12 online tools to make you a better writer

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[dropcap]W[/dropcap]riters all know the drill. It’s time to sit down and get your fingers tapping on that keyboard. Deadlines to meet, papers to write, articles to research. Productivity, time management, organization and working smarter and faster set apart a great writer from an average writer.

Part of a writer’s toolbox is the computer. Computers are supposed to increase efficiency. Information is at the fingertips on pretty much any topic out there. But, for a writer, the computer could turn into a major distraction.

It’s easy to sit down and write, but often the mind wanders. Work time soon becomes time to socialize on Facebook, send a quick tweet, and check out a You Tube video. One video turns into twenty. Where did the time go? Down the proverbial rabbit hole.

What about writer’s block? It happens to the most talented writers out there. The brain feels overwhelmed, tired, and can’t think about the next idea. All these are true challenges for writers. Bloggers, content writers, copywriters, novelists, students and those in the business world who use writing everyday for presentations and information sharing struggle with these issues.  The world is full of people juggling busy, chaotic work lives, tight schedules and a calendar full of commitments. Writers need valuable tools to help them maximize the time they have to increase their productivity, decrease distractions, and work smarter. There is help out there!

Here are 12 online tools to make you a better writer, no matter what the writing challenge is:

1. Mindnode

 

This is a highly effective tool that utilizes mind-mapping. What is mind mapping? It allows the writer to jot ideas down. The tool connects the ideas and organizes them into specialized areas including notes, to do lists, and an idea generator. This format enables the writer to focus on content rather than formatting.  This app is available for iOS and Mac platforms.

2. Edugeeksclub

 

This is an online writing service. If you feel that you need some assistance from professional writers like generating ideas or simply editing your piece, Edugeeksclub is the right place to go.

3. Time4Writing

 

They offer on-line writing courses for students K-12th grade. The on-line classes are taught by certified teachers. It’s curriculum-based learning that focuses on basic language and writing skills to advanced, technical writing. The focus is on grammatical structure and writing mechanics. English as a Second Language (ESL) is available. Courses are $99/month for 8 weeks. A 14-day money back guarantee is included.

4. Correctica

It’s perfect if you have a website. Correctica allows writers to input a page from their website and this tool scans for all grammatical and spelling errors. It also checks emails, resources and blog posts. If you are a website owner, spelling mistakes and errors make the reader question the integrity or professionalism of the site. This captures all those mistakes and put everything into correct, readable content. The cost depends on the amount of pages desired for scanning. Prices start at $9 for 1-200 pages and go up to $1,999 for one million and one plus pages.

5. RefME

It manages all references used in papers and correctly formats each one into a bibliography. Writers may scan barcodes on journals, books and other reference materials and put them into APA, Harvard, MLA and other technical styles. This tool is free!

6. Writefull

This app allows a writer to share their content with other writers and gain immediate feedback for improvement. This works well on Word Documents. It allows sharing through Google in up to 36 languages. It also contains data platforms such as over 5 million English textbooks and academic references and publications in 9 languages. The cost ranges from $15-25 monthly.

7. Blank Page

This app was designed with a novelist in mind. It’s a distraction free tool that includes features like organization timetables, goal setting, reminders and motivations, and stats on writing goals. This app is synchable across mobile devices and desktops. The cost starts at $5 and goes up to $100 for a yearly membership.

8. Evernote

This tool provides a place to write lists, projects, and ideas. It captures research, clips links and websites, copies reference materials, and photos. It allows for sharing of information in real time with business partners. This awesome app can make graphs and presentations based on current content entered into the system. It provides a business rate for 25 or more users.

9. Draft

This incredibly simple tool provides feedback on writing including suggestions for edits, and how to make the writing clear and consistent. It allows for choice of versions and can check all types of documents including e-mail.

10. Penflip

 

This a minimalist interface writing editor. It allows writers to gain feedback on their projects. It’s minimal features decrease distractions and it will format writing into an e-book, PDF or whatever format the writer chooses. This can be used for group prjects as well. It manages chapters, footnotes and edits progress. They offer a 30 day free trial and cost is based on the amount of projects entered.

11. Clippings.me

Are you a writer looking for a place to host your portfolio? This may be the platform you are looking for. You don’t have to be a computer code genius to get started. This tool allows for biography creation, page customization, and uploads of work, articles, PDF’s and videos. It grants tracking to see who visits the site and if content is shared. Depending on the package chosen, writers may have a custom URL and email associated with their page. Advanced packages include Google analytics. This tool is available in English, Portuguese and Dutch languages only.

12. Cold Turkey

This tool decreases writer distraction by blocking websites and applications chosen by the writer for set periods of time. It allows the writer to schedule block time for projects and a timer is available too.

Writing tools are important to consider for anyone desiring to get more out of their skills and be more productive.  Consider what your writing style is and where your strengths and weaknesses line up. Choosing a writing tool will optimize your content, organize your time, and create a better product for you.