Writers Resources
Writing can be a lonely pursuit, but there are plenty of places online to help you learn, connect, and stay inspired. Whether you are researching, refining your craft, or looking for a community of fellow writers, these sites can offer guidance and motivation without trying to sell you something you already have.
Section Title
Grammar, Language, and Reference
-
Grammarly Blog – Useful grammar explanations and examples of clear writing.
-
Thesaurus.com – The essential word-finding companion for every writer.
-
Merriam-Webster Online – Trusted definitions, idioms, and daily word inspiration.
-
Oxford Dictionaries – British English definitions and examples for clarity and accuracy.
-
Google Scholar – Ideal for factual research, history, and academic references.
-
Project Gutenberg – Free digital access to classic works and public domain books.
​
Communities and Forums
-
NaNoWriMo – The annual “write a novel in a month” challenge with a huge online community.
-
Reddit Writing Communities – Subreddits like r/writing, r/DestructiveReaders, and r/characterdevelopment.
-
Critique Circle – Free community where writers can exchange detailed feedback.
-
Scribophile – Longstanding critique community focused on improving writing craft.
-
Writing.com – A friendly, general writing community offering support and challenges.
​
Writing Craft and Guidance
-
Writer’s Digest – Packed with timeless advice on writing, editing, and getting published.
-
Helping Writers Become Authors – Deep dives into story structure, pacing, and plot development.
-
Writers Helping Writers – Great for understanding character motivation, emotion, and conflict.
-
The Write Practice – Simple writing exercises and creative prompts to help build a routine.
-
The Story Grid – A framework for understanding story structure and balance.
-
Definitive Press - Makers of the Definitive Press Novel Planning Series
-
​www.definitivepress.com​
-
​
Creative Tools and Services
Writing is only part of the creative process. Whether you are designing a book cover, creating social media graphics, or commissioning artwork for your world or characters, these tools can help you bring your ideas to life.
-
Canva – Easy-to-use design tool for creating book covers, banners, social posts, and media kits.
-
Fiverr – Hire freelance designers, editors, voice artists, and more at a range of price points.
-
Upwork – Professional freelance marketplace for editing, illustration, and book design.
-
Unsplash – High-quality, royalty-free stock photos for cover mockups, websites, and inspiration.
-
Pexels – Another great source of free stock photography and short videos.
-
Pixabay – Free images, illustrations, and vectors for creative projects.
-
Coolors – Simple colour palette generator, ideal for matching tones in covers or branding.
-
Font Squirrel – Free fonts for use in cover mockups and promotional materials.
-
DaFont – Massive library of free and decorative fonts (always double-check usage rights).
-
Remove.bg – Automatically removes image backgrounds for clean promotional graphics.
-
Google Fonts – Reliable, free fonts ideal for book interiors and digital projects.
-
Notion – Great for creative planning, project tracking, and idea boards.
-
Trello – Visual project management board for organising creative projects or tracking edits.
​
Self-Publishing Platforms and Tools
If you plan to publish your book independently, there are reliable platforms and services designed to make the process smoother. These help you format, publish, and distribute both digital and print books while keeping creative control in your hands.
-
Amazon KDP – Publish ebooks and paperbacks directly to Amazon. Simple to use and free to start.
-
IngramSpark – Distribute print and ebooks to bookstores and libraries worldwide.
-
Draft2Digital – Converts manuscripts into ebook formats and distributes to major retailers.
-
Smashwords – Ebook publishing and distribution platform with access to a wide retailer network.
-
BookBaby – Offers editing, design, and distribution support for self-published authors.
-
Blurb – Ideal for illustrated books, photography collections, and print-on-demand projects.
-
Lulu – Print-on-demand and distribution service for authors, artists, and small publishers.
-
StreetLib – Global self-publishing and distribution service supporting multiple languages.
-
BookFunnel – Helps deliver digital copies of your book to reviewers and mailing-list readers.
-
Book Brush – Create professional marketing graphics and 3D book mockups easily.
-
Reedsy Discovery – Platform to connect indie authors with early reviewers and readers.
-
BookSirens – Service to reach ARC readers and collect early reviews.





