutou.co.uk/wordmeter/ Create word-count bars for your journal/blog] | ||
| + | *[http://www.lazette.net/Free%20Stuff/NaNo.htm Lazette Gilford's NaNo for the New and the Insane] - free e-book | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Other Writing Links == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://b33m3r.spaces.live.com/Lists/cns%21E2D3A560DD1675E7%21232/ Writer Resources] - an annotated list. | ||
| + | *[http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/wrlinks-wordstuff.htm Internet writing links for writers] | ||
| + | *[http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=9203 lazym] posted this at NaNo: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
| − | + | === Where am I? === | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | [http://www.erikbenson.com/nanowrimo-report-card.xls A phenomenally complete Excel spreadsheet] that helps you keep track of your progress. It could save you time, unless you use it obsessively just to watch the charts and graphs change. Includes a morale tracker. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | * [http://www. | + | === What AM I doing? === |
| − | * [http:// | + | |
| + | [http://www.thescriptorium.net character worksheet and other resources] It may be a bit late muck around with plotting, but you never know what you're gonna need. This is where our character worksheet came from. The site also includes character biography worksheet, fantasy and sci-fi world-building forms, and story starters. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Is this for real? === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Check out the Character and Plot Realism thread on the [http://www.nanowrimo.org/modules/newbb NaNo forum]. This is the place to go for the skinny on weight-lifting, Italian folk magic, creative assassinations, or summoning angelic beings. It's also a great place to mess around when all you really want to do is, well, procrastinate. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | *[http://www.lulu.com/static/nanowrimo.php lulu self-publishing company] offered one free published B&W book for each NaNoWriMo novel. Offer expired 01/15/2005 but maybe they'll repeat it. | ||
| + | *[http://www.moleskineus.com/ Moleskine Notebooks, Journals, and Date Books - MoleskineUS] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Writing Games == | ||
| − | + | *[http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9476.phtml RPGnet: Review of Nanofictionary] | |
| − | [http://www. | + | *[http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Nanofictionary/NanoBlanks.html NanoBlanks: Make-Your-Own Nanofictionary Cards] |
| − | == | + | == Writing software == |
| − | |||
| − | + | *[http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html - yWriter: Free word processor software specifically for novel-writing] | |
| − | + | *[http://baara.com/q10/ q10: free portable writing program that can run off a pen drive.] | |
| − | + | *[http://www.richardsalsbury.com/ Another novel word processor] | |
| − | * [http://www. | + | *[http://docs.google.com google word processor and spreadsheet] - can access from any computer, collaboratively edit and save to Microsoft formats |
| − | |||
| − | * [http:// | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | * [http://www. | ||
| − | * [http:// | ||
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Revision as of 22:00, 1 March 2010
Contents
Web Tools Useful for Writers
Mind Mapping
- Freemind open source software for mind mapping; see also Keynote
- How to plot your novel using Freemind - Simon Haynes. Also see this blog entry from Crystal King. Freemind is a mind-mapping application.
Organization
- Character chart - really detailed!
- storyright.com - storyboards, character sheets and more
- tiddlywiki - a self-contained local wiki for you to organize characters, plot, etc
Generators
- Random Title Generator - good for book/chapter titles or just ideas
- writingfix.com -- interactive site for writers
- Story Idea generator
- chaoticshiny generators (Fantasy focus)
Character Names
- Character Name generators
- Fantasy Name generator
- Seventh Sanctum Name generators
- D&D Name generator
- A collection of name generators
- What's in a name?
- Random name generator uses data from the US Census to match first and last names with differing degrees of probability
- Names from around the world
- Etymology and history of first names
- Surnames
- Evil name, planet name, angel and demon name generators Plus lots of links and a place name generator
- Name database
- baby names
- surname meanings
- last name meanings
- Medieval names
- Medieval name generator
- fantasy name generator
- American names (socialsecurity.gov)
Writing Prompts
- Idea generator
- Oblique Strategies
- Writing Prompts - a list
- more Novel writing prompts
- Writing Prompts
- D*I*Y Planner article with pointers to journaling prompts
World Building
- 30 days of world building
- index of country and city names
- Patricia C Wrede's worldbuilder questions - very good prompts for world builders
- Article on world building
- world building reference at thescriptorium
- General references from the seventhsanctum
Analysis Tools
- My readability analysis CGI that uses Lingua::EN::Fathom and the UNIX style utility. See the Wikipedia definition for the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test.
- wordcount frequency
Writing Software
- Writing words vs. writing software - some essential truths about writing
- Romanzo - ideas for an heir to Papel
- Jarnal, open source software to annotate PDF files
- Need help with time management/motivation? Try todoist and Joes Goals!
- TextBlockWriter - Windows freeware that lets you manipulate virtual index cards.
- Also see this list from our NaperWriMo Wiki
Writing using index cards
Rescued from the 2007 NaNoWriMo Technology forum article by MSRenfrow
- Pile of Index Cards - a wiki dedicated to the use of index cards
- Holey 3x5 Cards Empower Creativity by Will Mitchell.
- How to Use Index Cards to Write A Novel Outline by Stuart Brown.
- 12 Easy Steps Make a Novel by Ann Major. Advocates always carrying around index cards in first stages of plotting.
- Extract from Lila by Robert M. Pirsig Published by Bantam Press – 1991. Actual real-live novel excerpt where the main character describes his method of using index cards.
- 43 Folders Wiki entry: Index Cards. Discusses several other authors who use index cards.
Writing Advice and Articles
- Back story-#7 on the All time top 7 plotting mistakes to avoid - from editred.com
- Writing the Perfect Scene - Randy Ingermanson (the Snowflake method guy) - about the Motivation-Reaction units (From Dwain McSwain's Techniques of the Selling Writer)
- Advice for Writers by David L. Robbins
- Novel writing tips from Fiction Writers Connection (short list of ten; high level advice)
- "The Snowflake Process for Writing a Novel" by Randall Ingermanson
- "Plotting" by Jeff Heisler, of Heisler Ink
- "Plotting by Personality" by Marg McAlister
- HollyLisle.com
- Open Directory - Arts: Writers Resources: Fiction
- Writing Advice from Science Fiction author Jeffrey A. Carver
- Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop - free podcasts - some interesting advice for writers!
- Great article on how to write faster, better and easier by K. Stone
- Article on how to be creative
- Blogs by and for writers
- Learning about writing dialogue
- Journal writing tips from D*I*Y*
- Novel Writing Tips - a mindmap with notes from two good novel writing books
- notes from Techniques of the Selling Writer - a mindmap with notes from the great book by Dwight Swain
Starting your Novel/Inspiration
- Creativity tools
- Where you should go when you want to learn how to write a book
- The Opening Sentence
- Berkun blog: How to write a book - the short, honest truth
- So you want to be a writer - An inspirational poem by Charles Bukowski that has the ring of truth...
- Quotes about writers
- Jump start your writing!
- How to use emotional response to create plot elements
Writer's Block Advice
- Tools for curing writer's block
- How to eliminate writer's block forever by Andrew Cavanagh
Finishing your Novel
- "Finishing Your Novel" by Timothy Hallinan
- Complete your first book with these 9 tips!
- Needing some motivation? Check out this devastatingly candid article about the 7 deadly sins of unpublished authors
- National Novel Finishing Month (30,000 words to finish your NaNo novel in December) has a terrific resources page
Children's Novel Writing
- Patrice Kindl, Children's Author
- Getting Started: Really Basic Information for Children's Writers and Illustrators
- Amazon.com: So You'd Like to... Write Classical Children's Fantasy
- The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
Editing
- National Novel Editing Month (March)
- Inspirational resource to help folks with their rewrites if not finished
- proofreading marks ref
Writer Beware!
Here are some cautionary sites (taken from an article by AngelSong):
- Writer Beware - http://www.sfwa.org/beware/
- Helpful information about bogus agents and publishers - http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/writer_beware.htm
- Absolute Write forums - http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22
- 5 reasons to avoid PublishAmerica - http://writing.articlesarchive.net/5-reasons-to-avoid-publishamerica.htm...
- "Preditors" and Editors - http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/
About Copyright
- Founders' Copyright Creative Commons
- Kimberly Dawn wrote:
Because there are HUGE misunderstandings about what a copyright is these days and I keep seeing them repeated over and over again. I thought I could help.
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
There's a good start.
So, yes fan fiction is a violation of copyright.
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
Copyrights are made as soon as you make them into apparent form. So automatically everything in this post is being copyrighted as I write it.
This post will be invalid in its copyright after I'm dead for EIGHTY years.
Also another thing to know is that an official copyright is EXPENSIVE, which is why most publishers will do it for you. It will cost you quite a bundle, unless you intend to have a high volume, and should be done through a lawyer. Trade mark and copyright often get confused, BTW, but you can't copyright titles to books, etc. You can copyright ideas, expressions of art, etc. specific phrases, slogans and titles are trademarks. ^_^
- Copyright info and Electronic publishing info from the Science Fiction Writers of America.
- MThornton
official copyright requires the filing of form TX for literary works, sending along 1 or more copies of the work to be copyrighted and $30.00 Copyright itself is not the expensive part. correcting an error in the submission is $100.00 and any investigation into existing copyrights is $75.00 per hour.
Trademark application as of this year is $325.00 per each class of goods or service that you submit.
ISBN registration is done in blocks of 10 and begins at $225.00 with an additional publisher registration fee of $25.00
I've got a list of links to various agencies US, UK, Aus and others listed here, along with other information for registration or self publishing, including ISBN and barcode ordering.
Writing Communities
- rec.arts.sf.composition (usenet group)
- Forward Motion Writer's Community -- looks really good!
- aburt's critters Writers' Workshop, a large, active community of writers who help each other through frequent critiques -- great resource for critiquing, including these great references about how to be effective in critiquing other's work. This is a must read!
- ARWZ.com: Alternative Reality Writers' Zone. An online community for writers and readers of speculative fiction: fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, horror, supernatural, cross genre
- Diaryland members area
- Write On! Discuss the art and craft of writing
- inkify forums - "A place to talk about books and writing"
Self Publishing and Publishing Refs
- Lulu: Marketplace for digital content
- Plug your book! (a blog about publishing)
- - How much will they pay me for my book? A wonderful site to fantasize over--a survey of typical advances, royalty percentages by publisher. Mostly romance publishers, but TOR is in there, too.
- - Predator editor/agents to avoid
- absolutewrite.com - writer's resource; also check out the beware & background check thread in the forums for info on disreputable publishers (<a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/" title="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/">http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/</a>)
Writing References
- Common Errors in English
- Merriam-Webster OnLine
- Project Gutenberg
- plainlanguage.com
- Phrase Thesaurus
- more action verbs from writingforums.org
- descriptive words, action verbs, 100 ways to say said and transition words
- Evelyn Leeper's homepage with many useful links
- D*I*Y Planner - On using index cards for NaNoWriMo
- Writing tips from DragonChild (ML)
- A Writer's Toolbox with links related to writing
- Razorkitten's del.icio.us bookmarks (mostly with a fantasy bent)
- NaNoWriMo resources (collected by Cameron Matthews)--includes character creator
- Rolnikov's November Spawned site, with four issues of NaNoWriMo-inspired literature and a very useful booklet of writing tips
- babelfish online translator
Science Fiction
NaNoWriMo
- 2006 NaNoWriMo
- 2005 NaNoWriMo
- Unfortunately, archives of years prior to 2005 are not available
- NaNoWriMo Windsor: National Novel Writing Month 2003 - lots of great tips and tools.
- Create word-count bars for your journal/blog
- Lazette Gilford's NaNo for the New and the Insane - free e-book
Other Writing Links
- Writer Resources - an annotated list.
- Internet writing links for writers
- lazym posted this at NaNo:
Where am I?
A phenomenally complete Excel spreadsheet that helps you keep track of your progress. It could save you time, unless you use it obsessively just to watch the charts and graphs change. Includes a morale tracker.
What AM I doing?
character worksheet and other resources It may be a bit late muck around with plotting, but you never know what you're gonna need. This is where our character worksheet came from. The site also includes character biography worksheet, fantasy and sci-fi world-building forms, and story starters.
Is this for real?
Check out the Character and Plot Realism thread on the NaNo forum. This is the place to go for the skinny on weight-lifting, Italian folk magic, creative assassinations, or summoning angelic beings. It's also a great place to mess around when all you really want to do is, well, procrastinate.
- lulu self-publishing company offered one free published B&W book for each NaNoWriMo novel. Offer expired 01/15/2005 but maybe they'll repeat it.
- Moleskine Notebooks, Journals, and Date Books - MoleskineUS
Writing Games
Writing software
- - yWriter: Free word processor software specifically for novel-writing
- q10: free portable writing program that can run off a pen drive.
- Another novel word processor
- google word processor and spreadsheet - can access from any computer, collaboratively edit and save to Microsoft formats
