Write Out of the Box
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Creativity and the Technical Quill
The first section of this page is focused on providing you with the tools you need to write on a more academic level. This includes the basics of grammar, punctuation and writing styles. All of these are the structural tools for any form of writing. You cannot expect to be a successful writer in any medium without at least foundational understanding of how the language works.
The next section offers what I consider to be advanced tools. These resources are for creative manipulation of words in a literary form beyond the regular academic realm. At this level, you already know the foundational rules of the language and are now skilled enough to apply the rules in an artistic form.
Word of the Day, Updated Daily
- affray: Dictionary.com Word of the Day
- affray: a tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes
Amazon Price: $9.72 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $8.43
Let's face it, punctuation is difficult and grammar can be tricky. But identifying parts of speech and navigating the waters of the tricky comma does not have to be so difficult, and it doesn't have to be so dull! This guidebook on punctuation and grammar was even a bestseller! So what's the deal with that? Check it out for yourself!
The Basics: Grammar and Word Choice
- The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
- This site boasts as being your source for grammar and punctuation. Yes, they are selling a book on the site, but they also offer several free online tutorials including:
-finding subjects and verbs
-subject and verb agreement
-pronouns
-who vs. whom
-spelling
-vocabulary
-confusing words
They even offer free online quizzes and a grammar blog. This could be a very valuable source - Open Office
- Every computer comes equipped with a notepad device of some sort, but that does not offer a sufficient spelling and grammar checker for the average writer. While you should never rely only on an electronic device, I believe that it is unwise not to use tools that can point out mistakes you might overlook. This site offers an open source software suite comparable to Microsoft Office for much cheaper- free, in fact. It has built in converters so that you can save it as a Microsoft Office .doc if you need to. It also offers exporting to PDF and a host of other options.
- One Look
- How often do you use your dictionary? If you are like me, rarely. But this great tool may change that. Instead of taking ten minutes to dig out your old Webster Dictionary you bought half price about ten years ago and look up by hand a single word, this site will look up not only the word you want, but in many different dictionaries at the same time. Don't like one version, simply scroll down the search page to find another one. It's like a search engine of dictionaries. They even offer a "reverse dictionary" where you supply the definition and they generate words that match. And as if that weren't enough, you can even customize your search- make it compact or verbose, choose a language or several languages, and so much more. This tool redefines the term dictionary.
- Bartleby
- Bartleby is a literary resource linking to different online references including the World Fact Book, Columbia Encyclopedia, and a host of other great online books.
- Jack Lynch's Grammar Site
- Written by Jack Lynch, Associate Professor in the English Department of Rutgers University. He uses a variety of sources in pulling this online tutorial together and his hard work paid off. If you would like to get a hard copy of the book, it is available from Amazon (through the link below) for only $12.95.
The English Language: A User's Guide
The English Language: A User's Guide
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $7.04
This is the print version of Jack Lynch's online tutorial to the English language. If you love his site, buy the book and you can take him with you anywhere.
Writing Styles
- MLA: Modern Language Association
- This style is the most commonly used in the liberal arts and humanities. It's the first style most people learn because it's often introduced in high school English courses.
- Chicago Style
- The Chicago Style is not used as often as MLA, but it is useful both in the humanities as well as physical, natural, and social sciences. While this style is not as popular as others, it is still a formalized style and is good to be familiar with.
- APA Style
- This style guide was developed by the American Psychological Association, but it has been adopted by a wide variety of disciplines. In recent years, it has been increasingly used in all of the science-based arenas. This is because of the straight-forward way it lays out the background information, the procedure of the experiment, the data, and interpretation of the data. This is the style to know if you ever want to get into the sciences or do any scientific research.
- AAA Guide
- American Anthropological Association Style Guide. More than likely you'll never need this, but hey, if you happen to be digging around in your backyard and uncover the remains of a new dinosaur, you now know where to
- ASA Guide
- American Sociological Association Guide. Another one you'll probably never use, but it will come in handy if you ever notice a trend in large group statistics and feel compelled to write about it so other professionals can benefit from your genius, you'll need this guide.
- Cal State Style Manual Reference
- If you just can't get enough style guides, go to this site. It's got links to even more obscure, generally useless style guides for only the hardcore style-lovers.
Writer Gear
By the way, some of these items may be on sale! Check out Your Hub for Discounts and Special Promotions on Zazzle before you purchase an item to see if you can get an even better deal!
Freelance Writer T-Shirt by cherangelry
Writer's T-shirt by
occupationtshirts
Writer Tote Bag by occupationtshirts
Writer Mug by occupationtshirts
Apostrophe Abuse
Want to enjoy some humor while you learn how to navigate the tricky apostrophe? This blog showcases blatant abuse of the beloved punctuation.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byEats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Amazon Price: $9.24 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $12.00
Used Price: $2.19
Let's face it, punctuation is difficult. But this book about punctuation and grammar was a bestseller! So what's the deal with that? Check it out for yourself.
Creative Writing Tools
This part of the resource list has been incredibly more difficult to put together for me because a creative writer's needs vary so much. However, every writer needs inspiration, organization, and criticism in order to write well. If you have another resource that works well for you, please list it at the bottom of the page under the guestbook section and help me fill this section out so the writers who come here for tools will find all they need.
- Writing Fix
- This site was created with the collaboration of many different English teachers over several years offering writing lessons, prompts, and so on. It can be a great tool no matter what your age or writing experience.
- Creativity Portal - Writing
- This section of the Creativity Portal website offers lots of great inspirational tools including an Imagination Prompt Generator and lots of other great articles and fun tools. If you like the site, be sure to sign up for the e-newsletter for a ton of great creative ideas. You can also subscribe to their RSS feed and get notified every time the site is updated.
- yWriter4
- This is perhaps my favorite creative writing tool of all time! It is a free download of a word processor specifically designed for writers. When you are working on a long, tedious project, it gets very difficult to keep up with characters, files, random notes to yourself about what you want to do in a particular scene. This free download will solve those problems. Designed by a writer to share with other writers, this is one tool I would not write without! I also encourage you to check out his other downloads and his explanation as to why the downloads are free. Keep your eye on this guy, he's definitely going places!
- Writing.com
- Writing.com is an online community where you can post your writing for others to see and receive comments back on your work. While it is not exactly the ideal way to receive criticism, it is nice to bounce ideas or perhaps a specific scene or two that you feel just isn't right yet and asking for some creative help. It also offers a ton of reading material, which can be just as inspiring as criticism to your own work. So whether you want to upload a bunch of your own work or just join to read other writers and interact in the community, this is a source that will be whatever you choose to make it.
Writing Resources You'll Want to Bookmark
Beyond your dictionary and thesaurus...
Ever wonder where that funny word came from? Why not look it up?!
Slang Site
So, I know it isn't grammatically correct, but let's face it- slang is a huge part of our daily life! And sometimes it is hard to keep up with the times. This dictionary of slang terms may help you navigate the neologisms of the times.
GrammarNOW
Do you have a grammar question you need answered NOW? Check out this site- it offers same day responses to your questions and a host of other references!
A Writer's Reference Book
A Writer's Reference: 2003 MLA Update
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price:
Used Price: $0.01
There is a reason this book is recommended for almost all English 1101 courses- it's a great book. It is especially helpful with MLA formatting. Amazon happens to have several copies at a greatly reduced rate from your local college bookstore, where you will be getting completely ripped off.
Articles on Writing
Roy Peter Clark from Poynter Institute (a school for journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalism) has collected 50 tools and techniques every writer should incorporate.
Tools for Reading, Writing and Thinking
This site offers a host of PDF documents you can print off and use as guides for researching and organizing your thoughts. These can be helpful for students who are dissecting a classic literary work or freelancers who are trying to organize several streams of thought. While the actual tools available may or may not fit the way you work, hopefully it will at least inspire you to find your own method.
Writer Self-Promotion Gear
Careful, You May End Up In My Light T-Shirt
"Careful, you may end up in my novel" This is a great shirt to remind those near and dear to you of the power of the pen you yield.
Price: 18.99
Poetic License Postcards (Package of 8)
This is a pack of 8 "Poetic License" postcards. If you are a creative writing teacher or have a lot of writer friends or are just a really proud parent of a budding writer, this is a fun gift to give and receive.
Price: 8.99
Voices - Main Character - Standard White Tee
"I do what the voices say- today they told me to kill off the main character. Sometimes I wonder about them." For anyone who has ever struggled with the tough decisions like killing off a character, this is the perfect shirt!
Price: 15.99
English Brainstorming Poster Journal
To jot down all of those great ideas you have at the most random moments that you will later criticize and demean, but for now it feels like the most groundbreaking inspiration you have ever had. Great writers anticipate this feeling and keep journals nearby. Here's one that might inspire you just by looking at it.
Price: 14.49
If You Utilize Squidoo to Show Off Your Writing...
The Pen Pals Group and Publishing Club would love for you to join!
English Grammar for Dummies
English Grammar for Dummies
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $19.99
Used Price: $7.87
Okay, perhaps you aren't exactly an English major. Perhaps you aren't even that great at writing. Whether it's because words just aren't your thing or because English is definitely not your first language, if you need things broken down a little more than the average grammar and punctuation tool, here's your answer in English Grammar for Dummies.
Calling all Wordsmiths
Literary art can be found in long, extensive prose or short, witty snippets and anything in between. Leave your mark below.
tandemonimom wrote...
Very helpful list of resources. Welcome to The Homeschooling Group - you're a featured lens!
Posted May 05, 2009
WritingforYourWealth wrote...
Nice lens.
I'd add Strunk & White to the list of must have reference books. :)
Posted August 09, 2008
