Some Nifty Tools for Writers


Great writers need great tools. Here are some that I use often.

Grammarly

Proofreading for spelling and grammar is essential. No matter how much education you have in editing and no matter how many times you've looked over your own work, you are likely to miss something. That's where Grammarly comes in. No, it's not perfect and it doesn't replace a human proofreader. But it's a helpful tool. 

Hemingway Editor

Simply paste in your work, and you'll get instant feedback about passive voice, adverbs, and how hard your work is to read. You'll also get insight into the reading level of your writing. The site is free to use online, but you can also pay $19.99 to have it downloaded to your desktop. 

Omni Writing Calculator

If your writing goals are overwhelming you, a site like this can help. This calculator tracks how many words you need to write each day in order to meet your goals. You set the goal and the date, and the calculator will tell you what you need to do. 

CoSchedule Headline Analyzer

How effective is your headline? This little tool gives you all kinds of excellent information on your headline or the title of your piece. It lets you know whether you've chosen a good length, how popular you can expect the headline to be with search engines, and even the emotional impact of your choice. 

Title Case Converter

Properly writing a title can be tricky. This device lets you know whether you've capitalized your title correctly according to whichever style you choose. It's impossible to keep the rules for every style in your head, and this tool has you covered in AP, Chicago, NYT, and several more. 

Readable

People will immediately stop reading if they don't understand what you're trying to say. Readable examines the readability of your text. It also gives you feedback on your tone and use of keywords. It costs $4/month, but it's incredibly useful. 

Cliche-Finder

This one is just kind of fun. Paste your text into the box to see how many cliches you're using. It helps keep your writing fresh and unique. 

Cold Turkey 

It's normal for writers to struggle with wandering minds, procrastination, and a lack of self-discipline. if that sounds familiar, give this site a try. It actually lets you block yourself from certain websites, or even the whole Internet, for specific periods of time. 

These are my favorite writing tools, and the vast majority are free! Enjoy exploring them to see what works best for you. 

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