For some writers, paper and pen are the only tools they need. Many, if not most, writers today rely on a desktop, laptop, or tablet to get their books out of their heads and into a print or digital book. These six online tools will help your writing take shape without touching your budget.
The word count function of your word processor (like Word, Open Office, or Libre Writer) helps you keep track of the number of words in your book as it takes shapes. It’s a great way to help you meet increment word goals. Wordcounter, however, provides a different function. It helps you identify and replace overused words.
If you’re creating pdf ebooks, collaborating with another writer, or just don’t want to shell out big bucks for Microsoft Word, Google Docs is a fantastic, free word processing software. It automatically saves all your work as you go and has a variety of templates to choose from.
Grammarly is an online spelling and grammar editor. It works as a standalone app, Google extension, or even attaches to Microsoft Word. It catches even the most minute errors and gives your work a professional polish.
While Grammarly is proofreading your work for grammar and spelling, The Hemingway Editor assesses your writing for clarity and ease-of-reading. It peruses your book for readability, passive words, and clutter created by overusing favorite words.
Answer a few key questions and the writing calculator will help you estimate how much time it will take for you to write your book. No two writers have the same amount of time to write, and this tool takes that into account. It’s customized for each writer and each book. If you’re trying to write around a day job or your children’s schedule, this is the ideal app for you.
Need help creating a book cover or interior graphs and charts? Canva is easy-to-navigate graphic design software that lets you use simple, drag and drop technology to create everything from book covers and ebook covers to social media graphics and infographics.
These tools are great for writers on a budget or for writers who need a little organizational assistance. If you have favorite writing tools, be sure to share them in the comments. You might have just the inspiration a fellow author needs.
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