Writing Tools for Authors? (Online)

I've posted a list on my website. It's weak on worldbuilding resources.

Www-writing Resources!

that's a really cool list. Thanks for putting it together.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you!

I follow a YouTube channel (Active Self Protection). This morning, they had a video where the LEAPS Communication Method was discussed (as a form of de-escalation when in a conflict). There are courses on this, but I think we can use the basics for writing fictional situations.

What LEAP(s) is: https://leapinstitute.org/about-leap

Download the IKONtraining.co.uk Training PDF document. << Takes to Google page to see the download link (not a direct download).

Active Self-Protection video that mentioned this (warning a man loses his life in this video).

Anybody with any experience with Fictionary? https://fictionary.co/
Seems to be relatively new.

I've never heard of Fictionary. For me, I am skeptical of uploading my IP that has not been copyrighted.

it's a subscription service where you upload--a hard pass for me. That just sounds awkward and cumbersome.

ProWritingAid or Grammarly can be bought and downloaded to the privacy of your own PC, and applied to Microsoft Word (I think anyway).

Here are some great name generators if you have to name a bunch of things.

https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

For this one, I use Prefixes of words generated from site below (Random Word Generator), with suffixes from the Fantasy Name Generators above.

https://www.randomlists.com/

Edit: Nov. 1.... I came across this one while working on my project. This Name Generator has fictional island name generators, witch names, elf names, pet names, and loads more....

http://namegeneratorbay.com/

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful!

Enlightened said:

Here are some great name generators if you have to name a bunch of things.

https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

For this one, I use Prefixes of words generated from site below (Random Word Generator), with suffixes from the Fantasy Name Generators above.

https://www.randomlists.com/

Edit: Nov. 1.... I came across this one while working on my project. This Name Generator has fictional island name generators, witch names, elf names, pet names, and loads more....

http://namegeneratorbay.com/

Click to expand...

I try to come up with my own names for characters and locations. When I come up with something I like, I always google it to see if it's been used anywhere else. It's amazing how often the first result is Urban Dictionary. There's my word, and it always - always - means something vulgar. It is unbelievable how often that happens. It's to the point where I wonder if that's even a real site, or just a trick by google where they take your search item and just claim it refers to a private body part or something that goes in the toilet. Either that, or I have some kind of special talent that I'm not sure I want to cultivate.

This is a little different than everyone else's posts (more about a tool to encourage me to write, than one that helps with what goes into the writing) but I started writing on a site called 4thewords.com a few weeks ago and it's been awesome! Basically, you write words to defeat monsters and get items and rewards for it. For someone who loves video games, it's been really motivating. I wouldn't say the in game rewards are super exciting, but there is a story to play through and quests that have to be completed to move on. And there are bonuses for writing a certain amount (444 words) every day. It's really helped motivate me to write more.

The tool I use more than any other is Articy Draft

https://www.nevigo.com/en/articydraft/overview/

It's not free, and I know that pretty-much every site or tool mentioned on this thread is. But I thought it was worth a mention since I personally haven't come across anything with the same functionality for planning. I use it for visual structuring of chapters with outlines, world-building, timelines and meta-plot planning for a long series of books.

Toto Too said:

I try to come up with my own names for characters and locations. When I come up with something I like, I always google it to see if it's been used anywhere else. It's amazing how often the first result is Urban Dictionary. There's my word, and it always - always - means something vulgar. It is unbelievable how often that happens. It's to the point where I wonder if that's even a real site, or just a trick by google where they take your search item and just claim it refers to a private body part or something that goes in the toilet. Either that, or I have some kind of special talent that I'm not sure I want to cultivate.

Click to expand...

Your WIP; create your own meaning for it. Else, change it slightly. That Urban site has no copyright on words and you are not bound by their idiotic definitions.

For those self-publishing or those who want to create custom graphics (brochures/flyers or maybe infographics, other), the below info can help. To create custom book covers (and yes, I am re-including Weavesilk here, even though it is in an earlier post I made in this thread)....

Once you create an Adobe ID (https://account.adobe.com/), login. Go to: spark.adobe.com (free Web site). Search bar: Book Cover. Portrait (2:3 ratio; 1700x2550 pixels default save). Create a custom graphic (if wanted) at: http://weavesilk.com/

I'm trying to use World Anvil to keep my world-building in one place!

vicky271: For me, I'm skeptical of uploading uncopyright material to websites like these. Who knows what they may do with it and what might happen if it is hacked.

Still, on the main page of worldanvil.com is a great grid of areas to consider for worldbuilding. Create a temp account and go through their templates; there are some nice things here.

https://www.worldanvil.com/

These are all amazing suggestions for tools to add to my toolbox. Some of my favorites:
https://wordassociations.net/en/
https://ht.ac.uk/
https://www.etymonline.com/
https://www.behindthename.com/names/list
https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/color-thesaurus-correct-names-of-shades/
https://www.macmillandictionary.com...scribing-a-person-s-muscles-and-general-shape
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1940s.html
https://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/

This is an article that I have found very helpful
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/16/feminism-glossary-lexicon-language/99120600/

I recently downloaded the free Grammarly plug in for Word. It not perfect, but does a better job than Word on it's own.
https://www.grammarly.com

"Universal facial expressions of seven emotions – anger, contempt, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise."

https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2011/05/facial-expressions

These may help for writing dialogue or action (more below)....

How to Amp up Dialogue with Emotional Beats

https://www.writersdigest.com/writi...-writing/amp-up-dialogue-with-emotional-beats

EDIT: Below are links to body language for novel writing....

Body Language For Writers
Body Language Reference Sheet
Body Language – Eyes
Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language
Tips For Decoding Body Language
How To Show Character Development Through Body Language
The Top Five Tips For Using Body Language in your Writing

Enlightened said:

Here are some great name generators if you have to name a bunch of things.

https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/

Click to expand...

This was going my suggestion, as it is so much more than just fantasy names.

I also use ProWritingAid and I LOVE it! My writing is stronger because of it. Here's a link if you want to see the features the free version has vs the paid versions. https://reviews.financesonline.com/p/pro-writing-aid/

I write nonfiction. Yawl must do a ton of research for your writing! I am blown away by all the websites listed.

I came across this the other day. I don't think it was listed. I think it can be adapted to novel writing, from screenplays....

http://beatsheetcalculator.com/