“A writer is a tool of the language rather than the other way around.” ~Joseph Brodsky
It’s often been said, you’re only as good as your tools. And even though a keen mind and an even keener pen (or computer these days) are still the main tools of a writer, there are others out there.
Which is the problem. How do you know which to use?
If you tried them all, you’d never write or publish a thing. And if you ignored them all, well, that’s not a smart move either. The serious writer or blogger of today needs to know where the advantages are, what the competition is using.
And there’s no point in sharpening an axe if it’s a bandsaw you need.
Which is why we here at Write to Done we have put together this resource for the serious writer. To lead you safely through the minefield of tools out there.
The Write To Done team have included all their favorites, many of which they use on a daily basis. The list is not exhaustive, we’ll add to it as we go.
If you have a favorite tool not listed here, add it in the comments and if we can, we’ll get hold of it and give it a test run. If it measures up, we’ll add it to the next update.
In the meantime help your fellow writers and share this resource around.
WRITING TOOLS
Scrivener
Features
Scrivener is a word processor and project management tool that stays with you from that first, unformed idea all the way through to the final draft.
Outline and structure your ideas, take notes, view research alongside your writing and compose the constituent pieces of your text in isolation or in context.
Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one application.
Scrivener is a word processor and project management tool that stays with you from that first, unformed idea all the way through to the final draft. Outline and structure your ideas, take notes, view research alongside your writing and compose the constituent pieces of your text in isolation or in context. Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one application.
Review
Scrivener is one of my key tools as a writer.You can use it for fiction as well as for non-fiction. I’m using the novel template to keep myself on track.In fact, I learned to use it in just a few days with the easy course Write Faster with Scrivener (see below)Here’s a post I made showing how I personally use Scrivener to not only to write faster, but also to write better: How To Write Faster With Scrivener
A key tool I use is the amazing writing software Scrivener.You can use it for fiction as well as for non-fiction. I’m using the novel template to keep myself on track.In fact, I learned to use it in just a few days with the easy course Write Faster with Scrivener.Watch the following video by Mary Jaksch from her post How to Write Faster with Scrivener. (Her post has definitely sped up my writing…)
PAID
At only $45 Scrivener really is a steal. If you are serious about writing, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
- CorkboardOutlinerScriveningsText EditingTools for Writing Non-FictionScriptwritingDraft the next blockbusterStatistics and TargetsSnapshotsFull Screen—EvolvedIntegration between the corkboard, outliner and editorCollectionsName generatorAutomatic backups
- CorkboardOutlinerScriveningsText EditingTools for Writing Non-FictionScriptwritingDraft the next blockbusterStatistics and TargetsSnapshotsFull Screen—EvolvedIntegration between the corkboard, outliner and editorCollectionsName generatorAutomatic backups
Learn Scrivener Fast
Features
How you can get Scrivener to do exactly what you want and accelerate your writing career in less than 1 weekFinally…get the secret weapon every successful writer uses to publish their books, finish their novels, and have their work seen by hundreds…even millions of people…every single day
How you can get Scrivener to do exactly what you want and accelerate your writing career in less than 1 weekFinally…get the secret weapon every successful writer uses to publish their books, finish their novels, and have their work seen by hundreds…even millions of people…every single day
Review
This is one of the most useful courses I’ve taken as a writer. I learned how to get started with Scrivener and then learned more advanced tips to get the most of the software. I highly recommend this course!
This is one of the most useful courses I’ve taken as a writer. I learned how to get started with Scrivener and then learned more advanced tips to get the most of the software. I highly recommend this course!
PAID
Student: $127
Rockstar: $197
Ninja: $297
- 30 HD Writing Backgrounds
- Top 75 Tools & Resources For Ultimate Productivity & Creativity
- Ninja Tips & Tricks
Evernote
Features
Evernote is like having a second brain. You can capture, organize, and share notes from anywhere. Your best ideas are always with you and always in sync.
How you can get Scrivener to do exactly what you want and accelerate your writing career in less than 1 weekFinally…get the secret weapon every successful writer uses to publish their books, finish their novels, and have their work seen by hundreds…even millions of people…every single day
Review
Many writers swear by Evernote. It’s a top tool for every writer, researcher, or blogger.
This is one of the most useful courses I’ve taken as a writer. I learned how to get started with Scrivener and then learned more advanced tips to get the most of the software. I highly recommend this course!
FREE
Evernote is free!
RESEARCH TOOLS
Datayze Readability Analyzer
Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with its suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.
This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
Just paste in the passage you want analyzed and away you go
FREE
Online tool
Lorum Ipsum generator
Lorum Ipsum generatorEmotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!
If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
I’ve actually used this tool numerous times when building web pages and sorting out the layout of a book.
FREE
Online tool
Thesaurus
Lorum Ipsum generatorEmotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
We all need a Thesaurus from time to time and this one is pretty good.
If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
Simple to use and pretty comprehensive -and it’s free!
FREE
Online tool
GRAMMAR & PROOFREADING TOOLS
Small SEO Tools Grammar Checker
Small SEO Tools Grammar CheckerLorum Ipsum generatorEmotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
This is quite a simple online grammar checker but if you just want the bare bones, it might do nicely.
This is quite a simple online grammar checker, but if you want just the bare bones, it might just do nicely.If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
Again, just paste in your selection and away you go.
FREE
Online tool
Grammarly
Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Review
Grammarly has established itself as the leading grammar tool.
There’s a basic free version or the pro version that will not only make suggestions about spelling and grammar, but style and a whole lot more.
Grammarly has established itself as the leading grammar tool. There’s a basic free version or the pro version that will not only make suggestions about spelling and grammar, but style and much more.
Review
If you’re in the market for an all in one tool that will save you the labor (and stress) of manually checking your writing, then Grammarly is probably the tool for you.
FREE and PAID versions ($11.66/month)
There’s a free online version, a browser extension or you can buy the paid version
Hemmingway App
Features
I’m always recommending Hemmingway’s rules for more powerful writing. Now you can test your work against his rules for simple, clear writing with this handy app for PC or MAC.
Scrivener is a word processor and project management tool that stays with you from that first, unformed idea all the way through to the final draft. Outline and structure your ideas, take notes, view research alongside your writing and compose the constituent pieces of your text in isolation or in context. Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one application.
Review
You’ll probably love or hate it 🙂
Paid
$19.99 for desktop app.
Small SEO Tools Plagiarism Checker
Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
Plagiarism affects many writers on the web, most of whom aren’t even aware of it.This simple tool is a good start to combating the problem.
This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
Paste the text in to the box and you’re good to go.
FREE
Online tool
http://www.copyscape.com/signup.php (5c a copy?)http://www.copyscape.com/copysentry.phpStandard: Your pages are checked every week.$4.95/month for up to 10 pages.$0.25/month per additional page.Professional: Your pages are checked every day.$19.95/month for up to 10 pages.$1.00/month per additional page.monitors your website content for plagarism on web
Copyscape Compare
Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
Another plagiarism checker, copyscape is perhaps the best known. Not only will it check two articles side by side for differences, it will also check the web.
There’s a free version or a paid version and they even have a version that will check for plagiarism of your work round the clock! Well worth it if you value your writing.
This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
All versions are easy to use and are invaluable in checking if an article is unique.
FREE and PAID
The only confusing thing about these products is the different versions and pricing.
Copyscape Sentry:Standard: Pages checked every week$4.95/month for up to 10 pages.$0.25/month per additional page.Professional: Pages checked every day$19.95/month for up to 10 pages.$1.00/month per additional page.
http://www.copyscape.com/signup.php (5c a copy?)http://www.copyscape.com/copysentry.phpStandard: Your pages are checked every week.$4.95/month for up to 10 pages.$0.25/month per additional page.Professional: Your pages are checked every day.$19.95/month for up to 10 pages.$1.00/month per additional page.monitors your website content for plagarism on web
- Continuous protection of all your important content:Scan the entire web daily or weekly for copies of some or all of your pages.CorkboardOutlinerScriveningsText EditingTools for Writing Non-FictionScriptwritingDraft the next blockbusterStatistics and TargetsSnapshotsFull Screen—EvolvedIntegration between the corkboard, outliner and editorCollectionsName generatorAutomatic backups
- See all the results, organized for your needs:Be alerted to all new copies, not just a few. Browse previous results online.
- Powerful technology tracks down stolen content:Find copies even if they have been modified from the original.
- Manage cases of plagiarism with ease:Keep track of multiple cases of plagiarism and your responses to them.
- Personalized results, targeted for your requirements:Set the number of copied words required for a match. Choose sites to ignore.
BRAINSTORMING & OUTLINING TOOLS
Mindmeister
Features
Mind maps are essential tools for brainstorming blog articles or creating outlines for books. There are several out there, most of which have free and paid versions. Mindmeister is one of the best.
Mind maps are essential tools for brainstorming blog articles or creating outllines for books. There are several out there, most of which have free and paid versions.
Reviews
The advantage of Mindmeister is that you can invite others (even if they do not have a Mindmeister account) to collaborate on your maps and you can hold meetings in real time where the team can work on the map together. I use Mindmeister all the time. My maps are repositories of ideas, projects, and information. I gather all my ideas (and also the ideas of team members) and also upload files to relevant maps.
Best of all, I enjoy using Mindmeister maps collaboratively. A mindmap is a great basis for a meeting because it heightens creativity and enables each team member to actively participate in creating the respective mind map.
The advantage of Mindmeister is that you can invite others (even if they do not have a Mindmeister acount) to collaborate on your maps and you can hold meetings in real time where the team can work on the map together. I use Mindmeister all the time. My maps are repositories of ideas, projects, and information. I gather all my ideas (and also the ideas of team members) and also upload files to relevant maps. Best of all, I enjoy using Mindmeister maps collaboratively. A mindmap is a great basis for a meeting because it heightens creativity and enables each team member to actively participate in creating the respective mind map.
PAID
The Personal version is $4.99/month. The Professional version $8.49/month.
Coggle
Features
Coggle is another mind mapping tool. It has a simple interface that hides a wealth of options.
Mind maps are essential tools for brainstorming blog articles or creating outllines for books. There are several out there, most of which have free and paid versions.
Reviews
The advantage of using Coggle is that it has a free version. But all the mindmaps you create will be public. If you want want to create private mindmaps, you’ll need to choose the paid version
The advantage of using Coggle is that it has a free version. But all the mindmaps you create will be public. If you want want to create private mindmaps, you’ll need to choose the paid versionThe advantage of Mindmeister is that you can invite others (even if they do not have a Mindmeister acount) to collaborate on your maps and you can hold meetings in real time where the team can work on the map together. I use Mindmeister all the time. My maps are repositories of ideas, projects, and information. I gather all my ideas (and also the ideas of team members) and also upload files to relevant maps. Best of all, I enjoy using Mindmeister maps collaboratively. A mindmap is a great basis for a meeting because it heightens creativity and enables each team member to actively participate in creating the respective mind map.
FREE or PAID
Paid version is $5/month
BOOK MARKETING AND PUBLISHING
The book publishing industry has gone through a revolution in the last decade with the advent of self-publishing. Whether you want to self-publish or not, there’s an almost limitless choice for readers out there today.If you want your book to stand out, you need smart tools to do the job faster and better. Below are some of the best tools in the industry to help you do just that.
Kindle Spy
Features
Reverse Engineer The ‘Best-Selling’ Categories With A Single ClickBrowse any category in the Amazon Kindle marketplace and in the background, KDSPY will ‘automatically’ reverse engineer the best sellers. When you want more information about a Kindle category, just click on KDSPY and in mere seconds, you’ll know the landscape of that category and the potential profit you could make here, along with a breakdown of each individual books performance.
Reverse Engineer The ‘Best-Selling’ Categories With A Single ClickBrowse any category in the Amazon Kindle marketplace and in the background, KDSPY will ‘automatically’ reverse engineer the best sellers. When you want more information about a Kindle category, just click on KDSPY and in mere seconds, you’ll know the landscape of that category and the potential profit you could make here, along with a breakdown of each individual books performance.The Fastest, Most Accurate Way To Identify ‘Bestselling Kindle Niches’. This software‘reverse engineers’ Kindle categories In seconds to find your next ‘bestselling’ book idea.
Reviews
Along with Kindle Rocket below, probably ‘the fastest, most accurate way to identify ‘Bestselling Kindle Niches’. ‘This software‘reverse engineers’ Kindle categories In seconds to find your next ‘bestselling’ book idea.
PAID
$47 one off payment with lifetime updates
- Reverse Engineer The ‘Best-Selling’ Categories With A Single Click
- Another Click Tells You ‘Exactly’ What Your Next Book Topic Should Be
- Analyse “Niche Potential” With The Kindle Search Results Analysis Feature
Kindle Rocket
Features
Not sure what to write about? Don’t worry, KDP Rocket will help you find profitable book ideas with a pre-existing hungry market ready to buy your book.
Not sure what to write about? Don’t worry, KDP Rocket will help you find profitable book ideas with a pre-existing hungry market ready to buy your book.
Reviews
I’ve recently bought this program and am totally blown away by it! It’s quite simply a must-buy if you are serious about writing, publishing, and promoting a book! You won’t believe how much information this program spits out!KDP Rocket is a simple to use software that works on both Mac and PC and helps authors validate their book ideas, find profitable niches and keywords, and research the book market.
I’ve recently bought this program and am totally blown away by it! It’s quite simply a must-buy if you are serious about writing, publishing, and promoting a book! You won’t believe how much information this program spits out!KDP Rocket is a simple to use software that works on both Mac and PC and helps authors validate their book ideas, find profitable niches and keywords, and research the book market. (Aff link being approved)
Price
$79
- How much money other books are making in that niche
- How many Searches Per Month on Amazon are being made for your book idea
- How many books are competing for that term
Amazon Ads Course
Features
Amazon Ads service is something Amazon self-published authors just can’t ignore. Not only does it let you get your book in front of more potenital readers, if used right it can dramatically improve your sales.
Reviews
The course is very straightforward and broken up into easy to digest modules.If you’ve never tried amazon Ads before or if you’ve tried and couldn’t get it to work for you, this is an excellent FREE course.
FREE
Delivered to your inbox.
WRITING COURSES
All the research in the world, even with the great tools listed above, wont help unless you’ve mastered the art of writing. Below are son great writing courses designed to turbocharge your writing.
The MASTERCLASS SERIES for Writers
These four courses are all taught by experts. They are particularly valuable for those of us who want to learn to write for the screen, or TV or to learn dramatic writing. They’re beautifully produced with multiple videos with lifetime access. Click on any of these links to check them out (play the videos to get some hot tips straight away.
The MASTERCLASS SERIES for WritersThese three courses are a great selection of courses by experts. They are particularly valueable for those of us who want to learn to write for the screen, or TV or to learn dramatic writing. They’re beautifully produced with multiple videos with lifetime access. Click on any of these links to check them out (play the videos to get some hot tips straight away
James Patterson Masterclass on Writing
Features
This is a great course where James reveals a lot of his secrets for becoming a blockbuster author.
This is a great course where James reveals a lot of his secrets for becoming a blockbuster author.
Reviews
Difficult to criticize the advice of a 19 times New York No.1 Best Selling author 🙂
PAID
$90
Dramatic Writing a Masterclass by David Mamet
Dramatic Writing a Masterclass by David Marnet
Features
This is an amazing chance to learn from a Pulitzer prize winner, the creator of Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo.
This is a great course where James reveals a lot of his secrets for becoming a blockbuster author.
Reviews
It would be hard to imagine anyone more qualified to teach dramatic writing than David Mamet
PAID
$90
Writing for TV a Masterclass by Shonda Rhimes
Writing for TV a Masterclass by Shonda Rhimes $
Features
Learn how to write for television from the creator of Grey’s Anatomy.
This is a great course where James reveals a lot of his secrets for becoming a blockbuster author.
Reviews
Shaonda has written some of televisions biggest hit shows, so there’s no doubting her expertise.
PAID
$90
Screenwriting, a Masterclass by Aaron Sorkin
Writing for TV a Masterclass by Shonda Rhimes $
Features
It’s difficult to believe that there’s anything about writing screenplays that Aaaron doesn’t know and can’t teach.
This is a great course where James reveals a lot of his secrets for becoming a blockbuster author.
Reviews
It’s difficult to believe that there’s anything about writing screenplays that Aaaron doesn’t know and can’t teach.
PAID
$90
PRODUCTIVITY/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Marinara Timer
Small SEO Tools Grammar CheckerLorum Ipsum generatorEmotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
Features
This is a useful timer that you can use for the Pomodoro Technique. You can also design your own time sequences or use it in the kitchen.
This is quite a simple online grammar checker, but if you want just the bare bones, it might just do nicely.If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!This tool will help you spot many readability issues you might otherwise miss. You don’t have to go with it’s suggestions, but it’s handy to be aware of them.Google Trends is a public web facility of Google Inc., based on Google Search, that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
I love this timer as I like working with the Pomodoro structure. This is writing for 25 minutes and then stopping for 5.
FREE
Online productivity tool.
PRODUCTIVITY/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
BOOKS
Kindle Publishing Package
Features
How to Discover Best-Selling eBook Ideas + How to Write a Nonfiction eBook in 21 Days + 61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books
Kindle Publishing Package: How to Discover Best-Selling eBook Ideas + How to Write a Nonfiction eBook in 21 Days + 61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books
Reviews
Steve Scott is a legend in the ebook world. he has written more than 100 books and regularly makes over $40,000/month from his book sales on kindle.There is no one better placed to explain the workings of the kindle machine.
PAID
$4.43
The Bestseller Checklist
Features
Get the exact guide that Barrie Davenport and Steve Scott have used to sell over 1 Million of their books.
Get the exact guide that Barrie and Steve have used to sell over 1 Million of their books.Kindle Publishing Package: How to Discover Best-Selling eBook Ideas + How to Write a Nonfiction eBook in 21 Days + 61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books
Reviews
Not a book but a handy checklist to go with the book bundle above.
FREE with email
PDF download
10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Publishing
10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Publishing
Features
This free guide will get you up to speed quickly on 10 of the most important things you need to know to self-publish successfully. And it will help you avoid a ton of newbie mistakes, too!
This free guide will get you up to speed quickly on 10 of the most important things you need to know to self-publish successfully. And it will help you avoid a ton of newbie mistakes, too!Get the exact guide that Barrie and Steve have used to sell over 1 Million of their books.Kindle Publishing Package: How to Discover Best-Selling eBook Ideas + How to Write a Nonfiction eBook in 21 Days + 61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books
Reviews
Joel’s site The Bookdesigner has been listed as one of the top 101 websites for writers by the Writers Digest. He’s a guy who knows a thing or two and his willingness to share that information has earned him a loyal following.
FREE with email
PDF download
SELF DEVELOPMENT FOR WRITERS
SELF DEVELOPMENT FOR WRITERS
Confidence Blueprint
Features
Learn to feel good about yourself and unlock your authentic confidence with proven strategies and techniques
Learn to feel good about yourself and unlock your authentic confidence with proven strategies and techniques
Reviews
This is a confidence course I created together with my editor, Laura. It will show you step-by-step how to develop the confidence needed to be successful as a writer or blogger.
This is a confidence course I created together with Laura and Mark Tong. It will show you step-by-step how to develop confidence.
PAID (Dicsount Voucher)
Normally $95, but special for Write To Done readers $15.Just click on the links and you’ll get the discounted price.
- Stand your ground with difficult people without creating conflict.
- How to Make the Value’s Checklist Work for You
