(by 2 people)
Everyone's a writer these days. Not so long ago, the avenues into creative writing were narrow and clearly labelled, but the internet has changed all that. Publishing a paperback novel has become only one of many different methods of reaching an audience. Today, amateur writers receive immediate feedback through web-sites hosting their work, forums and discussion groups, and comments left on blogs.
However, the software world still has a long way to go to meet these changing times. But change is coming...
Software for Writers
- PageFour
- Word processor and novel outliner designed for creative writers. Its flexible structure and unique feature set make it well worth looking at. There's a FREE as well as a paid for edition.
- Scrivener
- One of the more popular software offerings for Mac users. Like much Mac software, it has generated a fanatically loyal user base, despite it's very recent beginnings.
- Open Office
- If you're addicted to MS Word, the Open Office replacement might suit you. But sadly it too carries the heavy burden of a complex business product.
- PDFCreator
- FREE piece of software that functions as a PDF printer driver. This allows you to print any MS Word or other documents directly to a PDF file. No need to shell out cash to Adobe.
The home page of the product is writen in German, so the above link takes you to an English download site.
Web-sites of Note
- FictionPress
- One of the largest sites that hosts original fiction - structured around simple posting and reviewing.
- FanFiction.net
- By far the largest storehouse of fanfiction in the etherverse. Its draconian submission regs may not make it anyone's favourite, but everyone posts here alongside their more friendly, local site.
- Absolute Write Water Cooler
- One of the more active writing forums. Its where all the cool kids are hanging out these days. Good discussion groups have a productive life span of only a few years, and this one seems to be in its heyday.
- Lulu.com
- Self publishing made easy. One of the largest and most well known Print On Demand sites - not to be confused with vanity presses.
- Bookslut
- If this site needs an intro, where have you been for the past year?
- Fiction Alley / Schnoogle
- One for the kids - or for the big kid in all of us. A forum devoted entirely to Harry Potter fanfiction. There are many, many others in a similar vein, but Schnoogle is by far the largest.
Useful Sources of Information
- Dictionary and Thesaurus
- Excellent dictionary, and the thesaurus is not half bad either. As a bonus, the dictionary can easily slot into the FireFox toolbar.
- Miss Snark
- All your questions about publishing and publishers answered by the lovely Miss Snark.
- Project Gutenberg
- Very comprehensive source of FREE books from years ago. You'll find every Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and strangely enough Zane Grey novel you might want here.
- Wikipedia
- Need information quickly? The purists may have something about the reliability of the information, so try not to use this site for your PHD research. Having said that, whatever you want to know will be here in one form or another - invaluable.
