Writers don’t need much to do what they do best. All it takes is your big, beautiful, creative brain and something to write with. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra tools in your toolbox.

Today, I thought it might be cool to share with you a few resources I use to help beef up my writing. Whether I need help finding the right word, keeping track of my ideas, or finding a publication to submit to, having a list of resources to turn to when the writing gets rough is essential.

Here is a few that have proven to be invaluable.

I Don’t Know How to Say This…Grammar and English Resources

While it’s important to let your writing be crap and just put words on the page, part of the writing process is also editing. That’s why I keep the following resources handy to help me find the right word, make sure its spelt correctly, is surrounded by near-flawless punctuation, and sleeps in a bed of semi-proper grammar.  

Grammarly – If you haven’t heard of Grammarly, it’s essentially a grammar/spell checker on steroids. Ever since reading Dreyer’s English, I don’t use Grammarly as often. Still, it’s a great tool if you struggle with grammar and punction. The English language can be messed up sometimes.

Dictionary.com – Every writer should have access to a dictionary. As embarrassing as it is to admit, there’ve been many times when I’ve mixed up the meanings of similar sounding words. It happens to the best of us. On top of that, it’s a great way to improve your vocabulary. Always a plus for a writer.

Thesaurus.com – To all those people who are trying to think of the perfect word but can only come up with synonyms that are lackluster, I also recommend having access to a thesaurus.

Dreyer’s English – Just get this book. Do yourself a favor and get this book. Learn all you need to know about how messed up the English language is and get it.

Owl Purdue – If you were ever in a high-school English class, you know what this website is. While it’s a great resource for learning how to cite sources, it’s also great for getting familiar with the essentials of all types of writing – fiction, poetry, non-fiction. Definitely worth checking out.  

Who Wants This? Resources for Story Submissions!

I don’t have too many resources for story submissions, as it’s still a territory I’m actively charting. But I still wanted to share the ones that I use.

Submittable – While not all publications use Submittable, many do. If you don’t already have one, take a stab at creating an account and poking around in there. It also allows users to search for publications to submit to. The search function has filters for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, sub-genres, LGBTQIA, BIPOC, and so much more. This is super cool and makes it easy to search for the right publication for your story.

Spreadsheets – As a creative writer who is a little fruity, I shouldn’t like using excel as much as I do. But I love it. I use it to keep track of all the places I want to submit my work to, when their deadlines are, and how much it costs to submit my work. I have a writing friend who also uses Excel to keep track of where she’s submitted her stories, if she gets a rejection, and/or if her work gets accepted somewhere—this makes it easier to reach out to the other publications she’s submitted the same story to and let them know it’s been accepted elsewhere.

Putting Pen to Paper! Resources for Writing On the Fly

Note taking app – I like using note taking apps such as Google Keep and One Note to capture any novel ideas (pun intended), sources of inspiration, or books that I’ve come across that I’d like to read. The note taking app doesn’t need to be anything complex or fancy, just something that you use consistently.

G2 pen – Surely, I’m not the only writer out there who has a favorite pen. Mine is a black, G2 Pilot pen with a 0.7 mm tip.

Reusable Notebook/Journal – On days when I don’t particularly feel like typing out a story or using my phone to jot down a note, I pull out my trusty journal. The cover is made out of durable pleather and it’s refillable. Sometimes there is nothing quite like putting pen to paper.

These are just a few resources I like using that make my writing process a bit less painful. I also have resources in the form of shot stories and books that I like to revisit when I need a little inspiration. If all goes well, I look forward to sharing those with you on Thursday.

So, tell me. What tools do you have in you toolbox? Share them down below!