Some of the resources I have collected are just about writing in general and how to improve your craft. Others are great places to find plot ideas and random extra characters. And some are just places for creative inspiration.
Here is my Top 10 list for writing resources (in no particular order):
1. Better Novel Project
I found Better Novel Project while listening to a Harry Potter podcast. If you're a fan of Harry Potter and literary analysis, you should head on over to MuggleNet Academia for a listen. It's really good. It also helps me feel smarter than I am. Better Novel Project is the research and analysis of Christine Frazier. Christine breaks down the first book of three popular science fiction/fantasy series: Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight. She has a master outline that discusses chapter by chapter, point by point, the story elements these three books use to tell the stories of their heroes and heroines.
I found Better Novel Project while listening to a Harry Potter podcast. If you're a fan of Harry Potter and literary analysis, you should head on over to MuggleNet Academia for a listen. It's really good. It also helps me feel smarter than I am. Better Novel Project is the research and analysis of Christine Frazier. Christine breaks down the first book of three popular science fiction/fantasy series: Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight. She has a master outline that discusses chapter by chapter, point by point, the story elements these three books use to tell the stories of their heroes and heroines.
2. Write Like Rowling - The Friendly Editor
If you're a fan of Harry Potter and you are a writer/aspire to be a writer, then you should also check out Write Like Rowling. C.S. Plocher has blog posts, guest features and handy tips on being a more successful writer. There's a ton of stuff on there about J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter. I also found this website while listening to MuggleNet Academia.
If you're a fan of Harry Potter and you are a writer/aspire to be a writer, then you should also check out Write Like Rowling. C.S. Plocher has blog posts, guest features and handy tips on being a more successful writer. There's a ton of stuff on there about J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter. I also found this website while listening to MuggleNet Academia.
3. TV Tropes
I don't even know where I found this one. Probably in a forum on NaNoWriMo's website. The TV Trope site has...so much stuff it's overwhelming. What makes this website cool is that everything on it is a story element of some kind. A trope is an element of story telling that may seem cliche but it's used often for a reason: because it works. A trope might be "heartwarming orphan" or "parental abandonment" or...just anything that seems like a common story element. The website is just waiting for you to fall through the rabbit hole and find yourself staring at the computer screen at 3 in the morning and wondering how and why you missed dinner.
4. Pinterest
This one might seem weird but I think Pinterest is weirdly obvious. The best way to storyboard your idea is to literally create a storyboard. I save images that remind me of characters or links to research pertaining to my plot. Last year one of my characters owned and managed an alpaca farm and also grew organic vegetables for her own recipes for restaurants she owned. So I saved pins pertaining to raising alpacas and statting your own mega gardens. There are also links to writing resources on Pinterest. It's a cool way to bookmark your interests and save it in a beautiful format. Plus you can access it from anywhere with the internet if you have a smartphone, tablet or computer.
4. NaNoWriMo Word Sprints
This one is actually a Twitter feed. It's a great resource because it gives you plot bunnies, story prompts and challenges to write so many words in so many minutes during National Novel Writing Month or Camp NaNoWriMo. I even head over there when I'm not working on a NaNo-specific project. It's a great way to meet fellow writers online as well.
5. Figment
I don't remember how I found Figment originally. I think I was looking for online writing contests. I had lost my full time job and was only working part time so I needed something to fill my time. I found Figment and I have been pretty active on the website every since. There are forums to chat in and get story ideas from and contests for short stories with some really cool prizes. It's a site meant for youth and young adults, but all are welcome to participate. I'm 30 now so I am not really their core demographic but it really is a great website to post any style of writing in a welcoming environment.
6. NaNoWriMo
I pretty much talk about National Novel Writing Month in almost every blog post, but it really is such a terrific event and an awesome website. There are writing resources and the sponsors each year always have such cool tools for established authors and newbies alike. There are forums upon forums upon forums. You can find a local writing group or meet up online with other people from across the world. Even if you don't participate in November or write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, I highly recommend you join the website and check out everything on it.
7. Family Echo
Another weird one but one I found vital during last year's NaNoWriMo project. Family Echo is a free family tree maker. It's perfect for fake genealogy and keeping track of who is half siblings or step siblings and what everyone's birthdays are. And it's free.
8. Inflation Calculator
If you write historical fiction...or any fiction that jumps even a few years back in time, then you need this inflation calculator. It's perfect for any story that takes place in the United States or with the U.S. dollar. It was invaluable over the course of my last few years of NaNoWriMmo.
9. Random Plot Generator
I love this random plot generator because it gives you two characters, a setting, a theme, a situation and a character action randomly. You can change each point individually or all of them. The website also has other "random generators" related to writing and story telling.
10. Surname Generator
If you're like me you can think of first names but last names are hard. This surname generator helps you make sure your last names aren't all Smith, Jones and Miller. You can save your favorites and compare. It really is fun.
This one is actually a Twitter feed. It's a great resource because it gives you plot bunnies, story prompts and challenges to write so many words in so many minutes during National Novel Writing Month or Camp NaNoWriMo. I even head over there when I'm not working on a NaNo-specific project. It's a great way to meet fellow writers online as well.
5. Figment
I don't remember how I found Figment originally. I think I was looking for online writing contests. I had lost my full time job and was only working part time so I needed something to fill my time. I found Figment and I have been pretty active on the website every since. There are forums to chat in and get story ideas from and contests for short stories with some really cool prizes. It's a site meant for youth and young adults, but all are welcome to participate. I'm 30 now so I am not really their core demographic but it really is a great website to post any style of writing in a welcoming environment.
6. NaNoWriMo
I pretty much talk about National Novel Writing Month in almost every blog post, but it really is such a terrific event and an awesome website. There are writing resources and the sponsors each year always have such cool tools for established authors and newbies alike. There are forums upon forums upon forums. You can find a local writing group or meet up online with other people from across the world. Even if you don't participate in November or write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, I highly recommend you join the website and check out everything on it.
7. Family Echo
Another weird one but one I found vital during last year's NaNoWriMo project. Family Echo is a free family tree maker. It's perfect for fake genealogy and keeping track of who is half siblings or step siblings and what everyone's birthdays are. And it's free.
8. Inflation Calculator
If you write historical fiction...or any fiction that jumps even a few years back in time, then you need this inflation calculator. It's perfect for any story that takes place in the United States or with the U.S. dollar. It was invaluable over the course of my last few years of NaNoWriMmo.
9. Random Plot Generator
I love this random plot generator because it gives you two characters, a setting, a theme, a situation and a character action randomly. You can change each point individually or all of them. The website also has other "random generators" related to writing and story telling.
10. Surname Generator
If you're like me you can think of first names but last names are hard. This surname generator helps you make sure your last names aren't all Smith, Jones and Miller. You can save your favorites and compare. It really is fun.
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