Writing Process
Inspiration
The Story Starter
The Story Starter provides 373,067,200 creative ideas and writer prompts for writers of all ages. All of the story starters are randomly created. This idea generator can be used for short stories, novels, plays, scripts, or just for fun.
Timeline Generator
Simply type in the name of your kingdom, the starting year for your timeline, the years between each major event, and the number of events to generate, then click the Generate Timeline button.
Serendipity
Random generators of names (French, Japanese German etc), plots, character building and cities.
Overload
Plot generator with Murphy's Law of combat, contains more detail then most generators.
Seventh Sanctum
Even the best writers sometime need a little stimulation, if only for practice. Otherwise, writers may face the dismal monstrosity of writer's block. These generators are here to help when you need plot ideas, genre-bending concepts, and more..
Writers Block
Got writers block? Why not check out this site for some helpful techniques to push past it. You'll also find some generators for names, writing exercises and games.
Preparation
The Scriptorium
Welcome to the Scriptorium, a virtual room for writers. In each monthly issue you'll find articles, interviews, exercises, book reviews, and more to help you become the best writer you can be.
The Snowflake Method
Good fiction doesn't just happen, it is designed. You can do the design work before or after you write your novel - the Snowflake Method is one that many writers find helpful for planning out their novels. Why not give it a go?
Outline Your Novel In 30 Minutes
This is a quick exercise designed to sketch out the major events of your novel. It only gives you a map-- you have to make the drive yourself!
Paperback Writer's Novel Outline Template
This template can be used to draft a novel written for any genre and lists many of the things you need to consider when planning/outlining your novel.
Fantasy World Building
The following list of questions is meant to aid authors of fantasy fiction who are seeking to create believable imaginary settings for their stories. The idea is simply to provoke people into thinking about the ways their settings and backgrounds hang together.
Writing
This is the butt on chair, fingers on keyboard part of the process. This is where the magic happens. There are no websites out there to help you with this bit. You can learn all about character, plot, point of view and tense but when it comes down to writing you work with what you’ve got, then and there, in your head.
Editing
One Pass Manuscript Revision
Once again the wisdom of Holly Lisle prevails as she tells us how to get through the editing process as quickly as possible. The wisdom of Kerryn Angell advises: “Don’t skip part one!” Ignore her at your peril.
The Elements of Style
Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a must-have for any student and conscientious writer. William Strunk Jr’s, The Elements of Style is the grammatical bible for writers.
Sentence Sense
If The Elements of Style is a bit heavy for you try Sentence Sense, an interactive learning experience in grammar. There are over 200 computer-graded or self-grading exercises to encourage students to apply ideas, test their mastery, and have fun with language along the way.
Confusing Words
The novice editors best friend. A quick and easy way to check word usage. Confusing words is a collection of 3210 words that are troublesome to readers and writers. Words are grouped according to the way they are most often confused or misused.
How to Critique
If you’re new to critiquing this article from Forward Motion’s 'Vision' will give you a good overview.
Critters Workshop
Critters is an online/workshop critique groups for fantasy, sci-fi and horror writers. It works on the simple basis of you give critiques, you get critiques. Many of our members have used Critters as a way to improve both their critiquing skills as well as their writing.
Submission
Overcoming the Fear of a Synopsis
How do you attempt to condense your thousands of words into a couple hundred? With the help of The Lady and the Tramp, Vicki M. Taylor shows us how.
Miss Snark
Miss Snark is an agent in New York, although retired from blogging, her blog is a great archive of information. She doesn’t mince words or pad her responses to thousands of questions by wannabe writers about agents, publishers and submitting work.
Query Shark
How To Write Query Letters...or really, how to revise query letters so they actually work. Query Shark critiques the query letters of writers on the blog, for everyone to learn the do's and do-not's of query writing.
Predators and Editors
Preditors & Editors' sole purpose is to provide writers with information and contacts for the purpose of seeking publication of their work. Because artists, composers, and game designers often face the same challenges, they have been included in our coverage. It's hoped that they won't take offense when we use the term "writer" most of the time.
Self Publishing
Lulu
Lulu is a self publishing service that allows print and digital publication, breaking down the traditional barriers by allowing content creators and owners to bring their work directly to their audience.
Creative Commons NZ
Creative Commons aims to establish a fair middle way between the extremes of copyright control and the uncontrolled uses of intellectual property. It provides a range of copyright licences, freely available to the public, which allow those creating intellectual property – including authors, artists, educators and scientists – to mark their work with the freedoms they want it to carry.
Suite101
The world's most comprehensive independent online magazine: written and edited by professionals, trusted by over fourteen million monthly readers.