Dagzar
The Dreamer
- 444
- Posts
- 16
- Years
- In my dreams.
- Seen Dec 13, 2016
Alright, guys, welcome to the Resources Thread! This is exactly how it sounds. Here is a list of links that other members and I find useful to all things writing. Of course, if you have a link that you find useful for writing, go right ahead and post it here and I'll add it.
Pokemon Related:
https://www.serebii.net/index2.shtml - This is the first website I go to when needing Pokemon information since it's quick, reliable and navigable (not including times when it's as slow as hell).
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page - My second Pokemon resource, this site is useful when I need to know anime stuff, like what an attack looks like and things that Serebii doesn't have.
https://veekun.com/dex - Another Pokedex.
https://www.psypokes.com/dex/index.php - And another Pokedex. You can never have too many of them. ;)
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=140933 - This is a guide on OT fics. More specifically, how not to write them. Everyone who writes or wants to write an OT fic better check this out, because not only is it useful as heck, but entertaining to read.
Character Related:
https://charahub.com/ - Create and share your characters with this site.
https://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babynames.asp - A nice site for getting names when you can't think of one.
https://www.behindthename.com/ - Another site for names, but this one has the history of the name and way more options to play around with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue - The most comprehensive guide to Mary Sues, believe it or not. A definition of what they are in general, followed by the basic archetypes and examples.
https://fullcircle.comicgenesis.com/characterdevelopment.htm - Definitely something to look at if you want to know how to flesh out a character and make them feel like a real person.
https://www.poewar.com/get-ready-for-10-days-of-character-building/ - Ten articles on building and fleshing out a character. Includes questions and ideas to help you on this path.
https://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/ - Ever wanted to find a good, obscure name for your character but other name sites aren't giving you many option? Then lucky you, because this site is a dictionary of names from all over the world. Greek, Egyptian, European at all? Congrats, it's in there… Somewhere. Warning: a big site, try not to get lost.
https://familyecho.com/#edit:START – Now this is something you might need for your fantasy verses. Now all your giant family needs can be met here, a site which creates a family tree for your family, complete with profiles and pictures if you want to add one. While it is primarily used for real world families, it certainly works well for my own sixty plus member fantasy family.
https://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/...perceptions_by_character_resource-d4tir1z.png - Have a specific character interaction you want to develop more? This chart has some good questions to jumpstart that!
Plotting Related:
https://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions/ - Awesome site of awesomeness. It's a great help for building fantasy worlds like you wouldn't believe. Includes questions on geography, culture, history, magic- all that fun stuff.
https://www.writing-world.com/romance/starters.shtml - Ever have trouble thinking up a plot? Then here's a list of ten ways to jump-start that epic plot waiting to be found! It's sot of romance related, but it's still has great advice, so check it out.
https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php - This is more for writing novels then fanfiction, but it can still be used. This is the ultimate plotting guide which will help you on the way to making a strong and structured story.
https://www.springhole.net/writing/create-better-futures.htm - Another good article on worldbuilding. The Springhole website also has several more writing articles/resources worth checking!
Writing Mechanics:
https://dictionary.reference.com/ - Exactly what is says (it even has a thesaurus!).
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/ - A pretty thorough guide to grammar, complete with various exercises that help you develop your grammar-related skills.
https://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asp - Another guide that's just as thorough as the above. Includes detailed examples and more details about rules OWL's a bit fuzzy on. (This includes a list of commonly confused words, too.)
https://orangoo.com/spellcheck/ - Online spell checker.
https://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/rhetoric.html - Goes over rhetoric terms (simile, metaphor, exc.) and lists examples.
https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html - Contains definitions and examples of all those terms you vaguely remember from your elementary school days.
https://www.studio-revolution.net/summary.php - Reviewing and You, everything you ever wanted to know about reviewing but were afraid to ask. (Includes a guide on how to get reviews as well as how to do the entire review exchange thing civilly.)
https://www.pgtc.com/~slmiller/fictiontips.htm - Contains articles on many sources of writing, including mechanics, characters, and other useful tips.
https://fychuckpalahniuk.tumblr.com/post/9285901274/thought-verbs-by-chuck-palahniuk - An article on showing versus telling.
https://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingexercises/qt/punctuation.htm - Need to learn how to punctuate dialogue, but don't have the time? Check this out.
https://litreactor.com/columns/talk-it-out-how-to-punctuate-dialogue-in-your-prose - A more in-depth look to make sure your conversations are perfectly punctuated.
Word Processing/Story Project Software and Websites:
OpenOffice.org - A fully-featured office/productivity suite, just like Microsoft Office only better because it's free. It runs on every major OS. What you want is Writer, their word processing application; unfortunately you can't download Writer by itself and need to install the entire suite, but OpenOffice as a whole is so good that you really shouldn't care. It reads/writes .doc and .docx files from Word, too, by the way.
Abiword - A much smaller program that is strictly a word processor but is also free and multi-platform. Not as sophisticated as Writer or Word, but if you want something fast and simple and don't need to make spreadsheets then it's a good option.
Celtx - More free, more multi-platform. It says it's for "media pre-production" and is really intended for things like screenplays or radio dramas, but it still works beautifully for plain-ol' fic writing. Chances are very, very high that you don't need something like this and will do just fine with a simple word processor, but if you are hopelessly disorganized like me then you may find its project-oriented structure helpful for your longer works.
yWriter - Similar to the above, but specifically geared toward novel (or longfic!) writing. Again, aids with structure and organization if you are beyond redemption in that area. Intended for Windows, though you can try running it on a Linux computer with some tweaking.
Google Docs - Yes, Google has a word processor. Sign up for an account and start creating documents; simplistic, but more than adequate for most fanfics. You can choose to share docs with collaborators, which could be useful if communicating with a beta reader. Doesn't require downloads but does need an internet connection.
Adobe Buzzword - Similar to Google Docs, but run by Adobe. I find it a little slower than GDocs, but it's fancier and is capable of more complex formatting should you need it.
WriteRoom - A simple program for what is called "distraction-free writing"--it removes all of the bells, whistles and buttons of standard word processors and often hides most of your computer screen so that you can focus on what you're writing and only on what you're writing. It sounds primitive (and is) but is actually incredibly useful. WriteRoom itself is Mac and iPhone only, but this page on their wiki lists similar options for people who have different platforms or need slightly different features.
Write or Die - An online or desktop program for people who need to get some writing done Or Else. It not only removes distracting interfaces but introduces the added condition that it will punish you if you do not write constantly. You can choose punishments that range from annoying beeps to Hanson songs to deleting what you just wrote, so it's great motivation when you're having trouble getting stuff out. For rough drafts only; you will also need to make sure you have an actual word processor to save your work in, whether it's Word or GDocs.
Storybook - A program designed to help with novel-writing. Helps organize plot lines, characters, chapters, and whatever else one tends to lose track of while writing long novels.
General:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadWritingIndex?from=Main.BadWriting - A list of tropes that are generally considered to be a part of bad writing. Remember that exceptions do exist, and to only browse when you have at least three hours available. This site is addictive!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page - It may not be that reliable, I suppose, but it's good for a quick fact.
https://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/forum - You can find anything here and the forum comes with its own resources thread that includes information on medicine, police stuff, geography, history, and so many other things.
https://community.livejournal.com/little_details/ - A LJ community geared specifically towards helping writers do their research by answering their questions. It's already an impressive community filled with information (sorted by the tags) that you can't find practically anywhere else. PC writers with LJ accounts can also sign up for the community and ask away if they can't find the answer they need in the archives.
https://www.google.com - Best search engine in the world and your first stop before trying to tear your hair out over not finding things in Wikipedia first.
https://www.rainymood.com/ – Some people, like me, need noise to write properly but regular songs and music is too distracting. Therefore, I turn to this site, which gives you a loop of thirty minutes of the sound of rain (plus some thunder). It's very useful and very refreshing.
https://thewritersarchive.tumblr.com/post/51965789306 - A handy archive list of various resources for all your writing needs!
Pokemon Related:
https://www.serebii.net/index2.shtml - This is the first website I go to when needing Pokemon information since it's quick, reliable and navigable (not including times when it's as slow as hell).
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page - My second Pokemon resource, this site is useful when I need to know anime stuff, like what an attack looks like and things that Serebii doesn't have.
https://veekun.com/dex - Another Pokedex.
https://www.psypokes.com/dex/index.php - And another Pokedex. You can never have too many of them. ;)
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=140933 - This is a guide on OT fics. More specifically, how not to write them. Everyone who writes or wants to write an OT fic better check this out, because not only is it useful as heck, but entertaining to read.
Character Related:
https://charahub.com/ - Create and share your characters with this site.
https://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babynames.asp - A nice site for getting names when you can't think of one.
https://www.behindthename.com/ - Another site for names, but this one has the history of the name and way more options to play around with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue - The most comprehensive guide to Mary Sues, believe it or not. A definition of what they are in general, followed by the basic archetypes and examples.
https://fullcircle.comicgenesis.com/characterdevelopment.htm - Definitely something to look at if you want to know how to flesh out a character and make them feel like a real person.
https://www.poewar.com/get-ready-for-10-days-of-character-building/ - Ten articles on building and fleshing out a character. Includes questions and ideas to help you on this path.
https://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/ - Ever wanted to find a good, obscure name for your character but other name sites aren't giving you many option? Then lucky you, because this site is a dictionary of names from all over the world. Greek, Egyptian, European at all? Congrats, it's in there… Somewhere. Warning: a big site, try not to get lost.
https://familyecho.com/#edit:START – Now this is something you might need for your fantasy verses. Now all your giant family needs can be met here, a site which creates a family tree for your family, complete with profiles and pictures if you want to add one. While it is primarily used for real world families, it certainly works well for my own sixty plus member fantasy family.
https://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/...perceptions_by_character_resource-d4tir1z.png - Have a specific character interaction you want to develop more? This chart has some good questions to jumpstart that!
Plotting Related:
https://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions/ - Awesome site of awesomeness. It's a great help for building fantasy worlds like you wouldn't believe. Includes questions on geography, culture, history, magic- all that fun stuff.
https://www.writing-world.com/romance/starters.shtml - Ever have trouble thinking up a plot? Then here's a list of ten ways to jump-start that epic plot waiting to be found! It's sot of romance related, but it's still has great advice, so check it out.
https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php - This is more for writing novels then fanfiction, but it can still be used. This is the ultimate plotting guide which will help you on the way to making a strong and structured story.
https://www.springhole.net/writing/create-better-futures.htm - Another good article on worldbuilding. The Springhole website also has several more writing articles/resources worth checking!
Writing Mechanics:
https://dictionary.reference.com/ - Exactly what is says (it even has a thesaurus!).
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/ - A pretty thorough guide to grammar, complete with various exercises that help you develop your grammar-related skills.
https://www.grammarbook.com/english_rules.asp - Another guide that's just as thorough as the above. Includes detailed examples and more details about rules OWL's a bit fuzzy on. (This includes a list of commonly confused words, too.)
https://orangoo.com/spellcheck/ - Online spell checker.
https://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/rhetoric.html - Goes over rhetoric terms (simile, metaphor, exc.) and lists examples.
https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html - Contains definitions and examples of all those terms you vaguely remember from your elementary school days.
https://www.studio-revolution.net/summary.php - Reviewing and You, everything you ever wanted to know about reviewing but were afraid to ask. (Includes a guide on how to get reviews as well as how to do the entire review exchange thing civilly.)
https://www.pgtc.com/~slmiller/fictiontips.htm - Contains articles on many sources of writing, including mechanics, characters, and other useful tips.
https://fychuckpalahniuk.tumblr.com/post/9285901274/thought-verbs-by-chuck-palahniuk - An article on showing versus telling.
https://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingexercises/qt/punctuation.htm - Need to learn how to punctuate dialogue, but don't have the time? Check this out.
https://litreactor.com/columns/talk-it-out-how-to-punctuate-dialogue-in-your-prose - A more in-depth look to make sure your conversations are perfectly punctuated.
Word Processing/Story Project Software and Websites:
OpenOffice.org - A fully-featured office/productivity suite, just like Microsoft Office only better because it's free. It runs on every major OS. What you want is Writer, their word processing application; unfortunately you can't download Writer by itself and need to install the entire suite, but OpenOffice as a whole is so good that you really shouldn't care. It reads/writes .doc and .docx files from Word, too, by the way.
Abiword - A much smaller program that is strictly a word processor but is also free and multi-platform. Not as sophisticated as Writer or Word, but if you want something fast and simple and don't need to make spreadsheets then it's a good option.
Celtx - More free, more multi-platform. It says it's for "media pre-production" and is really intended for things like screenplays or radio dramas, but it still works beautifully for plain-ol' fic writing. Chances are very, very high that you don't need something like this and will do just fine with a simple word processor, but if you are hopelessly disorganized like me then you may find its project-oriented structure helpful for your longer works.
yWriter - Similar to the above, but specifically geared toward novel (or longfic!) writing. Again, aids with structure and organization if you are beyond redemption in that area. Intended for Windows, though you can try running it on a Linux computer with some tweaking.
Google Docs - Yes, Google has a word processor. Sign up for an account and start creating documents; simplistic, but more than adequate for most fanfics. You can choose to share docs with collaborators, which could be useful if communicating with a beta reader. Doesn't require downloads but does need an internet connection.
Adobe Buzzword - Similar to Google Docs, but run by Adobe. I find it a little slower than GDocs, but it's fancier and is capable of more complex formatting should you need it.
WriteRoom - A simple program for what is called "distraction-free writing"--it removes all of the bells, whistles and buttons of standard word processors and often hides most of your computer screen so that you can focus on what you're writing and only on what you're writing. It sounds primitive (and is) but is actually incredibly useful. WriteRoom itself is Mac and iPhone only, but this page on their wiki lists similar options for people who have different platforms or need slightly different features.
Write or Die - An online or desktop program for people who need to get some writing done Or Else. It not only removes distracting interfaces but introduces the added condition that it will punish you if you do not write constantly. You can choose punishments that range from annoying beeps to Hanson songs to deleting what you just wrote, so it's great motivation when you're having trouble getting stuff out. For rough drafts only; you will also need to make sure you have an actual word processor to save your work in, whether it's Word or GDocs.
Storybook - A program designed to help with novel-writing. Helps organize plot lines, characters, chapters, and whatever else one tends to lose track of while writing long novels.
General:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadWritingIndex?from=Main.BadWriting - A list of tropes that are generally considered to be a part of bad writing. Remember that exceptions do exist, and to only browse when you have at least three hours available. This site is addictive!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page - It may not be that reliable, I suppose, but it's good for a quick fact.
https://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/forum - You can find anything here and the forum comes with its own resources thread that includes information on medicine, police stuff, geography, history, and so many other things.
https://community.livejournal.com/little_details/ - A LJ community geared specifically towards helping writers do their research by answering their questions. It's already an impressive community filled with information (sorted by the tags) that you can't find practically anywhere else. PC writers with LJ accounts can also sign up for the community and ask away if they can't find the answer they need in the archives.
https://www.google.com - Best search engine in the world and your first stop before trying to tear your hair out over not finding things in Wikipedia first.
https://www.rainymood.com/ – Some people, like me, need noise to write properly but regular songs and music is too distracting. Therefore, I turn to this site, which gives you a loop of thirty minutes of the sound of rain (plus some thunder). It's very useful and very refreshing.
https://thewritersarchive.tumblr.com/post/51965789306 - A handy archive list of various resources for all your writing needs!
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